Yesterday Samsung finally officially announced the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. In addition to the regular line of new smartphones for 2020, the South Korean company also revealed the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Today we could view the phone, but above all hold it. Here our first impression of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
We already discussed the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 + and S20 Ultra yesterday. What did we notice?
With the Galaxy Fold, Samsung already deviated from the more traditional smartphones that we often see today. This new device is according to Samsung the next edition in the “foldable category”. The Galaxy Z Flip is the very first smartphone with a folding glass display. Under the hood a modern smartphone with the look of yesteryear.
Look and feel of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2020
Where the Galaxy Fold had a somewhat larger appearance, the Z Flip has a more compact shape. The 6.7-inch screen (21.9: 9 ratio) can be folded to the size of your palm. The Flip is also great to store in your pocket. When unfolded, you simply enjoy a large, fully-fledged display. The device can be open in almost any shape. During the event it could already be seen that when browsing the internet some letters are not displayed correctly in a certain position. In addition, the device is equipped with an Infity Flex Display with thin glass.
When you fold the Z Flip, the device has a size of 73.6 x 87.4 x 17.3 mm.
What we cannot ignore is the fact that the outside of the Flip is very sensitive to fingerprints. Since in many cases you have the device folded on your table or desk, this smash often catches the eye. During the event you often saw people first wipe the device clean before a picture was taken of the outside. Folding and clicking the Flip feels really nice again. The screen also looks very nice at first.
Potential weakness
The danger with a telephone with a hinge system is that it is prone to overloading. We have already seen reports from various parties about the fact that the device would be opened and closed 200,000 times. Samsung does say that the Flip has the so-called sweeper technology. The hinges should be designed in such a way that they themselves prevent dirt and dust. Time will tell to what extent the hinges are resistant enough to open and close the device many times.
Advantages of a folding screen
During the hands-on event it was easy to see what you got from the folding screen. When folding, the display splits into two 4-inch screens. For example, there were a number of applications that should improve the user experience. In collaboration with Google Duo it is possible to make video calls directly through your contacts. When you fold the screen you can see the other caller on the top. You can, for example, rotate the camera through the lower part of the screen. A nice extra is that you can simply put the device down for video calling, an extra standard is no longer necessary.
The folding screen also has a positive impact on making selfies. This is now possible from more different positions because you now have more room for maneuver with the corners. In addition, you can easily multitask with this smartphone. You can play a YouTube video on the top screen, while you are already searching for a new video on the bottom screen.
Specifications
The Z Flip has three cameras. Two at the front and one at the rear. At the back there is a 12 MP wide-angle camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera. On the front is a 10 MP selfie camera.
Once fully expanded, the device has a 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD + screen with a resolution of 2636×1080. The ppi of the 21.9 by 9 screen is 425.
A small display has been incorporated on the back of the Z Flip. Via this screen it is possible to view the date, time and battery status on the cover. You also receive notifications and calls via this screen. The cover display is 1.1 inch in size and has an AMOLED screen with a resolution of 300×112.
The device is controlled by a Snapdragon 855 Plus processor with a maximum clock speed of 2.95 GHz. 5G is not supported.
The foldable smartphone from Samsung also has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, the storage space cannot be expanded. The smartphone manufacturer has had to lose this in order to maintain the compactness of the device. The battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh. This initially seems a bit on the low side. Samsung has chosen to split the battery in two, in order to better distribute the weight of the device. The Z Flip supports Fast Charging and the Wireless PowerShare. (the option to charge other Samsung devices such as the Earbuds + or the S20 Ultra)
The Z Flip at first glance seems a very attractive device. Aesthetically, in my opinion, it is certainly good. Under the hood, the device might have a number of shortcomings. There are still many question marks about the battery life and whether the hinges last for a long time. In addition, it can only be seen to what extent developers will use the foldable screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is available from 21 February in a purple and black version. The suggested retail price is 1500 euros.
When we have had the device in our hands for a longer period of time, we will return to this device in the form of a review. We can only then assess whether it is worth 1500 euros to bend the laws of physics with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.