Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 5G : The smartphone industry’s pursuit of innovation has led to remarkable developments in recent years, with foldable devices representing one of the most significant technological leaps.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4 5G stands as a testament to how far this technology has progressed, offering a refined experience that addresses many concerns raised by earlier generations. This comprehensive review explores whether the Z Fold4 successfully bridges the gap between experimental technology and practical daily use.
Design Refinement and Build Quality
Samsung’s fourth-generation foldable flagship demonstrates noticeable improvements in design sophistication and durability.
The device measures 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm when unfolded and 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8mm when closed, achieving a slimmer profile than its predecessors.
Weighing 263 grams, it remains heavier than traditional smartphones but feels remarkably balanced in hand.
The construction utilizes premium materials throughout, including an armor aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the external surfaces.
The hinge mechanism, often considered the most critical component in foldable devices, features an improved design that feels solid and confidence-inspiring.
The IPX8 water resistance rating provides peace of mind against accidental splashes, though users should still exercise caution around liquids.
Color options include Graygreen, Phantom Black, and Beige, each featuring a matte finish that resists fingerprints effectively. The external design maintains Samsung’s contemporary aesthetic, with clean lines and minimal branding.
When closed, the device resembles a premium compact smartphone, while unfolding reveals its tablet-like potential.
Dual Display Excellence
The Z Fold4’s dual-display setup represents its defining characteristic. The external cover display measures 6.2 inches with a 2316 x 904 resolution, offering a more traditional smartphone aspect ratio of 23.1:9. This AMOLED panel supports 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsive interactions for quick tasks without opening the device.
Unfolding reveals the main 7.6-inch AMOLED display with 2176 x 1812 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The under-display camera implementation creates a more immersive viewing experience, though the camera area remains slightly visible under certain lighting conditions.
The crease where the display folds is still present but less pronounced than earlier models, becoming virtually unnoticeable during active use.
Both displays support HDR10+ content and deliver exceptional color accuracy, covering a wide color gamut suitable for professional creative work. Peak brightness reaches 1200 nits on the main display and 1500 nits on the cover display, ensuring excellent visibility in various lighting conditions.
The adaptive refresh rate technology intelligently adjusts between 1Hz and 120Hz based on content, optimizing battery efficiency.
Performance and Multitasking Capabilities
At the heart of the Z Fold4 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, representing the pinnacle of mobile processing power at its release. This 4nm chipset delivers exceptional performance across all usage scenarios, from demanding games to professional productivity applications.
The Adreno 730 GPU handles graphics-intensive tasks with ease, maintaining stable frame rates even in the most demanding mobile games.
The device comes with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM standard across all storage variants (256GB, 512GB, or 1TB), ensuring smooth multitasking capabilities. The UFS 3.1 storage provides rapid read/write speeds, minimizing app loading times and file transfers.
The combination of powerful hardware and optimized software creates a seamless user experience that justifies the premium positioning.
Samsung’s multitasking features truly shine on the Z Fold4. The ability to run three apps simultaneously on the main display, with additional floating windows, transforms productivity potential.
The taskbar implementation mirrors desktop computing paradigms, allowing quick app switching and drag-and-drop functionality between applications. These features elevate the device beyond a simple smartphone into a genuine productivity tool.
Camera System Versatility
The camera configuration includes a triple rear setup featuring a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
This versatile combination covers most photography scenarios effectively, from wide landscape shots to detailed close-ups. The main sensor captures impressive detail with accurate colors and good dynamic range, competing favorably with traditional flagship smartphones.
The unique form factor enables creative shooting modes unavailable on conventional devices. The ability to use the main cameras for selfies while previewing on the cover display results in significantly higher quality self-portraits.
The FlexCam mode allows hands-free photography by partially folding the device, eliminating the need for tripods in many situations.
Video recording capabilities include 8K at 24fps and 4K at 60fps with excellent stabilization. The under-display camera on the main screen (4MP) and the cover display’s 10MP camera serve adequately for video calls, though image quality doesn’t match the rear cameras.
Low-light performance benefits from larger sensor sizes and computational photography improvements, producing usable results in challenging conditions.
Battery Life and Charging Solutions
The 4400mAh dual battery configuration provides adequate endurance despite powering two high-refresh displays. Real-world usage typically yields 8-10 hours of screen time when primarily using the main display, extending further with mixed cover display usage.
The efficient processor and adaptive display technology contribute to better battery life compared to earlier foldable models.
Charging options include 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories. While these speeds lag behind some competitors offering faster solutions, they provide reasonable charging times without generating excessive heat.
The device reaches approximately 50% charge in 30 minutes via cable, with full charging requiring about 90 minutes.
Software Optimization and Features
One UI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L showcases Samsung’s commitment to optimizing software for the foldable form factor. The interface seamlessly adapts between displays, with apps transitioning smoothly when opening or closing the device.
Many popular applications now feature optimized layouts that take advantage of the larger screen real estate, though some third-party apps still require improvement.
S Pen support (sold separately) adds another dimension to productivity and creativity, though the lack of built-in storage remains inconvenient.
The stylus enables precise input for note-taking, sketching, and document annotation, further blurring the lines between smartphone and tablet functionality.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 5G Final Assessment
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 5G represents the maturation of foldable smartphone technology. While the premium pricing remains a barrier for many consumers, the device delivers a unique experience that justifies its cost for users seeking cutting-edge innovation and enhanced productivity capabilities.
The combination of refined hardware, versatile software features, and improved durability makes this the most compelling foldable device yet, pointing toward a future where such form factors become increasingly mainstream.
