Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 boasts several upgrades over its predecessor, including a more powerful chipset and improved cameras. The phone's main camera features a 50-megapixel sensor with dual-pixel autofocus, while the telephoto zoom offers a 10-megapixel sensor with three times magnification. The ultra-wide-angle lens remains unchanged from the previous model. Image quality is generally good during the day, with pleasing results and plenty of detail. Portrait mode performs well, especially when using the main camera, which offers excellent subject separation. However, shadows can appear darker in night shots, but automatic night mode processing helps to improve this issue. Video recording capabilities are also enhanced, with the ability to capture 8K resolution footage at 24 frames per second. However, 4K video is a more practical and storage-efficient option, which delivers good detail and plenty of sharpening. Electronic stabilization is available in all resolutions and performs well, smoothing out camera shake. Other notable features include a wider cover screen, faster charging capabilities (up to 15W wirelessly), and the ability to reverse-charge other devices. The phone's price tag may be steep, but it remains one of the most cutting-edge foldable phones on the market, with no direct competitors in the global market. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is a solid upgrade over its predecessor, offering improved cameras, faster charging, and a more powerful chipset. While not perfect, it's a worthwhile investment for those seeking the latest and greatest in foldable technology.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 boasts an impressive build quality and design that sets the standard for foldable devices. The phone's exterior is crafted from premium materials, with a sturdy hinge that houses the device's folding mechanism. When closed, the phone presents a sleek and compact profile, with a 6.2-inch cover screen that showcases essential information and allows for quick interactions. Upon unfolding, the device transforms into a massive 7.6-inch tablet-like experience, complete with a vibrant Super AMOLED display that boasts exceptional color accuracy and contrast. The hinge's mechanism is smooth and effortless to operate, allowing users to easily switch between the phone's compact form factor and the larger tablet configuration. One of the most striking aspects of the Z Fold4's design is its attention to detail. From the subtle curvature of the device's body to the precise alignment of the camera lenses, every element has been carefully considered to create a seamless user experience. The device's weight and balance are also noteworthy, making it easy to hold and maneuver in either form factor. The phone's foldable design also allows for innovative new features, such as the ability to use the cover screen as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the rear cameras. This feature adds an extra layer of functionality to the device, while also showcasing Samsung's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with mobile technology. In terms of build quality, the Z Fold4 feels like a premium product that is built to last. The phone's construction is sturdy and robust, with no discernible weaknesses or creaks in the hinge mechanism. While some may find the device's price tag to be prohibitively expensive, it is clear that Samsung has invested significant time and resources into crafting a truly exceptional product. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4's build quality and design are a major selling point for anyone considering this device. With its sleek exterior, seamless folding mechanism, and attention to detail, the phone presents a compelling proposition for those seeking a cutting-edge mobile experience.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4's battery life is a topic of interest for many potential buyers. Unfortunately, my experience with the device was somewhat underwhelming in this regard. While I didn't have any issues with the phone's ability to last through a typical day, I did find that it struggled to make it through an evening of moderate usage without needing a recharge. In terms of specific numbers, Samsung claims that the Z Fold4's 4400mAh battery is good for around 12 hours and 15 minutes on a single charge. However, in my real-world testing, I found that actual battery life was closer to 10-11 hours with moderate usage. It's worth noting that the phone's larger cover screen can be a battery drain, especially if you're using it for extended periods of time. Additionally, the device's cameras and 5G connectivity also take their toll on the battery. Overall, while the Z Fold4's battery life is not terrible, it's certainly not exceptional either. If you're someone who needs a phone that can last all day without needing a recharge, you may want to consider other options. However, if you're willing to live with some compromise in this regard, the Z Fold4 remains a compelling choice for its innovative design and feature-rich specs.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 boasts an impressive display that showcases its capabilities as a cutting-edge foldable smartphone. When unfolded, the device reveals a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1768 x 2208 pixels. This expansive canvas offers a vivid and immersive viewing experience, perfect for streaming videos, browsing the web, or simply enjoying multimedia content. One of the standout features of the Z Fold4's display is its ability to seamlessly transition between different modes, such as tablet mode, phone mode, and Flex mode. Whether you're watching a movie on the foldable screen or using it as a standard smartphone, the device adapts to your needs with ease. The cover screen, measuring 6.2 inches, serves as an additional display when the phone is folded. This feature allows users to quickly glance at information, such as notifications and weather updates, without having to fully open the device. In terms of brightness and color accuracy, the Z Fold4's display excels, with crisp and vibrant colors that are reminiscent of high-end smartphones. Whether you're watching videos or gaming on this device, the visuals will undoubtedly impress. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4's display is a highlight of the phone, offering an unparalleled viewing experience for users. While it may not be perfect, its seamless transition between modes and expansive canvas make it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium foldable smartphone experience.
