What’s happening
Samsung has announced its latest large format foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
why is it important
Samsung sees foldable phones as the key to the future of its mobile device lineup. As one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers, Samsung is influencing the broader market.
what’s next
Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in August. $26, 1800 dollars.
SAMSUNG continues to develop foldable phone Design with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which went on sale in August. 26 and starts at $1,800 (£1,649, AU$2,499). New book-style foldable phone announced Wednesday Unpacked eventhas a modified design that should be easier to manage in phone mode. It’s also getting new software that takes advantage of its foldable screen and routine upgrades to the processor and camera.
Samsung was an early entrant and first Galaxy Fold device in 2019. View Supply Chain Advisors and Omdia. But foldable phones are still broader mobile phone market. The new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 are Samsung’s latest attempt to change that by correcting some of the biggest criticisms of previous models and potentially making foldables more appealing to a wider audience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, has a larger cover screen that looks more like a regular, non-folding phone when closed. The change makes apps look more natural, as the Z Fold 4’s screen isn’t that narrow. The difference is definitely noticeable Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the screen is still not as wide as a standard phone. Galaxy S22 horse iPhone 13.
Samsung is also doing more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 4 usable when its screen is folded in half. Flex mode, which splits an app between the top and bottom of the screen when Z-Fold is on, gets a new feature. Similar to the touchpad on a laptop, you’ll be able to use the bottom half of the screen as a trackpad to control content on the top half.
This will make it easier to navigate apps in Flex mode as you won’t have to hide the top of the screen with your finger while scrolling. The newly announced Galaxy Z Flip 4 is also getting this feature, and Samsung says it will consider bringing it to older Galaxy Z Fold and Flip devices. Samsung also says that the Z Fold 4 is the first device to ship with. Android 12L, Android version optimized for tablets. One of the most notable Android 12 additions is the Z Fold 4’s new taskbar, which should make switching between apps easier.
The overall design of the Z Fold 4 is generally the same, but Samsung claims the Z Fold 4 has a more solid build. The exterior is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, while the internal tablet-sized display is said to be 45% more durable. Samsung also says that the Z Fold 4’s internal display is brighter than its predecessor, and the internal under-screen camera is less noticeable. Like its predecessor, the Z Fold 4 is compatible with the S Pen.
Otherwise, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is getting the camera and processor upgrades you’d expect from an annual phone update. The camera is particularly striking; Samsung is upgrading the Z Fold 4’s triple-lens camera system to a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens. This telephoto lens will support up to 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. Samsung also brings Improved low-light photography of the Galaxy S22 To Z-Fold 4 and Flip 4.

Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cover screen is wider than Z Fold 3’s.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Most people who are interested in the Galaxy Z Fold probably care more about the phone’s huge internal screen than the camera. But for such a high price, the Z Fold 4 should at least have a camera that matches or exceeds what’s found in Samsung’s non-folding phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cameras are definitely a step in the right direction and represent a notable upgrade from the Z Fold 3’s 12-megapixel wide, telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. But Galaxy S22 Ultra It’s still Samsung’s top-of-the-line camera phone.
Z Fold 4 will also work Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 The processor, which is a newer and slightly upgraded version of the chip found in the Galaxy S22 series. Battery capacity also remains the same at 4,400 mAh, which is a shame – CNET’s Patrick Holland was disappointed with the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s battery life.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a more refined and flashy version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung seems to have a better understanding of who these devices are for, which have been around for nearly three years. With its large screen and S Pen compatibility, Samsung positions the Z Fold 4 as a productivity device like the extinct Galaxy Note. Setting this direction means Samsung can focus on adding new unique and Z Fold-specific features, rather than just making apps run smoothly on different screen sizes of the Fold.
At $1,800, the Z Fold 4 is still a tough sell. And while these new features are a sign of progress, they may not be enough to lure non-foldable phone users. But we’re one step closer to figuring out what role foldables can play in our lives.
For more, have a look at: Galaxy Z Flip 4, Watch Galaxy 5, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Everything else Samsung has announced.