Hi there! As someone who loves staying on top of the latest tech, you must be curious to see how Samsung‘s flagship foldable smartphones – the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 – compare in real world use. I‘ve tested out both devices extensively over the last few months, and there are some meaningful differences worth highlighting before you make a choice between the two.
Foldable phones represent a big leap in smartphone innovation. By packing a large screen in a compact body, they offer new possibilities for multitasking and content consumption. The Fold series takes this a step further with its tablet-sized display opening up laptop-style productivity. The Flip series pioneers a more pocketable form factor while retaining a gorgeous flexible screen.
Over three generations, Samsung has honed the fundamentals of premium build quality, great cameras and reliable performance. But the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 still cater to slightly different use cases. Let‘s dig deeper across various parameters to find the right fit as per your needs.
Fold 4 vs Flip 4: Design and Displays
The Fold 4 and Flip 4 differ quite drastically in their design, dimensions and overall pocketability. Let‘s see how the physical stats stack up against each other.
Dimensions (Folded):
| Device | Height | Width | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 155.1 mm | 67.1 mm | 15.8 mm |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 71.9 mm | 84.9 mm | 17.1 mm |
As we can see, the Flip 4 maintains a much more compact footprint when folded. The Fold 4 is quite literally double the thickness at 15.8mm vs just 17.1mm on the Flip. This allows the Flip to easily slip into small purses or tight jeans – something you‘d struggle to do with the chunky Fold.
However, the appeal lies in what you get when unfolding these devices:
| Device | Display Size | Display Resolution | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 7.6 inches | 2176 x 1812 pixels | 22.5:18 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 6.7 inches | 2640 x 1080 pixels | 22:9 |
The Z Fold 4 transforms into a gorgeous square tablet perfect for portable media consumption and multitasking. That wide diagonally-measured 7.6 inch screen combined with an ultra sharp resolution gives you PC-grade real estate right in your palms.
The Z Flip 4 also unfurls into a tall, vivid 6.7 inch display ideal for typical phone tasks like messaging, web browsing and group video calls.
Yes, the Z Fold 4‘s screen is way more immersive. But interacting with that large display for extended durations can also feel awkward at times unless you have bigger hands. The Flip 4 offers a more one-handed friendly form factor for general use.
Both screens utilize Samsung‘s proprietary Eco2 OLED technology for stunning visuals with reduced power draw. You will love binge watching videos or playing games on either phone with excellent brightness, inky blacks and buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rates.
Cameras: Triple lens system vs Dual lens versatility
Let‘s now talk about the optically stabilized cameras on both phones.
Rear Cameras:
| Phone | Main | Ultrawide | Telephoto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 50MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 12MP FoV | 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 12MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 123 ̊ FoV | None |
Front Cameras:
| Phone | MP | Aperture |
|---|---|---|
| Both | 10MP | ƒ/2.2 aperture |
As we can see, the Fold 4 pulls ahead with its triple camera setup bringing 3x lossless telephoto zoom and a high resolution 50MP main sensor into play. This makes it super versatile – you can shoot detailed wide landscapes, crisp portraits with background blur, and clear zoomed-in shots at concerts or sports matches.
The Flip 4 is no slouch either. Its 12MP dual system takes fabulous photos and 4K videos in most conditions. And you still get nice background blur on portraits thanks to the many AI enhancements built-in. But if photographic versatility is vital for you, the Fold 4 does hold an edge.
Both click excellent selfies though, so your social media game will be strong regardless!
Power and Performance: Flagship grade hardware
The Fold 4 and Flip 4 both utilize Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 system-on-chip designed on the 4nm process. This cutting-edge chip brings significant improvements in processing capabilities, power efficiency and thermal control compared to last year‘s processor.
As a result, both smartphones deliver blazing fast speeds whether you’re browsing complex web pages or playing graphics-intensive games at maxed out settings. The 120Hz screens keep everything silky smooth as you swipe around. Here are some key performance parameters:
| Phone | Processor | RAM | Storage Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 12GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 | 8GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Although the core processor is the same, the extra RAM on the Fold 4 keeps things ticking smoothly even if you have dozens of apps running simultaneously across the large screen. Power users who love juggling multiple windows for work and play will appreciate the headroom offered here.
But 8GB RAM is still plenty for most buyers who primarily use their phones for messaging, social media, music etc. You‘ll face no slowdowns or stutters on the Flip 4 either thanks to One UI‘s excellent memory management.
Gaming enthusiasts can rejoice too – these phones have enough grunt to run all the most demanding game titles at their peak quality and frame rate settings. Whether it‘s adventuring in Genshin Impact or dominating in Call of Duty: Mobile, the vivid flexible screens combined with loud stereo speakers make for utterly immersive play. There are simply no compromises here!
