Introduction
Another Samsung Unpacked event has come to pass, and this one brought us the fourth generation of foldable Galaxy smartphones. Quite expectedly, Samsung announced the fourquels of the Fold and Flip, the first being more like a foldable tablet, while the Flip - a nostalgia-sprinkled flip phone.
Today, we will be exploring the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, which is much like the Galaxy Z Flip3, but better. This is a formula that's been in use for years now as the technology cannot advance as fast as makers are bringing a new version of their phones. But while the new Z Flip4 won't make many (if any) Z Flip3 owners upgrade, it improves enough bits to make even more people think of getting this new foldable flagship.
Samsung has improved on the Galaxy Z Flip3 by tweaking all weak points both reviewers and users have agreed upon - low-light camera performance, battery life, charging speed. And, of course, the new Z Flip4 gets to brag with the most current Android chip - the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.
The new Galaxy Z Flip4 features the same internal Dynamic AMOLED 2X and external Super AMOLED screens as the Z Flip3. But thanks to reduced bezels around the foldable screen and a flatter aluminum frame, the Z Flip4 is now a bit shorter and with a thinner hinge.
The Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X remains equally adaptive with up to 120Hz refresh rate and equally bright with a peak brightness up to 1200 nits. The crease in the middle is here to stay for now and so is the perforation for the selfie camera.
The Z Flip4 is IPX8-rated for water resistance - a feature that only Samsung offers across its third and fourth generation of foldable devices. Samsung and Sony are the only two makers that aim to offer water protection on most of their phones, and we truly appreciate the effort.
Besides the chipset upgrade, the Galaxy Z Flip4 also features an improved camera system on the back. It is still a dual-camera setup, but the main shooter now relies on a larger 12MP sensor with 1.8µm pixels coupled with a wider 24mm f/1.8 OIS lens. This new sensor should allow for a 65% improvement in light gathering and improve the low-light performance. The 12MP ultrawide and 10MP selfie cameras remain the same as on the Flip3.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 is powered by a 12% larger battery - it now packs a 3,700mAh cell, up from 3,300mAh within the Flip3. And even better, the phone now supports 25W fast charging, up from the sluggish 15W. The wireless fast charging has been sped up, too, now up to 15W.
And that's about it - a new chipset, main camera, battery, and improved charging speed. And the latest Android version with the most current One UI, of course.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 specs at a glance:
- Body: 165.2x71.9x6.9mm, 187g; Plastic front (opened), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Armour aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised).
- Display: 6.70" Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1080x2640px resolution, 22:9 aspect ratio, 426ppi; Cover display:, Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+).
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
- OS/Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 1.12µm.
- Front camera: 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+; Front camera: 4K@30fps.
- Battery: 3700mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; stereo speakers; Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified).
Going through the specs sheet, there is little missing - a zoom camera comes at the top of our head. The improved hinge should be fine for at least 200,000 cycles, and we appreciate the improved Gorilla panels and the tougher aluminum frame, even if by small margins.
Unboxing the Galaxy Z Flip4
The Galaxy Z Flip4 ships with an incredibly thin and lightweight box. It is lying open, face-down in there, waiting for its first user. A thin paper compartment houses the USB-C cable and the SIM ejector. And that's all you will find.
There is no charger or case within the retail box, and if you don't own Samsung's 25W power adapter, it's probably a good idea to buy one so you can use that fast charging.
Design, build quality, handling
The Galaxy Z Flip4 looks a lot like the Flip3, and that's not a bad thing. This year Samsung has focused on design refinements rather than on innovations and changes.
The new Flip now has tougher Victus+ panels with a new matte finish. The aluminum frame has also been enhanced by using a stronger material with glossy polish and a flatter profile. This applies to the hinge, too.
But probably the most easily noticeable change is the smaller bezels around the foldable screen, which in turn made the whole Flip a bit shorter. The plastic frame around the AMOLED is still the same, but the actual bezels around the panel are smaller.
The protective film on top of the foldable OLED is here to stay, and should you remove it, you risk damaging the screen and Samsung strongly advices against peeling that off. We know users who have removed the Flip3 film and had no issues for months, but we've also seen the screen of a Flip3 die right after this protector liberation.
As reviewers, we always remove the factory protectors as they accumulate smudges and take away some of the screen greatness. But the Flip has to be the one of the few occasions we won't do it. On a positive note, it seems Samsung has improved the protective film as it is somewhat less smudgy than on the Flip3 and fingers glide more readily. How about that? Dust still gets caught between the film and the frame, though.
Looking at the back of the Galaxy Flip4 we can see the thinner framing around the Gorilla Glass Victus+ panels. And instead of a matte frame and glossy glass panels, we now get a glossy frame finish and matte glass - which we like.
While this finish swap changed how the Flip4 feels in hand, including its grip, it is still a so-so experience. Now, the Flip4 feels more secure in hand when closed rather than when opened. And that's not bad as we've dropped the Flip3 a couple of times while taking it out of our pocket, so we think this change is, in fact, for the better.
