Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: Pure Fun, but More of the Same

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is essentially the most transportable and enjoyable cellphone I’ve examined this 12 months. It is the “have your cake and eat it too” of smartphones. You possibly can fold its enticing, slender, 6.7-inch excessive refresh-rate display in half, turning it into one thing the dimensions of a drink coaster that simply matches in most pockets. 

The Z Flip 4 can also be probably the greatest realizations of Samsung’s folding cellphone aesthetic to this point. You should utilize it identical to a standard “sweet bar” cellphone however get the additional advantage of it being tremendous transportable and entry to a number of particular options that are not discovered on different telephones apart from the Fold.

The Flip 4 begins at $1,000. Most of that worth is as a result of it will probably fold in half, however it additionally packs one of the highly effective and environment friendly processors present in any Samsung cellphone. That worth additionally will get you a sturdy construct and one thing that the majority devices lack: character. To cite Jules from Pulp Fiction, “Persona goes a good distance.”

Practically the whole lot concerning the Flip 4 feels enjoyable and approachable, from its petite, squared-off footprint when it is closed to the truth that you may select your personal “bespoke” colour scheme for it. However the identical may be mentioned about final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 3, which Samsung continues to promote at a reduced worth. I used to be hesitant to suggest the Flip 3 as a result of its battery life wasn’t nice and the cameras had been simply OK. And people caveats nonetheless exist for final 12 months’s Flip even at its lower $900 price.

The brand new Galaxy Z Flip 4 inherits all the nice issues from its predecessor and addresses many of the Flip 3’s shortcomings. For over two weeks, I examined a evaluation pattern on mortgage from Samsung. Whereas I appreciated the entire upgrades massive and small, Samsung may nonetheless go additional, particularly when it comes to extending the battery life and bettering the digicam high quality. I would additionally prefer to see extra performance on the quilt show.

Nonetheless, the Galaxy Z Flip will not be actually prepared for the plenty till it will probably reliably get by way of an extended day on a single cost. The Flip 4 is not there but, however it’s getting shut. 

It is also price a point out that, though the cellphone prices $1,000, Samsung and wireless carriers have been heavily subsidizing the price, making it a bit extra palatable for individuals who really need one.

Learn extra: Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: Why I Can’t Get Enough of Samsung’s New Phone

The Flip 4’s design is enjoyable and minimalistic

You would be forgiven for complicated the Flip 3 and Flip 4. They’re just about similar, which is ok as a result of the design works so properly. The Flip 4 was upgraded with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, aluminum sides, a extra sturdy principal display and a minuscule enhance in weight that provides as much as the Flip 4 feeling stable. Although I would by no means describe the cellphone as heavy. It has a pleasant, satisfyingly agency really feel. I did not must child it or deal with it otherwise from another telephones I exploit. 

It has an IPX8 ranking for water resistance, which means it may be submerged as much as 1.5 meters (about 5 toes) for half-hour. However as spectacular as that’s, the Flip 4 lacks mud resistance.

The cellphone has a brand new matte end, which in purple does not present fingerprints. It is higher than the shiny end on the Flip 3. I dig how the Flip 4’s aluminum sides have a shiny purple hue to them.

In the event you’re questioning concerning the display crease, it is nonetheless there. It does not hassle me, however I get why some individuals is perhaps delay by it. It is not that noticeable because you’re probably to make use of the Flip 4, like several cellphone, head-on.

Learn extra: Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 Unboxing: Here’s What’s in the Box

The Flip 4’s show is not laminated to a glass panel like an everyday cellphone. There’s only a minute layer that separates your finger from the excessive refresh charge display, and it looks like there may be nothing between your fingertips and the web — otherwise you and your images.

This may appear foolish to say, however the Flip 4 is pleasant to open and shut. It takes a little bit time to get used to, however after a day or so I used to be in a position to flick it open one-handed, Captain Kirk model. The closing sound is ridiculously gratifying and provides to that “character” I discussed earlier. These are the small print you are paying $1,000 for.

The little cowl display that attempted

On the skin of the Flip 4 is a petite cowl show that is the identical measurement because the one on the Flip 3. By way of performance, it is largely the identical as properly. I want it did extra. 

Now you can ship canned responses to sure messaging apps immediately from the quilt show. However there is not an choice to sort or dictate a reply with out opening up the cellphone. Of the whole lot on the Flip 4, the quilt display is the place the place Samsung may do extra.

When I reviewed the 2020 Motorola Razr, its exterior show actually opened my eyes to what was attainable. I used to be in a position to make use of the Razr’s Fast View show as a tiny Android cellphone. I even acquired video video games like PUBG Cell to work on the exterior show.

To be clear, I need not play Name of Responsibility on the Flip 4’s cowl show. However how a few smartwatch-like keyboard for replies? Or possibly a bigger cowl show? There’s numerous house to increase the present one.

