HARIS HAMID FAROOQ

Samsung released its first folding device in 2019, known as the Samsung Galaxy Fold. A newer model of the Samsung Galaxy Fold has been released each year since. 

I was interested in buying the Fold upon its initial release, but I was too invested in the iPhone to try something different, unfortunately. Perhaps I was distrustful of the new folding mechanisms as well, as it seemed like a hassle to manage a phone with such care. 3 years later, Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 4 priced at $1800 (USD) and is available online and in-store in Gray-green, phantom black, beige, and burgundy.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is fitted with a front-facing 6.2-inch, 120 Hz AMOLED display. This outer screen has a resolution of 2,316 by 904 pixels and is 2.6 inches wide. Perceptibly, the phone also includes a foldable AMOLED display of 7.6 inches which sports a 120 Hz refresh rate and 2176 by 1812-pixel resolution.

Camera

It boasts a 50-megapixel main camera, with a 12-megapixel 123-degree wide-angle lens above it, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with a 3x optical zoom beneath it. The Fold 4 also includes a 10-megapixel camera on the cover display and a 4-megapixel camera on the foldable display. As far as video recording is concerned, 4K recording can go up to 60 frames per second, while 1080p recording goes up to 240 frames per second. The camera features panorama, LED, flash, and HDR.

Build quality & Durability

The metal frame and hinge cover were built using armour aluminium. The front and back glass use the gorilla glass victus+ which provides the phone with more protection from damage. The Fold 4 has an IPX8 rating – which means that it is water resistant up to 1.5 m for 30 minutes, but not dust resistant.

Storage & Processors

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 and the well-renowned, flagship popular GPU; the Qualcomm Adreno 670 as well. The storage options include 256 gb, 512 gb, and 1 tb, with a standard 12 gb ram.

Connectivity

Connectivity options include Bluetooth, wi-fi, hotspot, NFC, and GPS. It does, of course, come with 5G like its predecessor and the dual sim feature lets you use two nano sims and one e-sim. The phone does have a USB-C port for charging and connectivity, and no 3.5mm jack of course.   

Battery

Alongside its 4400 mAh battery, the phone supports fast charging at 25-watts. Reverse wireless charging is also braced at 4.5-watts.

My Verdict

I chose the eye-catching Gray-green variant of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and it looks stunning. The display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is absolutely gorgeous. The colours seem bright and detailed. While this may be on course with other Samsung displays, this one truly raises the bar. Both displays feel smooth and swift, providing an immense amount of clarity and focus. The multi-tasking feature that splits the screen increases productivity by allowing users to use multiple applications at once.

Gaming or watching movies on the larger display feels immersive and certainly grants you an advantage over other players.

The camera is loaded with features and the quality of the images snapped on the Galaxy Fold 4 certainly stand as evidence. There are many different modes to choose from while recording and taking photos, providing users with a more personal experience and a user-friendly interface.

Front cameras improve each year, but they were never meant to be your main camera. If the user wishes for great image quality while taking selfies that a front camera just cannot deliver, Samsung has a way. Samsung allows you to take selfies using your rear-facing camera while observing yourself on the cover display. While I barely take one selfie every three months, this feature is undeniably brilliant and progresses accessibility.  

The build quality feels premium and looks impressive. The hinge is also visibly stronger and more durable than ever before. The back glass looks stunning regardless of the chosen colour option. It finally feels like a regular phone that does not require additional care every step of the way, while instantaneously being so much more than a regular smartphone.

It does weigh more than the usual smartphone, which could be an obstacle for those using smartphones with sleek designs and smaller displays, but if you are like me, this does not take away from the phone, rather adds to its premium feel and durability.

One thing that is worth noting is the IPX8 rating and its lack of dust resistance. This can be inconvenient at best for people who want to be confident in the durability of their phone. Although I enjoy using this phone more than any other so far, it does get irritating when you have to keep your phone in your pocket at all times, fearing the potential damage that dust can cause.

I get some bizarre déjà vu vibes when this phone is not inside my pocket. It takes me back to the old days when leaving a glass or mug next to your phone was ill-advised. Phones were not waterproof back then, so dropping water on them was lethal, of course.

The three storage variations, GPU and ram are mostly standard for all flagship smartphones, with no expandable storage option available. The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is truly a powerhouse of a chipset. The key improvement it provides to the Galaxy Fold 4 is improved optimization, which has significantly improved battery life. I have not yet needed to charge the phone more than once in 24 hours, which is incredible considering the impressive software and hardware specifications coupled with the larger display. The break-through for me, was the folding display, which is relatively new and premium. It is unlike other phones and is a true innovation. Samsung are willing to move forward with their technology and it shows. Overall, I would definitely recommend this device to others. Be it for business, gaming or anything else, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 delivers.