Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: Beast Foldable!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the fourth iteration of Samsung's phone that unfolds into a mini tablet. It's more powerful, has an immersive display, and is the toughest foldable yet with a Nightography camera.

While the Galaxy Z Fold 4's premium features and impressive capabilities are appealing, its high price may put off some consumers since not everyone can afford this device given its steep price. Here is our hands-on review to assist you in determining if this foldable device is right for you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Specs

Android 12, Samsung One UI 4.1
7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X foldable display, 2208 x 1768 pixel resolution, 372ppi, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+
6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X outer display, 2176 x 1812 pixel resolution, 456ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ (front display, back panel)
3.09GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 octa-core processor
Adreno 730 GPU
12GB RAM
256GB/512GB/1TB internal storage
50MP + 12MP ultra-wide + 10MP 3x telephoto rear cameras, LED flash
10MP cover display camera
4MP under-display front camera
Samsung DeX
IPX8 water resistant
S-pen support
Fingerprint scanner
Stereo speakers
Dual SIM, Dual standby
4G LTE, 5G
WiFi 6, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
ANT+
USB Type-C
Dimensions: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm (unfolded) | 155.1 x 67.1 x 15.8mm (folded)
4,400mAh battery, 25W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wireless charging
Colors: Phantom Black, Beige, Graygreen
263g

Galaxy Fold 4 Design
The Galaxy Fold 4, like its predecessors, unfolds and closes like a book, using a hinge mechanism that runs through the device's spine. It appears identical to the Fold 3 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it appears more polished.

The hinge now appears durable and can survive countless opening and closing cycles, while the lip that ran along one side of the primary screen has been completely removed. Additionally, the phone is noticeably lighter, a difference we could feel when holding both devices.

The hinge allows for effortless opening and closing of the Galaxy Fold 4, and since it has been stress-tested, it will not easily get damaged thanks to its durable frame and display; however, the screen's edges appear susceptible to accumulating dust, particularly when used outdoors.

The screen is a fingerprint magnet which is particularly evident when the device is in tablet mode and when viewed at an angle; however, after changing the display's brightness, this became less of an issue.

The type-C port and microphones are placed on the bottom of the Galaxy Fold 4's right side panel, while the speaker grille is located on the bottom and top of the opposite side. However, there is no audio jack, so the only way to use wired headphones is to find a Type-C adapter with a 3.55mm audio jack or just wireless earbuds.

The fingerprint scanner is integrated into the power button, which is located on the side alongside the volume rocker. The SIM slot allows two nano SIM cards, but there is no microSD card slot support.

The Galaxy Fold 4 is a well-designed, premium device that is offered in Graygreen, Beige, and Phantom Black, the latter of which is gorgeous. It is still pocketable and can be slipped into a bag with ease. Because of its glossy finish, it is advisable to use it with a protective case since it might slip out of your hand while using it. Even in tablet form, despite the device's weight of 263g, it is still comfortable to use.

Its downside, this device is heavier and larger than the average smartphone. It weighs 263 grams, and the weight is noticeable when texting, making phone calls, perusing the Internet and updating social media profiles, playing games, and watching movies. When folded, the device is one millimeter thick, and takes two hands to grip it firmly.

Galaxy fold 4 Foldable Display and Audio
The Galaxy Fold 4 features a 7.6-inch foldable display when unfolded and a 6.2-inch outer display. Both displays use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels which makes them superior compared to other smartphones that use an OLED display.

What is a Dynamic AMOLED?
Dynamic AMOLED is a Super AMOLED with HDR10+. Samsung claims their next-generation OLED display panels have "HDR10+ certification for cinema-grade color and contrast" - Mobile Color Volume 100% of DCI-P3 coverage with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. TUV Rheinland certifies dynamic AMOLED screens as eye-friendly. OLED displays emit less blue light, making them safer than LCDs.