Finally, we cannot but applaud Samsung for making the Flip4 water-resistant. The phone is IPX8-rated for water protection, meaning it can withstand up to 30 mins in 1.5m-deep clean water. The X means there is no dust protection, so it's not a good idea to put the Flip4 in the sand as the tiny particles may destroy its hinge and/or foldable screen.
Now, let's look closer at this new Flip4.
The 6.7-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with extended 1080p resolution is exactly the same as on the Flip3. It has a small perforation centered around its top to make way for the selfie camera. While you can use the rear camera with the small screen for selfies, it's not ideal for video calls, and that's the reason Samsung has chosen to keep the inner camera alive. Plus, when the Flip4 is folded at 90-degrees, it is incredibly comfortable for video chats.
Flip3 and Flip4
The screen, even with the protector, looks excellent - bright and colorful and just the right size for such a foldable smartphone. The crease in the middle is present, and at first, it's a bit annoying, but you will eventually get used to it.
Above the screen, etched within the frame, is the earpiece, which also acts as a stereo speaker.
The back of the Fold4 is covered in Gorilla Glass Victus+ panels. The bottom part is completely flush and empty, though beneath the glass is the wireless charging coil. Reverse wireless charging is available, too.
The top half is also made of a single glass, though it has been designed into two distinctive parts - the bottom, glossy one, covers the external screen and the cameras, while the rest is with matt finish.
The 1.9-inch Super AMOLED next to the dual camera is the same as on the Flip3. It can show the clock, various notifications, widgets, time until full charge when on charger, and it can also be used as a selfie viewfinder. There is an improvement here - you can now shoot in full resolution with either camera, and you can even view the full frame by double tapping on the small screen.
The dual-camera here has a minor change, too. Now the metal rings around the two shooters are jutting out of the glass, while on the Flip3 they were flush with the panel. The primary 12MP camera has also been upgraded with a larger sensor.
The frame has changed since the Flip3 - it is now glossy and flatter than before. It may look thinner, too, but this is probably an illusion because of the thinner hinge.
Flip3 and Flip4
The hinge size has been indeed slightly reduced since the Flip3, though you are going to need an actual side-by-side comparison with the Flip3 to really see the small difference.
Flip3 and Flip4
The most important thing about the hinge - it works and clicks lovely, and it should last at least 200,000 cycles before it begins to wear down. Plus, there are no fixed positions, and you can use the Flip4 in whatever angle you'd like.
Finally, the frame itself is not that busy. A lonely microphone sits on the top.
Two more microphones, including the primary one, are placed at the bottom, near the USB-C port and the second speaker.
The top left side has the SIM tray.
The top right side is home to the volume and power keys. The power/lock key also incorporates the fingerprint scanner - it's always-on and with great accuracy.
The fingerprint reader placement is thoughtful as your right thumb always rests right there. That is, if the phone is in the correct position of course. Which means that you will need to learn to put the Flip4 correctly in your pocket first. Until you do that, you will probably do quite a few awkward rotations in your hands before flipping it open.
So, the Flip4 measures 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm, which is about a millimeter shorter and a hair narrower than the Flip3. It weighs 187 grams, 4g heavier than the Flip3.
Overall, we had a great time working, taking photos and playing around with the Z Flip4. Once we got used to its design and learned its pocket peculiarities, we enjoyed using it day in and day out. It's a nostalgia-fueled smartphone that will be a treat for anyone missing the good ol' days. It's also a rather unique device that will be liked by those looking for something more than the next slab of a screen to put in their pocket.
The foldable form factor does have its benefits - it can double as a fashionable accessory when folded, is pocket-friendly, and is ideal for high-quality selfies. Being able to keep it open however you like does allow the Flip4 to act like a mini-laptop, too.
The Flip4 doesn't offer that much of a grip, but Samsung is offering plenty of cases to help you with that, some - quite exquisite, we must say. But it's not that bad of a grip either, it's best described as, well, so-so. Unlike the design and the overall build - which are excellent.
The Flip4 has two screens, one is foldable
The Galaxy Z Flip4 has two displays, something that is typical for any flip phone - be it a recent one, or from the golden age of the GSMs. There is a small external OLED next to the camera setup for notifications and selfie purposes, while the primary one is a large foldable side-to-side OLED that reveals itself after you open the Flip4.
So, there is little to talk about the external 1.9-inch Super AMOLED - it is the same as seen on the Flip3 with a resolution of 512 x 260 pixels and 60Hz refresh. It supports touch control and can be always-on.
The internal display is also lifted from the Z Flip3 - it's a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X with the same 2,640 x 1,080 px resolution (426ppi, 22:9 aspect). It supports dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and up to 1,200 nits peak brightness. There is one small update since the Flip3 - the screen is even more dynamic now with support for 10Hz and 24Hz refresh rates, in addition to 48Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz modes.
