Is Samsung's second foldable phone worth the hype?
Alongside the spec-loaded Galaxy S20 flagships, Samsung has unveiled the all-new Galaxy Z Flip, its second foldable phone. The handset comes with a clamshell-like design and promises more durability than ever, thanks to a folding glass screen and a solid hinge. As for specifications, the hardware on this $1,400 worth foldable is lacklustre in comparison to its similarly priced non-folding cousin, the S20 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: Design
The new Galaxy Z Flip features a horizontally folding display with a punch-hole in the center for the front-facing camera, a secondary display on the outside, an all-glass body, and side-mounted fingerprint reader. The flexible display is covered by a Samsung-made "Ultra Thin Glass" that promises to offer improved durability against scratches and scuffs. In that sense, it is more durable than Samsung's first foldable device.
The new Hideaway Hinge is one of the highlight features
The Z Flip's Hideaway Hinge feels more solid and strong and it can open in any position, thanks to a "Freestop folding technology". So, you can fold it, flip it, or make it stand on a table for clicking selfies, video calls or watching videos. The hinge also uses a "sweeper technology" that, according to Samsung, repels dirt and dust.
With the new form comes a new Flex Mode UI
Samsung has collaborated with Google to complement the novel foldable design with a new Flex Mode UI. The software basically splits the foldable display into two, allowing you to use Google Duo video chatting while letting the phone sit on a table or watch a YouTube video while going through comments in the bottom half. It also enables Multi-Active Window for drag-and-drop functions.
Let's talk about specifications
The Z Flip comes with a flexible 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1080x2636 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED panel. However, there's no S20-like 120Hz refresh rate here. On the outside, you have a 1.1-inch Super AMOLED display to see notifications when the phone is closed. The handset offers a 12MP+12MP dual-lens rear camera and a 10MP selfie camera. The main camera also offers 4K recording.
Under the hood
The biggest bummer, though, is that it comes with last year's flagship Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset. It packs 8GB RAM, 256GB of non-expandable storage, but doesn't support 5G. Further, it has dual batteries which offer a capacity of 3,310mAh. The handset supports reverse wireless charging, runs a customized version of Android 10, and offers all the necessary connectivity options: Wi-Fi 802.11a/c, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS.
Pricing and availability
The Z Flip is priced at $1,380 (around Rs. 98,400) and it will go on sale from February 14 in select regions including the US and South Korea. It will be available in Black and Purple color options initially, with a Gold variant coming later.
