Samsung’s broader effort to shove DeX into the Z Flip7 is making headlines. If we’re being real, is this truly innovation or the latest spec-sheet bullet point that’s sure to collect sand? Despite Samsung pushing DeX as some sort of productivity miracle for the Flip line, the truth is likely a whole lot less miraculous.

Foldable Open? That Defeats the Purpose!

The biggest caveat screams louder than any marketing hype: the Z Flip7 has to stay open for DeX to work. Think about it. The whole raison d’être of a foldable is portability and screen protection. Who wants to walk away from their $2,000+ foldable with the screen wide open? It’s cramped, delicate, vulnerable to scratches, spills, and prying eyes—just to use DeX! Aren’t we ideally supposed to be closed up when not in use, for a foldable? Imagine purchasing a new convertible, only to discover that in order to use the navigation system, you must drive with the top down. It’s infuriating and entirely unacceptable!

Security Nightmare: Open Phone, Open Attack!

Now, on to security. The very thing that should be scaring all of us in the blockchain/DeFi world to death. And we’re especially cognizant of the risks that come with compromised, vulnerable devices. From an overall security perspective, this open-state requirement is a huge attack surface. Keeping your phone unlocked and wide open in a public space is asking to be shoulder surfed. Joining external displays and peripherals, which may be compromised, exposes you to keylogging and malware injection.

Consider the parallels to DeFi security. As an industry, we preach the use of hardware wallets and cold storage to secure our digital assets. The device has to travel small and rugged. The downside to Jett is that one of her abilities forces her to stay open, which makes her susceptible. It’s no different than locking your crypto vault behind a flimsy, clear door.

  • Physical Risks: Shoulder surfing, theft of open device
  • Software Risks: Keylogging, malware from peripherals, compromised display firmware
  • Environmental Risks: Accidental damage, spills, scratches

Motorola’s Razr 60 Ultra goes all in on a wireless-only desktop mode. This is not only the right thing to do from security standpoints, but practical as well. Why focus on improving wired connectivity at the expense of weakening the device’s primary design purpose and security?

Productivity? More Like Pretend-ductivity!

Let's be brutally honest about practicality. Who, exactly, is the target audience for DeX on a Z Flip7? Rocket scientists by contrast who want to show off but don’t want to give up true productivity. Even with the screen fully deployed, there’s not much real estate for heavy-duty multitasking. Put it up against a real laptop or even a tablet with a keyboard. As a DeX device, the Z Flip7 feels more like a gimmick than a real productivity powerhouse.

Now imagine having to manipulate large spreadsheets or draft in-depth reports on that tiny screen. That’s a one-two punch for eye strain and frustration. And speaking of the environment, let’s not forget the risk of overheating too. Maintaining the phone opened and running DeX for long periods of time would cause thermal throttling, further degrading performance.

Even the new Exynos 2500 chipset, a change we’re glad to see, leaves us wondering about sustained performance with heavy DeX usage. Even though it will most likely have a performance edge over the Z Flip7, that’s probably not going to matter much. Will the Exynos 2500 survive the heat and stress?

Innovation or Foldable Flop?

Look, I’m not claiming that DeX on the Z Flip7 is completely worthless. Sure, there are probably unique use case where it would be useful – sprint demos while traveling, maybe. Yet the security concerns and practical limitations are difficult to overlook.

Samsung needs to address these issues. Future iterations of the software could feature smarter, automated choices that make security threats less likely. Plus, with a new hinge design it may even offer a firmer, more stable "DeX mode."

Is DeX on the Z Flip7 evidence of real innovation today? Or is it just another foldable flop bound for the tech graveyard? Only time will tell. One thing is clear: Samsung has work to do before this feature can truly shine. Until that day comes, I’ll be sporting my foldable fully closed, and my data in a crypto wallet.