We've completed our display test and the results are in line with what we've captured on the Galaxy Flip3 one year ago. The maximum manual brightness we measured at the end of the slider was 505 nits - that is what most good OLEDs usually offer.
Just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Z Flip4 offers this option called Extra Brightness - it increases the maximum brightness in manual mode, in the case of the Z Flip4 - up to 802 nits.
Finally, under bright light and with adaptive brightness enabled, we captured 919 nits - an excellent number.
And for those looking for the minimal brightness on the Z Flip4 - it's just 1 nit. The screen becomes so dark, that we needed to go to a dark room in order to find the brightness scrubber and change the setting.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, |
White, |
||
| 0 | 505 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 802 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 919 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 503 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 935 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 377 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 596 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 505 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 809 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 1000 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 465 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 757 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 982 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 449 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 831 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 856 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 1063 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 831 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 512 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 1065 | ∞ | |
Color accuracy
The color settings on most Samsung phones are handled in a similar fashion. There are two color modes on the Z Flip4 - Vivid and Natural and you can tune the color temperature in each. The default one is Vivid, which corresponds to DCI-P3 color space, and the accuracy is excellent with an average deltaE of 2.6.
The Natural color mode switches to sRGB and the accuracy here is outstanding with an average deltaE of 1.5.
Refresh rate
The Galaxy Z Flip4 display supports two Refresh Rate modes (called Motion smoothness) - Adaptive (up to 120Hz) and Standard (fixed 60Hz).
The Adaptive one is supposed to switch dynamically between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the shown content. For example, 1Hz should be used for static picture for battery saving purposes.
The Android 12 support APIs on the Galaxy Z Flip4 list that the panel can refresh in one of the following modes: 10Hz, 24Hz, 30Hz, 48Hz, 60Hz, 96Hz and 120Hz. And the integrated refresh rate indicator showed 24Hz for static picture and movies, 60Hz across some apps that were incompatible with 120Hz, and we saw 48Hz for some specific videos. And, of course, 120Hz was available for One UI, most of the apps, games included.
This isn't the behavior described by Samsung, obviously. That led us to use the GPU Watch tool in developer options. It revealed that the refresh rate of the display and the frame rate at which the GPU outputs new frames aren't necessarily the same thing, and the phone varies both according to content and activity. And while we never saw the display go below 24Hz, the frame rate did drop down to 1fps for static content.
HDR and streaming
The Galaxy Z Flip4 supports HDR10+ content and has Widevine L1 DRM. Amazon Prime and YouTube had no issues streaming high-res HDR10 content.
Currently Netflix is incompatible with the Flip4, though the phone hasn't been released just yet. We have never had issues anu streaming app on high-profile Galaxy phones before, so we are pretty sure the Z Flip4 won't be an exception once it hit the shelves.
Battery life
One of the most notable Flip4 updates since the Galaxy Z Flip3 is a larger 3,700 mAh battery. Even better, it can now be recharged faster at 25W.
Unfortunately, our review unit was carrier- or region-locked and we weren't able to test standby and talk time. We still ran our browser and video playback tests, and the results are great.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 did very well on both on-screen tests - it got 13:45h on web browsing, up from 10:00 on the Flip3. The video playback time has been improved, too, it's now 14:22h, up from 11:47h on the Flip3.
Once we get our hands on an unlocked Z Flip4 model, we will complete this battery test, so stay tuned!
Video test carried out in 60Hz refresh rate mode. Web browsing test is done at the display's highest refresh rate whenever possible. Refer to the respective reviews for specifics. To adjust the endurance rating formula to match your own usage patterns, check out our all-time battery test results chart where you can also find all phones we've tested.
Charging speed
The Galaxy Z Flip4 now supports up to 25W fast charging, you just need Samsung's 25W charger for that to work. The phone supports fast wireless charging at 15W, and it can also offer reversed wireless charging on its back.
One of the most notable issues with the Galaxy Z Flip3 was the slow charging and we are happy Samsung has upgraded this rather crucial feature.
So, Samsung's 25W adapter gets the Galaxy Z Flip4 from 0% to 55% in 30 minutes.
30min charging test (from 0%)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi 12
87% - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
73% - Samsung Galaxy S22
63% - Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (25W)
61% - Apple iPhone 13 mini
61% - Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (45W)
60% - Apple iPhone 13 Pro (20W Apple)
60% - Asus Zenfone 9
57% - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
55% - Asus Zenfone 8 Flip
53% - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
50% - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
40% - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
33%
A full charge requires 75 minutes - that is not exactly fast, but not bad either.
Time to full charge (from 0%)
Lower is better
- Xiaomi 12
0:46h - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
0:50h - Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (45W)
0:59h - Samsung Galaxy S22
1:03h - Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (25W)
1:04h - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
1:15h - Asus Zenfone 9
1:15h - Apple iPhone 13 mini
1:24h - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
1:30h - Apple iPhone 13 Pro (20W Apple)
1:38h - Asus Zenfone 8 Flip
1:40h - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
1:46h
You can see that the Galaxy Z Flip4 charging times are not impressively faster than the Flip3's, but don't forget that the new Flip4 also comes with a larger battery.
