Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is essentially the most moveable and enjoyable telephone I’ve examined this yr. It’s the “have your cake and eat it too” of smartphones. You can fold its engaging, slender, 6.7-inch excessive refresh-rate display in half, turning it into one thing the dimensions of a drink coaster that simply matches in most pockets. The Z Flip 4 can be the most effective realizations of Samsung’s folding telephone aesthetic so far. You can use it similar to a standard “candy bar” telephone however get the additional advantage of it being tremendous moveable and entry to a number of particular options that are not discovered on different telephones except for the Fold.
LikeFun foldable designThe high-refresh fee display seems to be goodMain digital camera takes good images in medium and low gentle
Don’t LikeCover display wants extra functionalityBattery barely will get by way of a dayThe ultrawide and selfie cameras are simply commonThe worth is excessive
The Flip 4 begins at $1,000. Most of that worth is as a result of it could fold in half, but it surely additionally packs one of the crucial highly effective and environment friendly processors present in any Samsung telephone. That worth additionally will get you a sturdy construct and one thing that the majority devices lack: character. To quote Jules from Pulp Fiction, “Personality goes a long way.”Nearly every thing concerning 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” shade scheme for it. But the identical may be stated about final yr’s Galaxy Z Flip 3, which Samsung continues to promote at a reduced worth. I used to be hesitant to advocate the Flip 3 as a result of its battery life wasn’t nice and the cameras have been simply OK. And these caveats nonetheless exist for final yr’s Flip even at its decrease $900 worth.
Galaxy Z Flip 4 costs
Storage
US Price
UK Price
AU Price
256GB
$1,000
£999
AU$1,499
512GB
$1,060
£1,059
AU$1,649
1TB
$1,180
£1,199
AU$1,849
The new Galaxy Z Flip 4 inherits all the great issues from its predecessor and addresses a lot of the Flip 3’s shortcomings. For over two weeks, I examined a evaluation pattern on mortgage from Samsung. While I appreciated the entire upgrades massive and small, Samsung might nonetheless go additional, particularly by way of extending the battery life and bettering the digital camera high quality. I’d additionally prefer to see extra performance on the duvet show.Still, the Galaxy Z Flip will not be really prepared for the lots till it could reliably get by way of an extended day on a single cost. The Flip 4 is not there but, but it surely’s getting shut. It’s additionally value a point out that, although the telephone prices $1,000, Samsung and wi-fi carriers have been closely subsidizing the worth, making it a bit extra palatable for many who actually need one.Read extra: Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: Why I Can’t Get Enough of Samsung’s New Phone
The Flip 4’s design is enjoyable and minimalisticYou’d be forgiven for complicated the Flip 3 and Flip 4. They are nearly an identical, which is okay as a result of the design works so properly. The Flip 4 was upgraded with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, aluminum sides, a extra sturdy major display and a minuscule enhance in weight that provides as much as the Flip 4 feeling stable. Though I’d by no means describe the telephone as heavy. It has a pleasant, satisfyingly agency really feel. I did not have to child it or deal with it otherwise from another telephones I exploit. It has an IPX8 ranking for water resistance, which means it may be submerged as much as 1.5 meters (about 5 ft) for 30 minutes. But as spectacular as that’s, the Flip 4 lacks mud resistance.
The telephone has a brand new matte end, which in purple does not present fingerprints. It’s much better than the shiny end on the Flip 3. I dig how the Flip 4’s aluminum sides have a shiny purple hue to them.If you are questioning concerning the display crease, it is nonetheless there. It does not hassle me, however I get why some folks may be delay by it. It’s not that noticeable because you’re seemingly to make use of the Flip 4, like several telephone, head-on.
Read extra: Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 Unboxing: Here’s What’s within the FieldThe Flip 4’s show is not laminated to a glass panel like an everyday telephone. There’s only a minute layer that separates your finger from the excessive refresh fee display, and it seems like there’s nothing between your fingertips and the web — otherwise you and your images.This may appear foolish to say, however the Flip 4 is pleasant to open and shut. It takes a bit 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 “personality” I discussed earlier. These are the main points you are paying $1,000 for.The cowl display is an identical to the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
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The little cowl display that attemptedOn the surface of the Flip 4 is a petite cowl show that is the identical measurement because the one on the Flip 3. In phrases of performance, it is largely the identical as properly. I want it did extra.
You can now ship canned responses to sure messaging apps instantly from the duvet show. But there is not an choice to sort or dictate a reply with out opening up the telephone. Of every thing on the Flip 4, the duvet display is the place the place Samsung might do extra.The exterior show on the Motorola Razr (2020) is bigger and has way more performance than the Z Flip 4.
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When I reviewed the 2020 Motorola Razr, its exterior show actually opened my eyes to what was potential. I used to be ready to make use of the Razr’s Quick View show as a tiny Android telephone. I even obtained video video games like PUBG Mobile to work on the exterior show.To be clear, I needn’t play Call of Duty on the Flip 4’s cowl show. But how a few smartwatch-like keyboard for replies? Or perhaps a bigger cowl show? There’s lots 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 permits you to edit a photograph in Flex Mode whereas conserving the image on the highest half of the display. Flex Mode on earlier Flips and Folds awkwardly moved the photograph to the center.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s hinge permits it to remain at varied angles. When it is near perpendicular it could activate Flex Mode for the software program.
