Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 External Screen Revolution: From Notification Bar to Functional Main Stage

Changing User Habits with Bigger External Screens

The dramatic enlargement and enhancement of the external displays are not just specs on paper but fundamentally change user habits. For instance, Galaxy Z Flip7 users can now quickly respond to messages directly on the 4.1-inch external screen without opening the phone, making quick interactions more seamless and discreet. Meanwhile, Galaxy Z Fold7 users benefit from the much larger 6.5-inch external screen by handling emails or managing more complex workflows on the go without unfolding the device. This shifts the external screen’s role from a simple notification bar to a functional “main stage” enabling rich interactions and multitasking23.

Samsung’s Conservative Settings: Plugin Requirement for Full Flip7 External Screen Use

Despite these advancements, Samsung’s approach remains somewhat conservative. Users of the Flip7 must install an additional plugin to unlock the full range of functionalities on the external screen. This friction contrasts with the high hardware potential and is a pain point for users eager for seamless out-of-the-box experiences with their external displays4.

Third-Party App Adaptation: Progress and Challenges

Third-party application support for these enhanced external screens is still evolving. Popular apps like WeChat and Spotify have started adapting to utilize the larger, high-refresh external displays, offering widgetized controls and notifications. However, app ecosystem maturity varies, and many developers face the challenge of redesigning interfaces to fit these unique, semi-open foldable contexts efficiently. This adaptation progress will be critical to unlocking the full productivity and convenience potential that Samsung’s hardware upgrades promise4.

Future Outlook: Will External Screens Partly Replace Smartwatches?

Given the functional expansion of foldable phone external screens, a natural question arises: Could these external displays begin to cannibalize some functions traditionally reserved for smartwatches? With vibrant, large, and interactive external screens supporting widgets, notifications, quick replies, fitness tracking, and more, the gap is narrowing. While smartwatches have advantages in always-on convenience and specific health sensors, the rich interaction possibilities on devices like Z Flip7 and Fold7 might increasingly fulfill daily quick access needs that many users currently delegate to smartwatches. This trend could potentially reshape wearable tech consumption patterns in the near future5.