Finally, just like many previous Galaxy phones, this one is also certified by the Wireless Power Consortium to adhere to the Basic Power Profile for wireless charging up to 4.4W. The 15W advertised by Samsung is achieved off-spec.
Speakers
The Galaxy Z Flip4 has the same audio setup as the Z Flip3. It offers stereo speakers where the earpiece is one of the speakers, while the other one is placed at the bottom of the phone.
The phone dynamically switches between left and right channel depending on the phone's landscape orientation. If you are going to use in portrait mode, then the top speaker will play the left channel.
Oddly, the Galaxy Z Flip4 scored a Good rating on our loudness test, down from Very Good for the Z Flip3. If you listen carefully, you can hear a subtle drop in the loudness, but in non-studio environment both phones offer similar loudness for all intents and purposes.
Naturally, the top speaker is quieter and less bassy than the bottom one, but those are tuned just right, and the balance is great.
The audio quality through the speakers is satisfying - there vocals sound good, and so are the high tones. There is bass, though it's not as present as on some other phones.
Use the Playback controls to listen to the phone sample recordings (best use headphones). We measure the average loudness of the speakers in LUFS. A lower absolute value means a louder sound. A look at the frequency response chart will tell you how far off the ideal "0db" flat line is the reproduction of the bass, treble, and mid frequencies. You can add more phones to compare how they differ. The scores and ratings are not comparable with our older loudspeaker test. Learn more about how we test here.
Android 12 with OneUI 4.1.1
The Galaxy Z Flip4 runs on Android 12 with Samsung's One UI on top, a proprietary layer that most people seem to be okay with these days. The version that our review unit boots is 4.1.1, and that's .1 more than we have on the Galaxy S22s, a difference that's as minute numerically as it is in look and feel.
Let's start our software exploration with the cover display. You can have an always-on display feature active on the cover screen like you can have it on the main display - there is, in fact, no separate setting for the two. The cover screen does get its own specific clock designs, though, and you can match what's displayed there with the watch face on your, say, Galaxy Watch.
Swipes in all four directions on the cover screen do different things. Swiping up launches Samsung Pay, while swiping down brings up quick toggles - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Sound. Airplane, Flashlight, and a brightness setting for the cover screen.
Swiping to the right accesses the notifications through which you can then scroll up and down as well as expand. Swiping to the left brings up a selection of up to eight widgets - music player, weather, schedule, alarm, Samsung Health, voice recorder, direct dial, and timer.
Cover screen settings
Clicking on the power button twice when the Flip4 is closed will activate the rear camera, and the external screen will act as a viewfinder. Swiping in different directions switches between shooting modes and cameras. And if you double tap on the screen, you will get full-size photo mode and viewfinder - something that was not possible on the Flip3.
Always-on works on the internal display, too, if you are wondering. It's the familiar simplified version from One UI 3. You can choose between a few clock styles or opt for an Image Clock. Music info is also supported. The feature can be always-off, always-on, scheduled, shown only when new notifications are available, or you can opt for tap to show for 10s.
Always-on display
OneUI 4 looks even cleaner than v.3.x, but the basics remain the same - there are homescreen, widgets, notification center, task switcher and an app drawer.
Homescreen • Folder view • App drawer • Task Switcher • Notifications • Quick toggles
Samsung's Smart Widgets can combine a few different pieces of data and take up less space. They are also much more customizable. The Samsung keyboard is now even more feature-rich and customizable than ever with the inclusion of more emoji and stickers.
Smart Widgets • Smart Widgets • New emoji • Stickers too
One of the new One UI 4 features is Color Palettes, an implementation of the vanilla Android 12's Wallpaper colors. There are usually four Color Palette suggestions in addition to the default One UI Blue/Black one. Those are picked automatically by the software, depending on your current wallpaper. The color you choose will become the main one in the newly created theme (think Windows' "accent color").
These accent colors are applied on the dialer, the quick toggles, and other tiny UI bits. You can choose to apply them to the app icons as well.
Color palettes
The Settings menu contains a new Privacy Dashboard. Here you can easily see which apps are using some of the most important (for privacy) permissions. You can control the camera and control access across apps, opt for clipboard access alerts (useful if you copy passwords, social security numbers, IBANs, among others), and there is, of course, a full-blown permission manager if you like to dig deeper.
Privacy Dashboard
DeX is not supported on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. There is a Link to Windows feature, though, which provides you with an interface to your phone from your computer so you can exchange images, manage notifications on your PC or even make calls from it.
Another option along those lines but with more limited potential is Continue apps on other devices. This requires you to be logged in to your Samsung account on both devices, hook them up to the same Wi-Fi network with Bluetooth enabled and use Samsung Internet browser or Samsung Notes. You'll then be able to copy and paste text and images across and open the same tabs in the browser.
