What is happening
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Fold 4, its latest large-format foldable phone.
Why it matters
Samsung sees foldable phones as key to the future of its mobile lineup. As one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, Samsung influences the wider market.
What next
Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 4 on August 26 for $1,800.
Samsung continues to improve the design of its foldable phone with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which goes on sale on August 26 and starts at $1,800 (£1,649, AU$2,499). The new book-style foldable phone, announced at Wednesday’s Unpacked event, has a modified design that should be easier to operate in phone mode. It also gets new software that takes advantage of its foldable screen and routine processor and camera upgrades.
Samsung was an early entrant, launching its first Galaxy Fold device in 2019. It leads the foldable phone market by a wide margin in terms of shipments, according to estimates by Display Supply Chain Consultants and Omdia. But flip phones still represent a part of the broader mobile phone market. The new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 are Samsung’s latest attempt to change that, correcting some of the biggest criticisms of previous models, potentially making foldables more appealing to a wider audience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, has a wider lid that looks more like a regular, non-folding phone when closed. The change makes apps look more natural since the Z Fold 4’s screen isn’t as narrow. The difference is certainly noticeable compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the display is still not as wide as a standard phone like the Galaxy S22 or the iPhone 13.
Samsung also does more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 4 useful when its display is folded in half. Flex mode, which splits an app between the top and bottom of the screen when the Z-fold is open, gets a new feature. You’ll be able to use the bottom half of the screen as a trackpad to control content on the top half, similar to a laptop’s touchpad.
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This should make it easier to navigate apps in Flex mode, as you won’t have to cover the top of the screen with your finger while scrolling. The recently announced Galaxy Z Flip 4 also gets this feature, and Samsung says it will evaluate the possibility of bringing it to older Galaxy Z Fold and Flip devices. Samsung also says the Z Fold 4 is the first device to ship with Android 12L, the version of Android optimized for tablets. One of the most notable additions to Android 12 is the Z Fold 4’s new taskbar, which should make switching between apps more convenient.
More from Samsung Unpacked
The overall design of the Z Fold 4 is generally the same, but Samsung claims that the Z Fold 4 has a stronger build. The exterior is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, while the tablet-sized display inside is 45% more durable. Samsung also says the Z Fold 4’s internal screen is brighter than its predecessor, and the internal camera below the display is less noticeable. Like the previous version, the Z Fold 4 is also compatible with the S Pen.
Otherwise, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 gets the camera and processor upgrades you’d expect from an annual phone update. The camera is particularly noteworthy; Samsung upgrades the Z Fold 4’s triple-lens camera system to a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens. This telephoto lens will support optical zoom up to 3x and digital zoom up to 30x. Samsung is also bringing the Galaxy S22’s improved low-light photography to the Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.
The cover screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is wider than that of the Z Fold 3.
Lisa Eadicico/CNET
Most people interested in the Galaxy Z Fold are probably more interested in the phone’s giant internal screen than the camera. But at such a high price, the Z Fold 4 should have a camera that at least matches or exceeds those found in Samsung’s non-folding phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cameras are certainly a step in the right direction, representing a notable upgrade from the Z Fold 3’s 12-megapixel wide, telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still Samsung’s best camera phone.
The Z Fold 4 will also be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, which is a newer and slightly upgraded version of the chip found in the Galaxy S22 range. Battery capacity also remains the same at 4,400mAh, which is a shame—CNET’s Patrick Holland was disappointed with the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s battery life.
Lisa Eadicico/CNET
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a more refined and polished version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung seems to be gaining a better understanding of who these devices are for after they’ve been around for about three years. With its large screen and S Pen compatibility, Samsung is positioning the Z Fold 4 as a productivity device similar to the defunct Galaxy Note. Establishing this direction means that Samsung can focus on adding new features that are unique and specific to the Z Fold, rather than just ensuring that apps run smoothly across the Fold’s different screen sizes.
At $1,800, the Z Fold 4 is still a tough sell. And while these new features are a sign of progress, they may not be enough to attract non-foldable phone users. But it’s a step closer to understanding what role, if any, foldables might play in our lives.
For more, check out the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and everything else Samsung announced.
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