Samsung’s more refined Galaxy Z Fold 4 goes on sale August 26 with a starting price of $1,800

While many other smartphone makers haven’t even tried to sell a foldable device yet, Samsung has been around for four generations. And on the new Galaxy Z Fold 4, instead of completely redesigning the device, Samsung is tweaking its formula to create a faster, more powerful, and sleeker phablet for all your multitasking needs. friend. There’s also a newly redesigned taskbar, an improved camera, and perhaps most importantly, even more apps that have been optimized to make better use of the phone’s flexible display.

In terms of hardware, new components on the Z Fold 4 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, an upgraded 50MP main camera, a longer telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom (up from 2x on the previous model) and a brighter 7.6 – Flexible display with 120Hz refresh rate. The durability of the Z Fold 4 has also been improved, with Samsung using Armor Aluminum alloy on the hinge and frame of the phone and moving up Gorilla Glass Victor + on both its front and back. And like what you get on the previous model, the Z Fold 4 is IPX8 water resistant which can withstand depths of up to 5 feet for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, while the Z Fold 4 will still be a slightly bulky device compared to more traditional handsets, Samsung says it has reduced its size with thinner bezels and a slightly smaller hinge. little. And all of this comes in a body that’s only slightly wider than before, which is meant to make things like typing on the External Cover Screen a little easier while also improving usability. use with one hand.

That said, the biggest change on the Z Fold 4 might be its software. Samsung not only claims the phone is the first device to ship Android 12L, the company has also redesigned the Z Fold’s taskbar to enhance multitasking. Now, instead of being placed to one side, the taskbar extends to the bottom of the phone, providing more space for apps, while new swipe gestures help you quickly switch between modes. full screen, windowed and split screen view. And for those who like to draw or take handwritten notes, the Z Fold 4 still supports stylus input and features a new Stand Case with built-in S Pen storage.

In addition, Samsung has continued to work with Google and Microsoft to expand the number of applications that support Flexible Mode, which are special functions available when the phone is half open. On top of that, both Chrome and Gmail now support drag-and-drop functionality for sharing things like files and links, while Outlook has gotten a more tablet-like user interface to make better use of the large home screen. of the phone.

Finally, other tweaks include an updated UDC (under-display camera) featuring a new “dispersive subpixel arrangement” that should make it a bit less noticeable. There’s even a new virtual trackpad that works with apps that aren’t fully optimized for the Z Fold 4’s screen to make it easier to zoom in and out of media or control playback while watching videos. easier. And you’re the type of person who always needs more space for apps and media, the 1TB model is only available from Samsung.

One downside is that with a starting price of $1,800 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Z Fold 4 is still expensive and hasn’t dropped in price from last year. Z Fold 3. The phone will be available in four colors: “Blue Grey”, Phantom Black, beige and burgundy, the latter of which is exclusive to Samsung.com. Pre-orders start today prior to the phone’s official release on August 26 and will include a free upgrade to 16GB of RAM, $100 in Samsung store credits, a Standing Cover case, and up to $1,000 off with eligible transactions.

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