At a time when all smartphones tend to look the same and offer the same innovations or features, Samsung stands out with its Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4. Two foldable screen smartphones that offer, in their respective style, , space saving for different uses.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 updates the flip phone, giving it a modern twist. Full screen on the inside, more minimalist screen for notifications on the outside, power under the hood and honest photo: it has everything to seduce those who would give in to the call of its concept. If the price does not cool them (from 1109 euros).
The newcomer to the Samsung clamshell range opts in 2022 for straight edges that contrast with previous models with curves on the sides and angles. Hence to say that there is inspiration on the side of the iPhone 13 for this redesign that is being emulated everywhere… This has the merit that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 fits better in the palm of the hand (71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1 mm folded) and even in the unfolded hand (6.9 mm thick). He also has a well spread weight (187g) for him, without being a featherweight in the sector.
The matte surface is also pleasant to the touch and does not collect fingerprints. With the outer notification screen adorned with dual photo sensors and flash, the dual-texture look gives it a classy and elegant finish. The good news for a smartphone with a folding screen is also to know that it is resistant to fresh water and shows an IPX8 certification (immersion up to 1.50 m for 30 minutes). On the other hand, it will not withstand interfering dust.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is available in four colors (blue, purple, gold, black) and can also be personalized thanks to the Bespoke option that offers different colored cases to assemble according to your wishes.
What sets the Galaxy Z Flip 4 apart from other smartphones (except for the Motorola RAZR with its less polished design) is its appearance. A small square format that fits in a shirt or pants pocket before being opened to see larger. The Z Flip 4 returns to the clamshell format of yesteryear, but this time it makes way for a very wide 22:9 screen. A perfect template for watching movies.
Those who find today’s smartphones too big will be delighted with this compact size that presents serious advantages of use. With its strong hinge, it holds perfectly in flex mode, folded at a right angle to 90°. You can then put it down to make a video call without having to take it in your hand, or activate the camera for selfies while standing in front of it.
We particularly appreciated the ability to display two apps on top of each other on the screen, or a document on top and the keyboard below. The interface seamlessly and immediately adapts to the format for a large number of applications. And even for watching a video, it’s nice to be able to just put it on a piece of furniture, on a table in front of you without it falling over.
The FlexCam, the multi-position camera
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a dual camera on the rear (or top depending on the design of the device) with wide angle and ultra wide angle (12 megapixels each). On the other hand, there is no optical zoom -it is noticeable- nor effective optical stabilization. Do not try to make close-ups from afar (4x or 10x zoom), the result is not terrible. But the portrait mode is still very well done.
At night, the Z Flip 4 does honorably in photos, but it’s not the fastest in its class in this area. Still, we appreciate the ability to take selfies by unfolding the device or leaning on its external screen. When taking the external display out of standby mode, the camera can be accessed by double pressing the power button.
A mini screen then appears, to get an idea of the selfie to come and with the possibility of choosing the mode (photo, portrait, video). All you have to do is wait for the countdown to end and smile. Suitable for quick drawing. It is also possible to shoot in 4K/60 FPS or in 4K/30 FPS in selfie.
A large qualitative screen and its double mini
The screen has always been an asset at Samsung and the Z Flip 4 is not enough. It has a 6.7-inch diagonal Super Amoled main screen (2640 x 1080 pixels), capable of folding in half. Inevitably, therefore, we must deal with the existence of a crease in the middle. But it must be recognized that over time, Samsung has learned to make it more and more discreet, to make it almost invisible with practice.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers an image refresh rate of 120 Hz that is adaptive, that is, it varies according to the needs of the moment to consume less energy from your battery. A technology already widespread in high-end models, but which provides a real plus in terms of fluidity. We also like on this screen the multiple side shortcuts made possible by a pull-and-customize tab.
Too small to be useful in the first models, the external screen now shows a considerable format with its 1.9-inch diagonal. It’s not a real secondary screen like you find on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it’s more than enough to take a quick look at your smartphone without having to open it. This is where notifications, incoming calls or access to various widgets (music, weather, stopwatch, home automation, etc.) appear.
The weaknesses of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The format that is not suitable for everyone
The format of the Z Flip 4 is its greatest asset… and its main drawback, at least according to your tastes. Because a folding device is also one more manipulation to consult an application, read an email or simply answer a call. If the outer screen is larger than when you started, it’s still minimalistic and will be used primarily for quickly reading incoming notifications (starting emails, SMS, etc.). This may bore some.
Unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a thin but narrow screen, which requires a little more scrolling to read an article, for example. Those who are used to typing on the keyboard should not have fingers that are too big to avoid typos.
Some light autonomy
Autonomy was one of the points to settle on the previous model and Samsung seems to have listened to it a bit. But this does not mean that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has become a lightning bolt in terms of its battery. Samsung’s foldable lasts a good day in fairly standard use (email, browsing, calls, app usage, photos, and a bit of video). But it tends to shrink quickly if you push it a bit. We are here in a fairly average autonomy -low trend- as for the latest Galaxy S22 of the brand, far from the tenors of the market.
It must be said that to make it compact, Samsung did not provide it with a gigantic battery (3700 mAh). And it does not compensate with fast charging. It takes almost 1h20 to fully charge it with the charger that is included in the box. An optional more powerful charger can still offer faster charging.
A price that still hasn’t doubled
If the price has dropped significantly since the induction of the first Galaxy Z Flip of the name at the beginning of 2020 (1509 euros at the time), it is, however, very high and keeps the dragee high for much better premium smartphones in innovations. especially in photography
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 thus starts at 1,109 euros for 8 GB of RAM and only 128 GB of storage, a somewhat light total in 2022 in this price range (count 1,289 euros for 512 GB). If you feel like falling in love with a Bespoke edition and choosing a color glossy for your helmets, you will have to add 100 euros to the bill. Originality is also money.
conclusion
Wake up or not support, this folding format has the merit of originality. Samsung revives the modern flip phone, with a very large screen, taking up half the space, it fits perfectly in a pants pocket, a jacket or even a shirt.
The choice of format is the main criterion for a smartphone that is quite expensive, powerful, but not necessarily at the same level in terms of autonomy and photographic quality as competing models in its price range. If you want a flip smartphone, version 2022, the Z Flip 4 is an excellent product, you can count on magnificent finishes from Samsung, and an interface that remains just as intuitive.
Source: BFM TV
