The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is among the greatest folding smartphones on the market because of its outstanding technical specifications and large screen. Learn about our thoughts on the Fold 4.
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 sets a new standard in the foldable smartphone market. It is also the most advanced and costliest model in the Galaxy series. The Galaxy Z is one of Samsung’s foldable smartphones. The Flips are clamshell-style folding phones that are smaller than the Folds, which are essentially tablets that can be folded up to the size of ordinary smartphones. With this fourth generation, Samsung delivers a series of subtle but substantial upgrades that we examined and tested using our previous Folds experience as well as our knowledge of the competitors.
We Rate it 10/10
High-quality foldable screen
Outstanding productivity and performance
Excellent camera
increased battery life
Cons:
Due to its folding design, the device is somewhat large.
Because the Fold is still narrow, one-handed use is difficult.
Design
The Z Fold series’ design is one of the most complex on the smartphone market, confirming Samsung’s technological superiority in the folding area. In terms of exterior display, camera, and endurance, the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 outperforms the previous model significantly.
Outer Display
The outer display is 3mm broader, which is significant because you’ll probably use it more than the massive, foldable inside display for basic smartphone functions. Despite the fact that the folded frame is thinner than the market standard for smartphones, this design choice allows Samsung to provide a classic smartphone experience.
The South Korean company has altered the ratio significantly, and the new Z Fold 4 is not as tall as the Z Fold 3.
The 3mm increase was accomplished by improving the hinge design. The latter is less protruding than the previous model, allowing the thickness of the external screen’s left border to be reduced.
The photo block on the back is slightly larger since the entire optical system has been altered to better correlate with the performance of the Galaxy S22 and S22+ cameras.
This was one of the most anticipated updates, and the performance boost in the photo is a strong reason to accept a little adjustment in chassis thickness. Some users are bothered by their phones wobbling when they rest on flat surfaces, but we don’t mind.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is waterproof
Apart from these three functions, which have received significant upgrades, the rest of the new features are small. The glass covering the rear of the smartphone, for example, is stronger thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus+, which is similar to that of the S22 Ultra, and the selfie camera has become nearly invisible behind the internal screen.
The chassis is exceptionally solid, and even under extreme pressure, it will not bend when closed. Inner screen is well-protected against falls on hard surfaces, but keep in mind that the outer screen is similar to that of a standard smartphone and may break.
The power button is also a fingerprint reader on the right edge, which is a sensible placement given that it is designed to work when using all screens. Enrolling multiple fingers is useful for providing different ways to handle the device.
Apart from the volume, the audio quality is outstanding, and it sounds better than many laptops we’ve tried in the past. Because the sound is strong and clear, the Z Fold 4 is an excellent desktop companion for watching TV shows or videos while working on a computer.
The experience of a foldable screen
The unique design of this screen, which can bend in the center, provides a drastically different experience from that of other smartphones or even tablets.
In general, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has the same feel as the Fold 3, but for those who are unfamiliar with it, we’ve highlighted a few quirks you shouldn’t miss.
The 7.6-inch OLED screen provides an extremely high-quality visual experience for viewing content like as text, photos, websites, games, or video. This is the primary reason why people are willing to spend so much money on this item.
Flex Mode (90-degree fold) enables you to rest the phone on a flat surface and watch videos, engage in video conferences, and even take photos. This mode is the equivalent of a tripod and is quite useful.
The huge internal screen offers a high-end tablet experience in a pocket-sized package. The Galaxy Z Fold phones are only getting started, but they are unquestionably the 7.6-inch Android tablets with the finest performance for size or performance rate per gram.
As a result, we award the title of “best phone for productivity” to the Z Fold 4, dethroning the Z Fold 3. Samsung has improved the “Split-Screen” feature, making it easier to access numerous apps on the same screen at the same time. We like having two apps open vertically, however the builder enables up to four fixed spaces plus one floating area.
Because of the huge screen size, Samsung was able to include Android 12L’s taskbar into its current One UI 4.1.1, allowing users to swiftly navigate between the most recent versions of their favorite apps without returning to the home screen.
Furthermore, support for an optional S-Pen increases productivity for individuals who need to take notes or run quick sketches.
The S-Pen can also be used as a remote control for presentations or photography. The foldable smartphone competition is far behind!
When using the S-Pen, the little crease seen in the middle of the internal screen can sometimes be felt, especially when writing. It’s not a big deal, however we recommend you try it out in store. We can’t wait for Samsung’s stylus to be integrated into the chassis of its upcoming Z Fold.
