JerryRigEverything’s Zack Nelson puts the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 to the test. He’s known for pushing smartphones to their limits with scratches, burns and bends. The latest foldable from Samsung is next in line, and most certainly a worthy entrant.

Nelson starts with the outer 4.1-inch AMOLED screen, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. He uses a set of Mohs hardness picks to test its scratch resistance. At level 6, the screen shows scratches, and at level 7, even deeper grooves. This is on par with other high end phones, so the outer screen can handle everyday wear and tear (keys and coins in a pocket) without catastrophic failure. The frame, made of anodized aluminum, takes a beating. Nelson’s razor blade carves into the blue shadow variant’s edges, the metal is resilient, but surprisingly enough, the power and volume buttons are removable, an interesting tidbit for anyone who’s worried about mischievous friends.

Moving to the 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED inner display, the story changes. Foldable screens are delicate and the Z Flip7’s soft polymer surface is no exception. Nelson’s level 2 pick, barely harder than a fingernail, leaves permanent marks. Samsung includes a pre-installed screen protector and one free replacement within the first year, with subsequent swaps costing $20. This is a practical acknowledgement of the screen’s fragility but it also highlights the problem with foldables: the inner displays need to be handled with care. Nelson notes the lengthy care instructions (don’t press too hard, don’t fold with debris inside, avoid magnets) and how the phone needs to be owned mindfully.

Next up is the burn test, a JerryRigEverything staple. Nelson applies a butane flame to the outer screen for over 20 seconds and it comes out with only minor damage, mostly to the oleophobic coating. The inner screen fares worse. After 15 seconds of flame it shuts off and leaves two permanent green burn marks. Nelson explains this strange outcome: the butane flame concentrates at its edges where oxygen meets fuel, sparing the center. It’s a rare moment where the burn test’s purpose (beyond spectacle) becomes clear, it shows how AMOLED displays react to extreme heat.

Dust is another challenge. The Z Flip7 has an IP48 rating, it can handle water and dust particles larger than 1mm (about the size of a grain of sugar). Nelson pours dirt across the hinge and the phone creaks audibly as it opens and closes. But it keeps working, no mechanical failure. This is good for anyone who’s ever dropped their phone in sand or lint filled pockets. The hinge, a crucial part of foldables, can handle more than you think, even if it complains along the way.

The final test is the dreaded bend, where Nelson pushes the phone to its limits – or tries to. Folding the Z Flip7 back, he applies a lot of force. The chassis flexes and a small kink forms near the antenna line but the phone doesn’t snap. A second bend gets a few clicks from the internals but the phone still works. Samsung’s hinge design, which allows the two glass halves to compress tightly at the joint, gets credit here. It’s a clever engineering solution that adds just enough strength to keep the phone intact even under conditions no one should ever put it under.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 isn’t meant to be a rugged device but it surprises Nelson. Its ability to withstand scratches, burns, dirt and extreme bending is a testament to Samsung’s iterative improvements in foldable design.