There is no disputing that foldable phones are becoming more and more popular and are almost certainly going mainstream. Although I have yet to encounter one in the wild, it is evident that there is a market for foldables as 10 million units were sold in 2021–2022, and significant growth is anticipated. Should you purchase a foldable phone then? There are a few significant variables to consider before making a choice.
Even though Samsung is on its fourth iteration of the Fold and Flip, foldable smartphones are still relatively new. Even with that, there are still a lot of various issues that need to be resolved and can only get better from here. You should consider whether enough has changed in the last four generations for you to spend almost $2,000 on a portable tablet.
MYTH: Folding phones are less sturdy. After years of development, Samsung has finally created what it calls Ultra-Thin Glass for its display material. For the majority of users, the UTG surface allows the display to bend 180 degrees from open to close without breaking or shattering.
The UTG screen occasionally cracks even though it isn’t supposed to, usually just where the curve is. Glass cracks because it is made of glass. These reports should suffice to deter anyone from purchasing a foldable phone.
On a Galaxy Z Flip 3, our own Ben Schoon has already encountered this problem, with there appears to be no discernible causes for the unexpected breakage. One bad flip was all it needed to cause a sequence of tears to run straight through the display.
Having said that, this isn’t always the case. Although there are many instances of damage, most users continue to experience these problems. Ben had no problems with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Fold 3 breaking or sustaining any damage during his two generations of everyday use.
Although Samsung hasn’t mentioned this new design, there have been reports that the company is improving the UTG screens. As a result, we can only presume that the Fold 4 and Flip 4 have the same glass as the UTG models.
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whether or not the glass on your foldable will crack. Because of this, we advise obtaining Samsung Care to avoid having to pay for any repairs.
You might be shocked by how durable a folding phone can be, though, at the same time.
If you were to ignore the sporadic cases of screen shattering for a second, statistical evidence suggests that the device is generally sturdy. The display can be easily scratched because it resembles plastic more than glass, but aside from that, the Galaxy Flip 4 and Fold 4 both hold up nicely. Due to significant engineering improvements, the Fold 4 is nearly impossible to bend the incorrect way this year, with the hinge being stronger than ever. Although there is no official dust resistance certification for Samsung’s foldables, they do hold up to dust and dirt relatively well overall . They are also water resistant.
THE CREASE CAN’T BE AVOIDED FOR NOW, IN FACT The wrinkle is a regrettable side effect of Samsung’s foldable electronics. Even while it just makes logical that bending something would result in a crease at the tip, nobody actually likes it. This is one of the shortcomings that can deter users from purchasing a foldable phone.
The Fold 4 and Flip 4 have a small, totally acceptable fold in the middle of the inner displays right out of the box. It nearly tempts you to never bend the object again. However, as soon as you shut off the Fold or Flip for the first time, the UTG display develops a little anomaly that spans the entire edge.
According to our experience with Samsung devices, you eventually get used to the uneven display portion. Only when you’re looking at it from the side or there is a light directly above you does it ever really become a problem. Other than that, not much of a huge issue, really.
The wrinkle in earlier Fold and Flip generations was marginally worse. The drop in the glass appears to be less noticeable this year, although it is still clearly visible. Close to the time the Fold 4 and Flip 4 were released, there were whispers that the creasing problem had been solved and was no longer a problem, but those rumors didn’t quite come true.
With a Fold 4 or Flip 4, you will undoubtedly become accustomed to the crease, but you’ll also notice that it gradually gets a little deeper. It stops getting worse at a certain point, however there is a time when it gradually grows a little bit bigger. As previously stated, you will just have to put up with this with Samsung’s foldable for the time being. Competitors in China, like as the Oppo Find N, have made some headway in understanding this, but they aren’t yet offered in the United States or other developed nations.
The fact is that Samsung’s customer service is hit or miss. You’ll need to contact support if your gadget ever cracks or the hinge stops functioning as intended. Unfortunately, Samsung’s track record for providing excellent customer assistance isn’t the best.
Users have frequently tried to get replacement gadgets in recent months only to get trapped in an endless cycle of trying to get the problem resolved . In a recent instance, a Reddit user who pre-ordered the Fold 4 discovered a hinge problem after receiving it. After calling customer service, user found themself in an uphill battle attempted to get the phone replaced but ultimately decided to accept a full refund.
Cases like this happen all too frequently, and that’s without even considering international customer service, which is frequently considerably trickier. The chances are strong that you won’t need a replacement gadget, but if you do, don’t be shocked if you discover that Samsung’s customer service is subpar unless you reside in a major city with a physical store to repair your phone.
In case of emergency, Samsung has approved Ubreakifix to handle Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 repairs. Although it might not be the cheapest choice, this one is really handy and allows you to get around Samsung’s shortcomings in customer service.
Myth: A FLOP IN BATTERY LIFE ON THE FOLD OR FLIP The battery is another another factor to take into account when purchasing a foldable phone. Although it might appear that a larger phone, like the Fold 4, would have a larger battery, that isn’t necessarily the case.
The 4,400 mAh battery in the Fold 4 is in line with the typical battery size for 2022. However, larger battery requirements due to increased screen size result in a quicker battery loss than on most smartphones. The Fold 4 does a great job of handling it, boasting 3.5 to 4.5 hours of viewing time with a roughly 40/60 split between the inner and outer display. When compared to the Fold 3, you may expect an additional 4 to 5 hours of battery life each day.
The Flip 4 also uses the pattern without hesitation. The 400 mAh battery upgrade for the Flip 4 this year significantly extended the foldable’s daily usable life. If you don’t play demanding video games or watch hours and hours of films, your overall success rate by 11 p.m. should be around 20%.
In comparison, that is a significant improvement and is entirely functional by today’s standards. Is it truly incredible? No, but it accomplishes the task. Due to the mere fact that the exterior display is small and consumes far less power than other phones, turning on features like an always-on display doesn’t result in a significant battery depletion. The Flip 4 is closed while not in use, which helps preserve as much of the battery as possible.
I’ve discovered that for the past few weeks of using a Flip 4, I never once hit under 15% in a day. The Flip 4 battery is perfectly OK as long as you keep it closed while not in use and use that cover screen.
The Fold 4 follows the same line of reasoning. It’s difficult to compare the battery to these foldables given this year’s advancements. Unless you anticipate your phone to live more than a day, you aren’t really making a tradeoff.
DO YOU NEED TO PURCHASE ONE OF SAMSUNG’S FOLDABLES? There is still a lot about Samsung’s clamshell and tablet-like folding phones that haven’t fully been worked out, including durability, display difficulties, customer service, and battery. Apart from the drawbacks mentioned, the Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 have a lot of advantages.
Both of the devices have a lot to offer a wide range of customers. I initially believed I would have no use for the Flip 4, but it has since evolved into my primary daily vehicle. Despite the fact that the two gadgets have certain flaws, we highlight some of their better features in our reviews.
The technology behind foldables has advanced to the point that purchasing one could no longer seem like a passing trend. It might be a wise investment for you if you are willing to pay the $999 or $1799 for a Flip or Fold, respectively. Considering Samsung’s recent hot streak of incredible trade-in offers, purchasing a Fold 4 or Flip 4 would not be a bad idea if you intend to upgrade next year.
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