Samsung launches the Galaxy Z Fold4, its new folding smartphone capable of transforming into a tablet.What does this new vintage bring?Not much, but enough to continue to dream.Test.The folding revolution will not take place.Undisputed leader of this niche market (it must be said that it is almost alone), Samsung is offering this year a smooth evolution of its two folding smartphones.Well almost.The price is far from sweet.The Galaxy Z Fold4 – you know the one that unfolds to become a tablet – is marketed from 1,799 euros.What does this new version change?On paper, Samsung promises a more comfortable format on a daily basis but above all improved autonomy as well as a camera finally worthy of an ultra-premium model.The South Korean also explains that he has brought some new software to make the folding format more relevant, especially in terms of productivity.What is it really?Answer in our full test.The Galaxy Z Fold4 is available at a price of 1799 euros in the 256 GB version. For a capacity of 512 GB, count 1919 euros.The Z Fold4 is therefore aimed at a niche audience but faces no competition on the French market.For now…For the launch of its new folding smartphones, Samsung is offering a trade-in bonus for your old smartphone of up to 300 euros or a free pair of Galaxy Buds2.A welcome little boost.Like the Z Flip4, the Z Fold4 isn't an aesthetic shake-up in the range's short history.Samsung seems convinced that this format represents the future and is therefore content to refine its recipe.Like its little brother, the Z Fold4 has therefore made a small slimming cure (264 g against 271 g for the previous model) and has beefed up its game. The protective glass covering the interior screen is now a Gorilla Victus +, the most solid right now.At the same time, the Z Fold4 is IPX8 certified (water-resistant, not dust-proof).Although slimmer, Samsung's latest smartphone/tablet still has two screens of 6.2'' and 7.6'' (we'll get to that later).However, its dimensions have been revised.This new generation is lower (-2.9 mm), a little wider (+2 mm) and its hinge is thinner.To keep the same screen sizes, Samsung has therefore reduced the borders: the ratio of the internal screen now reaches 90%.What else ?Nothing.The sensor under the inner screen is still there (and still just as bad), the gap between the two panels when the smartphone is folded hasn't disappeared, and the fold hasn't been reworked.Despite everything, the more packed format turns out to be much more pleasant on a daily basis.The grip is more comfortable, the weight distribution more balanced.Like what, a few millimeters can make a big difference.The great novelty of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is therefore the widening of its lines and therefore, by extension, of its screens.If they display the same diagonals as the slabs of the Z Fold3 (6.2 '' for the external and 7.6 '' unfolded) the screens of the Z Fold4 are therefore lower but wider.For the external screen, this greatly facilitates one-handed manipulations as well as typing on the keyboard.The virtual keys are further apart, which makes it possible to respond comfortably to messages.A little nothing that makes all the difference since the Z Fold4 is, in our opinion, the first model to really be able to be used as a more classic smartphone.Once unfolded, the Z Fold4 takes the form of a slightly squarer tablet.Why this choice ?Samsung explains that users did not turn the screen to watch the videos and that the black bands around the content were therefore too wide (lazy).With a more square format, you no longer need to strain a muscle to watch a Youtube video.Phew, we came close to tendonitis.And the display quality in all this?Samsung being a past master in the art of calibration, the two AMOLED panels are of excellent quality.They both meet the criteria of a premium smartphone screen: high definition, adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz.In a few figures (obtained in our 01Lab test laboratory), the external screen displays an average brightness of 1,065 cd/m2 (up to 1,388 cd/m2 in HDR) with infinite contrasts and a Delta E of 2, 57 in natural mode.The interior screen is just as convincing with an average brightness of 1,081 cd/m2 (peak at 1,257 cd/m2), infinite contrasts and a Delta E of 2.1 in natural mode.In concrete terms, the Galaxy Z Fold4 offers a unique multimedia experience on the market.Not only does its hybrid format allow you to carry around a giant screen in your pocket, but the display quality is also remarkable.Players and video addicts will therefore be thrilled.Only small complaint: Samsung has not reworked the small fold.OPPO has demonstrated that it is possible to refine it with its Find N. Here, it is still a little too thick even if it is quickly forgotten in use.For 1,799 euros, we are entitled to quibble a little, right?Like last year, Samsung delivers its Galaxy Z Fold4 with the latest processor from Qualcomm.The benchmarks are clear, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a beast of competition and will allow any user to flourish.The problem with this chip is that it gives engineers a hard time when it comes to thermal management.Good news, the Galaxy Z Fold4 has a lot more space under its shell to let air circulate.Thus, this model does not present any temperature problem, quite the contrary.With a maximum of 26.5° during our benchmarks (the most trying exercise), he therefore does not suffer from any fever.This is good since Samsung is addressing the Fold range to an audience for whom the smartphone is above all a productivity tool.After making the Fold compatible with a stylus (this is still the case and it still does not fit into the chassis, too bad), Samsung is attacking the software part more seriously.If the manufacturer addressed Android 12L (a version adapted to folding smartphones) in its pitch, the version embedded in our test model is indeed Android 12, if we are to believe the information available in the parameters.Nevertheless, the OneUI 4.1 overlay brings its share of optimizations for this very particular format.Thus, most Samsung applications are displayed with a different interface on the big screen, more complete for better productivity.Special mention to the photo application whose layout adapts to different levels of folding.Some partner apps like Youtube or Netflix