Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Olympic Edition (Exclusive Athlete Phone with Gold Design and AI Perks)

Samsung has released a special version of its foldable phone tailored for the Winter Olympics in Italy. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 Olympic Edition stands out as a device made just for competitors at the Milano Cortina 2026 games.

This phone combines familiar hardware with custom touches that reflect the event's themes of achievement and connection. Athletes from various nations receive one to help them stay linked during the competition period.

Design and Build

The phone's exterior draws from Olympic symbols and Italian influences. Its back glass comes in a deep blue shade that echoes the azure skies of the host country and ties into Samsung's branding. A gold frame surrounds the device, along with matching camera rings, to represent the pursuit of top honors on the podium. The Olympic rings appear prominently on the rear panel, engraved in gold for a premium feel.

Included with each unit is a transparent case that features a magnetic attachment. This case has a blue circular magnet framed by gold laurel leaves, evoking wreaths awarded to winners in ancient times. When folded, the phone measures 85.5 by 75.2 by 13.7 millimeters and weighs 188 grams, making it compact enough for easy pocket storage. Unfolded, it extends to 166.7 by 75.2 by 6.5 millimeters, offering a slim profile that fits well in one hand.

The overall construction uses durable materials like reinforced glass and aluminum, with an IP68 rating for resistance against water and dust.

Display Setup

Inside, the main screen spans 6.9 inches with a full HD plus resolution of 2520 by 1080 pixels. This Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel supports a refresh rate up to 120 hertz for smooth scrolling and animations. It reaches a peak brightness of 2600 nits, ensuring clear visibility even under bright lights or outdoors. The aspect ratio of 21 to 9 provides ample space for viewing content or multitasking.

On the outside, a 4.1-inch cover display allows quick checks of notifications, time, or weather without opening the device. This secondary screen uses Super AMOLED technology and offers customizable widgets. For the Olympic Edition, Samsung added unique wallpapers with colorful patterns inspired by winter sports tracks, such as curves from skate blades on ice. These visuals appear on both displays and include a special animation when powering on or off.

Performance Components

Power comes from the Exynos 2500 processor, built on a 3-nanometer process for efficiency. This deca-core chip handles demanding tasks like video editing or gaming without lag. Paired with 12GB of RAM, the phone runs multiple apps smoothly. Storage options include 256 or 512GB, though no expansion slot exists.

The device operates on Android 16 with One UI 8, promising seven years of major updates. Galaxy AI integrations enhance daily use, such as summarizing notes or suggesting replies in messages. For athletes, the phone's foldable form factor supports hands-free modes, like propping it up for video calls during training breaks.

Camera System

The rear setup includes a 50MP wide lens with optical image stabilization and a 12MP ultra-wide lens for broad shots. These sensors capture detailed images in various lighting conditions, with support for 4K video at 60 frames per second. A 10MP front camera handles selfies and calls.

Special for this edition, Dual Recording mode uses both front and rear cameras at once to film reactions alongside the action. This feature suits capturing victory moments, with options to zoom up to 10 times on the main view. Photo Assist AI tools let users edit shots by removing objects or adjusting compositions on the device itself.

Battery Life and Charging

A 4300mAh battery powers the phone, optimized for all-day use through efficient hardware and software. It supports 25-watt wired charging, 15-watt wireless charging, and 4.5-watt reverse wireless charging to top up other devices. In practice, this setup delivers up to 31 hours of video playback or extended standby time.

Software and Athlete-Specific Tools

Beyond standard apps, the Olympic Edition preloades a suite designed for competitors. The Galaxy Athlete Card app enables profile sharing by tapping phones back-to-back, building a digital collection of cards from fellow participants. It includes missions like bingo challenges to encourage interactions across teams.

Athlete365 offers resources for mental health, performance tips, and event schedules. Integrated into the Now Brief feature, it provides personalized updates on calendars, fitness data, and Olympic news. The Interpreter tool translates conversations in real time without internet, useful in remote venues. Other inclusions cover the official games app, an IOC hotline for support, and PinQuest for collecting virtual pins.

Samsung Wallet holds digital passes, including a Coca-Cola key for free drinks at village machines. A complimentary 100GB 5G eSIM ensures connectivity throughout the event. All these elements aim to foster community and simplify life in the Olympic Villages.

Distribution Process

Samsung provides these phones free to nearly 3800 athletes from about 90 countries. Handouts start on January 30, 2026, at villages in six Italian cities. Each recipient gets setup help at Samsung Open Stations, where staff assist with activation and data transfer. This edition remains exclusive to participants and skips public sales.

Samsung's Role in Olympics

As a long-term partner of the International Olympic Committee, Samsung has supplied tech to games for decades. Past editions included phones for events like Paris 2024 and Beijing 2022, often with custom designs. For Milano Cortina, the company extends this tradition by introducing Victory Selfie on podiums, where athletes use their devices to snap personal photos of medal wins. Select competitors also receive Victory Profiles, professional portraits taken with the Galaxy S25 Ultra to highlight their stories beyond sports.

This approach shows how Samsung blends innovation with event support, equipping athletes with tools to document and share their experiences. The phone serves as a bridge between competition demands and personal connections, like calling family after a big race.

Feature	Standard Galaxy Z Flip 7	Olympic Edition Additions
Design	Various colors like Jet Black, Blue Shadow	Blue back with gold frame, Olympic rings, laurel case
Software	Android 16, One UI 8, Galaxy AI	Athlete Card app, Athlete365, Interpreter, Dual Recording enhancements
Accessories	Standard case options	Custom magnet case, 100GB eSIM
Availability	For purchase at $1099 (256GB)	Exclusive to athletes, no public sale

Athletes can leverage these extras during the games from February 6 to 22 for Olympics and March 6 to 15 for Paralympics. The phone's AI helps with language barriers in multilingual settings, while fitness tracking ties into village equipment for workout logs.

All the images are from Samsung.