The Samsung Galaxy Fold was revolutionary when it was originally introduced in 2019. Even though the overall formula hasn’t altered dramatically three generations later, Samsung has greatly improved it. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the most advanced foldable produced by the firm to date thanks to those years of improvement.
On August 10, 2022, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was released as part of the summer season of Galaxy Unpacked events. The general sale date was set for August 26 and preorders began that day. At the same event, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is simply a more refined version of the company’s already-proven formula. The new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC upgrades both the processor and cameras. The design has been slightly modified to provide a little bit more screen real estate, better durability, and an all-around more attractive grip. The experience is further enhanced by some new software techniques and new colors.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 doesn’t significantly change from its predecessors overall. As usual, it seems to be a “regular” smartphone when folded, although a rather thick one. However, if you open it up like a book, a sizable foldable display is revealed. When you need more space, the inner display lets you use it like a tablet, while the outer display lets you use it like a regular smartphone.
There is hardly any competition for Samsung in the foldables market. The competition it does have—from Motorola, Oppo, Xiaomi, and a few other companies—cannot compete with Samsung’s global presence. In North America, you have two options if you want a foldable phone: a Samsung “fold” type phone or a Samsung “flip” style phone.
In light of this, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is currently the greatest foldable smartphone available worldwide. It has many advantages over the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and is more powerful and capable than the Galaxy Z Fold 3 from a year ago. If you want a folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the best one you can get right now.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 not only has some of the best hardware on the market, but it also boasts the best software commitment of any foldable available. Samsung will send security updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for five years and four Android upgrades, making it a good long-term investment.
Obviously, this phone is pricey. A used or refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 3 could be a better choice if you can’t afford the minimum price of $1,799. A Galaxy Z Flip 4 is another option and starts at $999. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is now the best option if you want a phone that also functions as a small tablet.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | |
|---|---|
| Displays | Exterior: – 1.9-inch Super AMOLED – 512 x 260 – Gorilla Glass Victus Plus Interior: – 6.7-inch Super AMOLED – 120Hz refresh rate – 2,640 x 1,080) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128, 256, or 512GB UFS 3.1 No expandable storage |
| Power | 3,700mAh battery 25W Super Fast Charging Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare No charger in the box |
| Cameras | Exterior: – 12MP wide, 1.8μm, OIS, Dual Pixel AF, ƒ/1.8 – 12MP ultrawide, 1.12μm, ƒ/2.2Internal: – 10MP, 1.22μm, ƒ/2.4 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos support No 3.5mm headphone port |
| SIM | Single nano-SIM tray eSIM support |
| Biometrics | Side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor |
| Software | Android 12 One UI 4.1 |
| Dimensions and weight | Folded dimensions: – 84.9 x 71.9 x 17.1mm (measured at hinge)Unfolded dimensions: – 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9mmWeight: – 187gIPX8 water resistance |
| Colors | Global: Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, BlueBespoke Edition: – Front/back: Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red – Frame: Silver, Black, Gold |
