Samsung have established themselves as the early leaders in foldable smartphone technology. Having captured a few firsts but suffered for their innovation in bringing the tech to market, Samsung’s second generation is probably a better reflection of what the tech can do and where it’s headed. But Samsung Galaxy Z Flip isn’t a pocketable tablet like its comtemporary Fold 2. Z Flip is an interesting joining of old and new, bringing the clamshell back for the smartphone-era.
Signs of Progress
The quality of the design is commendable and Galaxy Z Flip feels like a finished and wholly usable product. It feels solid while closed in the way that clamshells of yore used to feel.
The gap, while still present, is much smaller than that of either Fold. This small opening didn’t discourage me from pocketing the device in a care-free fashion. The tolerances in the three-part hinge are tiny with brushes hidden in the mechanism to keep dust out.
Hinge Talk
The hinge has three major components. The top and bottom halves and the joint, inside which the screen folds when closing the device. The screen has a seam but it seems to disappear when the screen is on.
Folding the screen in and having to open the device to check was a major concern around inward-folding devices. Galaxy Z Flip remedies this with a small outer screen. So far I haven’t been able to set it to show as many notifications as I would like but a quick touch of the 1.1″ and swipe or two and I can usually tell if anything needs attention.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is tricky to open with one-hand. I was too wary of scratching the screen with my thumbnail to try it more than a few times but it can be done. The device closes easily one-handed though and does so with a mechanically-satisfying clap.
Excellent Screen and a Few Tricks
The 1080×2636 D-AMOLED interior display is vibrant with that saturated, premium Samsung look. Blacks are deep and inky, adding depth to HDR media. As usual, the Samsung skin adornments show off the clarity and colour of the AMOLED.
The folding design doesn’t just offer some protection while the device is fully closed but adds some utility to it when open as well. So far the most useful benefits have come from Galaxy Z Flip’s ability to leave the device unfolded at almost any angle. As simple as that may sound, video calls or self-shot material gain much from the freedom this offers.
The vast majority of apps don’t separate their content around the fold yet and it’s mostly Samsung apps to take advantage of flex mode.
A Learning Fold
Though Samsung Galaxy Z Flip felt solid and secure when closed, I was shy with it while open at first. The noticeably-thin covering on the screen and my relative unfamiliarity with inward-folding tech made me handle it more carefully than is convenient for a phone.
But after a few hours, it clicked. With only a little more mindfulness in use, Galaxy Z Flip gains a lot beyond novelty. The small footprint and the ability to angle the upper half didn’t take long to appreciate.
