Tried and tested: The new Samsung phone range
They flip, they fold, they come with handles: this is what you need to know about Samsung’s newly launched gear in Australia. We’ve put them to the test.
Sydney Weekend
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sydney Weekend. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Are you ready to fold your phone in half on purpose? Samsung launches its family of futuristic phones this weekend.
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD4
The fourth generation Fold proves the tech is ready
From $2499, samsung.com/au
PROS
– Huge camera boost
– Smaller, smoother hinge
– New Taskbar saves time
CONS
– No big redesign
– Stylus sold separately
– Still not dust-resistant
If you’re not sold on Samsung’s fourth generation Fold, you might never buy a big folding phone. The Galaxy Z Fold4 doesn’t reinvent the company’s book-shaped, futuristic gadget but it refines it in important ways. Upgrades include a camera boost, with the main camera now a 50-megapixel shooter, slightly bigger screens up front and in the middle, a slightly lighter body and a redesigned hinge that is both smoother and smaller, and new software that adds a taskbar below apps. Combined with water-resistance from last year, this Fold is finally ready for mainstream use.
VERDICT: ★★★★★
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP4
No big flip-out for this folding phone
From $1499, samsung.com/au
PROS
– Smaller and pocketable
– More to do on front screen
– Improved battery
CONS
– No major changes
– Cameras are basic
– Small screen limited
It’s easy to see why this is a favourite folding phone option for some buyers: firstly, it’s much cheaper than the Fold and, secondly, it’s much smaller. The pocket-sized appeal of the Z Flip continues in the latest edition, this time with a slightly more compact body and an improved and refined hinge. While the Flip is not reinvented here, the new model also adds 12 per cent more battery power, a wider and brighter camera lens option, and a front screen that can do more, like show settings or take portrait photos. It’s missing big changes for upgraders but this Flip does offer more for the same price as the year before.
VERDICT: ★★★★
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH5 PRO
A smartwatch with more fitness smarts than you’d expect
From $725, samsung.com/au
PROS
– Sits well on the wrist
– Much bigger battery
– Bigger, clearer screen
CONS
– No use for temperature sensor
– Large body may not suit all
– Only two colour options
Garmin, Suunto and their sporty friends should be very nervous about Samsung’s new smartwatch. With a few hardware additions, it makes a compelling case to replace a disconnected fitness watch. The first Pro Samsung smartwatch adds a battery that’s 60 per cent larger than its predecessor, sits better on the arm to deliver more accurate readings, uses a tough sapphire crystal screen with a large and clear display, and redesigns its sensors. It also boasts a temperature sensor, although there are no uses for it yet.
VERDICT: ★★★★½
SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS2 PRO
Smaller, lighter and more comfortable than their predecessors
$349, samsung.com/au
PROS
– Smaller, lighter form
– Decent noise cancellation
– Excellent sound quality
CONS
– Features locked to Samsung
– Mics could be better
– Command high price
From the infamous “ear beans” to glossy, olive-shaped devices, Samsung has launched plenty of earbud designs. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro are its most successful efforts to date, however, with a form that is 15 per cent smaller than their predecessors, lighter at just 5.5g per earbud, and capable of producing high-quality, distraction-free audio. Each earbud uses three microphones to identify and cancel noise, though they can also automatically switch to transparent audio with Voice Detect engaged. These sound machines also add 24-bit Hi-Fi support for streaming detailed lossless audio, though the feature only works on Samsung devices.
VERDICT: ★★★★
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD4 SILICON GRIP
An innovative way to hold an unconventional phone
$79, samsung.com/au
PROS
– Grip is a game-changer
– Adds a bumper to front screen
– Silicon finish stops slips
CONS
– Makes wireless charging tough
– Front bumper needs adhesive
– Pricey for a case
In its full, unfolded glory, the Fold4 could pass for a tablet so adding a handle to it could be smart insurance. This new-release case comes in two parts: a bumper to hug the edges of its front screen, and a case with elasticated handle to fit its rear panel. The result is a secure way to hold your phone while safely enjoying all that its 7.6-inch screen has to offer. The handle can get in the way of wireless charging or docks, but it could also stop a tragic drop.
VERDICT: ★★★★
More Coverage
Originally published as Tried and tested: The new Samsung phone range
Jett Kenny and Lily Brown’s baby shock: ‘We’re not far off’
Jett Kenny and Lily Brown don’t baulk at some of the more probing subjects that other, more conventional “celebrities” shy away from, including babies.
‘How Hamilton rewired me’
He’s played the dream role of Alexander Hamilton for four years – performing for longer than the show’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda as the lead – and Jason Arrow says the intensity of the demanding role has changed the way his brain works.