Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Review: High-end Features And Good Convenience
June 14, 2020Foldable phone technology is still in its infancy, but the Z Flip shows promise in terms of its hardware and usefulness
Performance: Snapdragon 855+, 8GB RAM
Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (1080 x 2636)
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 3,300mAh
Rear Camera: 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 10MP
Special Features: 4K Video Recording, wireless charging
Rating: 8/10
Price: RM5,888 / USD1,380
This is an exciting time for tech enthusiasts. The advent of foldable screens will inevitably open avenues to the creation of far more capable smartphones. And despite the snickering of naysayers and the jokes they crack at the expense of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, a fundamental flaw in their reasoning is their lack of foresight.
Unlike its folding phablet cousin, the Z Flip is a well-built clam shell phone with a robust folding hinge mechanism. Some say that the Motorola Razr’s folding system is more advanced, but our time with the Z Flip proved one thing, its good enough. Its two halves fold firmly, however one’s intentions need to be deliberate for the hinge to cooperate.
The Looks
And unlike the flip phones of the early 2000s, it doesn’t fold completely flat on itself. Instead there’s a noticeable gap at the point where both halves meet, which gradually tapers toward the end. Admittedly, this does add to its thickness, creating an apparent bulge on one end, far greater than that of conventional smartphones.
Since 2014, phones have become uncomfortably big. Though these large screens facilitate productivity, they are inconvenient to store one’s persons. I’d say this drawback is acceptable considering that I’m able to fit a 6.7-inch smartphone into my jeans pocket with relative ease.
The folding screen on the Z Flip offers vibrant colours and is just as quick to respond to touch input as a conventional smartphone screen. Unfortunately, it isn’t as nice to use. This is due in part to the noticeable crease that runs down the middle. It’s a trade-off that comes with all current generation folding smartphones, including the Razr.
Over time, those who appreciate this phone will be able to look past this flaw and focus on the bigger picture. The Z Flip is a proof of concept, a capable device that is able to blend in with the rest of your tech. The Snapdragon 855+ does a tremendous job of chomping on tasks without hesitation. Like any other flagship, it can’t be faulted in terms of performance.
The Camera
Though some regard this as a gimmick, I can learn to appreciate the ‘half folded’ feature. Folding the bottom section of the Z Flip enables you to sit the phone down on a table and continue to use it. This could prove helpful when conversing over a video chat session or general media consumption. The display seamlessly splits into two halves when folded.
The phone has a few other tricks up its sleeve, which includes its ability to take selfies with its rear camera, a futile task for conventional smartphones. It’s small OLED display on the outer shell is also able to display some information, but not enough to be considered essential. I found it most useful to tell time, and to notify me of calls with caller id.
Since its camera is only a 12MP, many won’t think much of it. But its surprisingly capable at capturing decent photos and videos especially in good lighting conditions. At night, the results are passable at best. The same can be said of the front selfie camera. The contrast and saturation algorithms seem a little too aggressive but detail levels are good.
However, battery life might be of a concern to some. The 3,300mAh unit, provides decent juice, which can offer a day’s worth of use, provided that it isn’t used for intensive gaming or lengthy 4K video recording sessions. When used conservatively, battery life won’t be much of a bother.
Should I Buy One?
Let’s be honest, you’ll need deep pockets to afford this device. And as such, only those who understand its appeal will actually buy one. It offers a level of convenience that simply didn’t exist. That is one of the reasons why I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Z Flip. And I certainly hope that its screen fairs better over time than that of the Galaxy Fold’s.