From the user's point of view, the Galaxy Fold 4's display is stunning and the colors are vibrant and sharp. Icons for apps have a better level of detail, especially when used with the default theme background wallpaper.

Samsung has increased the brightness of the Galaxy Z Fold 4's main panel while keeping the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. When watching high-resolution videos, this Dynamic AMOLED display looked vibrant. It also supports Samsung S-Pen which is nice to use on the main display.

Despite the phone's unusual aspect ratio, we loved that we could fill the entire screen with Netflix videos. However, doing so eliminates some details on the left and right sides of the screen, so it is best to maintain the original aspect ratio for the best viewing experience.

The dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos are outstanding in terms of audio; the sound quality is robust and there is no crackling even when the volume is turned up to the maximum level, so it provides an excellent audio experience.

When it comes to gaming, the main display has an advantage. This is particularly true for games like Call of Duty: Mobile, APEX Legends, and Mobile Legends, as well as other popular online games. These games are able to take advantage of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 main panel display size and can display more details of the game, providing users a significant edge over smartphones with a 6.5-inch display.

Galaxy Fold 4 Performance
The Galaxy Fold 4 is super snappy, it's powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is the latest and the most powerful chipset available for the Android platform. It also has 12GB of RAM and up to 1GB of internal storage, eliminating the need for a micro SD card.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform with Qualcomm Adreno GPU increases GPU clock rates by 10% and reduces GPU power by 30%. This system incorporates Snapdragon Elite Gaming. Variable Rate Shading Pro, Volumetric Rendering, Adreno Frame Motion Engine, and other features combine desktop-quality immersion with mobile portability.

While the 4th Generation Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System provides robust connectivity. The 18-bit ISP can record ultra-low light 8K HDR video for the first time on a mobile device.

The Galaxy Fold 4 performs exceptionally impressive in terms of benchmarks, as seen by its scores on major benchmarking apps below:

• AnTuTu v9.4.6 - 948543
• Geekbench 5: Single Core - 1289 / Multi-core - 3602
• 3DMark: Wild Life Extreme Stress Test Best loop -2795 / Lowest loop - 1546
• 3DMark: Wild Life Extrem Vulkan 2779
• Geekbench ML: TensorFlow Lite CPU score - 515
• PC Benchmark for Android: Work 3.0 - 14200 / Storage 2.0 - 27807

Performance-wise, there is no question that this premium device can handle whatever you throw at it. Any apps you want to install from Google Play on this device will run smoothly.

As a gamer, you'll be pleased to know that even the most visually demanding 3D games can be played smoothly at the maximum video, and performance settings; furthermore, the 120Hz AMOLED displays and twin stereo speakers will make your games look massive and stunning, and the stereo sound is equally excellent.

Playing shooting games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, APEX Legends on the main 7.6-inch display is an awesome experience. The gameplay is more immersive compared to a standard 16:9 screen on a 6.7-inch display.  It can also display more game details, has more responsive controls, and makes it easier to see the target in order to score the winning shot.

The main 7.6-inch screen is excellent for playing first-person shooter games like Call of Duty: Mobile and APEX Legends. Its 6.7-inch display offers a more immersive gaming experience than a regular 16:9 screen. More details about the games can be displayed, the controls are more responsive, and it's easier to spot and eliminate the enemy to win.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 OneUI 4.1.1 / Android 12L
At first look, the Z Fold 4's Android 12L and OneUI 4.1.1 on top offer a pretty much standard Android / OneUI phone experience. While it still has the standard home screen with widgets and app icons, when launching some apps, it's now a fixed taskbar at the bottom of the screen for easy access and switching between apps.

In our opinion, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is best suited for power users, including such hardcore multitaskers and gadget enthusiasts who want to get the most out of a single device.

The OneUI provides greater flexibility and functionality, and it is also protected by Samsung Knox, which ensures that confidential and sensitive data remains secure since the device is protected from the inside out and in real-time.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Cameras
In terms of cameras, the Galaxy Z Fold series has finally caught up to the Galaxy S series. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 utilizes basically the same camera system as the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus.

