Samsung Z: Should You Buy the Flip 4 or the Fold 4?

Samsung sells more phones every year than any other company in the world.

Samsung is known for pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone can be. While the Samsung Z range competed directly with Apple for a number of years, Samsung changed the game when they released the Galaxy Fold back in 2019.

This meant that the smartphone completely redesigned with a unique, foldable form factor. This allowed the smartphone to come in a compact and sleek design but still include a large display.

Samsung has perfected its design and expand the range to include a vertical folding phone, the Galaxy Flip. In August 2022, the entire Samsung Z lineup was updated with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. 

Are you trying to decide between the Galaxy Flip 4 and the Galaxy Fold 4? You’re in the right place. Here’s all the information you need to compare these two flagship smartphones from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Flip 4

Samsung Galaxy Flip 4

The Galaxy Flip 4 built on the success of the Fold and expanded the foldable range from Samsung. This foldable smartphone folds vertically, allowing the 6.7-inch smartphone to transform into a sleek and compact form factor that you can slip into your pocket or bag.

The Flip 4 may be designed as a small and compact smartphone, but it comes with the latest technology Samsung has to offer. The foldable smartphone comes with 8 GB of RAM and an upgraded processor that promises to crush even the heaviest of workloads.

Whether you want to shoot a 4K video or edit HDR content on the go, the Samsung Z Flip 4 has the hardware to make that possible. What makes the Flip 4 so special is that the performance is packaged in a clean and premium design.

Screen

The Galaxy Flip 4 is a vertically folding phone from Samsung. This foldable smartphone technically has two screens, with a small screen visible alongside the camera modules when the phone is closed shut. Known as the cover screen, this AMOLED display measures only 1.9-inches.

This display is perfect for notifications and also enables you to take incredible selfies using the back cameras" for clearer expression. The rear cameras are normally of higher quality, so this feature enables you to take some seriously impressive pictures.

The main screen is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display. This foldable display does form a slight crease in the middle of the phone but is barely visible in everyday use. The phone also boasts a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate.

This means that the refresh rate can adjust depending on what you’re doing at the time.

The screen will speed up to 120 Hz when scrolling but will slow down to 10 Hz when displaying static images. This helps save battery while optimizing your experience.

Storage and RAM

Samsung builds high-performance smartphones. As the flagship range from Samsung, the Z Series comes with impressive internal specifications. The Galaxy Flip 4 comes with 8 GB of RAM, significantly more than most other flagship smartphones on the market today.

In addition to the RAM, Samsung included three massive storage options for users to choose from. This includes the entry-level 125 GB model, a mid-range 256 GB version, and a maxed-out 512 GB specification for professionals that need more storage on the go.

While many may not understand why so much storage may be needed in a smartphone, photographers and users that love taking videos understand how important storage can be. The Flip 4 can shoot in 4K HDR, a format that can quickly fill up smaller storage devices.  

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 comes with two rear cameras and a singular front-facing camera. The front camera is a 10 MP sensor, and the rear cameras are both 12 MP sensors with (f/1.8) and (f/2.2) apertures" for better punctuation and phrasing.

Price

The Galaxy Flip 4 comes in three storage and four color configurations" for clearer expression. The standard 128 GB version starts at $999 while the 256 GB model will set you back $1,059. The ultimate 512 GB version of the Flip 4 is only available as an unlocked smartphone for $1,179.

Samsung has also released five special bespoke editions of the Flip 4, in addition to the four standard color options" for better clarity. These are set to be a limited-edition version of the Flip 4 and come in a few unique color combinations that are destined to turn heads. 

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4

The Galaxy Fold is the original folding phone from Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was announced alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4 at the August 2022 Galaxy event and promises slightly improved processor and battery performance" for better clarity and consistency. The Galaxy Fold 4 distinguishes itself from the Galaxy Flip 4 both externally and internally.

The most obvious differences occur externally. This is because the Galaxy Fold features a front screen that makes the entire smartphone look and feel like a traditional smartphone. However, the smartphone opens up to showcase a 7.6-inch AMOLED display.

The Fold is designed by Samsung to be a professional smartphone with the capability to run multiple tasks at the same time. This is why they included a larger battery and more RAM to effortlessly support heavier workloads.

Screen

The Galaxy Fold 4 comes with two impressive display. Unlike the Flip 4 which includes a small 1.9-inch display when the phone is closed, the Fold 4 folds in half horizontally to showcase an impressive 6.2-inch HD display. This display may not be AMOLED but boasts a similar resolution to the interior screen.

The Fold 4 opens up to showcase a massive, 7.9-inch AMOLED display. This innovative display also comes with a 120 Hz display that can adapt in the same way as the S22 Ultra and the Z Flip 4. This helps save battery and makes the entire viewing experience smooth.

