The Z Flip7 is here. Sleeker, sleeker, arguably more stylish — and loading (on paper) some pretty good upgrades. And let’s not kid ourselves. If we are to criticize from the African context, we need to demand hard hitting questions that are deeper than specs and screen resolutions. Is this the foldable phone that really opens up the possibilities of this technology for a continent bursting with its entrepreneurial spirit? Or, is it simply another shiny object that continues to be ever elusive for the majority.

Foldable Dreams, African Realities

The other day, I came across this great video profiling a young Kenyan coder who has developed an amazing software application. He was developing a website on a broken screen phone! He was ingenious, resourceful, and clearly talented. That picture kept coming back to me as I read about the Z Flip7’s introductory launch. The edge-to-edge cover display is indeed fetching, and we’re excited about that Xclipse 950 GPU. So, just what does any of that actually mean for him?

Let's talk price. RM4,999 ($1065 USD) for the entry level. That’s a ginormous hunk of dough in just about any African country. We’re not talking about a device that costs as much as millions of Americans take home in a few paychecks, or maybe a year’s worth. How can we start to have a real conversation about “democratizing technology” when a basic phone is so prohibitively expensive.

  • Affordability: Out of reach for most.
  • Financing: Limited availability and high-interest rates.
  • Data Costs: Another significant barrier to entry.

The story doesn’t stop there though. The primary theme is usually aspirational appeal and coolness factor. The real story is about access. This isn’t about a fancy new status symbol, it’s about finally bridging the digital divide. Why is that? It is because of the “Intelligent Optimization” that’s built into the camera which is supposedly meant to offset all the hardware lag. Well, the African continent isn’t handling Intelligent Optimization for its hardware constraints. What Africa needs is the smartest kind of optimization geared towards responding to the challenges of the world’s most pressing problems.

Empowerment Tool or Just a Toy

To be clear, I’m not arguing that the Z Flip7 is a bad device on its merits. The potential is there. Imagine a student in rural Ghana using the foldable screen for mobile learning, accessing educational resources in a format more engaging than a standard smartphone. Now, imagine a small business owner in Lagos. Thanks to the cover display, they’re able to quickly manage orders and easily communicate with customers all while never having to worry about unfolding their phone.

For the Z Flip7’s success in Africa, its usefulness will be more important than its novelty. Samsung is continuing its hands-on approach by working with local developers. They want to build applications that are future-proofed for the foldable form factor and tailor-made for Africans’ unique needs. Are they working with school districts and colleges to help give students access to these devices and training in digital literacy? Are they laying the groundwork for deeply localized pricing strategies that would include the true costs of that continent’s very unique and varied realities?

  • Education: Can it facilitate mobile learning?
  • Entrepreneurship: Can it empower small businesses?
  • Creative Expression: Can it unlock new avenues for content creation?

If the answers to these questions are anything but yes, the Z Flip7 can barely avoid becoming another expensive bauble for the 1%. Otherwise, it would just be a glimmering oasis in a virtual wasteland.

His voice was seamless, flowing from the storytelling to the beat, driving home every word his eyes gestures incorporated. What are they not liking about the Z Flip7? Are they viewing it as an opportunity to create a more empowered workforce, or as yet another harbinger of inequality?

Forgotten Voices, Urgent Needs

Let's be honest, the slightly smaller rounded corners and metallic rings around the cameras are not going to change anyone's life. Of course, the Exynos 2500 chipset and Xclipse 950 GPU won’t matter much if the phone ends up being always just out of reach.

Instead of focusing on the "nIceR-lOokinG eDgE-tO-eDgE cOvEr dIsPlaY," let's talk about building infrastructure. Let's talk about affordable data plans. Join the discussion on how we can create opportunities for young Africans to prosper in the digital age.

The Z Flip7 could be a gateway. It can be, if we push for more than a nice-to-have luxury. Only if we move away from aspiration to access, from novelty to utility, and from profit to purpose. The phone should be a catalyst. Not a barrier.

The Z Flip7 could be a gateway. But only if we demand more than just a luxury. Only if we shift the focus from aspiration to access, from novelty to utility, and from profit to purpose. The phone should be a catalyst. Not a barrier.