The Galaxy Z Fold 2 doesn't fully embrace the new golden standard in mobile display tech – a 120Hz refresh rate. As insider reports previously suggested and Samsung just confirmed, only one of the two displays gracing its latest high-end foldable is of the 120Hz variety. Naturally, that would be the star of the show, the 7.6-inch foldable panel folding outwards to deliver tablet-sized screen real estate.
As for the outer, secondary screen, that one is a more conventional 60Hz affair. You could say the silver lining is that at least the outer display is now on par with modern smartphone standards in terms of surface area, offering a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel as opposed to a 4.6-inch screen. With a resolution of 2,260 by 816 pixels, the cover display of Samsung's third-ever foldable smartphone is actually rather decent in spite of the razor-slim 25:9 aspect ratio.
A blessing and a curse for the Galaxy Z Fold 2
At the same time, what's arguably its biggest strength is simultaneously the thing most likely to prevent us from ever forgetting Samsung cut corners in the refresh rate department. Because the praiseworthy jump in size and resolution essentially guarantees the Galaxy Z Fold 2's cover display will see much more use than that of its seminal predecessor. And with 120Hz goodness being literally just behind the corner, this phone will likely be all the evidence anyone will ever need to accepting that a variable refresh rate going up to 120Hz is simply a mesmerizing addition to the contemporary smartphone experience.
Then again, the spec sheet of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has plenty of ups and not that many downs. While impressive on its own, it underlines a wide range of tremendous improvements Samsung made to the first-generation Galaxy Fold formula. So, if its recent track record is anything to go by, the next foldable Galaxy flagship will hopefully iron out these last few annoyances, including the lack of a buttery smooth cover display. Because we're finally seeing more than a glimpse of Samsung's vision and can confidently say the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is on the track of something truly special, something equally deserving and capable of ushering in the future of smartphones.