Samsung revealed its latest Galaxy Z Fold 4 today at its flagship Unpacked event, and it’s surprising to see how similar it is to its predecessor.
While the Z Fold 4 improves on some aspects, it stagnates on others. MobileSyrup managing editor Patrick O’Rourke put the device through its paces and said the device seems to have reached a plateau in terms of its design. “If you were expecting a Galaxy Fold 2, or perhaps even a Fold 3-like design leap with the Fold 4, you’ll be disappointed with Samsung’s latest foldable flagship,” O’Rourke said of his hands.
However, without further ado, let’s compare both iterations of the devices and deduce whether the new Z Fold 4 is all hype or an actual upgrade over its predecessor.
7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex, 2208 x 1768 pixels + 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2268 x 832 pixels – 120 Hz
Main screen: 7.6-inch 120 Hz AMOLED 2x, Infinity Flex display (2176 x 1812) | Cover Display: 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2316 x 904)
256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB of storage
Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.2 x 6.4mm | Folded: 158.2. x 67.1 x 16 mm
Folded: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm (hinge) ~ 14.2mm (drop) | Unfolded: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3 mm
12 megapixels (wide, f/1.8) + 12 megapixels (ultra wide, f/2.2) + 12 megapixels (telephoto, f/2.4)
50MP F1.8 Wide Angle Camera, 12MP F2.2 Ultra Wide Angle Camera, 10MP F2.4 Telephoto Camera | Cover Camera: 10MP F2.2 selfie camera
10 megapixels (f/2.2) + 4 megapixels (f/1.8)
10MP F/2.2 Cover Camera | 4MP camera under the screen F1.8
Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
Capacitive fingerprint sensor (side), accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor
Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver
Gray green, ghost black, beige [Samsung.com Exclusive] burgundy
7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex, 2208 x 1768 pixels + 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2268 x 832 pixels – 120 Hz
Main screen: 7.6-inch 120 Hz AMOLED 2x, Infinity Flex display (2176 x 1812) | Cover Display: 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2316 x 904)
256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB of storage
Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.2 x 6.4mm | Folded: 158.2. x 67.1 x 16 mm
Folded: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8mm (hinge) ~ 14.2mm (drop) | Unfolded: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3 mm
12 megapixels (wide, f/1.8) + 12 megapixels (ultra wide, f/2.2) + 12 megapixels (telephoto, f/2.4)
50MP F1.8 Wide Angle Camera, 12MP F2.2 Ultra Wide Angle Camera, 10MP F2.4 Telephoto Camera | Cover Camera: 10MP F2.2 selfie camera
10 megapixels (f/2.2) + 4 megapixels (f/1.8)
10MP F/2.2 Cover Camera | 4MP camera under the screen F1.8
Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
Capacitive fingerprint sensor (side), accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor
Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver
Gray green, ghost black, beige [Samsung.com Exclusive] burgundy
Visualization and design
The new foldable features a 7.6-inch unfolded QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display with an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz (48-120Hz), which happens to be exactly the same as its predecessor, although with a wider aspect ratio. It’s hard to tell the two screens apart at first glance, but thanks to a slightly thinner and lighter redesigned hinge, the phone is 3mm wider.
It also features slightly muted bezels and a resolution of 2176 x 1812 pixels, making the overall viewing experience slightly better than its predecessor.
The cover display also features an identical-looking 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2316 x 904 pixels, slightly better than its predecessor’s 2268 x 832 pixel resolution. In terms of weight, the new foldable is slightly lighter than its predecessor at 263g, 8g lighter than the Z Fold 3, which is likely due to the lighter hinge.
In terms of design, Samsung hasn’t been able to advance the Fold 4 in any significant way.
interns
The Z Fold 3 launched with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset, which was the top processor at the time of the device’s launch. The Fold 4 continues the tradition and features the best smartphone processor available today: the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The new chipset enables a 20% performance improvement and approximately 30% power savings in compared to the Snapdragon 888.
In terms of battery life, Samsung decided not to upgrade the device’s battery, which means the Fold 4 has the same 4,400mAh battery as its predecessor, although the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 optimizations should result in slightly better battery life.
The Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 4 come with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, along with 256GB and 512GB storage options. The new Fold 4, however, also includes a 1TB storage model.
camera
The camera is where the main upgrade lies with the Fold 4. Samsung upgraded the smartphone’s main camera from 12 megapixels (wide, f/1.8) to 50 megapixels (wide, f/1.8). The ultra-wide camera on the Z Fold 4 is identical to the Z Fold 3, with 12 megapixels (f/2.2).
The telephoto camera seems to have seen a downgrade in terms of megapixels, going from 12 megapixels (f/2.4) on the Z Fold 3 to 10 megapixels (f/2.4) on the Z Fold 4. However, with the new telephoto lens, you get a zoom 3x optical zoom, compared to the Z Fold 3’s 2x optical zoom. Also, similar to the Fold 3, the Fold 4 also has two selfie cameras, one under the display along with a punch-hole camera on the cover display. Unfortunately, the Fold 4’s front-facing cameras didn’t receive any upgrades and are identical to its predecessor, with 10-megapixels for the cover camera (f/2.2) and 4-megapixels for the under-display camera (f /1.8).
Also, according to Samsung, the pixels above the bottom camera on the Fold 4’s display have a higher density, which should mask the camera and hide it. However, based on our hands-on experience with the device, the camera is “still obviously visible.”
Colors and prices
The new Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $2,269, which happens to be the same price as the Z Fold 3 launched last year. The latter is now discounted and available for $1,894 on Samsung’s website.
The 2021 Fold, when launched, was available in ‘Phantom Black’, ‘Phantom Green’ and ‘Phantom Silver’ colours, while the new Fold is available in ‘Green Grey’, ‘Phantom Black’, ‘Beige’ and exclusive to the Samsung website. “Burgundy” color combinations.
Is it worth the upgrade?
The Samsung Z Fold 4 features an impressively expansive screen, which is slightly wider than its predecessor and is powered by the best processor on the market. However, the device does not introduce anything strikingly new. It has an updated main camera, a higher storage option and a new burgundy color scheme that looks spectacular. And while these small improvements add up, I don’t think they necessarily warrant an upgrade if you already have the Z Fold 3. An upgrade that would cost you $2,269.99.
On the other hand, if the Fold 4 would potentially be your first foldable purchase and you have the cash, definitely go for it. It is the best Samsung foldable on the market today.
To learn more about the Z Fold 4, check out our hands-on with the smartphone.
Image credit: Samsung