The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 has been my main phone for close to a year now, and let’s just say I have a love-hate relationship with it. Having vented about improvements I wish to see for its successor, you’d bet that the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2022 had my attention.
If you’ve suspected the release of new foldables from the Korean company, the event pretty much confirmed it. Samsung’s new lineup of devices include the:
- Galaxy Z Flip4
- Galaxy Z Fold4
- Galaxy Watch5 Pro
- Galaxy Watch5
- Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Galaxy Z Flip4
Samsung has confirmed my inkling that its flip phones haven’t exactly penetrated the market very well. Customers just aren’t willing to invest a hefty price for a subpar flagship competitor that’s also potentially less durable.
Thus, the tech giant has made upgrades to the Galaxy Z Flip4, especially in terms of its usability.
For example, you can now not only preview messages on the cover screen display, but quick reply to them too.
There will also be more widgets and quick settings options to toggle your airplane mode, flashlight, and WiFi, in addition to adjusting your phone’s volume and brightness settings (a limitation of its predecessor).
Another widget lets you add three favourite contacts to call without having to flip the phone open. SmartThings will also be an added widget, so you can control your connected home appliances directly from the cover screen.
When it comes to Quick Shot, users are now able to take selfies in Portrait Mode and see a preview in the actual photo ratio. Previously, you’d be taking via the cover screen’s dimensions, when the real photo is in a squarish dimension.
It appears that Samsung will allow users to record videos with the Z Flip4 too via QuickShot.
Plus, there’ll be more cover screen clock designs and backgrounds in various formats such as images, GIFs, and even videos.
Cameras on the Z Flip3 have received some complaints for carrying subpar specs. Unfortunately, not much has changed with the Z Flip4’s 12MP wide and ultra-wide cameras, along with a 10MP selfie camera.
Let’s not forget the battery. Samsung has increased the Z Flip4’s battery size from 3,300mAh to 3,700mAh. Its display has also been enabled with a 1 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, compared to the Z Flip3’s 10 to 120Hz.
Bespoke colour options to mix and match the top and bottom of Z Flip4’s exterior will also be available upon launch.
This customisability came a little too late during the rollout of the Z Flip3, where users who’d already bought the unit missed out on the personalisation.
| Cover screen display | 1.9-inch Super AMOLED Display (same as the Z Flip3) |
| Main screen | 6.7-inch FHD+Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (same as the Z Flip3) |
| Weight | 187g |
| Application processor (AP) | 4nm Octa-Core Processor |
| Colours | Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue Bespoke Edition: Front/Back (Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red); Frame (Silver/Black/Gold) |
| Rear dual camera | Ultra Wide: 12MP, F2.2 Wide-angle: 12MP, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8 (same as the Z Flip3) |
| Front camera | 10MP Selfie camera, F2.4 (same as the Z Flip3) |
| Battery | 3,700mAh (typical) dual battery |
| Water resistance | IPX8 |
| Memory & price | 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage (RM4,099) 8GB RAM with 256GBinternal storage (RM4,399) 8GB RAM with 512GB internal storage ((RM4,899) |
Galaxy Z Fold4
Samsung will now carry over its latest flagship cameras from the Galaxy S22 into the Z Fold4, boasting 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide, and 10MP telephoto cameras with 3x optical zoom, including Nightography features as well.
Another significant upgrade of the Z Fold4 will have to be its taskbar which will remain on the bottom of the screen even while apps are opened.
The apps on the taskbar will be whatever you set them to on your home screen, to make toggling between pinned apps more convenient (like using a computer).
Samsung has made a small upgrade to the size of the Z Fold4. It will have a 2.7mm wider display, and a 3mm shorter height, measuring 7.6 inches edge-to-edge when unfolded.
In terms of S Pen usage for this semi-tablet, nothing much has changed here. All functionalities will be carried over on the Z Fold4, and you can store the accessory in the add-on phone case.
For colour options, the Z Fold4 is available in Phantom Black, Graygreen, and Beige for a more feminine option, compared to the Z Fold3’s in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Green.
No changes have been made to the Z Fold4’s battery, which will remain at 4,400mAh.
| Cover screen display | 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (same as the Z Fold3) |
| Main screen | 7.6-inch QXGA+Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (same as the Z Fold3) |
| Weight | 263g (8g lighter than the Z Fold3) |
| Application processor (AP) | 5nm Octa-Core Processor |
| Colours | Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, and a Samsung.com exclusive Burgundy |
| Rear triple camera | Ultra Wide: 12MP, F2.2 Wide-angle: 50MP, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8 Telephoto: 12MP, PDAF, F2.4, OIS, Dual OIS, FOV 36˚ |
| Cover camera | 10MP, F2.2 (same as the Z Fold3) |
| Under-display camera (UDC) | 4MP, F1.8 (same as the Z Fold3) |
| Battery | 4,400mAh (typical) dual battery |
| Water resistance | IPX8 |
| Memory & price | 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage (RM6,799) 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage (RM7,299) 12GB RAM with 1TB internal storage (RM8,299) |
Wearables
Along with the foldables, the event also released two new watches: The Galaxy Watch5 for casual users, and Galaxy Watch5 Pro for fitness enthusiasts.
They will come with more health and wellness features such as an improved sleep tracking feature. The upgrade will include sleep habits and patterns analysis to provide one-to-one coaching programmes, so you can get suggestions for a better night’s rest.
The Pro model will feature more specified outdoor workout trackers, and it will come with a new “D-buckle” magnetic watch strap to fit the watch’s titanium body with sapphire crystal securely on your wrist.
Fans can also get excited for the new Galaxy Buds2 Pro with 360-degree surround sound abilities. Having tested the Buds2 (the brand’s lightest earbuds yet), I have faith in Samsung’s ability to bring yet another good true wireless earbuds to the market.
The Buds2 Pro will feature intelligent auto noise cancellation (ANC) with voice detection that will switch to ambient sound when it identifies that you’re having a conversation.
- Read our previous articles on Samsung devices here.
All image credits: Vulcan Post