Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Introduction
The Galaxy Fold is a phone that arouses mixed feelings. On one side, there is the wonder and excitement of holding the first collapsible phone that people can buy – and seeing it go from a 4.6-inch handset to a 7.3-inch tablet and vice versa. This enthusiasm persists when you see an application running on the screen before appearing instantly on the giant screen, and when you start running three apps at a time on the most massive canvas.
The other emotion is fear. Although Samsung has made several improvements to make the Galaxy Fold more durable since the delayed launch of its device in April, the manufacturer strongly recommends you apply slight pressure when you press the display. Then there is the emotional shock when you realize that this phone costs nearly $2,000.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Design
The Galaxy Fold is stocky and dense, like an old clamshell phone. It weighs around 9.7 ounces and measures 6.3 out of 2.5 over 0.7 inches (HWD) when closed. Available in silver or black, the phone is glass with an aluminum frame and hinge. Once folded, the front of the phone has a 4.6-inch AMOLED display, 1680 by 720 pixels, with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a measured brightness of 345 nits.
The size and aspect ratio makes the screen correct for quick checking of messages or scrolling social media, but it is too narrow to use the keyboard comfortably. Unfolded, you will find a SIM card slot on the left side. The volume rocker is set on the right side, with the power button and the fingerprint sensor.
If you have small fingers, you will find the volume rocker hard to reach. The speakers are located at the top and bottom left, while a USB-C charging port is at the bottom right.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Display
Beyond the hypnotic foldable design, the main screen is impressive, with only a few technical reservations, illustrating the tip and its apparent drawbacks. The 7.3-inch screen makes web browsing 1.4 times larger than the Samsung’s Note 10 Plus, and videos or games can appear 2.2 times larger if they fill the screen. This is the reason for owning a foldable phone. Alas, most traditional 16: 9 format videos will only be 1.3 times more prominent, with a large black box at the top and bottom.
We found that the big screen was better for reading, browsing the web, and games with its 4.2: 3 aspect ratio. This reflects traditional 4:3 TVs that we had removed 15 years ago, but going back makes sense: it offers a broader view and leaves room for multi-active window mode. We had three applications open at the same time, which was relatively usable.
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Fold with HDR10 +, which dramatically increases the contrast ratio of supported video content and makes it bright enough to stay outdoors in a reliable way. You will find that glare illuminates the middle crease, inside or out, and you can feel the groove.
I am not the biggest fan of outdoor advertising. At a 4.6 inches display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, he is tall and lean and looks clumsy. The resolution is respectable at 1680 by 720 for a density of 399ppi. It’s usable, although I’m sure Samsung designed it to encourage people to open the box and use the main screen.
This external screen is sufficiently bright and clear. I could use it indoors and outdoors without any problem. For example, using the external display to take pictures in sunny New York has worked very well. The colors are good if they are slightly accentuated, and, for lack of a better word, the display of the cover is “correct.”
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Camera
Like the S10 Plus and Note 10, there are three shooters on the back of the Galaxy Fold: a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide 16-megapixel lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. At the front – when the flap is closed – a 10 MP camera for selfies. And once unfolded, the Galaxy Fold has another 10 MP primary camera and an 8 MP depth camera for portraits.
Turning with the closed fold seems very sneaky because it is so compact. Just double-tap the power button and start firing. This is particularly interesting for selfies because you do not have to stretch your thumb to shoot. The problem is the 4.6-inch screen is small enough to fit the photos; I found myself using the large 7.3-inch panel when I wanted to make sure I liked what I was capturing.
The Galaxy Fold is capable of producing gorgeous photos with saturated colors and a breathtaking amount of detail. Like the Samsung’s S10 and Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Fold comes with new Live Focus artistic modes, including spin bokeh, bokeh zoom, and color printing. I particularly like this last option because it colonizes the main subject while leaving the rest in black and white.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Battery
Next, in our review Samsung Galaxy Fold: battery life. You would think that a device with two screens would suck juice at an alarming rate. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with the Galaxy Fold. The phone’s 4380mAh battery is divided into two parts, one part residing in each half of the mobile phone. Like the Galaxy Note 10 series, the Fold relies on Samsung’s intelligent adaptive power-saving mode to keep the phone operational. This means that the device pays attention to how you use it over time and makes proactive changes to maintain a charge.
He charges fairly quickly. Unfortunately, the included charging brick is only 5V/2A, which is not enough for a $1,980 phone. I used a 60 Watt Anker charger, and the phone filled up faster. The Fold not only supports fast wireless charging but can also share wireless power with certain accessories. I placed the Fold in the Samsung Wireless Fast Charger, which powered up faster than the provided plug.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Hardware
The new Samsung Galaxy Fold is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC chipset with 12GB of RAM. That’s about all you can get now, but it’s worth noting that we’ll probably see a new Qualcomm chipset soon.
The phone also comes with a respectable storage capacity of 512 GB, although it is a little strange that there is no MicroSD slot given its size. There is also dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC for mobile payments, and Bluetooth 5.0 for portable and audio connectivity.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Durability
Sustainability is our biggest concern with the Galaxy Fold. When Samsung initially distributed review units earlier this year, several complaints about damaged screens were filed a few days later. Samsung has delayed the release of its fold phone for several months and has made several design changes, including the addition of protective caps on the top and bottom of the phone, the installation of a protective metal shield behind the phone. Screen and update the hinge.
The updated Fold has no IP protection rating for proper protection against dust and water. And speaking of the display, it’s extraordinarily sweet. Samsung warns you against the pressure on the hard keys and the use of your nails to exploit them. During the first three days of using the Fold, we noticed a small divot on the screen, even handling it as gently as possible.
It is hard to imagine that regular use of the main screen will remain unscathed. Maybe that’s why Samsung offers a single screen replacement for $149 for people who buy the phone before the end.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Performance
Samsung has opted for the Best silicon Qualcomm, which means that the Snapdragon 855 is associated with 12 GB of RAM. This state-of-the-art SoC has eight 2.84 GHz (one), 2.41 GHz (three), and 1.78 GHz (four) cores for high-to-low-level tasks.
An Adreno 640 GPU repels polygons, and 512 GB of UFS 3.0 storage announces fast interactions with applications and content stored on the phone. The form factor of the Galaxy Fold seems to play a role in its performance. With two screens and the software required to move from one screen to another, the crease can sometimes seem a little inconsistent.
We do not talk about big problems, but the phone dragged here and the re, froze for a few seconds, or stopped just long enough for you to notice. In other words, it could be a bit better.
Samsung Galaxy Fold – Verdict
The Fold covers all the basics of the smartphone, then some. It has good screens, high autonomy, a perfect set of cameras. Samsung was sure to give the fold phone wireless charging, superior audio quality, as well as extras such as wireless headphones and a simple holster.
The hardware is undoubtedly unique, and the ability to use the open or closed phone makes it a more flexible option. I like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and its inflection point. Now that thin slabs are shoveled, the industry needs something new to focus on.
So, even though I appreciate all that Samsung has done with this first-gen foldable phone, I’d suggest that most people wait for its sequel and that other foldable devices come on the market before taking the plunge.