My experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
At launch of any Samsung device, there's always great incentives for purchasing a Samsung product, and the Fold 4 was no exception! I registered for pre-order and was given $300 in Samsung credit to go towards other devices at the time of purchase as well as a Standing Cover with S Pen, which is an $90 value.I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 back on pre-order in late August. I was nervous with the idea of jumping ship from my beloved Galaxy S22 Ultra, knowing there was a possibility of a down grade in camera quality and no built in S Pen support. I was, however getting a free case in the deal which included an S Pen... but then the products came in.
Trading in the Galaxy S22 Ultra for the Galaxy Z Fold 4
At launch of any Samsung device, there's always great incentives for purchasing a Samsung product, and the Fold 4 was no exception! I registered for pre-order and was given $300 in Samsung credit to go towards other devices at the time of purchase as well as a Standing Cover with S Pen, which is an $90 value.I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 back on pre-order in late August. I was nervous with the idea of jumping ship from my beloved Galaxy S22 Ultra, knowing there was a possibility of a down grade in camera quality and no built in S Pen support. I was, however getting a free case in the deal which included an S Pen... but then the products came in.
I will say right off the bat, I LOVE THE DESIGN of the Z Fold 4! The look and feel of the aluminum body, the matte glass on the back of the device, the cover display, and how slim the phone is when it's folded and how easy it is to hold, which is the reasons why I keep going back to it from my 22 Ultra. And with that last statement, it should be a hint that I still have the S22 Ultra, because I just couldn't bring myself to trading it in, even with a $1,000 credit towards the Fold 4. In fact I will say, I had sent the Fold 4 back along with all the devices I had received with it in credit. When the Fold 4 was just about to reach its destination in Texas, I called FedEx on Labor Day and requested the device be sent back to me. So now here it is in Mid November and I still have both the S22 Ultra and the Z Fold 4, and I can't really claim one or the other as my daily driver. I'll switch to one for a bit, get slightly irritated about a feature or there lack of, and then go back to the other device.
The Standing Cover and my $300 Credit
Samsung's Standing Cover came free with an pre-ordered Z Fold 4 along with a $300
credit; which I got a 40mm Black Galaxy Watch 5 and Black Galaxy Buds2 Pro in which ended up putting me only $70 out of pocket for the Buds2 Pro. The Watch 5 I ended up giving to my oldest son because I had also purchased the Grey Titanium Watch 5 Pro (which I'll be discussing in a future blog), and the Buds2 Pro ended up replacing my Olive Green Buds2. I'm not a fan of the Standing Cover and I don't feel it was the greatest resolution for S Pen support. I hate the placement of the S Pen on this case, and had Samsung designed it to go along the side of the hinge, then you'd have S Pen support on the case and a kickstand, but that's not what they did. The Buds2 Pro are great and I'll also discuss more on those as well in a future blog.
The big hold up on the Galaxy Fold
Overall both the S22 Ultra and Z Fold 4 do the majority of the same things. They both have Dex, which is an awesome in having the ability to turn your mobile device into a computing powerhouse. They both have relatively good cameras, and although I feel the Z Fold 4 lacks, the cameras are still better and more feature packed than what you'll find on any iPhone.
They both have USB-C, wireless charging, wireless Power Share, and both devices have finger print readers for biometrics and face unlock. As you may or may not know, the S22 Ultra's finger printer reader is in the display and on the Fold 4 it's in the power button. Most say they prefer the reader on the Z Fold 4, however I have a difference of opinion and I'd rather have the in display reader instead. For me, it's easier to get to and it's just slightly quicker to unlock and register. I have 2 cases that I use instead of the Standing Cover case, and those are a red carbon fiber case by Latercase and the Torras Shockproof case with S Pen support. The Latercase does not have a way to attach the S Pen, so I typically use that case on the weekends.
The Torras Shockproof is my daily case so that way I have the S Pen for work related note taking tasks. The downside to the Torras case is when the device is closed, the S Pen is in the way, so the finger print reader is hard to get to, and my fingers are about average.
My biggest reservations on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 are these... the camera system and the lack of built in S Pen. I was absolutely disappointed the day the Fold 4 was announced with the rumored cameras as the standard S22 and S22 Plus. I use the 100x zoom on the S22 Ultra because I am a freak when it taking pics of the Moon. I've also used the 100x zoom as a telescope. A couple years ago we took a family trip to Florida and my older boys went too far out into the water, so I broke out my Note 20 Ultra. I was able to use it as a telescope to spot them.
Most reviewers will say there isn't a difference and you can hardly tell... but when you compare side by side, you can tell, and it's bad. Rumors say that Samsung didn't give the Fold 4 the same camera specs as the S22 Ultra because of weight, but I don't care... I just want it to have the same specs, no matter the weight. This goes the same for the S Pen. If you can't figure out a way to build it into the phone, then figure out a way it can magnetically attach to the side of the device. This way it's still part of the phone, and bluetooth support can be added to the
S Pen and give it the capability to be magnetically be charged. Built in S Pen support would be the best result, because then the Z Fold series could maintain the slim profile.
My Final Thoughts
All in all the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is not the king of phones and the Galaxy S22 Ultra still maintains the throne. If Samsung truly holds to its word with what is being said about the Z Fold 5; that being the Fold 5 will have the same camera setup as the S Ultra line and built in S Pen, then that device may have a shot at dethroning the S Ultra series of phones. I will have to say though, there's nothing like opening up the Z Fold 4 to get down and serious in getting business done, and then closing the device when you're done. Until the Fold 5 comes out, I'll just continue bouncing back and forth between my Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 4.