Galaxy Z Flip hands-on review: Samsung has outdone itself

We finally got to go easily-on with Samsung's most highly predictable smartphone in contempo memory today. The Milky way Z Flip is Samsung's second foldable smartphone and its first in the clamshell form factor. At that place's a lot of excitement for this telephone and we're sure that many of you are dying to hear what'southward it like in real life. So without further ado, here's our Galaxy Z Flip hands-on review.

Blueprint and feel

Since the form gene is different, in that location'due south no drawing comparison hither with the original Galaxy Fold. They're poles apart from each other. My initial thought when I held the Galaxy Z Flip in my hand for the offset time was just how well fabricated it feels. Not for a moment was at that place a concern in the back of my mind that I'll take to baby this phone. It's well put together with a robust hinge that takes care of the foldable scrap.

Much like the one-time flip phones, the Galaxy Z Flip folds down a very compact size so it's going to be very easy to deport it around in your pocket. Flip it open and you've got a gorgeous half-dozen.7-inch OLED display staring back at you, more on that in a flake. In that location's really not much going on at the back of the device. It has a dual camera organisation positioned up top next to the tiny one.1-inch Super AMOLED encompass brandish. Nosotros specially beloved how the color extends to the frame as well to allow for a more aesthetically pleasing cease. All of the buttons are placed on the right side of the frame with the power button as well having an integrated fingerprint sensor.

The Mirror Black and Mirror Purple finishes are exceptional. Light bounces off of them beautifully, making them announced fifty-fifty more hitting in existent life. Yes, they're fingerprint magnets though, and so you may want to keep a microfiber cloth handy. Some markets are besides going to become a Mirror Gold color which simply looks amazing. There was an audible gasp during Unpacked when Samsung showed the Galaxy Z Flip in Mirror Gold for the first time. Information technology looks really beautiful.

Hideaway Hinge

Samsung wants to make the Galaxy Fold'south initial hinge troubles a distant memory considering the new swivel for the Galaxy Z Flip is on another level. Dubbed Hideaway Hinge, information technology has reworked internals for more immovability. At that place's even a new nylon fiber shield that will forestall dust and grime from damaging the hinge.

Flex Manner is made possible by this hinge. It volition let you flip open up the display at a 90-degree angle and then set it down. Information technology basically becomes its ain table-tiptop tripod, set information technology up to record makeup tutorial, watch a YouTube video while cooking in the kitchen, or accept a selfie from across the room. This is one of the reasons why there'due south noticeable rigidity to the hinge but it doesn't take abroad from the experience if yous'd much rather fully flip open the brandish in one quick motion.

What struck united states of america the almost was merely how well built this hinge feels. Information technology doesn't creak, there's no wiggling and it folds and unfolds very smoothly. It snaps shut with a reassuring solidity. We'll have to meet how it holds up long-term only the commencement impressions are very promising.

Display

The Galaxy Z Flip is truly one of kind as it uses ultra-thin glass for the display and not plastic like the Galaxy Fold. There'south little risk of puncturing it with your fingernail, you can become overzealous with your tapping and information technology'south probably going to come out merely fine. The 6.vii-inch FHD+ 21.9:nine aspect ratio display feels much more durable because of this glass. Immovability remains a concern for foldable smartphones and the Galaxy Z Flip certainly takes a step in the right direction.

Aye, there's a slight crease and y'all will detect it when you lot have the telephone in Flex Fashion. That's to be expected but it's certainly not something that'due south going to take away from the experience. The display wraps around the front camera punch hole all the fashion to the slim bezels. The colors are overnice and bright with peachy viewing angles. Samsung'southward OLED displays hardly disappoint. In that location's lilliputian to complain about and with the added protection from the ultra-thin glass, the possibility of this device running into the aforementioned problems as the Galaxy Fold in its early on days is non-existent. Y'all can't peel off the top layer, because there is no acme layer to peel off. Samsung says that this glass is going to terminal for 200,000 folds, so basically, it'southward set up for a couple of years at the very least.

Samsung has gone with a cute little i.1-inch cover display for the outside. It's going to show yous the time and battery condition equally well as snippets of incoming notifications. What's interesting is that Samsung made it possible to use this display as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the rear camera. The size is obviously quite small only it'southward going to be enough to frame pictures correctly. Nosotros've been asking for this characteristic for the original Galaxy Fold since the mean solar day it came out and hopefully, it's going to happen in the future.

Camera

There was express opportunity to test the Galaxy Z Flip's camera capabilities at Unpacked. It's not packing the same camera tech equally the Milky way S20. The 12-megapixel f/1.8 primary and 12-megapixel ultra-wide f/ii.two hardware has been used on other Samsung phones already. In that location'due south as well a 10-megapixel selfie camera. Samsung has included its new Single Have photo mode which captures a moment using all cameras and a multifariousness of modes to give you a selection of results to choose from. Nosotros'll exist certain to put the camera through its paces during our full Galaxy Z Flip review. Only know that it packs enough of a dial to keep you lot on tiptop of your Instagram game.

Operation

The Milky way Z Flip does come with last yr's hardware. There's a Snapdragon 855+ processor under the hood with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That being said, it didn't really feel like a slouch. The units that nosotros tested felt snappy with no visible stutter. Naturally, they weren't filled up with apps and content that an average user accumulates during employ. The Snapdragon 855+ is still a flagship processor and slightly faster than the Snapdragon 855 on the Notation x+, so there's little to worry nigh in the performance department.

There's a combined 3,300mAh of battery capacity with support for wireless charging and fifty-fifty Wireless PowerShare. It will be interesting to see if the battery is capable plenty of getting the device through a full twenty-four hour period's worth of heavy use. We'll bring you the results in our full review.

Conclusion

The initial response to the Galaxy Z Flip has been overwhelmingly positive and with good reason. It actually does feel like a solid device, non a concept that was forced into reality. It'southward a refinement of the classic flip phone form factor with advanced materials and applied science. It's a testament to Samsung's engineering prowess and we have very high hopes for information technology.

Samsung is positioning information technology as a very fashionable device and information technology certainly looks the part. It has great potential of becoming the must-have fashion accessory for 2020. Expect a marketing rush from Samsung around the aforementioned lines in the coming weeks.

The Milky way Z Flip feels "complete" right out the gate, a feeling that was certainly missing from our initial interaction with the Galaxy Fold. It really doesn't make you wonder if the device will be able to withstand the rigors of daily apply. That's saying something when the foldable era is just starting out. There's cypher else on the market place that comes close to the Galaxy Z Flip and it might stay this way for quite some time. The Milky way Z Flip goes on sale in the United states of america and South Korea twenty-four hours afterwards tomorrow. This is what you get your pregnant other for Valentine's 24-hour interval.