To be honest, I\u2019ve never quite understood the appeal of foldable phones. From my vantage point, the notion of a foldable smartphone is eerily reminiscent of Google Glass to the extent that it\u2019s a cool and futuristic product without real mainstream appeal. In short, foldable phones appear to provide solutions to usability problems that don\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
That notwithstanding, Samsung is as committed as ever to the idea. After the debacle that was the Galaxy Fold, Samsung went back to the drawing board and came up with a new foldable phone it calls the Galaxy Z Flip, a device that looks far more intriguing and useful than the Galaxy Fold. For starters, the Z Flip opens up vertically as opposed to horizontally, which lends itself to a more natural user experience.<\/p>\n
In light of all that, some of the early Galaxy Z Flip reviews are out and, suffice it to say, you might be well-advised to spend your money elsewhere. While the Galaxy Z Flip appears to be the best foldable phone we\u2019ve seen hit the market yet, that\u2019s not exactly saying a whole a lot.<\/p>\n
According to an in-depth Galaxy Z Flip review on The Verge<\/em>, the screen on the Galaxy Z Flip is impressive but a tad too prone to wear and tear. What\u2019s more, the crease on the phone is noticeable.<\/p>\n Notably, the review found that the device is somewhat difficult to open with one-hand, which is clearly a step back in usability:<\/p>\n That hinge stiffness adds to the overall sense of trust and durability, but it also makes it hard to flip out the phone one-handed. I can do it, but it takes a little more force than I feel comfortable with, like it might fly out of my hand.<\/p>\n Most of the time, it\u2019s just a little more comfortable to open the Z Flip with two hands. That\u2019s doubly true because if you wedge your thumb in to start the flip action there\u2019s a risk you could damage the plastic on the screen underneath with your thumbnail. Snapping it shut with one hand, however, is deeply satisfying.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n All told, the Galaxy Z Flip appears to be a device defined by its compromises. The display is prone to wear and tear and the camera is disappointing given that the device costs a whopping $1380. At the same time, if you\u2019re willing to spend that kind of cash for this type of device, odds are that you\u2019re more intrigued about the novelty of a foldable smartphone than you are about cold hard specs.<\/p>\n If anything, the biggest praise you\u2019ll see about the Galaxy Z Flip is that it\u2019s just a normal phone. That\u2019s all well and good, but again, who wants to spend $1380 for just a normal phone?<\/p>\n Gizmodo\u2019s<\/em> review reads in part:<\/p>\n Honestly, the biggest compliment I can give the Z Flip is that it feels a lot like a traditional smartphone, but with the ability to bend the screen in half and end calls by slamming the phone shut, which is really goddamn satisfying. Now I admit the part about functioning as a normal phone might not sound like much, especially for something that costs $1,400, but it really is a massive improvement, enough for me to say that the Z Flip feels like a more refined, second-gen take on foldable tech.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If Samsung can eventually get the price down, it seems as if the Galaxy Z Flip could be an intriguing device sometime down the line. But as it all stands now, it\u2019s far too pricey to justify purchasing.<\/p>\n As Engadget<\/em> notes in their review:<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t help yourself and need a foldable in your life, this is the best you\u2019ll find. Just remember that buying any foldable right now is a gamble \u2014 they have more potential points of failure.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In light of all that, it seems obvious that if you\u2019re in the market for a new smartphone, you\u2019d be better off picking up an iPhone or one of Samsung\u2019s new Galaxy S20 models.<\/p>\n Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Z Flip launch video can be seen below:<\/p>\n\n
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