Long-term review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 after four weeks

I used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 as my daily driver for a little over four weeks. It was my phone, organizer, tablet, e-reader, my favorite camera and at times even a replacement for my MacBook. I paid for the device myself, and this is my honest and independent opinion.

Design and build quality

Folded, the Z Fold 4 is 155 mm long, 67 mm wide and 16 mm thick, with a 6.7-inch front display. It sits better in the hand than its predecessor, the Z Fold 3, even though only millimeters have changed. It is still bulky, and at 263 grams heavy, just 23 grams more than an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The magic unfolds when you open it: the 7.6-inch AMOLED display runs at a fast 120 Hz. Unfolded, the device feels delicate and light at 6 mm. I use it almost exclusively in this format. Thanks to the robust folding mechanism, you have a tripod with you, and you can watch movies and YouTube in comfort. The stereo speakers are really good.

Cases are tricky because they add quite a bit of bulk. Samsung’s original cases fit well, but the frame around the front display is high and interferes with gesture navigation. I only use the case with the kickstand for the back, but I prefer no case at all. I dropped the Z Fold 4 at home while standing. I have a dent in the floor, not in the device. After four weeks, I don’t have a single scratch on either the aluminum frame or the matte glass back. Only the front display has a screen protector. The crease in the display is noticeable and visible, but it has never bothered me.

Multitasking and working

With the update, multitasking has become easier and faster. There is a taskbar at the bottom that stays when you open an app. There you can switch quickly and open all your apps with one tap. I love split screen. With the new gesture navigation, it is faster to bring up. Three windows work, four too, then it gets confusing, but you aren’t restricted.

With a small foldable Bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad, I work on the go without a laptop. I use the S Pen for notes and for signing documents without printing them out and scanning them in again. It’s a shame that it can’t be stored in or on the device like on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. A magnetic holder on the side would be enough.

Camera, performance and battery

• Camera: Main camera with 50 megapixels plus ultra-wide and telephoto. Photos and videos are very usable for everyday life and social media. Videos go up to 8K, without stutters. The camera under the inner display takes no usable pictures. The front display can be used as a large preview for the main camera, which is a luxury.
• Performance: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, buttery smooth. When you switch from folded to tablet mode, an app sometimes needs a second or, in the worst case, restarts.
• Battery: 4,400 mAh, almost a day and a half for me. With a lot of tablet use, I get well over a day.
• Price: recommended retail price (RRP) of €1,800.

Verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a smartphone that unfolds into a tablet. That’s why I only need half as many devices, and it has become my favorite everyday companion. There is still room for improvement, but I no longer really know how I’d go back to a smartphone that I can’t fold.