Flexible screen technologies started to appear a few years ago, but enthusiasts continue to render all kinds of gadgets using such displays and it still seems fantastic. Although manufacturers have already managed to release several devices of this kind. A good example of a smartphone with a foldable screen is the Samsung Galaxy Fold . It can be “unfolded” like a book, and get a large display for multitasking, gaming, video and any other tasks. I would call it a hybrid of a tablet and a smartphone, because the device fits in a pocket and has a large display. In the summer, Fold received quite noticeable updates and recently got to our editorial office. I will share my impressions of using the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 model in this article.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 Package Contents

Let’s start with the fact that the buyer of the new model will get a slightly different kit compared to last year’s version. In the box with the novelty, the user no longer puts wireless headphones and a case, leaving the power supply, cable, paper clip and a wired AKG headset with USB-C and two pairs of ear pads. But the external display is protected by a factory film, which, with such a use model as the Fold, will not be superfluous at all. The inner screen, of course, is also with a film.

This time, the test pre-sale sample came to us without a box, but with all the components, so we will talk about everything in more detail later. The accessories section on the site will additionally offer Galaxy Buds Live wireless headphones, Galaxy Watch3 smart watches and a case that covers only one part of the back side of the new model, and not both (in fact, this is why the film on the external display is not superfluous).

Beginning of work

Like last time, the smartphone immediately shows certain rules that you should follow when using it: it is forbidden to press hard on the front camera area, for example, with a pen or fingernail, which can lead to severe damage; remind you that before closing the device, you need to make sure that there is nothing inside (cards, coins or keys, no matter how they get there); the smartphone is not protected from water and dust, unlike almost all flagships; like last time, it is impossible to remove the protective film from the internal screen, as well as to use third-party solutions; and the Fold still needs to be kept away from credit cards, medical devices, and other items that are sensitive to magnets. So with the new model, everything is also quite strict.

Otherwise, setting up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is not much different from other smartphones from the manufacturer. A little more time can be spent on arranging the workspace. The fact is that the desktops of the external and internal displays are not synchronized with each other, and widgets and application shortcuts can also be placed here in different ways.

Well, getting used to a completely new model of using a smartphone will also take some time. The mechanism of bending, closing and opening the gadget is very unusual and you need to “feel” and remember how hard it is done, how it is more convenient for your hands to hold the device and other mechanical little things that get too much attention at the beginning of use. But it is definitely an exciting (in a good way) and interesting process, which is still quite unique today.

Changes in Z Fold2

The principle of operation of the Z Fold2 has not changed, but there are several noticeable and significant “point” updates, which I will focus on in this section. Let’s start with probably the most noticeable – the external display. It has greatly increased and now occupies almost the entire front panel, like conventional smartphones. This, accordingly, affected the appearance, because the device began to look more modern, and it became much more pleasant to use it. Fold2 measures 159.2 x 68 x 16.8-13.8mm when folded, and weighs in at 282 grams.

In practice, the display looks narrower than it might seem. At the same time, it is not very convenient to work on it with one hand, the keyboard is very compressed, the text is small, as well as individual parts of the interface. And you need to get the hang of intercepting a smartphone in one hand, because in the folded position it is a bit thick. With a little practice, it is from the external screen that the user will respond to notifications, reply to messages, check mail, change music and perform other similar tasks on the go. 

The expanded version also received a couple of improvements. The Z Fold2 now has a cutout for a single selfie camera on the inside, following the example of all other flagship Samsung smartphones. Of course, everyone can judge in their own way, but this option seems to me more accurate than the old relatively large “eyebrow”. But that’s not all. Even inside, two small “legs” appeared, on which the frame rests when folded. Such “stoppers” are sometimes found in laptops, they prevent the screen from touching the keyboard and soften the contact between the lid and the topcase. Here they perform a similar function. Well, the display is now glass, although this is not felt due to the film that cannot be removed.

The dimensions of the unfolded Z Fold2 are slightly different: 159.2 × 128.2 × 6.9 mm. The magnets still hold perfectly and you won’t accidentally open the smartphone, for this you need to make a certain effort. The display diagonal inside has increased, but not as significantly as outside – from 7.3 to 7.6 inches. It’s hard to say that this is somehow noticeable, but in any case, the unfolded Fold2 remains one of the most unusual smartphones on the market.

The back side and edges also did not go unnoticed. They are still made of glass and aluminum, but the glass is now frosted and the frame is made to match the new flagship Galaxy models, so that the Z Fold2 looks in the style of the company’s current smartphones. By the same principle, the block of the main cameras was “fitted”.

