Long-term review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 after two months

With my first Z Flip 4, a pre-order, I got a lemon that kept restarting by itself. I exchanged it within the return period and put together a Bespoke Edition for the first time, in green with a gold frame. As always, I paid for the device myself. Here are my experiences after two months with the new device.

Design and handling

I almost never put the Z Flip 4 down. Either I’m using it, or it’s lying folded shut in the palm of my hand. It feels like it has grown onto me.

Unfortunately my Bespoke Edition has a smooth, slippery back like the Z Flip 3, and you can see fingerprints. That was actually nice on the Z Flip 4 with its matte glass. It depends on the color, the green is glass and not frosted. I find the combination of green and gold very elegant, though. I mostly use it without a case, and after two months I have no scratches on either the aluminum frame or the glass back.

The hinge is much firmer than on the Z Flip 3. You can hardly open the device with one hand without getting some momentum. But you quickly get used to closing a phone again when you’re done. While testing the iPhone 14, I caught myself trying to fold it shut. I don’t want to miss a built-in stand anymore.

Battery, performance and camera

• Battery: 3,700 mAh, much better than on the Z Flip 3, but still not great. I get through the day well and still have about 20% around 11 p.m. I still think reverse wireless charging is great, because it means I don’t have to take a charging cable along for the Galaxy Watch 5.
• Processor: Unlike the S22 Ultra with Exynos, this one has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and you notice that in the performance.
• Camera: Really good, as always with Samsung, more than enough for hobby photographers. Videos go up to UHD 60. When panning it stutters now and then, and then I would switch down to 30 frames per second.
• Unlocking: The fingerprint sensor in the power button works sensationally. I also use the less secure face recognition, which works reliably, except at 7 a.m. with a crumpled face.

Split screen, display and cover display

I can’t imagine life without split screen anymore. At the gym I have my training plan and YouTube open side by side. On the iPhone I have to switch back and forth, and YouTube stops in the process.

Despite weighing only 187 grams, you get a full 6.7-inch AMOLED display. It’s great, especially with cinema-format content, plus there are solid stereo speakers. The cover display is handy for the time, notifications and as a preview monitor for the main camera. For anything more, it is too small and has too few functions. I hope the Z Flip 5 gets a much bigger one.

Verdict

The Z Flip 4 is a very lovely all-round package with very good performance and a good camera, but above all it impresses with the flipping. €1,099 is a hefty sum and, for me, only justified by the innovative flip and fold concept. If you want a solid smartphone with a wow effect, you can’t go wrong with it. I’m also testing the Z Fold 4. Both have so much to offer that I can no longer imagine a smartphone without folds.