The Fold 4 does have a slight crease in the middle of the interior panel. However, the crease slowly fades away as you use the device and can actually come in handy when multitasking. This is because Android and Samsung have included multitasking capabilities that allow you to run two apps alongside each other.

Storage and RAM

As mentioned above, the Fold 4 was designed for multitasking. In addition to the larger battery and screen, Samsung has also increased the amount of RAM in the Fold 4. While the Flip 4 has 8 GB of RAM, the Fold 4 increases that to 12 GB.

This is more than most traditional laptops, making the phone perfect for multitasking on the go. Samsung increased the Fold’s practicality by allowing users to configure the phone with up to 1 TB of storage. This makes it one of the most powerful smartphones on the market.

Camera

The Galaxy Fold 4 comes with a three-camera array and a single front-facing camera. The front camera is a 4 MP UDC, 10 MP sensor. However, the rear features a 50 MP wide lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10 MP telephoto lens.

The entire system allows for 3x optical zoom and 30x space zoom.

Price

The Galaxy Fold 4 comes in three different storage options. The base model starts with 256 GB while the rest of the range can be configured with 512 GB or 1 TB of onboard storage. However, the 1 TB model is only available with an unlocked smartphone.

The 256 GB model starts at $1,799 while the 512 version will set you back around $1,919. The ultimate 1 TB model is priced at $2,159 but can be purchased at a much more affordable rate of $60 a month for 36 months. Samsung offers financing for all of their phones and even encourages trade-ins to make upgrading to the latest Galaxy smartphone easier.

Why Buy a Samsung?

Buying a Samsung Smartphone

Samsung sells more phones than any other smartphone maker in the world. This is because Samsung is known for creating some of the most beautiful smartphones with long-lasting battery life.

Samsung smartphones are also known to be incredibly durable phones, with the new Samsung Z Flip4 and the Samsung Z Fold4 coming with an IPX8 rating. This means that the phone can survive being completely submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.

These ratings also extend to make the phone dustproof as well. This means that the new Samsung devices are some of the most practical phones on the market today. Samsung also includes custom software to help make the smartphone even more useful in everyday life.

One UI

Samsung relies on Google and Android to develop and maintain its operating system. Unlike Apple which has created its own software, Samsung outsources this to Google. This helps them save some money but also allows them to focus their attention on making the best possible phone.

Samsung is able to invest in camera technology, glass manufacturing technology, and even microchip development to make their smartphone faster and more efficient than the competition. However, Samsung has not completely abandoned the software element of what makes a smartphone so useful in day-to-day life.

To help users control the phone with a single hand, Samsung developed its own version of the Android operating system. Known as One UI, this piece of software acts as a skin to make the entire operating system look and feel unique compared to other Android smartphones.

This overlay works on all Samsung devices running Android 9 or later. This overlay drops all the controls and buttons to the bottom half of the screen so that you can easily access whatever you need. The overlay also includes a few gestures to help users navigate the rest of the screen without having to use both hands.

One UI 4.0 was released along with the Galaxy S21 late in 2021. However, this is still the latest version of the software overlay that you can expect in the new smartphones from Samsung. However, Samsung did release a small update for the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Tab S8. This update is included in the box with these new devices.

Impressive Battery Technology

While Samsung did not invest too much into developing its own operating system, it did invest in developing the best-performing battery in the market. Samsung may have had some issues with its batteries in the past, but the recent investments are now paying off.

This new technology allowed Samsung to include massive batteries in their new smartphones. Samsung has a number of phones that pack more than 4,000 mAh of charge. This includes the Flip 4, the Fold 4, and the entire S22 range to name a few.

While there may be other phones that come with larger batteries, Samsung managed to include large batteries in slim and compact designs. The battery is also optimized for the phone and operating system. This allows users to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the phone throughout the entire day.

Samsung designed these batteries to last the entire day. As mentioned above, they did this by including large batteries that are also optimized for the phones that they power. This technology allows the entire Samsung Z range to enjoy all-day battery life. 

Which Samsung to Buy

Samsung has one of the widest ranges in the tech industry. This allows the company to easily sell more phones than any other technology company in the world. Samsung has carefully designed its entire range to provide the perfect phone for each segment of the market.

This means that they have entry-level phones for people who just want something to make phone calls and high-end smartphones with the performance capabilities of most laptops for professionals on the move. Despite having a wide range of phones, Samsung includes premium materials and features in all of its devices.

This can make choosing the right Samsung phone a bit difficult since they are all decent smartphones. However, Samsung has kept some of its most premium options and features for its Galaxy range. This range of smartphones has extended to include a tablet, the Galaxy Tab.

