Buying a New Foldable Phone: Why the Samsung Flip 4 is a Great Choice

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the latest innovation from Samsung, and it's coming in with a bang. This comes after capturing the market's imagination in 2020.

The revival of the flip phone idea is not a fad but growing stronger each year. Previous Z flip models have had shortcomings, but Samsung has listened. The new foldable phone, Z Flip 4, is a force to reckon with.

It's compact as ever but even more convenient. The processor and battery are better, the camera holds its own, and the aesthetic is gorgeous. The only thing holding people back is whether they like the flip concept.

It's Compact

It might sound obvious to the average consumer, but the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is compact. Its folded state is only 2.8 x 3.3 x 0.62-0.67 inches. That's so small it might as well be a compact mirror or one of those sleek new metal wallets.

In a world where tech is trending towards convenience, we've left size behind. We used to think the future phones would get smaller, not larger. However, screen time and accessibility have gotten in the way of that.

A Note About Size

Android phones, in particular, have been getting appreciatively larger. People usually want the screen size and pixel count reserved for tablet phones like the Galaxy Note. However, they want that sort of convenience for all phones, regardless of price point.

The compact nature of the Z Flip 4 gives you all the convenience of the Galaxy S models without sacrificing space or flexibility. With the Z Flip 4, you can use the cover screen to do things on your phone. Make and take calls, send replies, or take gorgeous selfies - all without ever having to unfold the phone.

What's not to love?

Nostalgic

All right, so the concept isn't actually a new phone idea. Still, reviving the flip phone and bringing it into the 2020s is a hell of an accomplishment. Everyone who remembers the days of playing with those old flip phones was super excited.

It also created an aura of hope. People thought that with a few tweaks, Samsung could address the criticisms. Soon, they'd hit the market with a phone that captured that flip phone nostalgia without sacrifices.

Well, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, they might have done it. The fact we can once again enjoy the nostalgia of a flip phone without compromise is huge.

It Holds Its Own Against Alternatives

The Samsung Flip 4 holds well on its own against alternatives. The Z Flip 4 is by far the most popular selling foldable phone right now. Not only that, but it gives traditional smartphone designs a run for their money.

For starters, it uses an advanced processor, which leaves the S22 line behind. It's also made big improvements to the camera quality. The Z Flip 4 achieves this by leveraging Samsung's superior night-time photography software.

This is, of course, aided by a few design tweaks to the brightness and lenses to achieve stunning photos.

In addition to that, the build quality has made serious strides. The Z Flip 4 is more durable, better looking, and still as flexible as ever. Now, however, it's even more convenient and powerful.

The Specs

For this new foldable phone, the specs are pretty impressive. Let's start with the processor since it's the brain and centerpiece of what makes any phone "smart." The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 uses the latest and greatest from Qualcomm.

It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Processor. This is currently the fastest processor Qualcomm offers for any android chip. It eclipses the S22 lineup and supports Samsung's commitment to excellence.

This is also notable because it's addressed a serious concern with previous models. You shouldn't notice any performance issues with the new processor and reinvigorated Z Flip 4. Another thing worth talking about is the battery.

The Battery

Samsung caught a lot of flak for the battery on the Flip 3, so they should. It wasn't quite up to the standard of conventional phone designs like the S22. The battery wasn't bad for casual use, but that wasn't the problem.

We demand a lot of our phones these days. They do so much for us, and we rely on them. They are our highway to information and a vital tool for communication.

We also need them for entertainment, and we expect to get what we pay for. That's where the problem used to be. If the consumer was going to pay $1,000 for the Z Flip 4, they better get top-of-the-line battery life.

The good news is that Samsung listened. The Z Flip 4 now has a 3,7000 mAh battery, putting it on par with the S22. This might sound like settling, but context is important.

With the unique nature of the Z Flip's construction, there isn't a lot of room for a bigger battery. Not without sacrificing what makes the Z Flip such a unique and eye-catching phone in the first place. The fact they crammed a 3,700 mAh battery in there without any extra compromises is huge.

Internals and Display

8GB of RAM is what you get, with standard storage options of 128, 256, and 512GB.

You can also expect a crisp 120Hz refresh rate and Android 12 running OneUI 4.1 for software. 

Your folded display is 1.9 inches, using AMOLED at a resolution of 260 x 512. It's tight, compact, and crisp. It gets the job done without compromise.

The inner display, when you open it, is rocking a 6.7-inch display. Unlike last year, Samsung reduced the bezels and gave us what we want: more screen and less dead space. The resolution is a gorgeous 2640 x 1080 utilizing FHD AMOLED in all its glory.

The Camera

The camera is a bit of a disappointment for those expecting a major upgrade. Don't get us wrong, the camera is still fit for purpose, but the jump wasn't as high as expected. Samsung focused on improvements via software and design to get higher-quality photos.

They improved the 12MP main and ultrawide cameras but didn't up the count. The inner selfie camera is 10MP which is also standard. The main area where they'll look to improve is the wide-angle camera, which is already 50MP on the S22, so that will be a consideration for some.

Durability

It's worth reiterating the increased durability of the Z Flip 4. It's now using Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus Plus for its exterior. The hinge is also sturdier, and the interior display is more damage-resistant.

If you pair your new foldable phone with a good case, you'll be set.

Flex Mode

It's an option in the settings of Z Flip 4, which lets you separate your phone into two parts when half open. If you turn it on and open your phone up like a laptop, you'll see what we mean.

The top half serves as your display, while the bottom is for typing and navigation. You can use it as a trackpad as if it was a real laptop. Flex mode is a pretty revolutionary idea for a phone, and the sky is the limit to what you can do with it.

Aesthetics

The final thing worth mentioning is the smartphone design of this new model. It's now glossier and slimmer than previous models. This, combined with build quality improvements, makes the phone sleeker.

In terms of colors, you have pink gold, graphite, blue, and the new bora purple. You also have an assortment of cases to pick from.

On top of that, you can customize up to 75 other colors on the edges of the phone itself. If you've ever wanted to scratch that RGB itch with your phone, the Z Flip 4 is the way to do it.

Why the Z Flip 4 is the New Foldable Phone For You

The question of if you should get a new foldable phone from Samsung is a question of preference. The Z Flip 4 is the best in its class at the moment and packs a lot with minimal compromise. It's fun, convenient, nostalgic, efficient, and holds its own.