Samsung and foldable smartphones: the manufacturer is getting better at it. In the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review, we discuss three cool things and three points that the manufacturer can still improve.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: phone instead of concept
From Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the showpiece of the manufacturer, with which the company shows what it is capable of. The name of the device is a combination of the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, both with a folding screen. It is the successor to the Fold, a device that was plagued with problems.
In this review we will discuss three positive points of the Z Fold 2, but also three points where we want to see improvement.
Three plus points in a row
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 has undergone a true metamorphosis on several points compared to its predecessor. Thus, the outer screen has become a lot more usable. Samsung has also made an interesting choice in the hardware field and with this device Samsung breathes innovation.
1. Innovation is the leading factor
The smartphone is the successor to the Galaxy Fold. That device was Samsung’s first smartphone with a folding screen. The entire release of that did not go too smoothly because of all kinds of problems. All in all, it was more of a ‘concept smartphone’ than a real device for daily use. However, Samsung continued to develop devices with bendable screens.
For example, the Galaxy Z Flip, wherever we have a extensive review about published. In August of this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was presented and that device has been improved on many points compared to its direct predecessor.
This is especially evident with the hinge, which works a lot better than with the first Fold. It is firmer, lets in less dust and other dirt and works a lot better. You have no complaints at all about that hinge with the Z Fold 2. It offers enough flexibility to open, but also enough resistance to use at a certain angle.
2. Displays have improved considerably
Just like the first Fold, this device has two screens: one on the inside and one on the outside. That so-called cover display is now usable. With this foldable device, that screen is 6.2 inches in size. Recording a conversation, sending an email or browsing; it works as it should.
That outer screen was more of a one gimmick with the first Galaxy Fold, because it was only 4.6 inches in size and therefore difficult to operate. We also see a nice innovation on the inside. With the original Fold, a large bite had been taken out of the screen, which included a camera. With the second Z Fold, that camera is neatly incorporated into a small hole in the screen. That bothers a lot less, allows you to enjoy the screen more and is a nice improvement.
Again, an amoled panel was chosen and when opened it has become a fraction larger. As we are used to from Samsung, colors splash from the screen and the contrast is really high. That makes it a nice display to look at. Finally, the improved refresh rate also plays a major role in this.
That is 120Hz, whereby the screen is refreshed 120 times per second. If you scroll through apps, play an optimized game or watch the right content, everything feels a lot smoother. The original Fold still had a 60Hz screen; a big difference.
3. Samsung opts for Snapdragon processor
Samsung is one of the few manufacturers that produces chips for smartphones and tablets. Many devices from the manufacturer are therefore equipped with such an Exynos chip in Europe, including the S20– in Note 20-serie. Opinions about its performance are divided, but tests show that they often score slightly less in terms of battery and performance than the Qualcomm chips.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, the best from the stable of manufacturer Qualcomm. This is a great choice. It probably has to do with the number of Z Fold 2’s on the market and the stocks of the chips. With the S20 series, for example, we see variants with Snapdragon chips in the United States.
Improvements for Galaxy Z Fold 2
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a beautiful device, but that does not mean that there are no areas for improvement. In this way, the weight and unwieldiness of the device can still be scraped here and there. In addition, we see some improvements for the hardware, but also the software.
1. Cumbersome and weight of the device
This Samsung device is nice to work with and, as said, innovative. However, do not expect that you can easily take it with you, because the device is (especially when folded) a bit unwieldy. When folded it is 159 millimeters high and 68 millimeters wide. The thickness of 16.8 millimeters is really something to get used to and therefore the phone will not fit in every pocket.
Folded open, the device is only 6.9 millimeters thick and that of course feels a lot better. With its weight of 282 grams, the Z Fold 2 is also not a light device. These are of course things that you simply choose when purchasing such a device. Not a problem of course and a conscious choice, but maybe Samsung can still go to the drawing board for this.
For example, when folded, the two halves do not quite fit together, which also makes the device slightly thicker. In the smartphone world, it is often just a few millimeters or grams, which can make just the difference.
2. Not the best hardware in all respects
The chosen Snapdragon processor is a nice plus, but although it is the most expensive smartphone from Samsung at the moment, it does not offer the best hardware in every area. Of course, the company has to make all kinds of choices here too, but of course we always want better.
For example, charging via a cable with ‘only’ 25 Watts. This is certainly fast charging and works fairly quickly. However, it can be much faster. The same applies to wireless charging: that is possible, but is a lot slower than what many competitors already offer.
The Z Fold 2 is also not dust and waterproof, which differs from many other smartphones from Samsung. Whether that only has to do with the hinge or foldable screen is the question, but something that Samsung can certainly work on.
The screen looks good and works fine. Yet it does not feel like the glass of many other smartphones, due to the top protective layer of plastic. Also the ‘crease’ in the middle can still be seen from different angles and you can feel light when you swipe over it. It’s an added effect of such a bendable screen, but the less we see and feel it, the better of course.
Finally, the device does not offer the best of the best in terms of camera. Don’t get us wrong, because photos often look good as we are used to from Samsung. Yet the device does not contain the same camera set-up as, for example, the S20 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra. Those sensors are larger, brighter and simply take better photos.
3. Software, software, software
The Z Fold 2 runs on Android 10 with a custom One UI 2.5 shell. The software has several extra adjustments for the large screen. The November patch had been up and running for several days, and so was it Android 11, 12 and 13 are promised for the device.
The software has many great options. This way you can give the outer and inner screen a different layout or place different shortcuts on it. You can also fold the screen half-closed and use the device as a small laptop. So you see content on the top part and extra information on the bottom part. However, that works with a handful of applications from Samsung itself and not with YouTube, for example.
By the way, if you watch a video, half the screen consists of black bars. Many other apps are also not optimized for the separate screen ratio. They are just displayed in full screen and work fine, but despite their size, do not show any additional information. It often even happens that the smaller screen on the outside shows even more information, for example with an app like Gmail.
Finally, Samsung claims that the large screen is ideal for running multiple apps side by side. That is certainly possible and works reasonably well, but it also depends on the precise apps you use. It is also not possible to open the same app twice. All in all, there is still plenty to optimize in the software. We will see this in the Android 11 update and One UI 3.0 shell. However, developers of apps also have to work hard, but the question is whether they will all do that.
Conclusion Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is an impressive device. The device is a lot more mature than its predecessor and no longer feels like a concept launched too quickly. The device feels robust, complete and is usually nice to work with.
That does not mean that there is no room for improvement. Whether the adjustments of a possible Fold Z 3 are the same as we have seen now is the question. Knowing Samsung, they have long been working on next generations of devices with bendable devices and we can hardly wait for that.
Buy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Samsung has the Galaxy Z Fold 2 one suggested retail price of 1999 euros given. The device is available in black or bronze and in our price comparison you will discover the best deals.
So is one losse Galaxy Z Fold 2 already available for a few hundred euros less. Of course you can also choose to use the Samsung Z Fold 2 to buy with subscription. Do you buy it separately? Then also check the best sim only deals.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
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Which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 do you want?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 with subscription
Device once € 504,00
€ 73,50 p/m Abo: € 32,50 p/m Device: € 41.00 p / m
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