Samsung recently released two new foldable flagships: the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Z Flip 4. And with the latter, WANT editor Dennis Mons got to work with it.
Foldable phones are not new. In fact, “early days” it was even the aim of manufacturers like Sony-Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia to make phones as compact as possible. Oh, how times have changed.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is really a different beast after all
So the “flip phones” have tremendous nostalgic value for me. For example, I once owned the Sony CMD-Z5 and the wonderfully thin, futuristic Motorola Razr V3. And that cool open flipping of those devices made you look like a boss.
Flippin’ cool (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
So now the Galaxy Z Flip 4 does that all over again, but for slightly different reasons. Of course this device also folds, but when unfolded it shows not a keyboard, but a huge 6’7″ screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
And with the sleek design, you’re guaranteed to get some looks when you take a call, watch a YouTube video or play games at parties.
Delightful design
So here goes: I am in love with the design of the Flip 4 anyway. It is an elegant device (cute and pretty purple in my case), with aluminum edges. As such, it feels comfortable in the hand, both open and closed, and is truly a premium smartphone. That’s just as well because the entry-level model will cost you more than 1,000 euros.
So one of the headaches people rightly have: won’t that hinge break down quickly? Not according to Samsung. The company claims you can open and close it 200,000 times.
That’s what it feels like. The hinge is smooth, but also feels stiff enough that you can put your phone down to check a video or make video calls, for example, without it falling over or slamming shut.
Flip open is neat (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
I was also asked a lot about whether “The Fold” in the screen is irritating. My answer, not at all. Of course it is visible, but if you are right in front of your screen, it is not very noticeable. Only from the sides might it be a bit of an issue. But with a clear video, any display of ‘The Fold’ gets used quickly anyway and you barely see it.
In addition to the already impressive screen, there is the Cover Display that is very versatile. Not only do you see notifications on it, you control many functions with it, such as turning on your camera, recording a voice memo or diving into your quick-settings.
Samsung’s roaring engine
But apart from that convenience, the specifications are also very important. For example, the camera is particularly impressive. It (reportedly) lets in 65% more light than its predecessor. Still, it leaves some stitches in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S22 (which has 10x optical zoom, for example).
Then again, the latter has a 128MP camera, and the Flip 4 “only” 12MP (but megapixels don’t always say everything since software does a lot of the calculations).
“Who am I talking to? Hello, hello?” (What a sexy model) (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
But the biggest advantage is that you can very easily take selfie photos and videos with the main camera since the phone can remain closed. With a simple press of a button you get to see yourself so you always know if you are in the right frame. In other words, perhaps the most ideal selfie smartphone to date.
Just some specifications at a glance
Fits in your pocket at only 183 grams. Has an Octa-core processor with 8GB of RAM. Starts at 128GB of storage. Has a very nice Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Oh and a 12 megapixel main camera that can shoot in 4K. And is it a slow phone? With the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 just not at all. Combined with the fast screen, it’s smooth as water.
All in all, I’m not 100% completely raving about the Samsung Galaxy Flip Z 4. BUT, and here’s the twist: I did fall in love with it. There is a fun factor in this device that is virtually unmatched. It is and always will be a nice feeling to pull something like this out of your pocket on a train while everyone else is rattling on their tepid, average chocolate bar.
There is one drawback; so the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 is as much as 1,009 euros. That’s hefty, but not outlandish compared to other sexy and outlandish smartphones (and here you get Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro of 229 euros free and for nothing anyway… sweet deal).
