Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: first impressions of the newest, biggest folding smartphone

Samsung is launching a foldable Galaxy Z Fold4. We put it to the test and can reveal why it’s not just a fad.

In September 2019, Samsung launched a device so futuristic some pundits called it a fad.

That ‘fad’ is about to enter its fourth generation and its maker is convinced this year will make the folding phone mainstream.

In the hand, it’s clear the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 has come a long way.

No longer a delicate machine with a chunky body, clunky hinge and sometimes bubbly screen, this new generation is reassuringly solid, smaller and lighter than before and, when you unfold it, feels like you’re swinging open a well-oiled, freshly hung door.

The new Fold even feels lighter than its 2021 predecessor. Yes, it’s actually only lost eight grams but its weight is better distributed.

The flexing phone’s hinge is also smaller and smoother, its front screen has been refined again, growing 3mm wider by slimming its borders.

Samsung's fourth generation folding phone, the Galaxy Z Fold4, on show at a New York event, features more powerful cameras and adds a taskbar for apps. Picture: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

And in what could make the difference for many users, Samsung has finally boosted its camera kit to a level befitting its price.

The Fold4 will inherit a three-camera array from the Galaxy S22, including a 50-megapixel main snapper and a 3x optical zoom with 10x digital zoom.

While not as sexy on paper, there are also useful software refinements in the new model. The addition of a persistent “taskbar” with commonly used apps will make its use easier to multi-task and “Flex Mode” to dedicate one side of a folded screen to video and the other to controlling it is sure to be warmly welcomed.

Samsung's fourth generation folding phone, the Galaxy Z Fold4, on show at a New York event. Picture: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Despite these improvements, it is a tough ask to convince everyone to ditch the familiar candybar phone form that has dominated pockets since 2007.

The Fold’s price is high starting at $2499, reflecting the tech inside, and Samsung also stopped short of including a stylus in the phone as tipped, or increasing its water and dust-resistance from IPX8.

What the Galaxy Z Fold4 could do, however, is convince more buyers considering a folding phone to finally open up their wallets and embrace the technology.

By addressing durability, camera, and size concerns — even with modest improvements — Samsung has given folding smartphones a solid chance at life beyond a fad.

Jennifer Dudley Nicholson travelled to New York as a guest of Samsung. She had access to the phone for an hour before the launch.

Originally published as Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: first impressions of the newest, biggest folding smartphone