Product test
Samsung’s foldable has finally slimmed down
by Michelle Brändle
Flipping awesome? Here are my four thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
21/10/2022
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
After one month of flipping the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 open and shut, these are the four thoughts about its form factor that have stayed with me.
1. The phone makes a fantastic tripod
I won’t bother saving best for last: what I liked most so far is the fact that I can use the Flip 4 not only as a camera but also simultaneously as its own tripod. I can place it half-opened on many surfaces and easily set the photo angle with a flick of my wrist. The 12-megapixel main camera and the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the back deliver beautiful pictures with rich, intense colours.
2. Wieldy but not mini
The Flip 4 is not a small smartphone. With its 6.7-inch display, it’s actually quite a big one. With that, it’s more so aimed at people who want a large smartphone that’s easy to carry around. When folded, it’s very handy and fits well in slender shoulder bags or tight trouser pockets.
3. The crease is not the real problem
The crease, i.e. the fold line on the screen, gets placed under a microscope when rating foldables. Understandable, since super slick smartphone surfaces are standard nowadays. As a result, tech companies do their best to hide the crease as well as possible. Samsung has made progress in this regard. Compared to first Galaxy Fold from 2019, the crease is noticeably smoother. Nevertheless, even on devices from the year 2022, the crease is visible and noticeable.
4. Foldability remains a luxury
Although the Flip 4 is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, it lags behind other 2022 Samsung flagships in terms of camera setup. The Flip 4 also has a bigger battery, but it doesn’t actually cross into Samsung flagship territory at 3,700 mAh.
Verdict: a cool clamshell that’ll shine more brightly in the future
The folding feature on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 brought me joy. Thanks to its shape, the clamshell foldable is not only an excellent photography assistant, but also a compact smartphone companion. In one flip, its large display scales down into a wieldy square.
The technology, however, is still in its early stages, expensive and sensitive. Over time, manufacturers will hopefully use this form factor more and more efficiently – and display manufacturers make the folding glass more resistant. I expect the Flip 4 and its foldable brothers have a bright future ahead of them.
You’re intent on getting a foldable smartphone today, and don’t mind paying a lot for it and making certain compromises? Then I can highly recommend the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
«I want it all! The terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles!» – these words spoken by an iconic American TV celebrity could have been mine. It's a take on life I also apply to my job. What does this mean in concrete terms? That every story has its charm; no matter how small, large, exciting or trivial. The more eclectic the mix, the better.
