Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy Z Fold 4 earlier today at its Unpacked flagship event, and it’s amazing to see how similar it is to its predecessor.
While the Z Fold 4 improves in some aspects, it stagnates in others. MobileSyrup managing editor Patrick O’Rourke got a look at the device and said the device seems to have reached a plateau when it comes to its design. “If you were expecting a Galaxy Fold 2 or, perhaps, even a Fold 3-like leap in design with the Fold 4, you’ll be disappointed by Samsung’s latest flagship foldable phone,” O’Rourke said in his hands-on.
However, without getting ahead of ourselves, let’s compare the two iterations of the devices and conclude whether the new Z Fold 4 is just a hype or an actual upgrade over its predecessor.
7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex, 2208 x 1768 pixels + 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2268 x 832 pixels – 120Hz
Main Screen: 7.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED 2x, Infinity Flex Display (2176 x 1812) | Roof Screen: 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (2316 x 904)
256GB, 512GB and 1TB of storage
Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.2 x 6.4 mm | Folded: 158.2. x 67.1 x 16 mm
Folded: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm (Hinge) ~ 14.2mm (Hang) | Unfolded: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3 mm
12-megapixel (wide-angle, f/1.8) + 12-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) + 12-megapixel (telephoto, f/2.4)
50MP wide-angle camera F1.8, 12MP ultra-wide camera F2.2, 10MP telephoto camera F2.4 | Roof Camera: 10MP selfie camera F2.2
10-megapixel (f/2.2) + 4-megapixel (f/1.8)
10 MP camera on the cover F/2.2 | 4MP under display camera F1.8
Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
Capacitive Fingerprint Sensor (Side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor
Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver
Grey-green, phantom black, beige [Samsung.com Exclusive] Bordeaux
7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex, 2208 x 1768 pixels + 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2268 x 832 pixels – 120Hz
Main Screen: 7.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED 2x, Infinity Flex Display (2176 x 1812) | Roof Screen: 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (2316 x 904)
256GB, 512GB and 1TB of storage
Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.2 x 6.4 mm | Folded: 158.2. x 67.1 x 16 mm
Folded: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm (Hinge) ~ 14.2mm (Hang) | Unfolded: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3 mm
12-megapixel (wide-angle, f/1.8) + 12-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) + 12-megapixel (telephoto, f/2.4)
50MP wide-angle camera F1.8, 12MP ultra-wide camera F2.2, 10MP telephoto camera F2.4 | Roof Camera: 10MP selfie camera F2.2
10-megapixel (f/2.2) + 4-megapixel (f/1.8)
10 MP camera on the cover F/2.2 | 4MP under display camera F1.8
Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
Capacitive Fingerprint Sensor (Side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor
Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver
Grey-green, phantom black, beige [Samsung.com Exclusive] Bordeaux
Display and design
The new foldable features a 7.6-inch unfolded QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (48-120Hz), which is exactly the same as its predecessor, albeit with a wider aspect ratio. It’s hard to tell the two displays apart at first glance, but thanks to a slightly thinner and lighter redesigned hinge, the phone is 3mm wider.
It also features slightly muted bezels and a 2176 x 1812 pixel resolution, making the overall display experience slightly better than its predecessor.
The lid display also features an identical 120Hz 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2316 x 904 pixels, slightly better than its predecessor’s resolution of 2268 x 832 pixels. In terms of weight, the new foldable is slightly lighter than its predecessor, coming in at 263g, 8g lighter than the Z Fold 3, likely due to the lighter hinge.
In terms of design, Samsung failed to push the Fold 4 forward in any meaningful way.
Internal
The Z Fold 3 launched with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset, which turned out to be the best processor at the time of the device’s launch. The Fold 4 continues the tradition and features the best smartphone processor currently available, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The new chipset allows for a 20 percent performance improvement and approximately 30 percent power savings compared to the Snapdragon 888.
In terms of battery life, Samsung decided not to upgrade the device’s battery, meaning the Fold 4 has the same 4,400mAh battery as its predecessor, although the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 optimizations should result in slightly better life of the battery.
The Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 4 feature 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, along with 256GB and 512GB storage options. However, the newer Fold 4 also comes in a 1TB storage model.
Camera
The camera is where the major upgrade is with the Fold 4. Samsung upgraded the smartphone’s main camera from 12-megapixel (wide, f/1.8) to 50-megapixel (wide, f/1.8). The ultra-wide camera on the Z Fold 4 is identical to the Z fold 3, coming in at 12-megapixels (f/2.2).
The telephoto camera appears to have been downgraded in terms of megapixels, going from 12-megapixel (f/2.4) on the Z Fold 3 to 10-megapixel (f/2.4) on the Z Fold 4. However, with the new telephoto lens, you get 3x optical zoom, compared to 2x optical zoom on the Z Fold 3. Also, like the Fold 3, the Fold 4 also has two selfie cameras, one below the display along with a punch-hole camera on the screen cover. Unfortunately, the Fold 4’s front cameras haven’t received any updates and are identical to its predecessor, coming in at 10-megapixel for the main camera (f/2.2) and 4-megapixel for the under-display camera (f/1.8).
Also, according to Samsung, the pixels above the camera under the Fold 4’s display have a higher density, which should mask the camera and mask it. However, according to our hands-on experience with the device, the camera is “still clearly visible.”
Colors and prices
The new Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $2,269, which is the same price as the Z Fold 3 released last year. The latter is now discounted and available for $1,894 on Samsung’s website.
The 2021 Fold, at launch, was available in ‘Phantom Black’, ‘Phantom Green’ and ‘Phantom Silver’ colors, while the new Fold is available in ‘Graygreen’, Phantom Black’, ‘Beige’ and exclusive to Samsung’s website ‘ Burgundy’ colors.
Is it worth the upgrade?
The Samsung Z Fold 4 features an impressively wide display that’s slightly wider than its predecessor and is powered by the best processor on the market. However, the device fails to introduce anything surprisingly new. It does have an upgraded main camera, a higher storage option and a new burgundy color that looks spectacular. And while these small improvements add up, I don’t think they necessarily warrant an upgrade if you already own a Z Fold 3. An upgrade that will set you back $2,269.99.
On the other hand, if the Fold 4 would potentially be your first foldable purchase and you have the money, definitely go for it. This is the best Samsung foldable on the market right now.
For more on the Z Fold 4, check out our hands-on with the smartphone.
Image credit: Samsung
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