What is happening
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Fold 4, its newest large-format foldable phone.
why does it matter
Samsung sees foldable phones as key to the future of its mobile device line. As one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, Samsung influences the wider market.
What follows
Samsung will release the Galaxy Z Fold 4 on August 26 for $1,800.
Samsung continues to improve its foldable phone design 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 flipbook-style phone, announced at Wednesday’s Unpacked event, has a modified design that should be easier to manage in phone mode. It’s also getting new software that takes advantage of its foldable display and routine processor and camera upgrades.
Samsung was an early entrant to the market, releasing its first Galaxy Fold device in 2019. It leads the foldable phone market by a wide margin in terms of shipments, according to estimates from 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 by addressing some of the biggest criticisms of previous models, making foldables more appealing to a larger audience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, has a wider cover display that looks more like a normal, non-folding phone when closed. The change makes apps look more natural, as the Z Fold 4’s screen isn’t as narrow. The difference is certainly noticeable compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the screen is still not as wide as a standard phone like the Galaxy S22 or the iPhone 13.
Samsung is also doing more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 4 useful when the screen is folded in half. Flex mode, which splits an app between the top and bottom of the screen when the Z Fold is open, has 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 touchpad.
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This should make it easier to navigate apps in Flex mode, as you won’t have to darken the top of the screen with your finger while scrolling. The recently announced Galaxy Z Flip 4 also has this feature, and Samsung says it will evaluate 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 tablet-optimized version of Android. One of the most notable Android 12 additions 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 the Z Fold 4 has a sturdier build. The exterior is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, while the tablet-sized internal display is 45% more durable. Samsung also says that the Z Fold 4’s interior display is brighter than its predecessor, and that the interior 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 will get the camera and processor upgrades you’d expect from an annual phone update. The camera is particularly noteworthy; Samsung is upgrading the Z Fold 4’s triple-lens camera system to a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens. This telephoto lens will support up to 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. 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 Eadicicco/CNET
Most people interested in the Galaxy Z Fold probably care more about the phone’s giant interior display than the camera. But at such a high price, the Z Fold 4 should have a camera that at least matches or surpasses those found on 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 12-megapixel wide, telephoto and ultra-wide lenses of the Z Fold 3. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still the camera phone top of the line from Samsung.
The Z Fold 4 will also be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, which is a newer and slightly improved version of the chip found in the Galaxy S22 line. 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 Eadicicco/CNET
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a more refined and polished version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung seems to have a better understanding of who these devices are for, now that 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, much like the defunct Galaxy Note. Setting this direction means that Samsung can focus on adding new features that are unique and specific to the Z Fold, rather than 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 entice non-folding phone users. But it’s one step closer to figuring out 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.