Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Hands-on Review
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Intro
The Galaxy Z Flip series reinvented the nostalgic clamshell flip phone with the first edition that launched more than 2 years ago.
It felt revolutionary, like something that was suddenly real that previously felt almost impossible to do. Samsung overcame huge engineering challenges, figuring out a flexible display that bends without breaking, engineering a complex hinge that would work reliably for years, protecting a phone with so many moving parts from the elements. And then doing it at scale and slashing prices to make this form factor available for not just the rich folks.
But we humans have one curious feature: we adapt quickly and today, after just a couple of years, all of this seems... trivial! Ordinary! We want to see even more innovation.
And this is the point in time when the Galaxy Z Flip 4 arrives.
And it is every bit as amazing as the previous Flip phones, but it is also oh-so-similar to the previous model. We were made all the more aware of that when a Samsung representative grabbed our Flip 3 to show us a feature thinking it was actually the Flip 4 they were picking up. The design is really that similar.
The screen is the same size, the looks are the same, the cameras are almost the same, the whole experience is... kind of similar! So how come this phone is the Flip 4 and not the Flip 3S or something?
Well, you do get a brand new processor, a larger battery and a couple of other refinements, but let's see if any of that is as exciting as earlier Flip phones were and whether you should actually get this phone!
What’s new about the device
Better battery life
Faster processor
Improved camera quality
Slightly more refined design
Same-ish charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Design & Colors
We already told you about the design and colors being so similar to the previous generations that even Samsung representatives would have a hard time recognizing the newer model. Still, you can find some differences if you know where to look.
First, the metallic borders around the glass on the back are thinner on the Flip 4, which makes it look more elegant. And then secondly, the aluminum frame of the phone has a glossy finish on the newer model, while the previous model had a matte finish. At the same time, the glass on the back now has a matte finish on the Flip 4, while you have a glossy one on the Flip 3.
But apart from that there is nothing particularly new about the Flip 4 design. You still have the same tiny 1.9" screen on the front, and opening and closing the phone still feels mostly the same (both phones can stay kind of locked at any angle from about 30-ish to about 120-ish degrees). Buttons are on the right hand side, including the fingerprint scanner which is embedded in the power button.
Unfortunately, it's still very hard to unfold the Flip 4 with one hand! You would need to use both your hands most of the time, and we really hope that Samsung figures out a way to make unfolding this phone with one hand easier.
Like before, you can customize the Flip 4 and mix and match colors with the so called "Bespoke" versions of the phone.
We also appreciate having IPX8 water and dust protection rating on the Z Flip 4, which gives you peace of mind it will survive an occasional drop in water or more extreme weather conditions. Just remember that this phone is NOT protected from dust, and you'd better keep it away from dusty environment. Dust can still get in the hinge and remains one of the big dangers to foldable phones.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Display
Once you unfold the Flip 4, you are greeted with a 6.7-inch display, which is the same size and 1080p resolution as the previous model. Remember that the Flip series comes with a 22:9 aspect ratio screen, which is taller and narrower than the proportions of a traditional smartphone, so it's a different experience.
Such a narrow and tall screen may feel a bit weird at first, but can actually be just the perfect thing for movie lovers as movies are often filmed at a similar aspect ratio. If you use split-screen multitasking, the taller screen also feels like a good idea.
We had previously heard rumors about a less noticeable "crease" on the Flip 4, but honestly, we could not see any improvement. The crease is still very much there and at least to our eyes, it looks unchanged.
Apart from that, just judging screen quality and color calibration, this is your typically great Samsung AMOLED panel! Impressive colors, plus a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth scrolling. What's not to like?
Our tests show that the Flip 4 comes with an improved screen that can both get brighter for more comfortable use outdoors, or dimmer when you use it at night so it's easier on your eyes. Samsung also says the screen is 45% stronger thanks to changes in its structure and a new and more resilient ultra-thin glass.
The cover screen on the front remains the same tiny size, but it gets a few new widgets and functionalities. Our favorite has got to be the ability to return quick replies to texts directly from it, or use it to access Samsung Wallet.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Camera
One thing that has not changed on the Flip 4 is that it still uses two cameras on the back (a main and an ultra-wide one), but it has no telephoto zoom lens. On a flagship phone with a flagship price, this does feel like a big compromise, but we guess that is just because of the tiny form factor and the lack of physical space.