Continue apps on other devices • Link to Windows
Other long-time proprietary Samsung features include the Edge panels - the panes that show up when you swipe in from the side and provide tools and shortcuts to apps and contacts. Game launcher, the hub for all your games, which also provides options for limiting distraction when gaming is here to stay as well. There's an in-house browser (Samsung Internet), which is instrumental to a lot of the advanced S Pen capabilities, as well as a reasonably powerful File manager. The Samsung Gallery also somehow still persists.
Edge panel • Game Launcher • Game Launcher • Internet • File manager • Gallery
Finally, when partially unfolded (between 75 and 115 degrees), the Flip3's Flex mode feature will split an app's interface by placing the 'consumption' portion in the top half and the 'interaction' part in the bottom half.
Some apps support it natively, like YouTube or Samsung's own Gallery and Calendar. For others, you can force a generic Flex mode control panel. We reckon that's a solution in search of a problem, though for video call apps like Google Duo, it can be sort of useful.
Flex mode
Performance and benchmarks
The Galaxy Z Flip4 runs on the most current Qualcomm chipset - the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 - a slight refresh over the non-plus version. Among the key improvements is the better efficiency and a minor bump in performance - we got to experience that on a bunch of devices, including an Asus-built engineering sample for the chip, as well as the ROG Phone 6 Pro, and the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 always comes with 8GB of RAM, though you can purchase it with either 128GB, 256GB or 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
So, the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is undeniably the fastest Android platform right now on the market, and it is a chart-topper when it comes to benchmarking.
Note that the Galaxy Z Flip4 has a lot less space than conventional smartphones for the motherboard and chipset and, hence, cooling solution, so we expect throttling along the way.
GeekBench 5 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
4338 - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
4300 - Realme GT Neo3
4079 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
3913 - Poco X4 GT
3719 - Samsung Galaxy S22
3682 - Xiaomi 12
3652 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
3606 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
3441 - Poco F4
3190 - OnePlus Nord 2T
2790 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
2619
GeekBench 5 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi 12S Ultra
1324 - Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
1313 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
1270 - Xiaomi 12
1187 - Samsung Galaxy S22
1171 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
979 - Poco F4
975 - Realme GT Neo3
968 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
927 - Poco X4 GT
917 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
750 - OnePlus Nord 2T
491
The same goes for graphics tests - the Adreno 730 is an outstanding performer.
GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
89 - Xiaomi 12
75 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
74 - Samsung Galaxy S22
69 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
66 - Realme GT Neo3
53 - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
51 - Poco F4
49 - Poco X4 GT
46 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
40 - OnePlus Nord 2T
40 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
35
GFX Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
69 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
62 - Xiaomi 12
59 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
47 - Samsung Galaxy S22
44 - Realme GT Neo3
43 - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
39 - Poco X4 GT
38 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
29 - OnePlus Nord 2T
29 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
18
3DMark Wild Life Vulkan 1.1 (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi 12S Ultra
10533 - Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
10469 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
10178 - Xiaomi 12
9535 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
8460 - Samsung Galaxy S22
7526 - Realme GT Neo3
5428 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
5261 - OnePlus Nord 2T
4577 - Poco F4
4357 - Poco X4 GT
4301
You may notice that the AnTuTu scores are somewhat lower than on other devices with similar hardware. That's because the Flip4 applies more throttling because of thermal constraints.
AnTuTu 9
Higher is better
- Asus Zenfone 9 (High Performance)
1083092 - Xiaomi 12S Ultra
1039412 - Xiaomi 12
985115 - Samsung Galaxy S22
881428 - Realme GT Neo3
819348 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
800001 - Asus Zenfone 9 (Dynamic)
783425 - Poco X4 GT
747871 - Poco F4
698586 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
682223 - OnePlus Nord 2T
604467
AnTuTu 8
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S22
745496 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
685754 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
596866 - Poco F4
590961 - OnePlus Nord 2T
490545 - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
487908
So, the Galaxy Z Flip4 has the proper hardware to be a full-fledged flagship. We ran a few games for quite a bit, and they were able to keep excellent performance; some of them were even drawn with more than 60fps.
Of course, we ran the usual stability tests, and they are not good for the Z Flip4.
When working at 100% CPU load, the Z Flip4 is able to keep its maximum performance for about 5 minutes. And then it drops down to 41%.
The same goes for the 100% GPU load - after 5 minutes, the performance drops to 40% to prevent overheating.
CPU test • GPU test
The Galaxy Z Flip4 never gets hot, just warm below the camera setup.
No sugar coating here - the Z Flip4 has poor cooling due to space constraints, and it cannot support peak performance for more than 5 minutes. But no app or game really requires that. And the Flip4 is no gaming smartphone after all, though it can play all modern games rather well for long enough time.
