Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: New camera and design, $1,800

Samsung boosts her foldable phone Ambitions with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which goes on sale on August 26 and starts at $1,800 (£1,649, AU$2,499).

The new book-style foldable phone was announced on Wednesday Unpacked event It has a modified design that should be easier to manage in phone mode. It also gets new software that takes advantage of its foldable screen and routine upgrades to the processor and camera.

Samsung was one of the first companies to enter the market, launching The first Galaxy Fold The device is in 2019. It leads the foldable phone market by a large margin in terms of shipments, according to estimates from Supply Chain Consultants Offer And the omdia. But foldable phones are still a slice of The broader mobile market. The new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 are Samsung’s latest attempt to change that by addressing some of the biggest criticisms of previous models, which could make the foldables more appealing to a larger audience.

For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a wider cover screen that looks a lot like a regular non-foldable phone when closed. The change makes apps look more natural because the Z Fold 4’s screen isn’t narrow. The difference is definitely noticeable compared to Galaxy Z Fold 3 But the screen is still not the same width as a standard phone like Galaxy S22 or iPhone 13.

Samsung is also doing more to make the Galaxy Z Fold 4 useful when its screen is folded halfway. Flexible mode, which splits the app between the top and bottom portions of the screen when the Z Fold is opened, is getting a new feature. You’ll be able to use the bottom half of the screen as a trackpad to control the content on the top half, similar to the touchpad on a laptop.

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This should make it easier to navigate between apps in flexible mode, since you won’t have to hide the top of the screen with your finger while swiping. The newly announced Galaxy Z Flip 4 gets this feature as well, and Samsung says it will be bringing it to older Galaxy Z Fold and Flip devices. Samsung also says the Z Fold 4 is the first device to ship Android 12 forAndroid version optimized for tablets. One of the most notable additions to Android 12 is the new Z Fold 4 taskbar, which makes switching between apps even more convenient.

The overall design of the Z Fold 4 is generally the same, but Samsung claims that the Z Fold 4 has a sturdier build. The outside is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, while the tablet-sized internal display is said to be 45% more durable. Samsung also says that the Z Fold 4’s internal display is brighter than its predecessor, and the internal camera under the display is less visible. Like the previous version, the Z Fold 4 is also compatible with the S Pen.

Other than that, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 gets the camera and processor upgrades you’ve come to expect from the phone’s annual update. The camera is particularly noteworthy; Samsung upgrades the Z Fold 4’s triple-lens camera system to a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto lens. This telephoto lens will support optical zoom up to 3x and digital zoom up to 30x. Samsung also brings Enhanced Low Light Photography on Galaxy S22 to the Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.

Most people interested in the Galaxy Z Fold are probably more interested in the phone’s giant internal display than the camera. But at such a high price, the Z Fold 4 should have a camera that at least matches or exceeds those of Samsung’s non-foldable phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s cameras are definitely a step in the right direction, and are a noticeable upgrade from the Z Fold 3’s 12-megapixel wide-angle, telephoto, and ultra-wide lenses. but the Galaxy S22 Ultra Samsung’s camera phone is still top-notch.

Z Fold 4 will run too Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 The processor, which is a later, slightly upgraded version of the chip found within the Galaxy S22 lineup. Battery capacity remains the same at 4,400mAh, which is unfortunate – CNET’s Patrick Holland was disappointed with the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s battery life.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a more refined and polished version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung seems to be gaining a better understanding of who these devices are, having been around for nearly three years. With its large screen and S Pen compatibility, Samsung positions the Z Fold 4 as a productivity device, like the extinct Galaxy Note. Setting this trend means Samsung can focus on adding new features that are unique and specific to the Z Fold, rather than just ensuring apps work seamlessly across the Fold’s different screen sizes.

At $1800, the Z Fold 4 is still a tough sell. And while these new features are a sign of progress, they may not be enough to entice non-foldable phone users. But it’s a step closer to knowing what role, if any, folds can play in our lives.

For more, take a look at Galaxy Z Flip 4And the Galaxy Watch 5And the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro And the Everything else Samsung announced.