Screens
Both screens produce high-quality images and can automatically change between 1Hz and 120Hz to conserve power. The high frequency allows for ultra-smooth screen scrolling and ultra-fast response times in video games. When you are not using it, it is turned off.
Samsung has made minor improvements to the aspect ratio, which is wonderful for proportional harmony when the phone is folded but does not affect its use.
The 4 megapixel selfie camera, which is buried beneath the main panel, is virtually unnoticeable. Indeed, the engineers of the South Korean company have quadrupled the density of the pixels situated above the camera, but you’ll have to look attentively to notice it. However, it appears that this technical feat diminishes the photo’s quality slightly since the procedure blocks some of the light that enters the lens.
There is no need to delve further into the technological details because the capabilities of this Samsung OLED display is beyond what the human eye can see and are among the greatest that current technology can provide.
Camera
The performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 photo unit is comparable to that of the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+, which are now among the best on the market. It is made up of three lenses, each with one sensor:
- A 15mm sensor with a 13 megapixel f/2.2 aperture.
- A 23 mm sensor with 50 megapixels, an f/1.8 aperture (Main), and optical stabilization (OIS)
- A 62 mm sensor with 10 megapixels, an f/2.4 aperture, and optical stabilization (OIS)
There are two selfie cameras too:
- A 25 mm sensor with a 10 megapixel resolution and an aperture of f/2.2 is seen on the exterior screen.
- A 30 mm sensor with 4 megapixels and an f/1.8 aperture is hidden beneath the internal screen.
Our score
According to our methodology, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (score: 155) scores on the same level as the Galaxy S22+ (score: 166), a very respectable score given that independent testers believe that the S22+ has a superb camera in the high-end market. It should be noted that the technology used to make the screen flexible is costly and requires certain compromises in other areas.
The new GN3 primary sensor in the Z Fold 4 is 26% larger, which is important. However, the pixels are smaller than those of the Z Fold 3. (50 MP 1.0 microns versus 12 MP 1.8 microns). It is vital to note that smaller pixels have an impact on light collection efficiency.
For example, when there is enough light, Samsung is one of the few manufacturers that offer full-resolution 50-megapixel image capture in “auto” (automatic) mode, which provides more detail and sharpness. To the image.
With 62mm lenses, the new 3X telephoto lens outperforms the previous one (52mm). The distinction is small, but it is significant. The S22 Ultra’s 10X telephoto lens measures 230mm.
Because we snap selfies with one hand, the most powerful selfie camera is that of the external screen. The inner 4-megapixel selfie camera is devoted to video conferencing (with Flex mode), and because network capabilities limit this capability, 4-megapixels is more than enough.
Performance
The computing power is unrivaled thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 and is complemented by excellent CPU speed. With such a high-quality screen, the GPU’s graphics performance is even more important. In our tests, it outperformed the previous model by 82% and was on pace with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
This smartphone displayed great cooling capacities in endurance tests such as the 3DMark Wildlife extreme, and as such, it might be a very good gaming device. This is exactly in line with Samsung’s objective of being a productivity and multimedia powerhouse. Users may be confident that they will have the finest Android performance in 2022.
Battery
The battery is the same size as last year’s Z Fold 3, 4400 mAh, which makes sense given that its size is confined by the chassis, which is now 2% smaller. The new Z Fold 4 has a longer battery life, and our testing indicate that it may be 20% better depending on usage.
Two enhancements could be the source of such an improvement: variable refresh rate and Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. Keep in mind that the huge screen and smaller battery of the S22 Ultra cause the battery life to be shorter than that of a normal smartphone.
The charging speed has also been considerably boosted, although it still pales in contrast to the latest smartphones from OnePlus, Infinix, and other brands. Because battery capacity will not surpass 5000 mAh in the coming years, charging speed has become the testing ground for manufacturers.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a revolutionary technology that continues to outperform the competition despite offering considerably fewer new features than previous models. It has de facto become the greatest foldable smartphone in the world, providing the finest visual experience, productivity, and endurance.
These key characteristics make it the folding phone of choice; nonetheless, such a gadget is not for everyone, as the user experience is significantly different from that of normal smartphones.
The Z Fold 4 provides a unique experience for the right audience, which explains why, despite the base price of €1,799.00, this product category is rapidly rising. For those on a tighter budget, we recommend the Galaxy Z Flip 4, a flip-type folding smartphone geared for a broader audience.