Here are the camera specs:
12MP main camera, f/1.8 aperture, OIS
12MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2 aperture
10MP selfie cam
Samsung is still using a 12MP sensor for the main camera, but it's a bigger size sensor so every individual pixel is nearly 30% larger (you have 1.8µm pixel size on the Flip 4 vs 1.4µm on the Flip 3). Imagine each pixel like a bucket and the larger the bucket, the more light it can gather, so this should help with low light photos.
With the new and more powerful processor on the inside, images will also process faster. We have seen how other Samsung phones where one model is available with two different processors showed different image quality as well, and thankfully there will be none of that on the Flip 4.
We will update this section with actual photos and videos as soon as we get the phone, so stay tuned for that.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Performance
We already touched upon the Snadpragon 8+ Gen 1 processor inside the Flip 4, but it is indeed a beast of a chip and is receiving universal praise.
And best of all, there is no Exynos version of the Z Flip 4, all models across the globe run on the Snapdragon chip.
However, it is still not a great device for gamers. On the 3D Mark test that runs for 20 minutes straight and simulates a game with demanding graphics, the Flip 4 throttled after just 3 or 4 minutes of running the test. Its performance slumped more than 50% after the throttling! This means the sustained gaming performance of the Flip 4 is actually worse than the 2-year-old Galaxy S20 FE! This is all due to the compact form factor which makes it harder to deal with the excess heat the processor generates. In comparison, the same chip on the Z Fold 4 throttles much less and actually rebounds to its initial performance after 15 minutes of gaming, a vastly different result.
The Flip 4 comes with 8GB of fast, LPDDR5 RAM on all models and the base model has 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. You also have a 256GB storage model and a new, 512GB option, which should be enough for even the most demanding users. There is no microSD card slot, though, keep that in mind.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Android version
The Flip 4 ships with Android 12 garnished with Samsung's One UI 4.1.1 custom interface.
Most people are very familiar with the Samsung interface, and it does offer quite a few additional features on top of the stock Android one.
There is something else very impressive here too: the Flip 4 comes with a promise for 4 years of major software updates and 5 years of security updates. This is a commitment Samsung has made for most of its higher-end devices, and it is absolutely fantastic compared to most other Android phone makers, which only offer three or sometimes even only two years of major Android updates.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Battery
Despite the mostly unchanged size and form factor, the Flip 4 comes with a much bigger battery. It has a 3,700mAh cell, which is 12% bigger than the 3,300mAh battery in the previous model, the Flip 3.
Don't forget that we also run a set of three independent battery tests, that together give a very good estimation of battery life, and we will also have these results here soon.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Charging Speeds
The Flip 4 charges a bit faster now, at 25W speeds while the previous model maxed out at 15W. There is no charger included in the box, however.
The Flip 4 also supports wireless charging with no official data about the speed, but we would guess it is like before at 10W. You also have reverse wireless charging support, in case you need to quickly top up a watch or your wireless buds.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Audio Quality and Haptics
While the very first Flip launched with a single speaker, the Z Flip 3 and now this Z Flip 4 both use a stereo setup consisting of one bottom firing speaker and another one built in the earpiece.
We don't have specifics on the Z Flip 4 sound quality just yet, but there is room for growth as last year's model was merely okay, and not quite as boomy and rich in sound as the flagship Galaxy S22 series, or the Z Fold series.
And nope, there is no headphone jack here. Samsung doesn’t include earbuds in the box either, so for wired audio, you’d need to buy a pair of good sounding USB-C buds or on a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Competitors
The good thing about being a pioneer in the foldable space like Samsung, is that you get very little competition if any.
Those looking for a clamshell foldable basically have the upcoming Moto Razr 2022, but not much else really.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Summary
At the end of the day, the Flip 4 builds upon the successful foundation of previous Samsung clamshell foldables.
With the plethora of color options and the tiny size, we can definitely see how this will be a favorite among those looking for a compact phone and those nostalgic for the good old clamshell phones of the past.
The Flip 4 does come at a flagship cost, but it is not prohibitively expensive like the Fold 4, so it is not out of reach either.
And this being the fourth generation of a product is reassuring as you know that initial pain points have been addressed and the device will be able to withstand the stress of daily use.
Should you buy the Fold 4? If you are in the market for a clamshell foldable, this one shapes up to be your best option, so definitely check it out.