Still a dual camera on the back, but with an improved primary
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 features a dual camera setup on its back and a single selfie camera within a small perforation on the foldable screen. All three cameras are the same as on the Flip3 - a 12MP primary, a 12MP ultrawide cams on the outside, and a 10MP shooter on the inside. There is an upgrade, though - the primary camera now features a larger sensor with a different lens.
The primary camera on the Galaxy Z Flip4 uses a Samsung S5K2LD 12MP sensor, behind a 24mm f/1.8 lens. This is the same sensor that was behind the primaries on the Galaxy S20 phones. It has large 1.8µm pixels, adding up to a 1/1.76" sensor. Quite a decent upgrade over the last generation's 1.4µm pixels and type 1/2.55" sensor. And in terms of other extras, the sensor still has Dual Pixel PDAF tech, while the lens is also stabilized.
The ultrawide relies on the same 13MP Sony IMX258 sensor as the Flip3, a Type 1/3.06" unit with 1.12µm pixels, but the phone still outputs 12MP photos. The fixed-focus lens has a reported 13mm equivalent focal length and an f/2.2 aperture.
The inner selfie camera is based on the 10MP Samsung S5K3J1 sensor, which is also taken from the Galaxy S20 series. It is a 1/3" sensor with 1.22µm pixels and sits behind a 25mm f/2.4 lens. The focus is fixed.
The camera app on the Flip4 is, for the most part, identical to what you'd get with any other recent Samsung phone, but with a few tweaks to make use of the Flip4's unorthodox form-factor. The basics are as usual - swiping left and right will switch between available modes, and there's an option to re-arrange, add or remove some of the modes from the viewfinder. Vertical swipes in either direction will switch between front and rear cameras.
There are two zoom control on the viewfinder - 0.5x and 1x. You could zoom in with a pinch gesture, at which point additional preset zoom levels appear at 2x, 4x, and 10x.
The viewfinder has the standard set of icons with the settings cog wheel located in the upper left corner of the screen. The usual stuff like grid lines, location data, etc., can be found in the menu. A Flip exclusive, there's a tiny icon in the far top right corner to activate the cover display for viewfinder purposes, whether it's for your own personal use or your subject's.
There's a Pro mode, and it's still the full-featured variant with control over ISO (50-3200), shutter speed (1/12000s-30s, or up to 0.5s for the ultrawide), manual focus (with peaking), and white balance (by light temperature, with icons next to the number corresponding to a common light source). Metering mode and AF area options are available, too, as well as a set of picture controls for contrast, saturation, and whatnot. A live histogram, as usual, is nowhere to be found.
Camera UI
A key Flip4-specific bit is the ability to have the viewfinder in either half of the display.
Particularly useful is the option to move it to the bottom section and use the half-folded phone for waist-level or above your head shooting.
Flex mode on the Camera UI
With the phone folded closed, you can launch the camera with a double press on the power button and use the cover screen as a viewfinder. Sideswipes switch between stills and video while swiping up or down toggles between the main and the ultrawide cameras. The only catch is that the display has a landscape orientation as opposed to both sensors' portrait placement.
Samsung chose to fill the screen completely by taking a center crop from the sensors, making the display not that useful for accurate framing. But if accurate framing is important for you, the Flip4 now supports full view - just double tap on this small screen and the UI will zoom out and show you the whole frame, albeit in a small thumbnail preview.
The other peculiarity from the Flip3, where the images and videos had a square aspect ratio, is now optional. The rear cameras now shoot in proper aspect (4:3 for photos, 16:9 for videos), but you can bring back the crop shooting if that's your thing.
Photo quality
The 12MP photos from the main camera we shot in broad daylight are outstanding - there is plenty of resolved detail and low noise. The processing is competent, and it delivers a balanced and natural look across all photos.
The contrast is great, and the dynamic range is good but not over the top as the Auto HDR isn't hell-bent on brightening every shadow. Finally, the colors are Samsungly vivid, but luckily - not to extremes.
Main camera, 12MP
The main camera's larger sensor on the Flip4 shows an improvement over the Flip3 in the daylight performance. The Flip4 foliage (trees, grass) looks more detailed and better defined. The difference isn't major, but it is noticeable.
Galaxy Z Flip4 samples
Galaxy Z Flip3 samples
The 12MP photos from the ultrawide camera are quite likable. They are surprisingly detailed for such type of camera/lens combo, and the per-pixel sharpness is satisfying even if not a match to the primary shooter.
The automatic distortion correction is good though the corners are not as sharp as the center - something that's expected from such ultrawide-angle cameras.
The rest - colors, contrast and dynamic range - is a match to the primary camera performance a.k.a. excellent across the board.
Ultrawide camera, 12MP
The portrait mode on the main camera delivers superb portrait shots with incredibly detailed subjects, well-exposed and colorful. The background separation is notably proficient, and the blur is very pleasant and colorful.
Portrait mode, main camera
Thanks to the external display, the rear camera can and should be used for selfie purposes as it offers autofocus, higher resolution, OIS and better sensors.
