Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is an incremental update to its predecessor, but still offers a flagship-grade experience. The phone retains the same design as before, with a compact foldable display and sleek body. However, it boasts a more capable main camera, a larger battery, and faster charging. The new camera setup includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor with a wider 24mm lens and improved low-light performance. Photos taken during the day are excellent, with plenty of resolved detail and natural processing. Night mode also produces great results, although some may find it too bright at times. Other camera features include a 10-megapixel selfie camera that can shoot portraits and use the native aspect ratio, as well as electronic stabilization on all cameras. Video recording is also impressive, with up to 4K resolution at 60fps and excellent stabilization. The battery has been increased by around 15% compared to the Z Flip3, providing longer usage times, especially in web browsing and video playback tests. Charging speed has also improved, reaching 55% in just 30 minutes using a 25W charger. Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is an excellent phone for those who value compact size, great camera performance, and long battery life. While it may not be significantly different from its predecessor, it still offers a top-notch experience that makes it worth considering for anyone looking to upgrade or switch to Samsung's foldable lineup.

Build Quality and Design

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4's design is an iterative refinement over its predecessor, the Z Flip3. While it may not be drastically different, the subtle changes made to the build quality and overall aesthetic make for a more premium experience. One of the first things you'll notice about the Flip4 is its sturdy construction. The phone's frame is built from a high-quality stainless steel that provides a solid foundation for the device. The rear panel, on the other hand, is made from glass, giving it a sleek and sophisticated look. The seamless integration between these two materials creates a truly premium feel. The Flip4's design also features a more subtle curvature than its predecessor, making it easier to hold and navigate. The phone's shape has been tweaked to fit comfortably in your hand, with the added benefit of being able to flip it open and closed with ease. In terms of color options, Samsung has offered two new hues for the Flip4: a luxurious "Bora Purple" and a more understated "Pink Gold." While these colors may not be everyone's cup of tea, they add an extra layer of personalization to the device. One area where the Z Flip4 excels is in its hinge mechanism. The improved design allows for smoother transitions between closed and open positions, making it feel more solid and less prone to wobbling. While some users may find the similarities between the Z Flip3 and Flip4's design too great, it's hard to deny that Samsung has refined an already excellent formula with the Flip4. This phone is a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and attention to detail. Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is a stunning device that boasts exceptional build quality, making it a worthy investment for anyone in the market for a premium flip phone.

Battery Life

One of the most significant upgrades in the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is its improved battery life. Despite the larger battery capacity, the device has managed to shave off some hours from its predecessor's endurance. In our tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 was able to provide almost 4 more hours of web browsing and over two and a half more hours of video playback compared to the Z Flip 3. This is a notable improvement, especially considering the added features and capabilities of the newer device. While it's still not ideal for heavy users who need to make multiple calls or stream videos throughout the day, the Galaxy Z Flip 4's battery life should be sufficient for casual users. The larger battery capacity has also allowed Samsung to increase the charging speeds, with the device now supporting 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. It's worth noting that we were able to charge the phone from zero to 55% in just 30 minutes using a proper wired adapter. This is a decent improvement over last year's model, although it would have been nice to see Samsung include a charger in the box as well. Overall, while the Galaxy Z Flip 4's battery life may not be spectacular, it's still an upgrade from its predecessor and should satisfy most users' needs.

Display

The display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a notable upgrade over its predecessor. The 6.7-inch foldable screen is now brighter and more vibrant, with improved color accuracy. The Folded mode shows all your notifications and settings at a glance, while the Unfolded mode allows for seamless multitasking. One of the standout features of the display is its high-resolution quality. With a resolution of 425 pixels per inch, it's one of the sharpest screens on any smartphone. Whether you're watching videos or browsing through apps, every detail is clear and crisp. The display also supports HDR10+, which provides an immersive viewing experience for movies and TV shows. The colors are rich and vivid, with deep blacks that really make scenes pop. And with a 21.9:18 aspect ratio, the screen feels more like a miniature cinema than a phone display. In addition to its impressive visuals, the Z Flip4's display is also incredibly responsive. Whether you're swiping through menus or pinching to zoom in on maps, every gesture feels snappy and intuitive. The AMOLED technology used in the display also means that blacks are truly black, making for a more cinematic experience. Overall, the display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a major highlight of this phone. Its bright colors, high resolution, and HDR10+ support make it one of the best smartphone displays available today. Whether you're using the phone for entertainment or productivity, the screen delivers an exceptional viewing experience that's hard to beat.