As the flagship range from Samsung, these devices come with the latest technology, the best camera systems, and the biggest batteries. These phones often get the new features first and directly compete with other flagship devices such as the iPhone and Google Pixel.

These phones come with impressive displays, the most powerful processors available, and professional camera systems that can effortlessly film in 4K and HDR.

Why Samsung Flip Phones Are So Useful

Samsung flip phones may not have been the first, but they are by far the most advanced and practical foldable phones on the market today. Samsung has two foldable phones on the market, the Flip and the Fold. While the Fold looks like a traditional smartphone that opens up into a larger display, the Flip folds vertically to be more compact to carry around.

The foldable design makes the smartphone easier to carry around. If you love the convenience of a tablet but want the portability of a smartphone, the Galaxy Fold is the smartphone for you. This is because it looks and acts like a traditional smartphone, but can open up to become a more practical mobile device.

While the Fold offers convenience, the Flip introduces new ways to use a traditional smartphone. This is because the Flip can be used at 90 degrees. The hinge that makes the foldable design possible can lock at 90 degrees so that you can comfortably stand the phone up on any table.

This can be perfect for taking selfies, making video calls, or playing games. The Flip folds vertically, making it a sleek and compact phone to carry around. Despite being compact in design, the phone still unfolds to display a 6.7-inch main screen.

This is larger than the front screen found in the Galaxy Fold. However, the Fold can open to showcase a much larger, 7.6-inch AMOLED screen. This makes the Fold the better option for people wanting their smartphone to do more every day.

The larger screen in the Fold 4 allows you to easily multitask. This means professionals can easily use multiple apps at the same time and view them both on the same screen. The Android operating system also comes with a ton of multitasking features to help make using multiple apps simultaneously practical and effortless.

How to Choose Between the Z Flip 4 and the Z Fold 4

How to Choose Between the Z Flip 4 and the Z Fold 4

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Galaxy Fold 4 share the same underlying DNA. Both of these smartphones form part of the Galaxy Z Series from Samsung and have a similar build quality and design. The main difference between the two folding phones is how they fold, and the practicality they bring to the table.

While the Z Flip folds vertically, the Z Fold opens up to showcase a second, 7.6-inch display. This makes the Z Fold the more practical smartphone for users who value multitasking. The Z Flip is by far the more elegant and compact option but includes a smaller battery and a single, 6.7-inch display.

While the Flip 4 does come with a smaller battery, both of these phones do perform similarly. This is because the extra battery is used to power a much larger screen on the Fold 4. The internals and processor performance of the two phones are almost identical.

This leaves the decision up to the user depending on what they plan on using the phone for.

Who Should Get the Galaxy Z Flip?

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a compact and capable smartphone. The smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch screen that can fold vertically into a compact design. The phone comes with 5G, Android 12, and a 10 MP camera that can capture video in 4K HDR.

This makes the Z Flip 4 a perfect choice for anyone looking for a classy and compact smartphone. The phone also comes in four unique colors that also feature a unique, metallic finish. This adds to the overall look of the phone and makes it one of the most elegant smartphones on the market today.

The Flip 4 does come with impressive internals but is significantly less powerful than the S22 Ultra and the Z Fold 4. This means if you're looking for more power, the S22 range is the better option.

Who Should Get the Galaxy Z Fold?

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a practical and innovative smartphone from Samsung. This smartphone comes with a 6.2-inch HD screen that can open up to showcase a larger, 7.6-inch AMOLED display internally. The internal screen is AMOLED while the front screen is not.

The Z Fold’s major selling point is the fact that it can open up to showcase the larger, 7.6-inch display. While the internal display is not as big as the iPad mini or other mini tablets, the smartphone is still significantly larger than other smartphones on the market.

This larger display makes the Fold 4 perfect for people that want a practical smartphone that they can work on if they need to. Whether you need to write emails on the move or rely on multiple apps at the same time, the Fold is perfect for you.

The Fold also comes with 4 GB of RAM, making it perfect for running multiple apps at the same time. The Fold 4 includes a total of 12 GB of RAM, more than what you would find in most standard laptops. This showcases Samsung’s intention to create something specifically for multitasking.

Samsung Z Series

The Samsung Z Series is the most impressive range of modern phones on the market. While these phones were initially designed to showcase the potential of Samsung, they have grown to become some of the brand’s most iconic smartphones.

There are a few differences between the Samsung Z Flip and Z Fold, but both are incredibly capable phones that come with the architecture and battery to manage professional tasks.

If you’re looking for a premium case for that new Galaxy Z phone, click here to view our latest collection.

Kristel Silang
Kristel is the Content Marketing Manager for i-Blason. She has been in the marketing industry for 12 years with expertise on content marketing, search engine optimization, and photography. Previous publications she has contributed to include The Manila Times, Compound Butter, and Livingston County CVB.

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