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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G review: Mostly the same

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G doesn't shake things up. It's an incremental update, a bit more refined than last year's Flip 3. But like its predecessor, the clamshell Flip 4 will probably end up as the most popular foldable phone, thanks to its relatively reasonable price (from S$1,398). It's ideal for those who want a compact device that will fit in shallow pockets, and take good selfies.

Quick specs

  • 6.7-inch main display (Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,640 x 1,080 pixels) and 1.9-inch Cover Screen (Super AMOLED, 512 x 260 pixels)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage
  • Dual 12MP rear cameras and 10MP front camera
  • 3,700mAh battery (with 25W fast charging)

Chances are, you won't be able to tell the difference between the Flip 4 and the Flip 3. They are practically the same size and weight — the Flip 4 is about 4g heavier. The OLED screens (the 6.7-inch main display and the 1.9-inch Cover Screen) are also unchanged from the previous version. The only upgrade: The displays use the more durable and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. The main display also has a pre-applied screen protector that Samsung advises users not to remove. But the tiny gap between the screen protector and the raised screen bezels collect a ton of lint from my pocket. Thankfully, the Flip 4 is IPX8-rated for water resistance, so you can rinse it under the tap. It's not dust-proof, though, so try not to drop it at the beach.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Credit: Aloysius Low

You can definitely feel the crease in the display, but you won't notice it after a while. The hinge is marginally slimmer, but it feels sturdy, and is stable while opened at practically any angle. This also means you can't unfold the Flip 4 with one hand. While you can do quite a bit with the Cover Screen, like tapping to pay for your train or bus ride, I'm disappointed that you still can't type a reply to your chats — which you can do with the smaller display of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. In short, there's definitely more Samsung could have done with the Cover Screen. Overall, I like the compactness of the Flip 4. It doesn't poke out of the pocket of my exercise shorts. True story: The Flip 4 once slipped out of my pocket into the back of my couch, prompting a small panic attack.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Credit: Aloysius Low

Except for the primary camera, which got a larger sensor (but still 12MP), the other cameras (ultra-wide and front) are the same as the ones in the Flip 3. Night photos look brighter and less noisy compared to the Flip 3. Photos generally appear pleasant, but they are not as crisp or detailed as the ones taken by flagship phones. Like its predecessor, the biggest benefits of the Flip 4's cameras have to do with the physical design. For instance, you can place the Flip 4 in clamshell form on a table for a steady shot. Or use the better rear cameras for selfies (with the Cover screen as a preview display).

Also improved in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G is the larger 3,700mAh battery. This, together with its more efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip means that the Flip 4 can last a day comfortably — most of the time. I still had to charge it at the end of the day, though. In our video-loop test, it lasted 14hr 33min compared to the Flip 3 (9hr 39min), Charging is also a little bit faster (25W, up from 15W). If you had decided to hold off on the Flip 3, the battery life and camera improvements in the new, slightly more refined version are reasons to reconsider. It's certainly the best clamshell foldable phone available now. Get it at Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon SG from S$1,398. Samsung also has a Bespoke edition (S$1,548) that lets you customise the colour combinations.

See Also
Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield

Note: Review unit provided by Samsung.


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Verdict



CAN BUY

Same-same design, but with better internals, especially the battery.

Buy it at Shopee
Available at Lazada
Buy it from Amazon SG

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