Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Review

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is one of the few phones I’ve been truly excited to review, mainly because it is so different from anything else I’ve ever tested.

By Nick Todorov

It marks a bold departure from the familiar and a splashing entry into a completely different device category – the category of foldable smartphones.

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip for 5 days already, and here are the impressions I’ve gathered so far. This article will be expanded regularly as I spend more time with Samsung’s foldable phone, so be sure to check back soon for the latest updates.

Design: futuristic but frustrating

Apparently, drawing attention is one thing the Galaxy Z Flip is really good at. Soon after its arrival at the office, there was already a line of people wanting to see it in person. Guys were intrigued, but it was the girls who absolutely loved it. I can’t say that I’m surprised. The Galaxy Z Flip is clearly designed to be a fashion accessory, and the purple color looks gorgeous.

By the way, fun fact: did you know that it’s common for women’s jeans to have front pockets that are fake or too small to be practical? When folded, the Galaxy Z Flip becomes super compact and fits easily into small pockets, without sticking out – a prime reason why this form factor will appeal to women. 

The Galaxy Z Flip is more likely to fit in a lady’s pocket
But while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip looks stunning, I can’t say that I find its design very practical. For starters, having to unfold the Galaxy Z Flip all the time gets annoying quickly. It’s a two-hand action – unless you’re fine with grinding your nail against that fragile screen every time you flip the phone open. Perhaps a spring-loaded, button-activated mechanism would have been nice having.

The folding mechanism has been working well so far, but I’ve noticed that the Galaxy Z Flip does not close completely shut. As a result, dust and pocket lint gathers between the display’s two halves. The raised plastic border around the display makes it difficult to clean – another minor annoyance. 

The Galaxy Z Flip does not close completely shut
Then there’s the problem with weight distribution. The phone is very tall and feels top-heavy which makes every-day use less comfortable, especially with a single hand.

The fingerprint reader appears to be identical to the one on the Samsung Galaxy S10e. It is embedded in the power button mounted on the right side. It works, but it is neither reliable nor comfortable to use.

Another issue I’ve noticed is that the vibration motor is kind of weak. I’ve already missed a couple of notifications simply because I didn’t feel the phone vibrating in my pocket. More

By Nick Todorov @nikolaytodorov1 https://www.phonearena.com/