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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 was unveiled on August 10, 2022, at the summer installment of its Galaxy Unpacked events. Customers could start pre-ordering that same day, with a general sales date of August 26. Additional products launched at the same time included the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
At the end of the day, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn’t all that different from its predecessors. Just like always, it resembles a “normal” smartphone in its folded state — albeit a very thick one. Nevertheless, if you unfold it like a book, you’ll discover the large foldable display hidden underneath. Its outer display allows it to provide a traditional smartphone experience while its inner display offers a tablet-like experience for when you need more space.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 provides moderate improvements rather than a dramatic change.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is merely an improvement of the company’s existing and successful designs. The processor and cameras have all been upgraded, including the new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC. The design has been slightly altered to allow for more screen space, increased durability, and an improved hold. Some new software tricks and colors also contribute to the experience.
When was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 released by Samsung?
While these small upgrades make for a better phone, there is no significant change. In other words, a person who owns a Galaxy Z Fold 3 is unlikely to find many reasons to upgrade.
The starting price for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage is $1,799. The 512GB and 1TB models, which both come with 12GB of RAM, are also available.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 a worthy purchase?
Samsung is nearly unmatched in the foldables space. The competition it does have — from Oppo, Xiaomi, Motorola, and a few others — can’t compare to Samsung’s global reach. Simply put, if you live in North America and want a foldable phone, you have two choices: a “fold” style phone from Samsung or a “flip” style phone from Samsung.
In light of this, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is now the best foldable smartphone on the market from a global perspective. It is more powerful and capable than last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and has numerous advantages over even the Galaxy Z Flip 4. If you want a foldable smartphone and you want it to be the best on the market, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the ideal choice.
Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the best foldable smartphone on the market.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 not only has some of the best hardware available, but also the best software commitment of any foldable out there. Samsung will provide four Android upgrades and five years of security patches to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, making it a safe long-term investment.
Obviously, this phone is pricey. A used or refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 3 can 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.
Opinions of experts on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 won our hearts over here at Android Authority. We rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review. It also received the esteemed Editor’s Choice award from us. We adored Android 12L’s performance, newly improved cameras, increased durability, and fantastic software updates.
However, we weren’t really fond of its short battery life, the absence of a S Pen, or its centre crease, which is still all too noticeable. Although there isn’t much competition yet to push Samsung to lower that price, we too bemoaned its high pricing.
Here are the opinions of experts who have reviewed the Galaxy Z Fold 4 elsewhere online:
- Allison Johnson at The Verge: Allison rated the Galaxy Z Fold 4 lower than we did, giving it a 7/10 rating. Allison gave the Galaxy Z Fold 4 positive reviews for its camera, software, and performance but gave it negative reviews for its price, weight, and design as well as the fact that Android still doesn’t handle tablet form factors well enough or offer enough distinctive features.
- Cnet’s Patrick Holland: Patrick gave the phone an 8.2/10 rating, which is comparable to our own rating. Like us, he adored the new cameras, software features, and updates to the durability. He bemoaned the exorbitant cost, the absence of a storage compartment for the S Pen, and the scarcity of Android apps that support foldables and huge displays.
- At PhoneArena, Rado Minkov: The gadget received the same rating from Rado—9/10—as we did. It’s interesting to note that he shared all of our complaints and compliments, yet he thought the battery life was excellent despite the fact that it didn’t pass muster in our testing.
Is the camera on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 good?
In our review, we praised the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cameras as being excellent. This is a welcome improvement, as we weren’t really impressed with the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s performance.
Here is a reminder of the hardware you receive:
- Exterior rear:
- 50MP wide, 1.0μm, OIS, Dual Pixel AF, ƒ/1.8
- 12MP ultrawide, 1.12μm, ƒ/2.2
- 10MP telephoto, 1.0μm, OIS, 3x zoom, ƒ/2.4
- Exterior front:
- 10MP ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm
- Internal UDC:
- 4MP, 2.0μm, ƒ/1.8
These cameras are very similar to those found in the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus. The ultrawide lens, which is a significant upgrade over the one found in the Galaxy S22 phones, is a notable exception.
How does the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 compare?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a battery capacity of 4,400mAh. This is the same capacity as the Galaxy Z Fold 3 from 2021.
Battery life was mediocre in our review of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. When we returned to the phone six months later, we discovered that the battery life was “not so good.”
Given that Samsung hasn’t increased battery capacity this year, it’s not surprising that we think the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s battery is also subpar. If battery life is a major concern for you, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 — or any foldable — should probably not be on your short list.
There aren’t many changes in the charging department, either. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 charges via cable at the same 25W rate as its predecessor, though for the fastest charging times, you’ll need a USB PD PPS charger. Wireless and reverse wireless charging speeds are similar, and there is no charger included.
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