Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip was not so much released but announced – it is coming ‘soon’.

What is the justification for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip? Well, fashion and style of course. Oh, and pocketability too.

Somewhere, someone, probably Motorola, invented a clamshell flip phone. Samsung, like Motorola’s new Razr, wanted an iconic flip that would defy a rational person’s sensibilities and desire a flip. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and it is a real beauty.

I don’t want to compare the Razr and the Galaxy Z because frankly while both share the flip format, they are so different. Let’s just say Motorola has followed its roots and Samsung grew a new galactic set of them.

Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics Australia said,

The Galaxy Z Flip harks back to the classic clamshell design we know and love, bolstered by the power of today’s technology. It is for those who appreciate design. Not only convenient, it has an elegant aesthetic – a statement piece for owners.

Australian Website here

Global Site here

Specs

While I don’t want to compare the Razr to the Galaxy Z Flip, the specification differences are huge! The Galaxy Flip fits nicely into Samsung’s Galaxy Class with things like a 7nm processor, bigger battery with Wireless and Fast Charge, OIS camera and more. A Galaxy user may be happy with the Z Flip. Yet as we understand it the price is US$1380 (about $2100) so it undercuts the Razr too.

Main Display	6.7” 2360×1080, Dynamic AMOLED Display (21.9:9) Infinity Flex Display AOD, Edge Screen, HDR10+ 100% DCI-P3, peak brightness 1100 nits, AMOLED infinite contrast ratio
Cover Display	1.1” 300×112 Super AMOLED Display
Folded	73.6 x 87.4 x 17.3mm (Hinge) – 15.4mm (Sagging)
Unfolded	73.6 x 167.3 x 7.2mm – 6.9mm (Screen) x 183g
Front Camera	10MP Selfie Camera: F2.4, 1.22μm, FOV: 80 ˚, live focus/videos
Rear Dual Camera	12MP Ultra-Wide Camera: F2.2, 1.12μm, FOV: 123 ˚ PLUS 12MP Wide-angle Camera: Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8 1.4μm FOV: 78 ˚ OIS, up to 8x digital zoom HDR10+ recording Tracking AF Flash Usual Samsung Galaxy AI 4K@60fps, 10870@60fps
Processor	Qualcomm SD855+ 7 ㎚ 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.95GHz + 2.41GHz+ 1.78Ghz
Memory	8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage – no microSD
Battery	3,300 mAh (typical) dual battery Fast Charging QC 2.0 compatible via power cord and wireless (WPC) Wireless PowerShare
OS	Android 10 and Samsung OneUi (should get 11)

Specs continued

4G LTE Network	LTE Cat.16 Up to 1.0Gbps Download LTE Cat.13 Up to 150Mbps Upload nano-SIM and eSIM
Comms	Wi-Fi 5 AC Bluetooth 5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps) and dual audio USB-C 3.1 gen 1 and Alt DP NFC supports pay systems (plus MST) Location (Dual-band GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)
Sensors	Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor (digital, analogue), Proximity sensor, RGB Light sensor
Authentication	Lock type: pattern, PIN, password Biometric lock type: Fingerprint sensor, Face recognition
Audio	Mono speaker Surround sound for Bluetooth and earphones with Dolby Atmos technology (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus included.) UHQ 32-bit &DSD64/128 support PCM: Up to 32 bits, DSD*: DSD64/128
In the Box	Galaxy Z Flip, Data Cable, Travel Adapter, Ejection Pin, USB Connector (OTG), Quick Start Guide, Clear Cover, Earphones (USB Type-C) with sound by AKG
Colours	Mirror Purple, Mirror Black, Mirror Gold and some special editions – country dependent

Sorry to dump specs on you but as you can see it’s a pretty high-end device.

Why would you buy a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip?

It makes a statement; it does not lose too much in translation and it does most things you expect of a Galaxy-class device.

While we are conditioned to carrying a large glass slab, this offers an alternative for the ‘Kim Kardashians’ of the world that “Absolutely must have it darhling”.

I like the video flip mode – that would be very handy as well as a bedside alarm clock.

Media will complain that there is a perceptible ‘crease’ (how else do you fold a phone) and many will try to break it but, subject to that one caveat it may set a new trend.