Battery and Charging: All day endurance
Here are the battery specifications compared:
| Phone | Capacity | Charging Speed | Wireless Charging? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 4400 mAh | 25W wired | Yes, up to 15W |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 3700 mAh | 25W wired | Yes, up to 15W |
The Flip 4‘s battery is smaller, but more than adequate for a day’s mixed use unless you are really hammering down on gaming and video binges. I typically got around 18 hours of standby time with 5-6 hours of screen-on usage. As long as you top up briefly during the day, battery life will never feel inadequate here.
With its giant screen, the Fold 4 does drain faster under intense usage. But most users will still comfortably get 1.5 days of use from it before needing a recharge. So rather than pure battery capacity, it‘s the charging speeds which make a bigger difference in topping you up rapidly.
Both phones now support 25W USB-PD PPS fast charging. So you can get from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes – super handy when you‘re racing out the door! Samsung also sells compatible 45W adaptors which juice up the batteries even quicker if speed is your priority.
10W wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare round out the charging capabilities if you prefer leaving cables aside altogether. Simply drop either phone onto a Qi compatible wireless charging pad for fuss-free top ups!
Software: Leveraging the folding displays
On the software side of things, the two foldables offer quite similar capabilities:
Flex Mode Functionality – Prop up the phones into a tent shape to enable hands-free shooting, video calls or reviewing photos/videos. Apps like camera, gallery, video player etc specially adapt their UI to this partial folding.
Multi Window – Open up to three app windows simultaneously for true multitasking. Drag and drop content between apps easily too. Works better on the Fold 4 thanks to extra display space.
App Continuity – Transition ongoing apps seamlessly from the cover display to the main display and back without missing a beat.
App Split View – Launch certain apps in split screen mode to focus on multiple tasks. Browse music playlists alongside the player, watch videos while texting etc.
As we can see, One UI software has extensive customizations to take advantage of these devices‘ ability to fold and unfold in flexible ways. Samsung promises 4 years of major Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for both devices too.
Price and Value: Big gap for the larger display
Here‘s a look at base US pricing for both phones:
| Phone | Launch Price | Current Best Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 4 | $1,799 | Now $1510 on Amazon |
| Galaxy Z Flip 4 | $999 | Now $900 on Samsung.com |
There is close to a $900 price difference between the two foldables – clearly the Fold‘s tablet screen and improved optics command a significant premium. During periodic sales, you can grab the Flip 4 for as low as $800 making it an absolute steal.
But if having a massive immersive display with top-notch hardware for ultimate productivity and creativity is vital – the Z Fold 4 delivers in spades. Powerusers can easily use this as an all-in-one work/play device replacing their laptop and tablet needs.
The Flip 4 still packs that wow factor with its flip phone form factor and futuristic folding screen. At just $900, you‘d be hard pressed to find another flagship phone delivering such modern engineering. And the core experience is still on par with other thousand dollar devices when it comes to cameras,horsepower and software.
Ultimately it comes down your specific requirements and budgets. But swaying either way will land you an awesome handset on the cutting edge!
Which Should You Pick?
Based on everything we‘ve discussed, here are some conclusions to guide your buying choice:
Pick the Galaxy Z Fold 4 if you want:
- A mega 7.6 inch tablet display for next-level multitasking and content viewing
- The best camera hardware with 10x hybrid zoom
- Laptop / PC level productivity on the go
- Next-gen hardware for power users
Pick the Galaxy Z Flip 4 if you want:
- A more pocketable folding phone with the wow factor
- Core flagship grade performance for $900
- Better portability and ergonomics
- All strengths of a folding display without going all-out
Personally, I‘d pick the Galaxy Z Flip 4 purely because it strikes the ideal balance across form factor, functionality and pricing. Yes, the Fold 4 pushes boundaries with its desktop-sized screen. But holding that ginormous slab to your face for calls still feels awkward!
The Flip 4 delivers reliably flagship grade performance for hundreds less. And slipping that compact flipped form into pockets or small bags is so much more convenient. But creative professionals and extreme multitaskers addicted to large desktop real estate might want to splurge on the Fold.
At the end of the day, you cannot go wrong with either flagship foldable. Samsung has distilled bleeding edge innovation into surprisingly reliable packages packed with horsepower and style. Thanks to their refined multipurpose form factors, I believe foldables truly represent the future of smartphones.
I hope this detailed feature-by-feature comparison has helped give better perspective before you pick your next game changing phone. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