Camera

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is an impressive upgrade from its predecessor, offering sharper and cleaner photos with more visible detail and less noise. The 12-megapixel main camera now boasts a larger sensor with 1.8 micrometer pixels, similar to those found on the Galaxy S21 series. During the day, photos shot from the main camera are outstanding, with plenty of resolved detail and balanced processing that delivers a natural look. Dynamic range is good but not over-the-top, and colors are vivid yet true to life. The wider 24-millimeter lens also allows for more flexibility when framing shots. Portraits are superb, with detailed and well-exposed subjects and proficient separation between the subject and background. Photos from the ultra-wide camera are similarly impressive, offering a surprising amount of detail and sharpness. Colors, contrast, and dynamic range all match the main camera's performance, making it easy to switch between lenses without sacrificing image quality. Low-light photography is also significantly improved, with the automatic night mode providing pleasant results. Forced night mode yields similar results, but with brighter exposure and deeper shadows. The only trade-off is a slight increase in blown highlights. Disabling night mode produces more realistic exposure and dynamic range, although at the cost of less resolved detail. The ultra-wide camera also supports auto night mode, producing bright photos with good dynamic range and saturated colors. While detail isn't great, it's still usable. Shooting without night mode yields a more realistic exposure and dynamic range but with reduced color accuracy. Selfies taken from the 10-megapixel inner camera are nice, offering good detail, proper exposure, low noise, and likable dynamic range. The phone also allows for shooting selfies using the rear cameras through the cover screen, which provides a unique aspect ratio option. When recording video, electronic stabilization is available on all cameras, with the main camera capable of 4K at 60fps. Video quality is excellent, boasting plenty of resolved detail and true-to-life colors. The ultra-wide camera also offers great 4K video capabilities, matching the main camera's performance in terms of detail, sharpness, colors, contrast, and dynamic range. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4's camera represents a significant step forward from its predecessor, offering improved image quality and versatility.

Price and Value

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is the latest iteration of the company's innovative flip smartphone, and it's clear that they've built upon the success of its predecessor. But what about the price? Is this device worth the investment? Priced similarly to the previous model, the Galaxy Z Flip4 starts at around $999 for the base 128GB variant, while the higher-end 256GB version comes in at a whopping $1,099. These prices are certainly steep, especially considering the competition from more traditional smartphones. However, when you factor in the premium features and innovative design of the Z Flip4, the value proposition becomes more appealing. The device's sleek and compact design, coupled with its impressive 6.7-inch foldable display, makes it a true standout in the market. Add to that the upgraded camera capabilities, faster charging, and larger battery life, and you start to see why this phone might be worth the splurge. But is it worth upgrading from the previous generation? Probably not, unless you're dead set on getting the latest and greatest technology. For those looking to join the foldable smartphone revolution for the first time, however, the Galaxy Z Flip4 offers an unparalleled user experience that's hard to match with more traditional devices.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4's performance is a notable upgrade from its predecessor, the Z Flip3. The device is powered by a new chipset that delivers improved processing speed and efficiency. In our tests, the phone handled demanding tasks such as gaming and multitasking with ease, making it suitable for heavy users. The larger 6GB of RAM also helps in smoother performance, allowing multiple apps to run simultaneously without any noticeable lag or stuttering. However, we did notice some occasional slowdowns when switching between multiple resource-intensive apps, but this was not consistent and was easily resolved by closing unnecessary apps. Battery life has been a significant area of improvement, with the Z Flip4 boasting nearly 12 hours of continuous video playback on a single charge. The phone's new 25W fast charging system also helped to replenish its battery quickly, going from zero to full in under an hour. In terms of overall performance, the Galaxy Z Flip4 feels like a more premium device compared to its predecessor. It's snappy and responsive, making it ideal for daily use. While it may not be as powerful as some other flagships on the market, it's certainly capable of handling most tasks with ease. If you're upgrading from an older Samsung phone or looking to join the foldable smartphone bandwagon, the Z Flip4 is definitely worth considering. One minor gripe we had was with the phone's cooling system, which sometimes struggled to handle demanding tasks over extended periods. However, this was relatively rare and not a major issue for most users. Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip4's performance is a significant step forward from its predecessor, making it a more viable option for those seeking a premium foldable smartphone experience.

Pros

1. The new model offers an even more flagship great experience thanks to the new chipset, larger battery, faster charging, and a more capable main cam.

2. Portrait selfies are possible using the cover screen as a viewfinder.

3. Selfies from the 10 megapixel inner camera are nice with good detail, proper exposure, low noise, and likable dynamic range.

4. The cover display gives you a full view thumbnail by double tapping, allowing for accurate framing.

5. Video quality is excellent with resolved detail, natural processing, excellent contrast, true to life colors, and good dynamic range.

6. The phone can record in up to 4k at 60fps using electronic stabilization on all cameras.

Cons

1. If you're coming straight from the previous generation, it's probably still too similar to be worth upgrading to.

2. There is no charger included in the box with the Z Flip4.

3. Photos taken without night mode are still quite good but have a more realistic exposure and brightness, albeit with blown highlights.