Samsung's first attempt at foldable phones with the Galaxy Fold was commendable though there was definitely a lot of room for improvement. Not even a year later, they've released the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and I've got to say that from the get-go, it's already looking better than its predecessor.
Aesthetics
It's sleek, it's cool and it's versatile. On those three points alone, it's already outdone the Galaxy Fold. It's not as big or as clunky and I don't believe I'm saying this, but it can actually fit in your pocket. If you've seen and held the Galaxy Fold, you know this isn't possible.
Moving on from the comparisons, however, the Z Flip in itself is stylish and catches the eye and awe of anyone who sees it. I've had so many people look in surprise as I flip it open and close -- something I've been addicted to doing absent-mindedly -- and honestly, I don't blame them. It's pretty eye-catching. I've heard someone say their friends thought it was some sort of make-up container at first only to be pleasantly surprised that it was a phone. The Z Flip in black gives off a sophisticated feel but the purple is more playful and fun. As for the screen, the fold isn't visible at all so the display is seamless. Its 6.7" AmoLed Display is a pretty good size and though it may not be as large as the Galaxy Fold (I know I said I'm done with the comparisons but I can't help it), you're able to navigate the screen with just one hand. When it's folded, it isn't so bulky that it juts out of your pockets. It's compact, light and not a hassle to carry around unlike... well, the Galaxy Fold (I swear that's the last time).
Aesthetically-speaking, I only have one qualm about it: when folded, I would have preferred if the whole square was a screen or perhaps just a bigger display rather than just the tiny screen at the bottom left next to the camera. You're able to see notifications though that's pretty much it. You're also able to take a selfie but with a display that small, you don't really know if the photo you're taking is any good.
Specs & Performance
There's nothing too groundbreaking about the performance of the Z Flip though that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. Armed with an 8GB Ram and 256GB of internal storage, the Z Flip runs smoothly and has enough memory in case you go berserk on photos and videos. Speaking of photos and videos, its camera is pretty good, equipped with a 12MP ultra-wide and a 12MP wide-angle in the back and a 10MP selfie camera. The photos from the selfie are a little too refined for my taste. My face looks a little too smooth and too perfect but hey, if that's a win for you then you'll love the camera on this. The usual photo modes like Live Focus, Pro and Food are all present but the newest feature is the Single Take. You basically act as if you're taking a video, panning the phone around to get different angles, but the phone will give you a variety of shots and videos as a result, which means you don't have to switch between photo and video anymore. Basically, let the phone do the heavy lifting. As for its video capabilities, the auto-stabilisation on it is pretty good and you can take 4K videos on it. One thing I hoped it was able to do is changing the frames per second or FPS when shooting but each video quality only has set FPS.
Other than the camera, the Z Flip has a good battery life and can last a whole day if you're not using it just to game for hours on end. Its security features are the usual ones you expect from a Samsung device though, in my experience, the Z Flip's facial recognition does take a bit of time in some instances. I'm not entirely sure why. Overall, while there's nothing mind-blowingly new, the Z Flip is pretty good in terms of performance.
Verdict
For those of you who used to have flip phones back in the day, the Z Flip is definitely the best meeting of old and new that you can find. In terms of foldable phones, this is probably the best one available out there. There's no problem with the display, its performance is great, it has a great camera and it's foldable but not bulky. However, it does come at a price tag of B44,900, which makes it even more expensive than the latest Galaxy S20. It's up to you to decide whether you're willing to shell out the cash for it.
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