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Most apps aren’t optimized for Flex Mode however Samsung has a artistic workaround in Settings referred to as Labs that allows you to drive any app into Flex Mode. Usually meaning the app strikes to the highest half and Samsung’s default Flex Mode interface is on the underside. So technically it really works, but it surely does not actually do a lot.The massive new addition to Flex Mode is that it will get a trackpad and tiny cursor. You can click on buttons and open menus with the world’s tiniest cursor, or use two fingers to swipe and transfer round like exploring avenue view in Google Maps. This trackpad looks like a novel concept, however in precise use it isn’t very sensible.There are two exterior cameras on the Flip 4: a major wide-angle and an ultrawide.
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A minor digital camera improve however main versatilityThe Flip 4 has the identical selfie and ultrawide cameras which might be included on the Flip 3. The major digital camera will get a brand new picture sensor which, just like the battery, offers images a lift in picture high quality, however nothing main.Photos from the Flip 4 have a pleasant, punchy look by way of distinction and shade. For some, the best way the Flip 4 processes colours would possibly look over-saturated.
Here is a superb instance of how the Flip 4 renders colours. It straddles the road between being saturated and oversaturated.
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Surprisingly, that new major sensor comes into its personal when taking images in low-light situations. Photos have good element and never lots of picture noise until you are zoomed in. The Flip 4 does not have a devoted telephoto digital camera, and meaning you rely totally on digital zoom, which is the place the picture begins to crumble.This may be certainly one of my favourite images from the Flip 4. The dynamic vary and particulars look good.
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A portrait mode pic of Maisie the cat.
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I used the Flip 4 positioned in an L-shape to seize this snap of some gnocchi I used to be cooking.
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This was taken with the ultrawide digital camera. In good lighting, you will get some first rate images with it.
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I dig the best way the Flip 4 captured this outdated VW bug, particularly the delicate variations within the automobile’s blue and the sky.
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This is an evening mode photograph of some eucalyptus bushes lit with coloured lights.
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I took this selfie utilizing the primary rear digital camera. The digital camera’s preview can present on the duvet show to assist with framing.
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Despite having B-grade cameras, the Flip 4 offers you one of the crucial versatile digital camera setups on any telephone. The indisputable fact that it could fold and maintain its place means you are in a position to put the telephone almost wherever and place it at a bunch of various angles. I used to be in a position to seize a video of my cat enjoying 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 images and movies. Previous Flips severely cropped the digital camera preview on the duvet show making it a problem to border group selfies. The new preview performance and the flexibility to set off the digital camera shutter by holding your hand up means the Flip 4 may very well be the most effective artistic instruments for capturing social media content material.A diminutive enhance in battery lifeThe 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. However, 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 if I used my telephone closely to observe movies, take images or have a video name, that battery lasted me till early night at finest.
I undoubtedly 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 telephone. But it is nonetheless one thing to contemplate.The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4 are essentially the most highly effective telephones Samsung presently sells.
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Over 45 minutes with the display at full brightness, I watched a few YouTube movies, scrolled my Instagram feed, performed a bout of PUBG Mobile, then raced a circuit in Mario Kart Tour, took a 5-minute video name through Zoom and, lastly, performed Alto’s Odyssey. The battery went from 70% to 56%.The 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 break up display runs properly. And the efficiency was spectacular, particularly when it got here to benchmark exams which permits us to check the efficiency of 1 telephone in opposition to one other. The Flip 4 carried out higher than final yr’s Flip 3 and even the Galaxy S22.
GEEKBENCH V.5.0 SINGLE-CORE
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
GEEKBENCH V.5.0 MULTICORE
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMARK SLINGSHOT UNLIMITED
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Flip 4 vs. Flip 3 vs. Flip 5G vs. S22If you’re a present Flip 3 consumer, do you have to improve? I would not. I do not assume you get sufficient “new” on the Flip 4 to warrant a year-over-year improve. If you are attempting to resolve between getting a Flip 4 or a reduced Flip 3, that is a harder conundrum. I’d most likely push you to get the Flip 3 and get monetary savings.
If you’ve got an authentic Flip or a Flip 5G, I do assume upgrading is value it, particularly for those who can snag a kind 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 major show.The Flip 3 and Flip 4 are onerous to inform aside. But the Flip 3 value rather less.
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If you are deciding between a Flip 4 and a Galaxy S22, your selection actually comes down as to whether you need a telephone that folds or not. You’re actually paying $200 extra for that functionality. While the Flip 4 has a sooner processor, the Galaxy S22’s battery lasts longer on a single cost.
At the tip of the day, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a pleasant reminder that an progressive design that balances type, perform and enjoyable goes a great distance. And whereas all of the upgrades are a step in the appropriate path, the Flip 4 nonetheless comes up quick at fundamentals like battery life and pictures.