also adapt to the tablet format, but they still only represent a tiny part of the Play Store.The great novelty of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is the integration of a taskbar at the bottom of the screen which can be removed in the settings if it is considered superfluous.In our opinion, this would be a mistake as it facilitates the use of multitasking and multi-windowing (a simple drag and drop is enough to customize the interface).Moreover, it is now possible to display four applications simultaneously on the screen against three on the previous model.For the rest, we navigate on a version that could not be more classic of OneUI 4. Always rich in customization, this overlay also facilitates one-handed use (when the Fold4 is folded) and enjoys a wealth of small functionalities well felt.It should be noted, however, that the graphic charter is starting to age a little.A small refresh would not be refused.The Galaxy Z Fold4 therefore stands out as the ultimate smartphone / tablet for productivity enthusiasts.Its power and its software optimizations give a little more relevance to the folding format even if there is not yet the famous killer feature that will make this format essential for the general public.The Galaxy Z Fold4 can take on the costume of smartphone or tablet at will, it is therefore necessary to address the question of autonomy in two points.When it takes on the role of smartphone (with its screen folded), the Galaxy Z Fold4 displays excellent autonomy.According to our 01Lab laboratory, it lasts 2:57 p.m. in general-purpose use and 12:54 p.m. in video streaming.In this exercise, the Galaxy Z Fold4 also proves to be very good once its screen is unfolded.Its autonomy in video streaming increases to 07:10.On the other hand, the versatile autonomy plummets to 07:24, a rather disappointing result.Because the results of these tests are clear: the Galaxy Z Fold4 does little better than the Z Fold3 launched last year.It must be said that Samsung has kept a similar battery (4400 mAh) for a more powerful chip.We will therefore deduce that there is better in terms of optimizing energy consumption, but nothing extraordinary either.And then on a daily basis?For sustained use, the Galaxy Z Fold4 largely lasts the day, provided you don't force the game with the screen unfolded (in this case, plan on a day instead).Users using it as a work tool will be able to push up to a day and a half at the most, which is not bad at all.Like the rest of the premium Samsung catalog, the Galaxy Z Fold4 is supplied without a charger (no small savings even on a smartphone at 1800 euros).With the optional 45W charger, it takes 01:18 to recharge the Z Fold4 to regain all its energy.It's long.Too long.On the other hand, the 50% (allowing a good half day of use) are reached in 27 minutes.It's better, even if these performances are far from equaling those of the best models in this area.The previous Z Folds suffered from two major flaws: autonomy and photo quality.As we have just explained, Samsung has corrected the situation on the first point, but what about photography?Good news, the Korean has finally decided to integrate state-of-the-art sensors into its most expensive smartphone.To be sure not to disappoint anyone, he therefore took over the configuration of the Galaxy S22 and S22+, namely:Those who follow the brand's news will notice that the Z Fold4 does not have the ultimate in photography from Samsung.The S22 Ultra logically remains the best-equipped model, the Z Fold4 not intended to establish itself as a reference in photography, but rather to offer a unique experience.However, the three modules integrated here allow it to rise among the best photophones on the market.Without reaching the level of an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a Find X5 Pro, a Pixel 6 Pro or a Mi 11 Ultra, the Z Fold4 will meet the expectations of demanding users.The photographic equipment associated with the processing algorithms make it possible to obtain excellent shots day and night.Note the return of aggressive colorimetric processing with colors that are sometimes too saturated to seem realistic.Too bad, Samsung had started to get rid of this dirty habit with the S22/S22+.Thanks to its three sensors, the Z Fold4 is versatile, especially for long-distance photography or portraits.If the ultra wide-angle still deserves a few adjustments, the whole remains convincing.In video, the Galaxy Z Fold4 is just as attractive as the S22/S22+.Its small overweight even makes the videos more stable.Impossible to approach the photo part without mentioning the interface adapted to the tablet format.The photo application then becomes a real control screen with a preview of the photos taken on a third of the screen, the framing on another third and the keys on the last third.It also takes advantage of the external screen: you can take selfies with the main sensors or shoot vlogs with camera feedback.Well seen.If you were expecting a revolution, you will be disappointed when you discover the Galaxy Z Fold4.This new generation does not upset the codes of this still very young market.Samsung takes a recipe that it masters, changes a few ingredients that were a bit bland until then (autonomy, photo quality) and sprinkles it with new spices (slightly revised format, some new software).While the Galaxy Z Fold4 is arguably the ultimate productivity and multimedia smartphone, it's still not perfect.Those who do not wish to handle a smartphone that is too heavy will always prefer a smartphone combo (in the pocket) + small tablet (in the bag).Recharging is still too slow, the autonomy could be improved and the functionalities making this format essential do not yet exist.At 1,799 euros, the Galaxy Z Fold4 is also an extremely expensive smartphone, reserved for an audience for whom the smartphone is a productivity tool or for geeks.In any case, the future of the smartphone is still reserved for the wealthiest among us.Like a great vintage.Samsung faces a second major cyberattackHow are Samsung folding smartphones made?(Video)Galaxy Z Flip4 review: the smartphone for stylish (and rich) peopleIt is a very beautiful modelYour email address will not be published.Mandatory fields are marked with *I want to receive the Daily Lemon Squeezer newsletterLemon squeezer 2005 - 2022 |About |Contact |Cookies Policy