There are two color options: Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. But this time, you can customize the color of the hinge, where in addition to the standard options in the color of the case, there are silver, gold, red and blue. This is a nice accent, which will slightly dilute the appearance of the device if it seems too strict.

And speaking of the hinge, it is now stronger and can “freeze” in the position where the user stops it. Yes, a smartphone can literally be put like a laptop, but only with the caveat that there is no such weight balance here and it can be thrown. But in situations where the user needs to place half of the screen at a certain angle, the hinge will not let you down. At the same time, the manufacturer claims a conditional resource of 200 thousand “closures”, therefore, theoretically, you can not worry too much about the reliability of the design.

“Facelift” benefited the smartphone in the first place, of course, due to the increase in the external screen. Other changes did not greatly affect the interaction experience, and something remained from the previous model. So, for example, there is still a gap inside the folded case and dust from pockets gets into it. The weight of the gadget is noticeably greater than that of even other large smartphones, which often reminds of itself in normal situations (in your pocket, during long telephone conversations, and so on). And of course, many habits will have to change (for example, figure out which display to use in different situations, find a new car holder, etc.).

External display Z Fold2

Enlarged to 6.2-inch screen for “action on the go” is a SuperAMOLED-matrix with a resolution of 2260 × 816 pixels (386 ppi). Its aspect ratio corresponds to an elongated shape – 25:9. The picture refresh rate is normal – 60 Hz. There is a cutout for the camera, exactly the same as all Samsung flagships. Such a display has become an excellent solution compared to the previous version and now can rotate applications to landscape orientation (previously only a few selected programs could do this).

I already mentioned that this display has its own features that you will have to get used to, and it doesn’t have any “powerful” characteristics. But since this is not the main screen of the device, this can be forgiven. What’s more, the picture is excellent. Standard color profiles (Vivid and Natural) sync between screens and look great, factory calibration is traditionally high (it would be strange to see the opposite on one of Samsung’s top smartphones).

Vivid profile measurements:

Natural profile measurements:

Even in bright sunlight, the screen remains readable. Our indoor colorimeter measurements showed a maximum brightness of 434 cd/m² (which is much higher outdoors) and a minimum of 2.1 cd/m². The auto-brightness sensor never failed and always quickly selected a comfortable backlight level depending on the surrounding conditions.

Indoor display Z Fold2

The roll-out main display is still one of the most interesting developments in the world of smartphones in recent years. It is still far from perfect and has a number of limitations, but in use it is still a very interesting and unusual thing.

Screen performance has improved compared to last year. In Z Fold2, the diagonal of the main display has increased to 7.6 inches with an increase in resolution to 2208 × 1768 pixels (373 ppi). This slightly increased the screen area in relation to the body surface (up to 88.6%), and the aspect ratio of the display turned out to be very unusual, as for a smartphone, and amounted to 22.5:18.

The treasury of good additions also includes an increase in the refresh rate of the picture to 120 Hz. Thus, the large display also renders movements and animations very smoothly. This is one of the most popular features in recent times and has begun to appear in flagship smartphones, although 120 Hz is already commonplace in gaming laptops and monitors.

The bend in the middle of the screen still remains. Depending on the viewing angle or the colors on the display, there is more or less of it, but it is almost always visible. As with the camera cutouts, it’s visually easy to get used to, but it makes itself felt when touched or if there’s a glare on the display.

Inside, a Dynamic AMOLED 2X matrix is u200bu200bused, and the screen itself is called Infinity Flex Display. Color profile calibration is excellent. Here the user just needs to choose between natural and saturated (set by default) color reproduction. At the same time, the Vivid profile can be adjusted if the user needs it. I used the natural profile and was completely satisfied with it on both screens.

Vivid profile measurements:

Natural profile measurements:

The brightness of the display also does not hold. Indoors, the measurement showed 428 cd / m². On the street, its level is also higher and everything is completely readable, but a lot of prints become visible on the protective film and you should always have a soft cloth for wiping with you (just wiping your smartphone on clothes is not so convenient in this case). The minimum brightness was 2.3 cd / m².

In use, this is, of course, a very unusual screen. You can place several applications on it, it is much more convenient to view or process photos, it is more pleasant to read large texts or books, games and maps are also much larger, as are videos (albeit with stripes at the top and bottom).

