Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 5G: Unboxing & First Impressions
September 5, 2022Performance: Snapdragon 8+ Gen1, 8GB RAM
Main Display: 6.7-inch FHD + Dynamic AMOLED 2x
Cover Screen: 1.9” Super AMOLED
Weight: 187g
Storage: 128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB
Battery: 3700 mAh
Features: 4K UHD / 1080p FHD / 720p HD video recording
Rear Camera: 12 MP Ultra-wide, 12 MP Wide-angle
Front Camera: 10 MP
Price:
128GB RM4,099
256GB RM4,399
512GB RM4,899
Bespoke edition 256GB RM4,599
Samsung’s Galaxy Flip, now in its fourth iteration, brings sensible ergonomics and practicality to the smartphone world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the company chose to improve upon the formula that made the original phone a hit among people who appreciate flip phones. The overall design of the new device can be seen as an evolutionary step forward.
It starts with the contrasting toned, matte black phone box and its fairly slim profile. The omission of the power brick and wired earphones have allowed the company to shrink the packaging down significantly. Right on the top is the Flip4 with its rear-facing upward. Underneath is a USB Type-C cable, sim ejection tool, warranty card and instruction booklet.
That is all you get in the box. In the name of reducing e-waste and shipment costs, the power brick has gone the way of the dodo bird. Manufacturers expect you to continue using the one you currently have or opt to purchase a wireless one that offers a much better level of convenience.
At first glance, the phone appears to have a similar look to the Flip3. However, the devil is in the details. Samsung has chosen to give the new device a sandstone-like finish instead of glossy one. This allows the actual color to impress you instead of relying on an artificial gloss or shine to boost the overall appeal.
This subdued look is also less likely to reveal minor scrapes or imperfections on the surfaces, which is a very good thing. Our unit is finished in Graphite, which looks very cool in person. It has a similar finish to that of the S21 Ultra – signaling a grown-up, corporate look.
However, if you don’t find it particularly charming, the phone is also available in more snazzy options, which include Blue, Bora Purple and Pink Gold. The most neutral out of the four and the one that will appeal to both men and women is Blue. On the other hand, the Bora Purple and Pink Gold just shout fashionista!
Regardless of which color you choose, each one has a unique and appealing quality. But you don’t have to settle for a single color. Through the use of silicone/rubberized cases or hard-shell ones, you could tailor the look of the Flip4 to match your outfit of the day.
Compared to the Flip3 the new phone has a “tweaked” overall look that makes it seem more appealing to hold. Though not glaringly obvious at first, the subtle differences make it feel a little more special. For example, the armor aluminum frame seems flatter and more polished compared to what’s on its predecessor.
The hinge mechanism seems more compact and recessed, which gives rise to an overall slimmer look. As good as it was on the Flip3, it seems more robust yet cooperative on the new phone when folding or unfolding it. But that isn’t all, because the foldable screen offers a cleaner bend than before. This results in a less obvious crease along the midline of the display.
Users will also notice a less apparent indentation as they run their finger across this area. At certain angles or while using the phone, you tend to forget that the crease even exists. This is a welcome trait because I for one am a stickler for a smooth, uniform surface, and though the Flip4’s screen doesn’t match that, it does come pretty close to my expectations.
This is a slightly heavier device due to the increased battery capacity, which now stands at 3,700mAh. The phone supports 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging technology. Samsung says that it can regain 50% charge with just 30 minutes spent on the charger.
But the size increase should be enough to let you use the 120Hz, AMOLED display (2640 x 1080) throughout the day. The Cover Screen, which is still 1.9-inches, can be used for more than just telling time and taking selfies. But we will get into the details in our full review.
Samsung has given the phone a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is flagship hardware that’s paired to 8GB RAM. You do have a choice of storage options which are 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The absence of a memory card slot negates the ability to expand on the available storage, but that’s how it is with most flagship devices.
If you thought that the Flip3 was good, its successor should impress you even more. It signals an incremental step forward in many categories ranging from build quality to overall features. We intend to find out how well it fares against its predecessor in our series of tests.
There’s a lot more to talk about, so check out our in-depth review, which should be out in the coming days. Till then, stay tuned.
