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

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is essentially the most moveable 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 scale of a drink coaster that simply matches in most pockets. 

The Z Flip 4 can be among the best realizations of Samsung’s folding cellphone aesthetic so far. You should use it similar to a standard “sweet bar” cellphone however get the additional benefit of it being tremendous moveable and entry to a number of particular options that are not discovered on different telephones except for the Fold.

The Flip 4 begins at $1,000. Most of that worth is as a result of it could possibly fold in half, nevertheless it additionally packs some 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 almost all devices lack: persona. To cite Jules from Pulp Fiction, “Persona goes a good distance.”

Practically all the things in regards to 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 individual “bespoke” coloration scheme for it. However the identical could be stated 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 have been simply OK. And people caveats nonetheless exist for final 12 months’s Flip even at its decrease $900 worth.

The brand new Galaxy Z Flip 4 inherits all the great issues from its predecessor and addresses many of the Flip 3’s shortcomings. For over two weeks, I examined a overview pattern on mortgage from Samsung. Whereas I appreciated all the upgrades massive and small, Samsung might nonetheless go additional, particularly by way of extending the battery life and bettering the digicam high quality. I might additionally wish to see extra performance on the duvet show.

Nonetheless, the Galaxy Z Flip will not be really prepared for the lots till it could possibly reliably get by way of an extended day on a single cost. The Flip 4 is not there but, nevertheless it’s getting shut. 

It is also value a point out that, though the cellphone prices $1,000, Samsung and wi-fi carriers have been closely subsidizing the worth, making it a bit extra palatable for individuals who really need one.

Learn extra: Galaxy Z Fold 4 Overview: Why I Cannot Get Sufficient of Samsung’s New Telephone

The Flip 4’s design is enjoyable and minimalistic

You would be forgiven for complicated the Flip 3 and Flip 4. They’re nearly an identical, 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 primary display and a minuscule enhance in weight that provides as much as the Flip 4 feeling strong. Although I might by no means describe the cellphone as heavy. It has a pleasant, satisfyingly agency really feel. I did not have to child it or deal with it in a different way from every other telephones I take advantage of. 

It has an IPX8 ranking for water resistance, that means it may be submerged as much as 1.5 meters (about 5 ft) 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 would 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 in regards to the display crease, it is nonetheless there. It would not hassle me, however I get why some folks is perhaps postpone by it. It isn’t 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 is What’s within the Field

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 fee display, and it appears like there may be nothing between your fingertips and the web — otherwise you and your pictures.

This may appear foolish to say, however the Flip 4 is pleasant to open and shut. It takes somewhat 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 fashion. The closing sound is ridiculously gratifying and provides to that “persona” I discussed earlier. These are the main points you are paying $1,000 for.

The little cowl display that attempted

On the surface of the Flip 4 is a petite cowl show that is the identical dimension because the one on the Flip 3. When it comes to performance, it is largely the identical as properly. I want it did extra. 

Now you can ship canned responses to sure messaging apps straight from the duvet show. However there is not an choice to kind or dictate a reply with out opening up the cellphone. Of all the things on the Flip 4, the duvet display is the place the place Samsung might do extra.

When I reviewed the 2020 Motorola Razr, its exterior show actually opened my eyes to what was potential. I used to be in a position to make use of the Razr’s Fast View show as a tiny Android cellphone. I even obtained 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 couple of smartwatch-like keyboard for replies? Or perhaps a bigger cowl show? There’s plenty of area 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 inventive workaround in Settings referred to as Labs that permits you to pressure any app into Flex Mode. Normally meaning the app strikes to the highest half and Samsung’s default Flex Mode interface is on the underside. So technically it really works, nevertheless it would 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 road 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, offers pictures a lift in picture high quality, however nothing main.

Pictures from the Flip 4 have a pleasant, punchy look by way of distinction and coloration. For some, the best way the Flip 4 processes colours may look over-saturated.

Surprisingly, that new primary sensor comes into its personal when taking pictures in low-light circumstances. Pictures have good element and never plenty of picture noise except you are zoomed in. The Flip 4 would not have a devoted telephoto digicam, and meaning you rely solely on digital zoom, which is the place the picture begins to crumble.

Regardless of having B-grade cameras, the Flip 4 offers you some of the versatile digicam setups on any cellphone. The truth that it could possibly fold and maintain its place means you are in a position to put the cellphone practically wherever and place it at a bunch of various angles. I used to be in a position to seize a video of my cat taking part in 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 duvet show can now present a full preview of both portrait or panorama pictures and movies. Earlier Flips severely cropped the digicam preview on the duvet show making it a problem to border group selfies. The brand new preview performance and the flexibility to set off the digicam shutter by holding your hand up means the Flip 4 may very well be among the best inventive 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 look at movies, take pictures or have a video name, that battery lasted me till early night at greatest.

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. However it’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 by way of 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 checks which permits us to check the efficiency of 1 cellphone towards 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

If you’re a present Flip 3 consumer, must you improve? I would not. I do not assume you get sufficient “new” on the Flip 4 to warrant a year-over-year improve. In the event you’re attempting to resolve between getting a Flip 4 or a reduced Flip 3, that is a harder conundrum. I might in all probability push you to get the Flip 3 and get monetary savings.

When you have an unique Flip or a Flip 5G, I do assume upgrading is value it, particularly should you can snag a type of hefty trade-in reductions. You get a extra strong construct with water resistance, an even bigger battery, a bigger cowl display, a sooner and extra environment friendly processor and a high-refresh-rate primary show.

In the event you’re deciding between a Flip 4 and a Galaxy S22, your selection actually comes down as to whether you desire 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 progressive design that balances type, perform and enjoyable goes a good distance. And whereas all of the upgrades are a step in the fitting path, the Flip 4 nonetheless comes up brief at fundamentals like battery life and pictures.