Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4: Subtle Enhancements for the Next Generation of Foldable Phones

Samsung has officially unveiled its latest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Alongside these smartphones, there are newly introduced accessories including the Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. In this overview, we will focus solely on the new smartphones. If you were anticipating significant advancements similar to those seen in the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, you may find yourself slightly let down. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 from Samsung are refinements of their predecessors with nuanced design changes, enhanced cameras, and a state-of-the-art processor. However, some upgrades, though subtle, could prove to be quite impactful and may entice potential buyers.

Let’s start with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which begins at a price of $1,799.99 (approximately Rs. 1,42,830 before taxes). Samsung highlights the key features of the new Fold, noting its high-end cameras, a more robust SoC, and a lighter weight. The latter was the first improvement I noticed; despite this model weighing 263g (compared to the Z Fold 3’s 271g), the weight feels more evenly distributed. Nonetheless, it remains rather bulky and when closed, the two halves of the phone don’t align perfectly, unlike the Flip model.

The metal frame has been redesigned to be flatter, with all ports and buttons in their usual locations. The overall size is reportedly slightly reduced compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, although it’s challenging to discern without having both devices side by side. The hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 feels sturdy and can be adjusted to various angles depending on how you’d like to use the device.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 features a redesigned lighter structure compared to its predecessor

Samsung has integrated some camera components from the Galaxy S22 series, enabling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to utilize the ‘Nightography’ capabilities, which is their terminology for enhanced low-light photography and videography. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera featuring OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens offering 3X optical zoom as well as up to 30X digital zoom. The specifications for the selfie cameras appear to be unchanged.

The display sizes for both the inner and outer screens of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 remain the same as the previous model, but there are a few modifications. The outer display is now shielded by Corning Gorilla Victus+ and boasts an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 48Hz to 120Hz, whereas the inner folding display has a more energy-efficient refresh rate range from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 operates on OneUI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L. While the software remains largely similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung has introduced a new taskbar feature that keeps the bottom app row pinned alongside the navigation controls when any app is opened in fullscreen mode. Previously introduced as a Labs feature on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, this new implementation on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers a less intrusive experience.

New multitasking enhancements have been added to OneUI on the Galaxy Z Fold 4

The taskbar will also display recently accessed applications and any multi-window app pairs available. In addition to pinned icons, there’s a drawer for accessing additional apps. This could provide a more effective multitasking solution than the slide-out app carousel, which I’ve never preferred, though it’s still an alternative if you choose to utilize it.

Moving on to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, it also features the flatter frame design. The device looks chic with its purple accents, although I’m not particularly fond of the glossy finish on the frame. Our main concern with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was its battery longevity, and fortunately, Samsung has equipped this model with a larger 3,700mAh (in comparison to the 3,300mAh) battery for improved performance. Samsung claims that the battery can charge from zero to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. This device will have an initial price of $999.99 (approximately Rs. 79,350 before taxes) when it launches globally.

The hinge on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is now more compact at 1.2mm. Unfortunately, the cover screen size remains unchanged. It still allows for various functions, such as capturing selfies while the phone is folded, and Samsung has announced that users will also be able to send automated replies to certain messages via the outer display, although I couldn’t personally verify this feature.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 features an expanded battery compared to the previous iteration

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 includes similar ‘Flex mode’ functionalities in select applications when the phone is partially folded. A new feature called Flex Cam allows you to trigger a timed shot simply by displaying your palm to the camera. The Flip 4 also incorporates ‘Nightography’ features from the Galaxy S22 series, although the sensors appear to be the identical 12-megapixel duo for the wide and ultra-wide lenses found in the Z Flip 3.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 features an enhanced battery and a more compact hinge

Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. They both carry an IPX8 rating for water resistance, are equipped with stereo speakers, and support wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 comes in three configurations with storage options up to 512GB, all paired with 8GB of RAM. Conversely, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can be configured with up to 1TB of storage, and every variant will feature 12GB of RAM. We will need to wait and see which configurations will be released in India and at what prices.

Despite both devices being incremental upgrades over their predecessors, the enhanced cameras and updated SoC contribute to their competitiveness and may help justify the higher pricing. For the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the reduced weight should provide a positive impact during extended use, though this advantage may be less significant if you intend to use a case. The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s improved battery capacity aims to resolve the primary issue we had with its predecessor. Full reviews of these smartphones will follow as we approach their launch in India, so stay tuned.

Disclosure: Samsung covered the correspondent’s flights and accommodation for the trip to Bengaluru.