Tech Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4 Offer More Grace than Gimmick

Earlier this year, we took the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra out for a test run to a music festival and the smartphone more than exceeded expectations when it came to capturing a dynamic environment.

Now, with the launch of their new phones — Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 — we are seeing the kind of camera features that would be great for indoor and social gatherings. This is owed heavily to the fact that both phones are foldable and that means the Flip4 and Fold4 both lend themselves to having a natural stand or tabling feature.

This isn’t Samsung’s first crack at foldable tech, though. As the name suggests, this is the fourth generation of foldable phones from the South Korean company. From 2019 until now, we imagine there have been several times they’ve gone back to the drawing board with this kind of folding screens.

That said, this time around, there’s a lot to like about a folding phone and some downsides as well. With the Flip4, the crease in the screen is hardly visible during usage and when fully unfolded, looks like any other phone. The Fold4 is unmistakably wide when it’s opened up, but even here, the crease isn’t visible. It’s a wholly different matter that you’re probably going to need both hands to get a good grip on the Fold4.

When the Flip4 is folded, it’s in a way shutting it close. It might remind one of the way that flip phones were shut to end a call or for safekeeping and that adds an important perspective on human interaction. Flipping a phone shut is a great way to be less distracted by a screen. However, if you fully intend to be distracted, the Flip4 has a rectangular cover screen next to its camera for quick browsing via widgets, even allowing you to take calls or send messages.

With the Fold4, there’s a third screen (that’s widely been taken down a few pegs owing to how it can easily be a fingerprint magnet) that can be accessed once folded. But really, what Samsung wants you to do here is use your phone in any and all manner possible — it could be half folded and sitting on a counter for excellent handsfree and stable camera recording and photos. The Fold4 can be opened up for a tablet-level vibrant resolution and even lets you navigate three or four app screens at once (as it should, given the on-screen real estate).

If firing up multiple screens or navigating several tasks at once is your thing, then the Flip4 and Fold4 are for you. Of course, this comes with the not-so-enviable price tag of ₹89,999 (for the Flip4 with 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM), ₹94,999 (for the Flip4 with 256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM) and upwards of ₹1,54,999 (for the Fold4 with 256 GB storage and 12 GB RAM).

Even then, as far as high-end phones go, these are two suave new offerings from Samsung with decent battery life, plenty of antics for camera-loving users, vibrant screens which adapt in so many different ways and multi-tasking capabilities that push the limits of mobile productivity.