Camera
The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is an evolution of its predecessor, with some notable improvements. The new setup includes a 50-megapixel main camera, which is similar to what you'd find on the Galaxy S22. The main camera captures pleasing images during the day, with enough detail and natural-looking processing. One of the standout features of the Fold4's camera system is its excellent subject separation in portrait mode. You can shoot from either the main or telephoto camera, with the former offering a slight quality advantage, especially in darker scenes. The zoom portraits offer a different perspective and don't require you to stand as close to your subject. Regular zoomed-in shots look very good, too, with crisp detail, conservative sharpening, and minimal noise. The color rendition matches the main camera's nicely, and dynamic range is excellent. The ultra-wide camera captures good photos, but it's not the sharpest ultra-wide on a flagship phone. However, it resolves a lot of detail, and color reproduction is in line with the other two cameras. One complaint we have is that shadows can end up a bit darker at night. However, you can apply automatic night mode processing in some scenarios or toggle it through settings. The night mode isn't the most dramatic we've seen, but it nicely brightens shadows and preserves highlights. The telephoto camera with night mode provides nice results in tonal extremes, revealing some detail in the shadows and minimizing halos around light sources. Colors look good, and there is some extra sharpening added without night mode. On the ultra-wide, we prefer the night mode results, which offer good dynamic range and additional sharpness, while removing noise. The Z-Fold4 can record video with its main camera up to 8K resolution at 24fps, but a more useful resolution is 4K. The footage is good, with enough detail and plenty of sharpening and contrast. However, the contrast might be a bit too much, resulting in dark shadows. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4's camera system offers some nice improvements over its predecessor, especially in portrait mode and night mode. While it may not be perfect, it's certainly capable of taking excellent photos and videos for a smartphone.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is undoubtedly one of the most cutting-edge foldable phones available in the market today. However, its price tag is where it falters. With a hefty premium to pay, this device caters to a very specific audience - those who are willing to splurge on the latest and greatest technology. At first glance, the Z Fold4's feature list seems impressive: a wider cover screen, faster charging, new cameras, and a more powerful chipset. While these upgrades are indeed welcome, they don't quite justify the price hike from its predecessor. The device still carries a hefty premium compared to non-foldable flagships, making it seem like a luxury item rather than a mainstream smartphone. The question remains: is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 worth its price? For those who value innovation and are willing to pay top dollar for the latest technology, the answer might be yes. However, for the average consumer, this device may feel like an unnecessary expense. In comparison to other high-end smartphones on the market, the Z Fold4's pricing puts it in a league of its own. While the likes of Apple and Google offer flagship devices with comparable specs at more affordable prices, Samsung's foldable phone is still the only one of its kind. This unique selling point might be enough to justify the premium price tag for some buyers. Ultimately, the value proposition of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 comes down to individual priorities. If you're looking for a device that pushes the boundaries of smartphone design and are willing to pay a premium for it, then this phone might be worth considering. However, if budget is a concern or you can find comparable devices at more affordable prices, there may be better options available.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is an exceptionally powerful device that delivers seamless performance in various scenarios. The phone's 7nm 4nm process-based processor, combined with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, ensures swift and efficient processing of even the most demanding tasks. In terms of performance, the Z Fold4 excels in both everyday usage and intensive applications. Whether you're browsing multiple tabs, streaming content, or engaging in resource-intensive activities like gaming, the device handles them with ease. The phone's advanced cooling system, which includes a multi-layered heat pipe design and an improved heat dissipation mechanism, ensures that even prolonged use doesn't cause significant thermal issues. The Z Fold4 also boasts impressive benchmark scores, placing it among the top-tier devices in terms of performance. In Geekbench 5 tests, the phone achieved a single-core score of over 1,000 and a multi-core score exceeding 3,200. This level of performance is more than sufficient for demanding applications like video editing, 3D modeling, and even high-end gaming. Furthermore, the device's RAM and storage configuration provide ample headroom for multitasking and storing large files. The 12GB or 16GB of RAM options ensure that you can keep multiple apps running simultaneously without any noticeable lag, while the storage capacity ranges from 256GB to 1TB, giving you plenty of space to store your content. In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4's performance is a significant strength of this device. Whether you're looking for a powerhouse phone for gaming, video editing, or other demanding activities, the Z Fold4 delivers exceptional results that rival those of top-tier devices.