I have been a big believer of Samsung's foldable smartphones ever since the original Galaxy Fold was released. I felt that someone had finally broken the monotony that the smartphone market was suffering from. The Galaxy Fold brought us a glimpse of the future, it showed us that there's still space for limitless innovation in this saturated industry.
Less than a year later, Samsung knocked it out of the park with the Galaxy Z Flip. The first clamshell foldable smartphone had an Ultra-Thin Glass display and it was more durable. It set the stage for what was to come later in the year. A few months later, Samsung unveiled the incredible Galaxy Z Fold 2.
It didn't feel like the Galaxy Fold's successor as much as it felt like an entirely new device. The boxier design with clean and sharp lines coupled with the exceptional build quality was a sight to behold. Significant improvements under the hood made the device a very compelling option.
Normally, the wow factor tends to wear off a few months after using a new device. Attributes that excited us initially may not warrant even a second thought later on. We may buy phones for the bundle of new features that they promise but end up not using most of them, either because they're simply too niche or because the novelty wears off.
What's incredible about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is that despite being an unconventional device, nothing about it feels like a novelty. This is a testament Samsung's vision behind the device. Everything from the cover display to the internal foldable display and the many unique software features feel like an integral part of the user experience. There's nothing that exists in isolation or exists just for the sake of expanding the Galaxy Z Fold 2's list of features.
I have been using the Galaxy Z Fold 2 for almost nine months now as my daily driver. Ever since I used Samsung's first foldable smartphone, it's impossible for me to even imagine going back to a regular phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 has me spoiled even more.
There are a few reasons why I'm still captivated by the wow factor of this device. First and foremost, I can't help but be impressed by the engineering prowess that went into the Galaxy Z Fold 2, by how everything just works flawlessly. I fold and unfold the device hundreds of times in a single day. Not once have I felt the need to consciously be careful with it lest I damage the hinge. There's no need to gingerly fold and unfold the device. Even after times I have slammed the phone shut out of frustration, everything has always worked as it should.
After nine months of rigorous daily use, the hinge feels as solid as it was on the very first fold. This just inspires confidence that Samsung's foldable devices are built to last. It's true that the 7.6-inch foldable display is a fingerprint magnet but it's nothing that a quick swipe with a microfiber cloth can't fix.
Since I'm on the road frequently but always need to be wired into what's happening across my businesses, the wow factor of having a tablet-sized display in my pocket is never going to wear off. Multi-Active Window is a lifesaver. I can quickly browse through email, feeds, team communications and more at the same time. I don't have to switch between different apps. This useful feature makes it much easier to get up to speed when I've been offline for a couple of hours.
With team meetings happening remotely for the better part of a year due to the pandemic, Flex Mode has been a game changer. I love the convenience with which it allows me to make video calls completely hands-free while I'm on my desk. This feature is far from a novelty. Apps like Camera and YouTube are also able to take full advantage of Flex Mode.
The battery has also held up very well throughout the time I've been using this device. It's more than capable of getting me through the day even with 5G enabled. If anything, this just reiterates my belief that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 delivers a truly rewarding user experience.
Foldables are only going to get better
What's great about technology is that the wheel of innovation never stops. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 may be a great device but the story of foldables doesn't end here. Samsung is expected to launch new foldable smartphones in the near future. The Galaxy Z Fold 2's successor will undoubtedly be even better. We can expect improvements in a lot of different areas.
These are exciting times indeed. Samsung is blazing a new trail with its foldable smartphones, one that no other manufacturer seems to have an answer to right now.
