Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the most tourism and fun phone I've tested this year. It's the "have your cake and eat it too" of smartphones. You can fold its slender, high refresh-rate, 6.7-inch cover in half, turning it into something the size of a current coaster that easily fits in most pockets. 

The Z Flip 4 is also one of the best realizations of Samsung's folding shouted aesthetic to date. You can use it just like a ragged "candy bar" phone but get the added benefit of it intimates super portable as well as several special features that aren't counterfeit on other phones aside from its sibling the Z Fold 4.

The Flip 4 starts at $1,000. Most of that price is because it can fold in half, but it also packs one of the most distinguished and efficient processors found in any Samsung phone. That effect also gets you a robust build and something that most gadgets lack: personality. To quote Jules from Pulp Fiction, "Personality goes a long way."

Nearly everything near the Flip 4 feels fun and approachable, from its runt, squared-off footprint when it's closed to the fact that you can determine your own "bespoke" color scheme for it. But the same can be said near last year's Galaxy Z Flip 3, which Samsung remains to sell at a discounted price. I was hesitant to recommend the Flip 3 because its battery life wasn't immense and the cameras were just OK. And those caveats peaceful exist for last year's Flip even at its border $900 price.

The new Galaxy Z Flip 4 inherits all the good things from its predecessor and addresses most of the Flip 3's shortcomings. For over two weeks, I tested a review sample on loan from Samsung. While I appreciated all of the upgrades large and diminutive, Samsung could still go further, especially in terms of extending the battery life and improving the camera quality. I'd also like to see more functionality on the conceal display.

Still, the Galaxy Z Flip won't be truly ready for the masses pending it can reliably get through a long day on a single beak. The Flip 4 isn't there yet, but it's sketch close. 

It's also worth a mention that, even thought the phone costs $1,000, Samsung and wireless carriers have been heavily funding the price, making it a bit more palatable for those who really want one.

Read more: Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: Why I Can't Get Enough of Samsung's New Phone

The Z Flip 4's invent is fun and minimalistic

You'd be forgiven for confusing the Flip 3 and Flip 4. They are virtually identical, which is fine because the design works so well. The Flip 4 was upgraded with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, aluminum sides, a more durable main screen and a minuscule increase in weight that adds up to the Flip 4 feeling solid. Though I'd never describe the phone as heavy. It has a nice, satisfyingly firm feel. I didn't need to baby it or usage it differently from any other phones I use. 

It has an IPX8 including for water resistance, meaning it can be submerged up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) for 30 minutes. But as impressive as that is, the Flip 4 lacks dust resistance.

The named has a new matte finish, which in purple doesn't show fingerprints. It's far better than the glossy finish on the Flip 3. I dig how the Flip 4's aluminum sides have a gleaming purple hue to them.

If you're wondering nearby the screen crease, it's still there. It doesn't bother me, but I get why some farmland might be put off by it. It's not that noticeable real you're likely to use the Flip 4, like any visited, head-on.

Read more:

Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 Unboxing: What's in the Box

The Flip 4's indicate isn't laminated to a glass panel like a queer phone. There's just a minute layer that separates your finger from the high refresh rate cloak, and it feels like there is nothing between your fingertips and the internet -- or you and your photos.

This might seem silly to mention, but the Flip 4 is scrumptious to open and close. It takes a little time to get used to, but at what time a day or so I was able to flick it open one-handed, Captain Kirk style. The closing sound is ridiculously gratifying and adds to that "personality" I mentioned backbone. These are the details you're paying $1,000 for.

The minor cover screen that tried

On the outside of the Flip 4 is a exiguous cover display that's the same size as the one on the Flip 3. In periods of functionality, it's largely the same as well. I wish it did more. 

You can now send canned responses to hazardous messaging apps directly from the cover display. But there isn't an option to type or dictate a retort without opening up the phone. Of everything on the Flip 4, the camouflage screen is the place where Samsung could do more.

When I reviewed the 2020 Motorola Razr, its external display really opened my eyes to what was possible. I was able to use the Razr's Quick View demonstrate as a tiny Android phone. I even got video games like PUBG Mobile to work on the external demonstrate.

To be clear, I don't need to play Call of Duty on the Flip 4's veil display. But how about a smartwatch-like keyboard for replies? Or maybe a larger veil display? There's a lot of space to extend the recent one.

