Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4 smartphones

May the 4s be with you...

by Ian Collen
MSRP: £999.00

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Flip 4 and Fold 4 phones, along with the upgraded Buds 2 Pro earbuds and a fresh Watch 5 collection.

The company’s new line-up of mainstream portable products was unveiled at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event which promised its most powerful and durable models yet. Some of the improvements might seem more incremental rather than being genuine game-changers over last year's 3rd generation Galaxy phones and Buds 2 / Watch 4 announcements, but each new product certainly offers something new and interesting – with everything set to be available from 26 August, with pre-orders already on the table.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

The headline makers will be the two new foldables phones, with the two contrasting designs combining many new and improved features over those 3rd generation models. The palm-sized Galaxy Z Flip 4 folds out into a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and this new arrival boasts more freedom for photographers with its FlexCam set-up geared for hands-free selfies, and the obligatory integration with your favoured social media platforms.

The Flip 4 comes with a 12MP ultra wide and wide-angle camera, along with a 10MP selfie camera, and delivers a 65% improvement in its brightness sensors than before. The phone also has a 1.9-inch Cover Screen makes it easy to keep an eye on notifications and access features such as contactless payment even while folded (along with Samsung’s SmartThings support).

It has a refined design, with a slimmer hinge and straightened edges bolstered by a tougher aluminium frame and ultra-thin glass. As you’d expect, it also offers a host of customisable options – with a new Bespoke Edition also available for you to tailor the look of the body and frame in various combinations. The Flip 4 uses a 3,700mAh battery, offering up to 19 hours or video or 56 hours of audio playback, with added Super Fast Charging now available to give you a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

As with the rest of the line-up, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 will be available from 26 August. Pricing for the Flip 4 starts at £999 ($999) for the 128GB version, going up to £1,199 for the 1TB option, with a choice of Graphite, Bora Purple, Pink Gold, and Blue colours (with 75 combinations for the 256GB Bespoke Edition, priced at £1,099).

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

With a 120Hz 7.6-inch QXGA+ display, along with a 6.2-inch HD+ Cover Screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the larger pocket-sized offering, designed to offer plenty of functionality when folded as well as opened. It’s the first device to run Android 12L, along with Samsung’s more widely used One UI 4 operating system, to add even more options to your fingertips… or the S Pen.

The Fold 4 comes with 10MP selfie camera on the cover, along with a 4MP under display camera, and the rear-facing combo of a 12MP ultra wide, 10MP telephoto, and 50MP wide-angle lens. It boasts improved image processing, with a larger sensor to let in more light and an upgraded 30x Space Zoom to make those longer shots even sharper. Along with the hands-free Flex mode, there’s also now a Flex Mode Touchpad for easier control over your apps and entertainment services.

There’s also a new taskbar to provide access to your preferred, or most recent, software solutions, with improved compatibility with the likes of Microsoft Suite for that drag-and-drop convenience when it comes to sharing content with friends or across devices. Like the Flip 4, it comes with a new hinge that has enabled the designers to make it lighter than its predecessors while still being more durable than ever.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at £1,649 ($1,799) for the 256GB version, rising to £2,019 for the 1TB model, with colours including Greygreen, Beige, Phantom Black, and Burgundy (the latter exclusive to Samsung’s own store).

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

Adding wearability to the portability of the new Galaxy line-up, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Watch 5 series also offer some noteworthy improvements over last year’s models. Perhaps best justifying the ‘Pro’ tag of the new Buds 2 earbuds, is the upgrade to 24-bit audio courtesy of Samsung’s own seamless codec, along with a new coaxial 2-way speaker to ensure a clean and rich sound, plus added 360 Audio with support for Direct Multi-Channel for a more realistic surround performance.

We’re also assured of a 40% improvement in the Bud 2’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), with an Ambient mode that will recognise when you start a conversation and dim the audio accordingly, using personalised beamforming to ensure you can hear the best of both worlds. Of course, the buds are compatible with the usual array of Samsung devices, with one-touch Auto Switch to swap between your TV and a phone call – and the SmartThings Find app should help out if a bud goes AWOL.

The buds themselves have been redesigned to be ergonomically efficient, and are 15% smaller than the previous model for an even tighter fit. Along with the carry case, the Buds 2 Pro offers up to 29 hours of playback without the use of ANC (down to 18 with ANC on) – while on their own you’ll get up to 8 hours (or 5 with ANC in play).

Also available from 26 August, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are priced at £219 ($229), with a Graphite, White, or Bora Purple finish to choose from.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

Wrapping up the new arrivals, the new generation of Galaxy Watch adds the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro to the family, offering even more customisation options, features and compatibility. Once again health is very much at the heart of this (pun only partially intended), with an advanced workout algorithm tied into features such as Sleep Tracking and Samsung Health – and of course it can all be tied into your phone and various apps.

Building on the BioActive Sensor from last year, the Watch 5 adds an infrared temperature sensor to further track your wellbeing, with this new model using a larger contact area with your wrist for a more accurate and detailed reading of the various metrics. The new sapphire crystal display makes it 60% tougher than before, while there’s also access to new apps such as SoundCloud and Deezer. Apparently, it also tells the time as well.

For those who like to take their workouts outdoors, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes with a similarly robust design, but adds a new D-Buckle Sport Band and titanium frame, along with a 1.6x larger battery. With GPX support for the first time, the Pro model also offers further tracking options, including Route Workout to monitor your trip and Track Back to guide you home again afterwards – all of which can be shared (or competed against) with friends.

The Galaxy Watch 5 is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with the former priced at £269 ($279) for the Bluetooth version and £319 ($329) for an LTE-compatible model, and the latter at £289 / £339. The 45mm Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will unsurprisingly cost a little more at £429 / £479 ($449 / $499). And if you prefer your workouts over 18 holes, there’s even a Galaxy Watch 5 Golf Edition, which may be more for the US market (as it’s not mentioned in the UK marketing as yet), priced at $329.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro adds more satellite navigated options to your workout.

Pre-orders for all of the new products are available now, with several deals and trade-in offers on the Samsung website – where you can obviously also get all the specs on the models. For example, in the UK you can get up to £580 off a Fold 4 by trading in “an eligible smartphone” and a guaranteed minimum of £250 off a Flip 4. Other foldable enticements include 12 months of Disney+, a complementary year of Samsung Care+ protection, and even a Galaxy Note Pack worth £89.99 – while Buds 2 Pro pre-orders made before 25 August can claim a Super Fast Wireless Charger pad worth £52.99.

So, who's tempted? Or are there more pressing features, updates or upgrades across the Galaxy range that you might want to see in order to better justify the expense?

SOURCE: Samsung (via press release and Unpacked presentation)
IMAGES: Samsung

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