Samsung, if nothing else, is very consistent in the way they make phones. Sometimes you will only get a little update, sometimes more, but it is almost as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west that you will get a product that is at least as good as the previous generation. Samsung should indeed be praised for maintaining a level of quality and especially their approach to design and materials.
The display has become much more vibrant in terms of brightness, now at 2600 nits, which is especially noticeable when playing back videos recorded with the new camera module. The camera department has been significantly updated: a 50 MP main camera with a wide angle and a 12 MP wide angle. However, I miss a bit more optical zoom; only 2x zoom seems a bit inadequate for a phone that, after all, costs NOK 1,049 for the cheapest model. It seems strange, although the digital zoom is undoubtedly one of the best on the market with very little image noise. The smallest version has 256 GB of space, which is essential if you shoot 4K video on a larger scale.
There is also more RAM, 12GB, but I have not yet had the opportunity to increase the phone’s RAM, even in test mode. The packaging itself has been greatly improved; it’s clear that work has been done to bring the edges together so that when you fold the frame, it aligns all the way and closes tightly with a ‘clunk’ that very satisfying. Samsung calls it their most compact phone, and after using it for three weeks, it will honestly be hard to go back.
Here’s a hint:
The screen is still a true Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a resolution of 2640×1080. You can still feel the curve in the screen where it bends, but it’s really hard to see, even when you know where it is. The colors are almost too true, the picture quality is top notch, and the clarity is superb. I still have a hard time believing you need 2600 nits in anything but daylight.
The deck screen is still one of the main selling points, and while it’s customizable, I miss the fact that it can take over apps like YouTube so it keeps playing even when the phone is on to fold – but I wonder if that is the meaning. Samsung has ingeniously integrated its AI feature with the cover screen, and I think it’s integrated very well, as the simple AI interface responds to perfect on the smaller cover screen.
The phone we tested came in baby blue. Despite weighing just 187g, it feels solidly built and my doubts about hinged phones being flexible are put to shame. The IP rating has also been improved to IP68 (more dust and waterproof). The frame is reinforced with aluminum, and the processor has been updated to Snapdragon Gen 3.
The battery has been upgraded to a de facto 4000 mAh. What I miss the most, though, is faster charging; it just takes too long with only 25 watts of charging (that’s about all I could find of specifications), and wireless charging is still limited to 15 watts. I am fully aware that Samsung is doing this on purpose; they are against fast charging because it destroys the battery, and they want users to keep the phone for at least four years, preferably. I can’t wait two hours to charge. I get the point, and the Flip users I know have had their phones for a long time, but I wish they had updated their charging offer.
Here’s a hint:
But using Galaxy AI is still a good move. I have started to use it to an amazing extent, especially its ability to translate speech and especially writing. It’s still not perfect, but its ability to recognize results in an image is amazing. Samsung’s AI implementation is practical but effective. On paper, the camera is not at the same level as other flagship models, but the AI functionality greatly increases the usability of the camera when using digital zoom and especially in night mode. If you love flip phones – and you will soon, because there is something very neat about them, especially when they are folded and so compact – then there is not much better than the Samsung Z Flip6.
2024-08-03 12:00:00
#Samsung #Flip