True, it is not convenient to use it in all situations. Walking down the street or moving around the office, it will be much easier to respond to a message, for example, from an external display, because with the tablet deployed, too much attention will go to the smartphone. But in a “calm” environment of the workplace or at home, a large screen is much more pleasant for ordinary tasks than the usual elongated ones on standard smartphones.

Quick Unlock Z Fold2

Samsung has taken care that the user does not have to enter a password in different situations. Including for this, each screen has a cutout for the cameras. With their help, the smartphone recognizes the face of the owner of the device. It happens fast enough that you don’t have to think about the process. Again, there are conditions for this method to work well – a sufficient amount of light and open eyes. In the first case, backlighting can help, which, however, can dazzle at night. And in the second case, sunglasses can be placed. It also works in most smartphones where the face is scanned by the camera and not by IR sensors.

The initial setup of such an unlock is very convenient. The outdoor display does not immediately switch to the desktop after scanning the face and will require you to swipe to confirm the action, thereby preventing accidental touches. The internal display will immediately take the user to the desktop, which is quite logical.

In order not to blind yourself at night and have an additional option for a quick unlock, you can also use the fingerprint scanner, which is now built into the power button. Previously, he was separated from her and in such a position where it was necessary to get used to him, but now with the location of a complete order. It can remember four fingerprints, works quickly and there were no complaints about its accuracy during the preparation of this material.

Sound Z Fold2

For a long time already, Samsung smartphones have almost no earpieces at the junction of glass and frame. This is also done in the Z Fold2, while the device sounds loud and clear enough for the user to comfortably hear the interlocutor in any situation. The microphone and noise cancellation system is also good. However, taking into account the weight and size of the smartphone, long conversations can make you change your hand often, it will be more convenient to talk with a headset for a long time.

The smartphone also has stereo speakers for media and notifications. They are loud. They sound good both for system sounds and for media or games. They are located in such a way that in the standard position they will be on the top and bottom on the left side of the device, and when rotated, they will be on the sides, but under the arms. You need to remember this so as not to close them, but it quickly becomes a habit. The power and sound quality will be enough to voice, say, a new episode of the series at home or in a hotel.

Now bundled with the device is not a wireless, but a standard wired AKG headset. The headphones are vacuum and connect via USB-C, since there is no jack for regular headphones (and yes, you will need to buy an adapter for your favorite wired headphones). The headset sounds very good and there are hardly any high expectations from the bundled headphones.

Performance and Software

It is quite expected, for such a rather big amount, the user receives one of the most powerful smartphones to date. In the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, the manufacturer installs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor with Adreno 650 video. There is also enough memory for everything: 256 or 512 GB of storage (the latter will not be available in all markets) is always accompanied by 12 GB of RAM. But there was no place for a memory card, the same with a SIM card – there is only one physical slot, but they did not forget about eSIM. But there is support for Wi-Fi 6, NFC, a popular set of navigation systems and Bluetooth 5.0.

The performance of a smartphone, of course, is enough for any task assigned to it. Whether you’re playing games or running multiple apps at the same time, the Z Fold2’s performance won’t let you down. There is enough RAM to store many running applications, so multitasking should not be a problem either. For this, by the way, Samsung has improved the mode of operation with multiple windows. And it turned out to heat up the smartphone only with games, the rest of the time the case almost always remained cool.

Of the features of the work, it is worth noting that not all applications are still adapted to the large display. Of course, the “native” programs are all prepared and can change depending on the rotation of the screen or its bend (bending the screen with the running application can get more information), but there are even a number of popular services that are more focused on standard screens (for example, Facebook, Instagram , third-party keyboards, Telegram and others). However, not all applications may work well when reopened on an external display after the internal one and will require a reboot. But this, for sure, is a temporary feature, because the more such smartphones, the more developers will work on support and adaptation.

Otherwise, the Z Fold2 has a very pleasant and smooth operation. Android 10 with One UI 2.5 shell will receive fresh updates more than once. In addition, the smartphone has all the same additional features that other flagships of the company have: DeX, Edge Apps (with the ability to save and launch certain applications in multi-window mode), Edge Lightning, Bixby and more. Well, the Continuity function has not disappeared anywhere, which will allow you to start doing something on the external screen, and by opening the main one, immediately continue the business from the same place.

