Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: $1,800 foldable phone returns with new design, software tweaks

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: $1,800 foldable phone returns with new design, software tweaks

what is happening

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Fold 4, its new large-format foldable phone.

Why is this important?

Samsung sees foldable phones as key to the future of its mobile device lineup. As one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, Samsung dominates a wide range of markets

what next

Samsung will release the Galaxy Z Fold 4 on August 26 for $1,800.

Samsung continues to improve its foldable phone design with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 , which goes on sale on August 26 and starts at $1,800 (£1,649, AU$2,499). The new book-style foldable phone announced at Wednesday's Unpacked event has a modified design that should be easier to operate 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 the first to enter the market, launching its first Galaxy Fold device in 2019. According to estimates by Display Supply Chain Consultants and Omdia, it leads the foldable phone market by a wide margin in terms of shipments. But foldable phones still account for a sliver of the broader mobile phone market. The new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 are Samsung's latest attempts to address some of the biggest criticisms of previous models, potentially making foldables more appealing to a wider audience.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 , for example, has a wider cover screen that more closely resembles a regular, nonfolding phone when closed. This change makes apps look more natural since the Z Fold 4's screen isn't as narrow. The difference is certainly noticeable compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the display still isn't as wide as a standard phone like the Galaxy S22 or the iPhone 13.

Samsung is doing more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 4's display useful when folded in half. Flex mode, which splits an app between the top and bottom of the screen when the Z fold is open, is getting a new feature. You'll be able to use the bottom half of the screen as a trackpad to control content on the top half like a laptop touchpad.

This will make it easier to navigate apps in Flex mode, since you won't have to blur the top of the screen with your finger as you scroll. The newly announced Galaxy Z Flip 4 is also getting this feature, and Samsung says it will evaluate 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 12 L, a version of Android optimized for tablets. One of the most noticeable Android 12 additions is the Z Fold 4 's new task bar, which should make switching between apps more convenient.

The overall design of the Z Fold 4 is generally the same, but Samsung claims the Z Fold 4 has a sturdier build. The exterior is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, while the interior tablet-sized display is said to be 45% more durable. Samsung also says the Z Fold 4's internal screen is brighter than its predecessor and the internal under-display camera is less noticeable. Like its predecessor, the Z Fold 4 is also 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 noteworthy; Samsung is upgrading the Z Fold 4's triple lens camera system to a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens. That telephoto lens will support up to 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. Samsung is bringing the Galaxy S22  's improved low-light photography to the Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.