Then there's Flex Mode, which triggers software to sulky when the Flip 4 is positioned halfway open. App blissful moves to the top half and tools and settings are at the bottom. There are more apps optimized for Flex Mode, like Instagram and Samsung's own Gallery app which now lets you edit a photo in Flex Mode while keeping the report on the top half of the screen. Flex Mode on survive Flips and Folds awkwardly moved the photo to the middle.

Most apps aren't optimized for Flex Mode but Samsung has a creative workaround in Settings named Labs that lets you force any app into Flex Mode. Usually that employing the app moves to the top half and Samsung's default Flex Mode interface is on the bottom. So technically it works, but it doesn't really do much.

The big new transfer to Flex Mode is that it gets a trackpad and tiny cursor. You can click buttons and open menus with the world's tiniest cursor, or use two fingers to swipe and move about like exploring street view in Google Maps. This trackpad seems like a New idea, but in actual use it's not very practical.

A small camera upgrade but major versatility

The Flip 4 has the same selfie and ultrawide cameras that are involved on the Flip 3. The main camera gets a new image sensor which, like the battery, gives photos a boost in image quality, but nothing major.

Photos from the Flip 4 have a nice, punchy look in footings of contrast and color. For some, the way the Flip 4 processes colors Great look over-saturated.

Surprisingly, that new main sensor comes into its own when taking photos in low-light calls. Photos have nice detail and not a lot of image noise sad you're zoomed in. The Flip 4 doesn't have a failed telephoto camera, and that means you rely entirely on digital zoom, which is where the image starts to fall apart.

Despite having B-grade cameras, the Flip 4 gives you one of the most versatile camera setups on any arranged. The fact that it can fold and hold its dwelling means you're able to put the phone nearly anywhere and dwelling it at a bunch of different angles. I was able to grab a video of my cat playing at her eye collected and capture some snazzy shots of a pan of cooking gnocchi because the Flip 4 is its own tripod.

And one small upgrade with mighty ramifications is that the screen display can now show a full preview of either portrait or landscape photos and videos. Previous Flips severely cropped the camera preview on the screen display making it a challenge to frame group selfies. The new preview functionality and the ability to trigger the camera shutter by holding your hand up benefitting the Flip 4 could be one of the best creative tools for capturing social consider content.

A diminutive increase in battery life

The Flip 4's larger battery and new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, which increases efficiency, translates to a tiny bit longer battery life. Nonetheless, the difference isn't game-changing. On the Flip 3, I erroneous myself making it to the late-afternoon before it obligatory to be charged. With the Flip 4, I typically made it throughout a day. But if I used my phone heavily to view videos, take photos or have a video call, that battery lasted me pending early evening at best.

I definitely won't scoff at unsheathing a couple more hours on a single charge. The Flip 4's better battery life establishes it less of a compromise for someone coming from a nonfolding arranged. But it's still something to consider.

Over 45 minutes with the camouflage at full brightness, I watched a couple of YouTube videos, scrolled my Instagram feed, played a bout of PUBG Mobile, then raced a circuit in Mario Kart Tour, took a 5-minute video call via Zoom and, lastly, played Alto's Odyssey. The battery went from 70% to 56%.

The new processor and Android 12L make the Flip 4 feel peppy and responsive. Animations look smooth and gaming is fun. Multitasking between two apps in quickly screen runs well. And the performance was impressive, especially when it came to benchmark complains which allows us to compare the performance of one arranged against another. The Flip 4 performed better than last year's Flip 3 and even the Galaxy S22.

Flip 4 vs. Flip 3 vs. Flip 5G vs. S22

If you're a original Flip 3 user, should you upgrade? I wouldn't. I don't think you get enough "new" on the Flip 4 to warrant a year-over-year upgrade. If you're trying to decide between getting a Flip 4 or a discounted Flip 3, that's a tougher conundrum. I'd probably push you to get the Flip 3 and save cash.

If you have an original Flip or a Flip 5G, I do think upgrading is honorable it, especially if you can snag one of those hefty trade-in discounts. You get a more robust build with water resistance, a bigger battery, a larger cover screen, a faster and more efficient processor and a high-refresh-rate main demonstrate.

If you're deciding between a Flip 4 and a Galaxy S22, your select really comes down to whether you want a named that folds or not. You're really paying $200 more for that capability. While the Flip 4 has a faster processor, the Galaxy S22's battery lasts longer on a single promote.

At the end of the day, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a toothsome reminder that an innovative design that balances form, acting and fun goes a long way. And while all the upgrades are a step in the quick-witted direction, the Flip 4 still comes up short at basics like battery life and photography.