Cameras Z Fold2

What a smartphone also has a lot of is cameras. The Z Fold2 features two selfie cameras and a main unit with three different lenses. Of course, they differ from what is installed in the flagships, but the set is still pretty good, all the main sensors are 12-megapixels: 

• wide-angle with aperture value ƒ/1.8;
• ultra wide-angle with ƒ / 2.2 and a capture angle of 123 °;
• and telephoto with ƒ/2.4 and 2x zoom.

Obviously, you can shoot both in the closed and open state of the smartphone. But the best thing for me was still in the closed position. But here viewing and editing, naturally, are better carried out on the big screen. Let’s get back to the pictures themselves.

The main wide-angle sensor can slightly overexpose some objects, and post-processing tightens the saturation. But for Samsung smartphones, this is not news. Yes, and this is not a problem, because photos can be easily edited, and focus accuracy and speed are not inferior to other top models. In daytime conditions, it was possible not to worry much about the automatic selection of settings, because the Fold did everything well.

In the evening, the Night mode also did a very good job. As with many other cameras, “warm” street lighting will make the photo look unnecessarily yellow. Well, there is a slight oversharp, which is also often found in night shooting modes. Again, the final shots of the gadget work out fine.

The ultra-wide-angle module conveys colors a little differently than the main one. Most often, the photos turn out a little darker, their shadows are not “stretched” as much, well, there are distortions at the edges of the picture. But I still liked the photos. Fans of such a large angle of capture camera should fit.

And this module is also capable of shooting in low light with night mode. In such conditions, the pictures are, on the contrary, a little brighter than those of the main module, although the white balance is selected differently in some conditions. The photographs are interesting and do not require multiple “takes”, although the colors sometimes need to be corrected.

The telephoto optical zoom is only 2x, which is noticeably less than other current flagships of the company, but this will still be enough in urban areas. And only during the day, since at night this module is not activated, but instead a crop is made from the main lens.

For the Z Fold2, the maximum video resolution is available in 4K, not 8K. At the same time, leaving such a resolution, it is better to choose not 60 frames / sec, but 30, then the image will be more useful from digital stabilization. But in general, the video is quite good, as for a smartphone, in which the cameras are far from in the first place.

4K video recording example:

An example of recording Ultra-Wide in 4K:

Selfies can be taken both with cameras from displays (both 10 MP, ƒ / 2.2), and the main modules. There is a special mode for this, which is launched from the camera application on the external display. It is most convenient to do this with the camera of the external display in the folded state, but if you get used to the angles that are obtained from other cameras, you can do self-portraits in the same way, just the process itself is not so convenient.

Examples of photos on an external selfie camera:

Examples of photos on the internal selfie camera:

Examples of selfies with the main cameras:

There are three options for the camera application interfaces at once: one for the external screen and two modes for the internal one (fully opened and “bent”). It was most often more convenient to shoot in the folded state, and there the camera interface turns out to be just more familiar. But, again, even in other modes, it’s still the same well-known camera app from Samsung, it’s just adapted for different screens.

Autonomy Z Fold2

Looking at the size of the entire smartphone, we can assume that it has a large battery. But in the thin halves of the case fit a double battery with a capacity of 4500 mAh. It may seem that this is not so much for such a large screen, but in reality at the end of the day I always had 30-40% left, which I did not expect from Fold2. Naturally, heavy games or navigation applications will still force you to recharge once again, but this will be the case with almost any modern smartphone. The autonomy test stopped at 8 hours 19 minutes, and, for example, a two-hour movie took 18% of the charge. For such a gadget, autonomy was good.

There are also different charging methods and additional modes. The included power supply fully charges the battery in 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is also possible to charge at the Qi standard induction station. But that’s not all, because with the Wireless Power Share function, you can charge another smartphone, headphones or other gadget from Z Fold2 that supports induction charging of the same standard.

Eventually

In the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, the manufacturer has improved a lot of little things and added a couple of nice features that were not in the previous model. So there was a larger external screen and a high internal refresh rate, a fresher case design, a “strong” hinge, a new processor, 5G support … not to mention internal improvements that the user does not see. All this makes the new model more ready for the mass consumer.

But it is worth remembering that such devices are still at the very beginning of their development, so you will have to put up with not the smallest weight, lack of protection against water and dust, a still noticeable bend in the center of the screen and not always well adapted applications from third-party developers. The price of all this is also high – 59,999 hryvnias in official Ukrainian retail, so it is still very expensive to go for such an experiment. True, the gadget itself turned out to be much more interesting in real use than it might have seemed before. Therefore, those enthusiasts who can afford such a smartphone will certainly get an exciting experience.