31.08.2022 
Folding phones are back in the spotlight! Samsung has decided to tweak its Flip lineup further and offer some welcome improvements. As a result, their latest Galaxy Z Flip4 is an exciting phone that’s definitely out of the ordinary, not only through its looks but also through the user experience it offers. With it, Samsung aims to please an audience bored with traditional smartphones and avid for something new and exciting. If you like the idea of a phone that flips, has high-end hardware and excellent pocketability, you should read this review:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: Who is it good for?
This smartphone is a good choice for:
- People who are interested in fashionable devices that stand out
- Users who appreciate its pocketability and foldable design
- Those who want a flagship smartphone with high-end hardware
Pros and cons
The best things about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 are:
- Beautiful compact design
- Outstanding long-term software support
- Top-notch performance
- Good battery life
- Super fast Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
- IPX8-certified water resistance
There are some downsides to consider as well:
- The camera system is underwhelming (optical image stabilization only on the main wide camera, no telephoto lens)
- Incompatible with Samsung Dex
- No charger in the box
Verdict
At launch, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 has no real competition, except for last year’s model, the Flip3. It’s a unique device with a flexible form factor that will please many users. Compared to traditional smartphones in the same price range, its only major weakness is the lack of a telephoto lens. However, the cameras on it are capable and allow for some interesting shots and approaches due to the foldable design of this phone. Furthermore, compared to last year's Flip3, the new model has better battery life, faster charging, IPX8 water resistance, and improved materials and durability. Therefore, if you want a fast and good-looking smartphone, small and pocketable, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is the best choice on the market today.
Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 comes in a black box made of recycled cardboard. On the top cover, you see the product name. There’s very little information on the sides, except for details like the model number, IMEI code, and the serial number of the specific smartphone you just bought.
The packaging for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is made of recycled materials
When you open the box, you see the Galaxy Z Flip 4 nicely packaged, in a protective coating, and another smaller cardboard box with the Samsung logo printed on it.
Open the box and you immediately see your new phone
Unpack everything, and you find the following items: the smartphone itself, a USB-Type C cable, the PIN for ejecting the SIM card, the quick start guide, the warranty, and other leaflets.
This is everything you find inside the box
I appreciate Samsung’s use of recycled materials for packaging the Galaxy Z Flip4. However, while it’s practical and looks good, the unboxing experience is a bit underwhelming, as there’s no charger or headphones inside the box.
Design and build quality
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is an iterative evolution of the previous Flip3. Therefore, its design is almost identical to last year’s model. The back of the smartphone features a small cover screen, the rear camera system, Gorilla Glass Victus+, and a pleasant matte finish.
Welcome to Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
The frame is made of what Samsung calls Armor Aluminum. It’s their toughest aluminum frame to date and features a glossy polish, which is a fingerprint magnet.
I totally love the form factor
The hinge is made from the same aluminum as the frame; it’s glossy and home to the Samsung logo in the middle. The company says it should last at least 200,000 open-close cycles before it begins to wear down. Also, you can flip the hinge in any position/angle you want.
The bezels around the foldable screen are a bit smaller than on the Flip3. When folded, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 has a size of 71.9 x 84.9 x 15.9 (or 17.1 mm where the hinge is) or 2.83 x 3.34 x 0.62 (or 0.67 inches where the hinge is). This tiny size makes it easy to place in your pocket and carry everywhere.
The hinge looks slick
Unfolded, this smartphone has a size of 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9 mm or 2.83 x 6.50 x 0.27 inches and weighs about 187 grams or 6.6 oz, which means that it’s not too heavy, nor too big for one-handed use. Many people, myself included, will appreciate the versatility of the Galaxy Z Flip4.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is comfortable for one-handed use
An important upside is that Galaxy Z Flip4 offers IPX8 water resistance, meaning you can submerge it in water of no more than 1.5 meters in depth, for up to 30 minutes, without malfunctioning. However, it has no dust resistance, and dust can get caught between the screen’s protective film and the frame. Speaking of it, you must not remove the protective film because you risk damaging the foldable screen. So keep it intact even if you get annoyed by all the smudges it gathers over time.
Never remove the protective film
If you look for it, you can see the earpiece, which acts as a stereo speaker, on top of the screen. The screen also has a small perforation at the top, right under the earpiece, where you find the selfie camera.
The selfie camera is on the top side of the foldable screen
On the right side of the Flip4, you can see the Power button, which doubles as a fingerprint reader, and the Volume rocker.
The right side of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
On the left side, you find only the SIM tray. Unfortunately, there’s no support for microSD cards, which may disappoint some users.
The left side of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
On the top side of the Galaxy Z Flip4, there’s a microphone; on the bottom, you find a speaker, the USB Type-C 2.0 port, and two microphones.
There's no headphone jack
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is designed to appeal to young audiences and people interested in using their smartphones as fashion accessories. As a result, this phone comes in four rather subtle color variants: Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, and Blue.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is available in four colors
And if those are not enough, there’s also a Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition, which widens the color palette even more and allows you to opt for different colors for the frame, front, and back.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition takes your color options to the next level
I very much enjoy how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 looks, its size, and its versatile form factor. It’s not too big and not too heavy either, making it pleasant to use with one hand too. The only downside is that it doesn’t offer the same grip as traditional smartphones. However, you get used to it rather quickly, and you can buy cases that help with this issue.
Hardware specifications
Hardware-wise, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a true powerhouse. Its 6.7-inch foldable screen features a Dynamic AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2640 x 1080 pixels, an adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz, and a pixel density of 425 ppi. The display is also HDR10+ certified. However, a foldable screen with a plastic protective layer needs to be handled with more care than usual smartphone displays. Therefore, it is a good idea to read Samsung’s recommendations on how to take care of your phone. See them pictured below.
How to take care of your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Gorilla Glass Victus+ protects the second screen on the back, and it has a size of 1.9”. It’s also an AMOLED display, with a resolution of 512 x 260 pixels and a pixel density of 302 ppi. On it, you can also see the two main cameras, both with 12 Megapixel sensors: one ultrawide f/2.2 lens with a pixel size of 11.12μm, and one f/1.98 wide lens, with optical image stabilization, dual pixel autofocus, and a pixel size of 1.8μm. Above them, there’s a LED flash. Unfortunately, while the ultra-wide lens has EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), it doesn’t have optical image stabilization. In addition, none of the cameras has optical zoom, though the main one can digitally zoom up to 10x. The selfie camera has 10 Megapixels and an aperture of f2.4.
The screen on the back has some interesting uses
The chipset used by Samsung for Galaxy Z Flip4 is excellent: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 eight-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 3.2 GHz, an Adreno 730 graphics chip that can handle even the most demanding mobile games, and 8 GB of RAM. The storage space varies depending on your budget and the version you purchase: with 128, 256, or 512 GB of storage. As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, unfortunately, doesn’t have a microSD card slot, so you can’t extend your storage. Keep this in mind when choosing which version you buy.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 has great hardware inside
Galaxy Z Flip4 has stereo speakers tuned by AKG but no headphone jack. However, you can use its Bluetooth 5.2 chip to connect a headset. You also get Wi-Fi 6 on this smartphone, GPS, NFC with support for Samsung Pay, and a long list of sensors.
The 3700 mAh battery is non-removable and supports fast charging at 25W, fast wireless charging at 15W, and reverse wireless charging at 4.5W.
For more technical information about this smartphone, visit its official page: Galaxy Z Flip4 Specs.
Turn the page to see my experience using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, what I’ve found about its cameras, and the results the smartphone got in a couple of benchmarks.
