The Galaxy Z Flip is about embracing the cool factor, being fashionable and having fun.
contextually different actions within the same screen. Samsung calls this Flex Mode, though there aren’t many apps supporting Flex Mode yet.
What really shines is Flex Mode’s close counterpart: MultiActive Window. Thanks to the Z Flip’s long-ish screen, it facilitates apps to display substantially more in split view mode compared to other Android phones. For example, using a video call app on the top window while saving the bottom view for email or other productivity tasks. The ability to lay the bottom half of the phone flat further facilitates the splitscreen activity with ease.
The Z Flip supports Samsung Pay, and can be setup to pay for public transport with the phone closed. However, for regular purchases, you will still need to flip open the phone. The only way to continuously make regular purchases when the Z Flip is closed is, ironically, to use Google Pay.
At its back is a dual-camera system, both using 12MP sensors, one which is a standard wideangle lens with OIS and the other has an ultra-wide-angle lens to help you nail a tight shot or landscapes at ease.
The front-facing hole-punch camera on the main display is a rather ordinary 10MP. This underscores why the Z Flip’s selfie mode is so useful, where you can use the rear cameras to easily snap a selfie, though you have to contend with using the tiny frontfacing Cover Screen as a viewfinder. One cool feature is the ability of the Z Flip to prop itself up. Just find a flat surface, open the Z Flip partially, and it becomes its own stand without further assistance.
The quality of the dual-rear camera system is not in the same playing field as the new Galaxy S20 series though. That is not to say the photo quality is shabby. Just don’t expect the bells and whistles of newer flagships.
The Galaxy Z
Flip is powered by a Snapdragon 855 Plus with 8GB RAM. While it’s not in the same class as Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865, it was the flagship chip of 2019. The Z Flip packs a 3,300mAh battery, with about 400 minutes of run time. This is well below the 569 minutes clocked by a
Galaxy S20 that packs a 4,000mAh battery.
It must be stressed that this phone is not meant for people looking for flagship specs and over-thetop features. While it’s much cheaper than the Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Z Flip’s $1,998 is still a costly affair. Fundamentally, the Galaxy Z Flip is about embracing the cool factor, being fashionable and having fun.
Before my Samsung Galaxy
Z Flip ownership, I didn’t have high expectations handling a foldable-screen phone as the idea of such a device just seemed too fragile. After 100 days, my Galaxy Z Flip seems to be rather sturdy, has kept up well with me, and I expect it to continue for some time to come.