So, the 12MP selfies we shot with the primary camera are absolutely lovely - the subjects are incredibly sharp, the dynamic range is great, contrast and colors - lovely. Thanks to the f/1.8 aperture - there is no need do simulate blur, as you will get natural bokeh for these shots. We think this is the best way to shoot selfies with the Flip4.
Selfies with main camera
If you need to blur the background even more, you can always enable the portrait mode. It does an impressive job, as we already established.
Portrait selfies with main camera
And, of course, ultrawide-angle selfies are possible if you need to take a group shot. Just be sure to hold the phone as far as possible, otherwise, your subjects will be out of focus.
Selfies with ultrawide camera
And here are some actual 10MP selfies from the inner camera. They are quite good, too, with excellent detail for such a camera, proper exposure, low noise levels, and likable dynamic. The contrast is lovely, as long as you keep the lens clean.
The per-pixel sharpness here is not on par with the primary rear camera, of course, but still a lot better than on many other phones, nevertheless.
Selfies, 10MP inner camera
We took a few portrait selfies with the inner camera, and they are great across the board - exposure, subject separation, detail, colors.
Portrait selfies, 10MP inner camera
Let's look at some low-light photos now.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 offers Auto Night Mode as part of the default Photo mode. You can decide to ignore it by tapping on the small Moon icon or leave it be. The first batch of shots were shot with Auto Night Mode, and they are quite pleasing. There is enough detail, the noise reduction has done a good job in cleaning noise, and the dynamic range is pretty good.
The exposure is great across the scenes, even if the algorithm makes for brighter than reality photos. The color saturation is superb.
Main cam Auto
The photos we took without Night Mode are still plenty good - they have more blown highlights than the Night Mode ones, but Auto HDR is still at play, so it's a rather minor difference. The images are still incredibly detailed, with more realistic exposure, brightness, and deeper shadows.
The color saturation is still excellent, and so is the contrast. If you prefer a more realistic look, we suggest disabling the Night Mode and shooting this way.
Main cam, NM OFF
Finally, we forced the Night Mode and noticed that sometimes it adds a second or two to the exposure times, meaning some of these took a bit longer to shoot. Scrolling through this batch of photos we found they have little to no difference from the ones we shot at Auto Night Mode.
Main cam, NM ON
The promised boost in low-light performance since the Flip3 is quite obvious when we compare Flip4 and Flip3 photos side by side. The ones taken with the Flip4 are sharper and cleaner, with more visible detail, less noise and slightly better colors.
Galaxy Z Flip4 samples
Galaxy Z Flip3 samples
The difference when using Night Mode is barely there - the Flip4 offers a different take on the colors, but only the fourth photo has a slight boost in sharpness.
Galaxy Z Flip4 samples
Galaxy Z Flip3 samples
The Auto Night Mode works on the ultrawide camera, too. It saves bright photos with good dynamic range, bright skies, and pleasant color saturation. The Auto HDR helps a lot, too.
The ultrawide camera at night doesn't impress with resolved detail, and the noise reduction has further smeared even more fine detail, and it could also be responsible for visible image artifacts. At the end, we got usable photos, but with subpar detail and soft corners.
While the ultrawide images aren't that good at 100% zoom, they will impress at lower resolution when shared across social networks.
Ultrawide cam Auto
The Auto Night Mode makes for quite bright UW photos. If those are not your cup of tea, you should disable it and enjoy more realistic exposure and dynamic range. The resolved detail and the color saturation do take a hit, though.
Ultrawide, NM OFF
Just like with the primary camera, the ultrawide offers a standalone Night Mode, which often uses longer exposure times but delivers simar photos to the default Auto ones.
Ultrawide, NM ON
And here are photos of our usual posters taken with the Galaxy Z Flip4 - you can clearly see the improvement in low-light conditions over the Flip3. You can see how it stacks up against the competition. Feel free to browse and pit it against other phones from our extensive database.
Galaxy Z Flip4 against the Galaxy Z Flip3 and the Galaxy S22 Ultra in our Photo compare tool
Video quality
The Galaxy Z Flip4 captures videos with all its cameras. The main camera record videos up to 4K at 60fps, and there's 1080p at both 30fps and 60fps. The ultrawide and selfie shooters max out at 4K at 30fps.
Optical stabilization is available on the primary camera, while electronic stabilization can be enabled/disabled for all three cameras. If enabled, it does an outstanding job at stabilizing the footage at the expense of a bit lower FoV and a slight drop in the sharpness.
The 4K footage gets 48Mbps video bitrate when using the h.264 codec. The audio bitrate is about 256kbps. The sound is stereo.
The 4K clip we shot with the main camera is excellent - the resolved detail is a lot, the colors are true to life, contrast is excellent, while the dynamic range is good but not over the top. We liked the processing - foliage, buildings, people - they all look natural.
The 4K videos from the ultrawide camera are solid - they also offer plenty of detail; the colors, contrast and dynamic range match the main camera's - something that is often neglected. The corners are a bit soft, but that's unavoidable with a 13mm aperture lens. Overall, the 4K clips from the UW camera are great.