Its 50-megapixel main shooter with a sensor that is 23% brighter, which should result in photos that look sharper indoors. In addition, it also has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom. The smartphone boasts a 10-megapixel front-facing camera and a 4-megapixel sensor on the right side of its 7.6-inch display.

With its Pro-grade camera, space zoom, and nightography, the Galaxy z Fold 4 can compete with the Galaxy S22 in terms of photo and video quality, and it can also take better shots in low-light conditions.

With its Flex mode, it is now possible to take photos hands-free; using the rear camera's selfie mode to take selfies while using the cover display as a preview is far better, and the quality of the generated selfies is way better.

Here are some of the notable camera features of the Galaxy Z Fold 4:

Dual Preview - The preview appears on the Cover Screen, giving you a chance to adjust and look your best before you take the shot, which is kinda cool specially if you are alone. 

Capture View - Like having a photo monitor in your pocket, Capture View displays previews of the photos you have just taken, allowing you to easily review and retake them when needed.

Rear Cam Selfie  - Use the high-resolution rear camera to take some stunning selfies. Using the Cover Screen as a viewfinder, the 50MP Wide Camera can capture your best perspectives.

Expert RAW  - When you install Expert RAW, the Pro mode immediately advances to a new level. Get the most out of your photos by shooting in RAW and storing the files in your Gallery.

AI Edit - Video editing with AI is done on the go using Edit Now. Photo Remaster makes it simple to retouch images, while Object Eraser allows you to delete unwanted elements.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 Battery

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a 4400mAh battery that is split into two cells, one on each side of the device. Considering its huge display and powerful chipset, which require more power, this seems to be a very small battery capacity. 

This device, however, has excellent battery life. In our YouTube playback battery test, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 lasted for nearly 10 hours. While on PCMark Wok 3.0 benchmark app it scores 12Hrs and 4min. which is quite impressive. 

On a daily basis, we have been able to use the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for everything from work-related research and email to social media surfing and account updates, as well as watching our favorite shows on Netflix and playing games during breaks, and listening to music commuting. By the time we are home, it still has more than enough battery to last until the next morning,

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 supports 25W wired charging, capable of delivering a 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a suitable 25W Samsung adapter. The downside, Samsung does not include a charger, so you will have to buy one separately. In our tests, it takes around 67 minutes to fully charge the device from 10% to 100% which is quite impressive.  It also supports  10W wireless charging, which is convenient and easier to fill up the battery. It also allows you to charge other devices that use wireless charging, such as TWS and smartwatches, thanks to its Wireless PowerShare feature.

Pros

Solid Premium build

Best for multitasking features

The best display on smartphone/tablet

Stylus support

The camera can compete with other flagship devices 

Smooth and powerful performance

Impressive long battery life

Cons

Expensive price tag

Still has a crease

Thick and heavy

It's not easy to carry around

Need protective case

No charger included

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 - Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 may not be a significant improvement over its predecessor, but it is still an excellent smartphone overall and one of the best folding phones available. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 outperforms every other smartphone on the market, and we're able to accomplish more in less time using it compare with our existing device.

Apps like the taskbar improved drag-and-drop support, and apps that are designed for Flex mode and larger screens are all things for which Samsung can be applauded for enhancing the tablet mode user experience. The cameras are superb, taking crisp and detailed photos, and include features usually only found in camera-centric smartphones.

However, the high price of foldable devices remains a major obstacle to their widespread adoption, and despite its improved design, it is still the largest and heaviest folding gadget to date. However, if you want to join the foldable revolution and carry PC-like power in your pocket, then these tradeoffs are not a major concern.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is an excellent foldable smartphone, and if you can afford the ₱98,990 (256GB/12GB) price tag then you should definitely buy one and take advantage of all the features and capabilities it delivers.

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