Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4: Key reasons to buy one over the other

Whether you’ve just set your eyes on a folding smartphone or have long considered hopping on the innovation wagon, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip models should be at the top of your list. While the two differ in form factor and approaches to the folding display philosophy, the Z Fold and Z Flip continue to sit comfortably atop ZDNet‘s best foldable phone rankings, introducing meaningful improvements generation after generation and furthering the gap from competing handsets.

That said, the newly-released Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 have a lot to offer, all encompassed by mobile experiences that make you rethink the way you use your smartphone. They’re also expensive, with prices that go as high as $2,159. To help you better decide which of the two you should invest your hard-earned money in, here are the key reasons to buy one over the other.

Specifications

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 if…

1. The price for innovation is not an object

Before you consider the form factor and boundless use cases, you should know that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expensive. It’s innovative, one-of-a-kind, and has a price to back the notoriety. The Z Fold 4 starts at $1,799, putting it hundreds of dollars more than the largest-sized iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S handset. If price is not an object, or you happen to qualify for one of the many discounts currently available, then the Z Fold 4 is certainly worth considering. 

2. You want the best smartphone for multi-tasking and entertainment

The Galaxy Z fold 4’s 7.6-inch display should make for the ideal mobile touchpoint for business professionals, gamers, and power users. Software features across the Android 12L interface allow you to open, switch, and run multiple apps simultaneously; the new Flex mode essentially turns the Fold into a miniature laptop, and everything within is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, besting that of early-year Androids. 

3. You want a tablet-sized display that’s actually pocketable

Tablets are great, but not for your hand-conforming pockets. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, while just as large as, say, the iPad Mini, can slide down your jeans, pants, and shorts with less of a hassle. Even with the inner display spanning 7.6-inches, the foldable can collapse into the size of a standard 6-inch smartphone, making it just as pocketable as its smaller counterparts. The fourth-generation model is also lighter than ever, weighing just 263g. 

Also: Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold 4, first foldable to launch with Android 12L

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 if…

1. You want the most affordable entry into foldables

Last year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 made waves with its $999 price tag, which, in a market full of thousand-dollar handsets (and even more expensive foldables), was considered affordable. The Z Flip 4 is the next best thing, also starting at $999 for the 128GB model and chased with a bounty of Samsung and carrier deals to knock down the final cost. It’s the most affordable 2022 foldable to date. 

2. You thrive in social media and content creation

One of the main selling features of the Z Flip series is its ability to capture photos and videos remotely without a tripod or mount. Thanks to Flex Mode (see image above), you can unfold the Z Flip 4 anywhere from 45 to 115 degrees to transform the upper half of the display into a viewfinder, while the bottom half serves as a counterweight. If you eat, sleep, and breathe social media, then the content-creating capabilities of the Z Flip 4 should be of great appeal. And now, Meta-owned apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram will automatically optimize your captured content to fit the aspect ratios of each service.

3. You want a more fashion-forward handset

There’s an elegance and charm with the Z Flip that’s absent from the Z Fold. Perhaps it’s the compact nature of the handset when folded or the slew of personalizable colors that Samsung offers in stores and online — over 75 options, to be exact. Or maybe it’s the thrill of owning a modern-day tech gadget that gives off the essence of nostalgia and early 2000s clamshells. There’s nothing bolder than slamming the phone shut to hang up a call. With the Z Flip 4, you can do just that.