The primary camera offers good low-light videos even if a bit noisy. The footage has enough detail, the colors are nicely saturated, while the exposure is realistic.
Finally, here is the Galaxy Z Flip4 in our video tool so you can make your own comparisons.
2160p: Galaxy Z Flip4 against the Galaxy Z Flip3 and the Galaxy S22 Ultra in our Video compare tool
Alternatives
The Galaxy Z Flip4 is a minor upgrade over the Flip3 even if it introduces some important improvements like a larger battery, faster charging, and better low-light performance for the main camera. We did appreciate the option to shoot in full resolution with the rear camera when taking selfies, too.
Obviously, these won't make any Galaxy Z Flip3 user upgrade to Flip4. But by addressing most of the Flip3 concerns, Samsung has made the Z Flip4 an even more attractive and desirable offer.
The new Flip4 launches at €1080/$999, which is a flagship price, but not as high as €1800 like the Fold4. And for that, we'd consider it a reasonable price for features/money ratio.
There are a handful of foldable smartphones on the market, fewer even if we are to list foldable smartphones like the Flip and exclude foldable tablets like the Fold.
If you are keen on getting a phone like the Flip, but the price of the Flip4 does not fit your budget, you may want to consider the Galaxy Z Flip3 as it is now €400 cheaper than the Flip4. It is pretty much the same device with less inspiring battery life, charging speed and so-so low-light performance.
The recently announced Motorola Razr 2022 will launch any moment now in China, but we are not sure if it will make it to other markets yet. It is based on a 6.7-inch foldable screen, like the Flip4, but it's got 1B colors and a 144Hz refresh rate. The chipset is the same, and the camera experience is similar. The Razr has an iconic form factor and a larger external display that allows for even more control while the phone is closed.
The rest of the foldable phones are rather large - like the €1800 Galaxy Z Fold4. It's an all-powerful smartphone with one of the largest OLED screens on a smartphone and an under-display camera for video chats; it's got a whole bunch of cameras, and the external display is as good as the market offers, large at that. If you don't mind having a phone this thick (16mm) and heavy (263g), the Fold4 could be your next phone.
Xiaomi has recently announced its Mix Fold 2 - which is even thinner than the Fold4 with larger screens and Leica-powered camera setup. It has a sleeker design and charges faster, but for now, it's a China-only device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G • Motorola Moto Razr 2022 • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 • Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
If you are eyeing the Flip4 because of its compact shape, you may also want to consider some of the compact bars that are available right now. Like the €700 Galaxy S22, which has a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, powerful hardware, and its triple-camera on the back has a 3x telephoto.
The €800 Zenfone 9 is even smaller with a 5.9-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screen, the most recent Snapdragon chipset, and a similar dual-camera that is capable of high-quality digital zoom though. The Zenfone 9 also offers outstanding battery life!
There is also the small iPhone 13 mini, which is the smallest flagship on the market based on a 5.4-inch screen. It is the most powerful small phone in the world right now, and the only major setback is the 60Hz OLED screen.
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Asus Zenfone 9 • Apple iPhone 13 mini
Our verdict
The Galaxy Z Flip went from a fashion-centric device to a full-blown flagship in just a couple of generations. The Flip4 is what the Flip3 should have been from the get-go - a powerful foldable smartphone with excellent camera performance, decent battery life and charging speed.
And indeed, we can say a lot of positive things about the new Z Flip4 - it has a superb water-proofed design that will hit the nostalgia notes across many users. It's a compact flip phone, one that clicks simply great.
The Z Flip4 offers an excellent AMOLED screen, good battery life, good charging speed, and the speakers are nice. It also packs the most powerful Android chip to date, though the thermals lead to throttling.
Finally, the camera performance is superb across the board, photo and video, day and night.
We consider the Flip4 as the most affordable foldable smartphone of the current generation, and for its thousand euros, it delivers an outstanding set of features.
It's not an ideal smartphone - it takes a while to get used to its design and form factor. Then you need to live with the crease and the plastic screen protector over the screen. Dust gets in various places, too.
Then there is the heavy throttling just after five minutes of peak loads. And there is no zoom camera.
But the fourth generation Z Flip is moving the series into a bright future, and it does everything right with the technology it has at its disposal. We are recommending it to people who'd like to own a unique phone, small, and yet powerful and capable; to users that will take it with all of its good and not so good aspects.
Pros
- Compact foldable smartphone, not insanely priced.
- Excellent design, Victus+ panels, tougher aluminum.
- IPX8-rated for water resistance!
- Outstanding foldable display - bright, color-accurate, 120Hz, HDR.
- Great all-round camera experience and quality.
- The latest Snapdragon chipset.
- Improved battery life, faster charging.
Cons
- Heavily throttles under 100% CPU/GPU load.
- No charger in the box.
- We would appreciate more functionality for the outer display.
- No DeX support.
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