Samsung is still one of the best brands in the market for a foldable, which isn’t a surprising conclusion given that their flagship model is three generations deep. As a result, it is unsurprising that the fourth-generation model, the Galaxy Z Fold4, offers a slew of adjustments and upgrades over the previous model while offering any new in terms of technology.
SPECIFICATIONS
- LTE, 4G, 5G
- Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, WiFi 6
- IPX8 Rating, stereo speakers, Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Gen 1 processor plus Snapdragon 8
- 2176×1812 resolution, 120hz adaptive refresh rate, 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex Internal Display
- 2316×904 resolution, 120hz adaptive refresh rate, 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED External Display
- 2316×904 resolution, 120hz adaptive refresh rate, 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED External Display
- 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, 10-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera with Dual OIS, PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera with OIS and Dual Pixel AF
- 4-megapixel f/1.8 under-display selfie camera (inner display)
- 10-megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera (outer display)
- 12GB LPDDR5X RAM
- 1TB/ 256GB/ 512GB UFS 3.1 storage
- 4400mAh battery
- 25w fast charging
- Android 12, One UI 4.0
DESIGN
The design of Samsung’s flagship foldable model hasn’t altered – the Galaxy Z Fold4 still has an inner display, requiring the use of two display panels – one on the inside and one on the outside.
Shorter and wider displays are preferable for overall usability here – there’s no need to make these phones bigger than your normal handset when there’s a larger internal display if you need extra room.
The phone has the feature of water resistance because of the IPX8 designation, which still amazes us given how many moving parts this thing has. The frame is still made of Samsung’s Armored Aluminum metal alloy, and the Galaxy Z Fold4 still boasts a fingerprint scanner for safe log-ins.
DISPLAY
The Galaxy Z Fold4 features two screens: an external display on the front and a larger, folding panel inside.
The inside panel is a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with an aspect ratio of 21.6:18 and a resolution of 2176×1812. While the exterior 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen has a new aspect ratio of 23.1:9 and a resolution of 2316×904. Both displays support adjustable refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
The two panels on the Galaxy Z Fold4 have excellent display quality. There’s nothing quite like a Samsung-made screen, which is why many of its competitors use Samsung displays in their own phones, and there’s enough space here for both work and enjoyment.
The phone’s size adjustment is a great surprise for its overall usability. One of the major complaints about Samsung’s prior Folds was how difficult the exterior panel was to use with standard apps. One of the things people appreciated best about the Huawei Mate Xs 2 was how natural it felt to use with the screen folded. The adjusted size of the foldable has done wonders for the exterior screen’s usage, however, the phone is still somewhat hefty when folded.
CAMERAS
The Galaxy Z Fold4 comes with three cameras: a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera with Dual Pixel AF and OIS, and a 10-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera with Dual OIS, 3x optical zoom, and PDAF.
Samsung has historically saved its best cameras for its S series of handsets, which are released at the start of the year, so the expectations for camera performance on the Galaxy Z Fold4 are lowered slightly. Samsung has added some capabilities to the telephoto, which now includes 30x Space Zoom, and moreover, those cameras are no slouch.
SOFTWARE, PERFORMANCE, AND BATTERY
As we all know, Samsung designed the Fold to be a Multitasking Monster, and they’ve made some UI modifications to push that even further.
One way they achieve this is by simply adding a dock to the base of the screen when you run programs, allowing you to swiftly navigate between apps to get more work done or perhaps make it simpler to cover that you’ve taken a little YouTube break at work. The alternative option is a very nice solution for individuals who want to maximize their screen real estate.
They have also launched App Pairing, which essentially launches two apps you have specified to tag team in a single press.
Furthermore, it comes as no surprise that the Galaxy Fold4 boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 plus Gen 1 chipset, as well as greater RAM and storage. You have undoubtedly guessed by now that the Galaxy Z Fold4 is a genuine flagship, outfitted with the greatest internals to buy. It works just as you would expect from a phone of such level, as soon as you unlock its screen, it feels exceptionally speedy and intuitive.
Aside from superb hardware, the Galaxy Z Fold4 also includes excellent software. According to Samsung, the internal camera should perform better with apps like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. It lacks auto framing, which is present in the Tab S8 Ultra.
The Galaxy Z Fold4 has 2 battery cells on opposing sides that combine to provide 4400mAh of power. There is a 25W of fast charging here, which is slow (positively) compared to its competitors’ charging rates, but if you have been using Samsung for a long time, you will realize that they prefer to play it safe when it comes to charging speeds.
PRICE REVIEW
The Galaxy Z Fold4 featured in this review costs 98,990 in the Philippines and the price differs based on the storage. The 128GB and 256GB models cost around 105,990 Php, respectively, plus a PHP 119,990 samsung.com exclusive in Phantom Black and Gray Green. Customers may also get the 256GB Beige model, which is only available on the Samsung website. This item is available for purchase at Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com, Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, and MemoXpress.
VERDICT
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is the most polished device on the market. That doesn’t change the fact that the Galaxy Z Fold4 is substantially more expensive than your average flagship phone, though if you’re looking for a foldable, you already know that.