Then there’s Flex Mode, which triggers software program to vary when the Flip 4 is positioned midway open. App content material strikes to the highest half and instruments and settings are on the backside. There are extra apps optimized for Flex Mode, like Instagram and Samsung’s personal Gallery app which now enables you to edit a photograph in Flex Mode whereas protecting the image on the highest half of the display. Flex Mode on earlier Flips and Folds awkwardly moved the picture to the center.

Most apps aren’t optimized for Flex Mode however Samsung has a artistic workaround in Settings known as Labs that allows you to pressure any app into Flex Mode. Normally which means the app strikes to the highest half and Samsung’s default Flex Mode interface is on the underside. So technically it really works, however it does not actually do a lot.

The large new addition to Flex Mode is that it will get a trackpad and tiny cursor. You possibly can click on buttons and open menus with the world’s tiniest cursor, or use two fingers to swipe and transfer round like exploring avenue view in Google Maps. This trackpad looks like a novel thought, however in precise use it isn’t very sensible.

A minor digicam improve however main versatility

The Flip 4 has the identical selfie and ultrawide cameras which are included on the Flip 3. The principle digicam will get a brand new picture sensor which, just like the battery, provides images a lift in picture high quality, however nothing main.

Photographs from the Flip 4 have a pleasant, punchy look when it comes to distinction and colour. For some, the best way the Flip 4 processes colours would possibly look over-saturated.

Surprisingly, that new principal sensor comes into its personal when taking images in low-light situations. Photographs have good element and never numerous picture noise except you are zoomed in. The Flip 4 does not have a devoted telephoto digicam, and which means you rely completely on digital zoom, which is the place the picture begins to collapse.

Regardless of having B-grade cameras, the Flip 4 provides you one of the versatile digicam setups on any cellphone. The truth that it will probably fold and maintain its place means you are in a position to put the cellphone practically anyplace and place it at a bunch of various angles. I used to be in a position to seize a video of my cat enjoying at her eye stage and seize some snazzy pictures of a pan of cooking gnocchi as a result of the Flip 4 is its personal tripod.

And one small improve with mighty ramifications is that the quilt show can now present a full preview of both portrait or panorama images and movies. Earlier Flips severely cropped the digicam preview on the quilt show making it a problem to border group selfies. The brand new preview performance and the power to set off the digicam shutter by holding your hand up means the Flip 4 might be probably the greatest artistic instruments for capturing social media content material.

A diminutive enhance in battery life

The Flip 4’s bigger battery and new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, which will increase effectivity, interprets to a tiny bit longer battery life. Nevertheless, the distinction is not game-changing. On the Flip 3, I discovered myself making it to the late-afternoon earlier than it wanted to be charged. With the Flip 4, I sometimes made it by way of a day. But when I used my cellphone closely to observe movies, take images or have a video name, that battery lasted me till early night at finest.

I positively will not scoff at getting a pair extra hours on a single cost. The Flip 4’s higher battery life makes it much less of a compromise for somebody coming from a nonfolding cellphone. But it surely’s nonetheless one thing to think about.

Over 45 minutes with the display at full brightness, I watched a few YouTube movies, scrolled my Instagram feed, performed a bout of PUBG Cell, then raced a circuit in Mario Kart Tour, took a 5-minute video name through Zoom and, lastly, performed Alto’s Odyssey. The battery went from 70% to 56%.

The brand new processor and Android 12L make the Flip 4 really feel peppy and responsive. Animations look easy and gaming is enjoyable. Multitasking between two apps in cut up display runs properly. And the efficiency was spectacular, particularly when it got here to benchmark exams which permits us to check the efficiency of 1 cellphone in opposition to one other. The Flip 4 carried out higher than final 12 months’s Flip 3 and even the Galaxy S22.

Flip 4 vs. Flip 3 vs. Flip 5G vs. S22

In case you are a present Flip 3 consumer, must you improve? I would not. I do not suppose you get sufficient “new” on the Flip 4 to warrant a year-over-year improve. In the event you’re making an attempt to determine between getting a Flip 4 or a reduced Flip 3, that is a more durable conundrum. I would most likely push you to get the Flip 3 and get monetary savings.

When you have an unique Flip or a Flip 5G, I do suppose upgrading is price it, particularly if you happen to can snag one of those hefty trade-in discounts. You get a extra strong construct with water resistance, a much bigger battery, a bigger cowl display, a sooner and extra environment friendly processor and a high-refresh-rate principal show.

In the event you’re deciding between a Flip 4 and a Galaxy S22, your alternative actually comes down as to if you need a cellphone that folds or not. You are actually paying $200 extra for that functionality. Whereas the Flip 4 has a sooner processor, the Galaxy S22’s battery lasts longer on a single cost.

On the finish of the day, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a pleasant reminder that an modern design that balances type, perform and enjoyable goes a good distance. And whereas all of the upgrades are a step in the precise route, the Flip 4 nonetheless comes up quick at fundamentals like battery life and images.