Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review: Another solid step for foldables

Samsung is pushing on with the foldable phones. In much the same way as the company created a market for the large-screened Note and made the supersized display ubiquitous, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip don’t seem like they are going away any time soon.

The Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 were announced last week as part of Samsung’s regular Unpacked event. The virtual event extolled the virtues of the folding format, its flexibility and the potential for multitasking. “PC-like power in your pocket” is an alluring prospect, especially since a lot of people are working in a more flexible environment since the pandemic hit.

The Fold4 in particular seems like it would be of some use in this remote working scenario. The phone folds to roughly the dimensions of a normal smartphone when closed, and opens out to the size of a small tablet, with the inner screen giving you 7.6 inches of space to work, watch videos, edit photographs and so on.

But with a significant price tag attached, is the Galaxy Z Fold4 worth the leap?

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There are a few considerations when deciding whether it’s for you.

There’s the size. Samsung has made it a fraction thinner than the Fold3 but there’s no denying that the Fold4, when closed, is still noticeably thicker than the average smartphone. But I’ve spent a few days with the Fold4, and it’s surprisingly easy to get used to in your pocket and bag.

The Fold4 is wider and not quite as tall as its predecessor, which makes the cover screen less awkward to work with and, on the inside, you still get a 7.6-inch display.

That screen is deal for work or leisure; it’s bright and the size makes it easier to line up apps so you can quickly switch from one to another. Samsung has also partnered with Microsoft and Google to offer some Fold-friendly versions of their main productivity apps, which is a good move. The idea is that no matter what way you are using the Fold4, the apps will adapt.

You have to wonder what this means for the Microsoft Duo 2; it doesn’t mean the company will ditch it – it has its own laptops too – but if the Samsung experience is better, customers may opt for that over the Microsoft-designed device.

The chip has also been upgraded to a faster one. Performance-wise I found no issues, although this is an early review. Samsung has also added a 1TB storage option for those with really deep pockets.

The camera is a punch hole in the display as Samsung has offered on its phones for a while, so that means no notch, although you will still notice the crease in the middle of the display in the right light. It’s highly likely that you’ll barely notice it – I certainly tuned it out after a while – and in many cases you can’t even see it, such as when you are watching fast-moving video.

Speaking of the camera, that is where you will see the big change. Samsung has improved the Fold4, adding the 50 megapixel-wide angle camera to the triple-camera set-up. That’s an upgrade from the last version’s 12 megapixel lens, and brings it in line with the S22 Plus.

You get the familiar Samsung look off the images – saturated colour, sharp images – and folding the screen will turn the top half into the camera, the bottom half into the controls and gallery, and give you an optional stand too.

The front-facing camera is fine, but lacks features such as the portrait mode that you get on other premium smartphones.

There is no built-in S Pen, an ongoing inconvenience for a device that pitches itself as a productivity and multitasking powerhouse. The S Pen will once again be relegated to an add-on that either floats around your bag or is tethered with a case. Neither option is ideal, given that Samsung pitched the Note with a built-in S Pen and, quite frankly, we liked the convenience.

The big question: is the Fold4 worth the upgrade? If you have already made the leap to Samsung’s folding phones, it depends on what you are currently using. The main change between the Fold3 and Fold4 is, as previously mentioned, the camera upgrade.

The good

A bright screen and the same big display on the inside of the Fold4, plus some improvements to multitasking, make the Fold4 a good option for the those who want something that will fulfil both work and leisure purposes.

The camera has been upgraded to meet the standards of the S22 Plus. It was always a point against the Fold series that Samsung didn’t include a better camera; the Fold3 had a decent camera but for the price you pay for the folding phones, you deserve nothing less than amazing.

Battery life is also good, with the phone easily lasting out the day despite some fairly heavy usage.

The not so good

That fold is still there, and it’s unlikely to go any time soon. You can’t notice it as much when you are using the phone, and it’s almost invisible when you are watching streaming video for example, but if it irks you, this phone isn’t the one for you.

The lack of a built-in S Pen is inconvenient.

The rest

The taskbar at the bottom of the screen certainly makes the Fold4 seem more PC-like, putting all your favourites in easy reach, but it can be easily hidden if you are using gestures.

The Fold4 is IPX8 rated, which means it will resist water, but not dust – at least officially. Best keep this one away from the beach.

The verdict

Another solid step in the case for folding phones – if you don’t mind the crease.