Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Z Flip 4: Which foldable phone should you buy?

If you're in the market for your first foldable phone, you have two choices worth considering: the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Both Samsung foldable phones were unveiled at Unpacked a couple of weeks ago and are now available in most markets. Pre-order figures have shown that the two new foldable devices are in high demand, even exceeding Galaxy S22 numbers in the first week. Maybe you're even considering buying your first foldable phone and joining in on the fun.

However, you haven't paid much interest to foldable devices until recently, and now you're trying to decide which of the two new Galaxy Z models is right for you. If this sounds familiar, maybe we can help you make the right choice. So without further ado, here's the main takeaway:

If price is a factor, then the clamshell Z Flip 4 is obviously the first choice. It costs $999, while the Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs $1,799. But ignoring this barrier to entry, the short answer is that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a smartphone, first and foremost, and it's quite excellent at that.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a small 7.6-inch productivity and entertainment tablet (with S Pen support) that can fold into a 6.2-inch smartphone. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is not a fantastic smartphone, but it can replace your standard ‘candy bar' device without too many compromises. That is, as long as you're more interested in the tablet experience in the first place.

Style or utilitarian design? Better camera hardware or FlexCam? DeX or no DeX?

The Z Fold 4's main attraction is the larger foldable display and the UI elements designed for on-the-go productivity, such as the desktop-like taskbar. The fact that it can double as a smartphone is a really nice bonus, but at the end of the day, the Z Fold 4's primary function is that of a tablet — which happens to be a smartphone replacement at the same time.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is arguably one of the most innovative and chic smartphones on the market right now. In large part thanks to its foldable display and form factor. The clamshell design allows it to pack a 6.2-inch foldable display in a very compact area, and the Flex Mode hinge combined with FlexCam sparks creative moments and great photography opportunities.

So, even though the Galaxy Z Flip 4 doesn't have the best camera hardware around, the fantastic software and clever design enable a unique mobile photography experience, even more so than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Then again, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 lacks Samsung DeX and S Pen support, so if you plan on doing any office work in the DeX environment on an external monitor or TV, this smartphone is probably not for you.

By now, it should be more evident that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is leaning towards mobile productivity and multitasking. Whereas the Galaxy Z Flip 4 defies the established formula and shows that smartphones don't have to be boring in order to fulfill their functions. Well, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 also does that, but let's not dwell in minute details.

At the end of the day, if you want to buy your first foldable smartphone, you should keep in mind that even though the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 share the same chipset and offer the same premium level of performance, their focus is very different. One device is more of a tablet geared toward mobile productivity and entertainment. The other is a unique smartphone that may not have the best cameras but has powerful camera software, can bend in half, and is full of clever features. And it has a highly customizable cover display.

Check out our reviews, device widgets, and videos below if you want a more in-depth look at the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and feel free to let us know in the comment section with one of these Samsung foldable devices you'd rather own and why.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 review | Galaxy Z Flip 4 review

Samsung
Galaxy Z Fold 4

Select model SM-F936B SM-F936U Buy Full specs

Samsung
Galaxy Z Flip 4

Select model SM-F721B SM-F721U SM-F721U1 Buy Full specs