Samsung's second foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip, will be available in Australia shortly, with pre-orders kicking off on March 20 ahead of an April 3 launch. If you're keen to get your hands on the Galaxy Z Flip, you'll need to part with $2,199 outright.
$2,199 certainly isn't cheap, but at that price, the Galaxy Z Flip easily takes the "most affordable foldable smartphone" crown. For comparison, you'll pay $2,699 for the Motorola RAZR, $2,999 for the Galaxy Fold, or $3,999 for Huawei Mate XS.
Samsung, Optus, Vodafone, JB Hi-Fi, and Harvey Norman will all be taking Galaxy Z Flip pre-orders from Friday. Telstra will also be ranging the Galaxy Z Flip from April 3, but it isn't accepting pre-orders for the phone. You'll be able to get it in a choice of black or purple.
As for the phone itself, the Galaxy Z Flip isn't dissimilar to the Galaxy Fold. However, the Galaxy Z Flip folds in half, but horizontally rather than vertically - much like the reimagined Motorola RAZR. Instead of getting a smartphone-sized device that opens up to be a tablet, the flip phone-like handset is a 6.7-inch contraption, that collapses down into a smaller square when it's not being used.
The Galaxy Z Flip can also be used at angled positions, such as when you've got the hinge at 90 degrees. When angled, "Flex Mode" is activated, which will optimise compatible apps across the "top" and "bottom" screen. In the camera app, for example, the view finder appears on the top part of the Z Flip, while camera controls are relegated to the lower portion. This could replace the need for a tripod, for example.
As with the RAZR, the Galaxy Z Flip has a display that's still visible when the phone is shut. It's much smaller, however, measuring in at just 1.1-inches. For comparison, the RAZR's external display is 2.7-inches. The Galaxy Z Flip's external screen can be used to show time, battery life, and notifications, to answer phone calls, and take selfies. If you tap a notification on the cover screen, the app in question will be open when you unfold your phone.
Notably, the Galaxy Z Flip is the first foldable smartphone to feature a glass display, which could help with durability. So far, every other foldable device has featured a plastic screen, which tends to be more prone to scuffs and scratches. Samsung claims the Galaxy Z Flip display is rated for over 200,000 folds.
The real durability test for the Galaxy Z Flip will be seeing how the phone fares in the real world, and international responses have been mixed so far. While international press has praised the feel of the screen, YouTube channel JerryRigEverything found that fingernails were still capable of leaving markings on the screen. For the most part, the Galaxy Z Flip still seems like a phone you'll want to handle with care.
Key specifications for the Galaxy Z Flip include a 6.7-inch 1080p+ display, a Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of non-expandable storage, a 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 3,300mAh battery. The Galaxy Z Flip doesn't have 5G connectivity.
Alex Choros
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