Let's be clear: I'm not buying a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. That being said, it was the first foldable phone that made me consider foldable phones as an option for a run-of-the-mill smartphone. When the leaks for the Galaxy Z Flip started, I thought it had a ridiculous design that just wouldn't work. These are basically two squares unfolding into a rectangle with a largely impossible 21.9-inch 9:6.7 aspect ratio display. We've seen the phone run over and over again in January and February, and it wasn't until I held the Z Flip in my hand that I reconsidered. I got my hands on the Galaxy Z Flip at Samsung's Unboxed event in London, where it also showed off the Galaxy S20 series, and searched for up to 10 minutes. It may not be long, but it was enough to realize that foldable phones are here to stay.
The next big leap
I've used the Samsung Galaxy Fold a lot, spent a few hours with the Huawei Mate X, and briefly tested the Motorola Razr 2019, so I'm familiar with the world of foldable phones that are either on sale or about to land soon. Unlike the Galaxy Fold and Mate X, the Galaxy Z Flip is both practical and futuristic. You do not believe me? Okay, that's exactly how I felt before I picked it up. The Fold and Mate X use folding technology to push the limits of the maximum screen size that can fit in your pocket. This can be useful for some users, but many won't see the use when you can have a laptop or tablet that fits in your bag. The Galaxy Z Flip is trying to do something completely different, along the same lines as the new Motorola Razr.
The Motorola Razr 2019 Foldable Edition (Image credit: Motorola) These phones may mimic flip phones, and the Motorola Razr even uses this angle for its marketing campaign, but there's something to be said for how old flip phones lid could be easily folded and slipped into your pocket. Moments before using the Galaxy Z Flip for the first time, I had used the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. It's a phone with a large 6.9-inch screen, and it's similar in size to tablets like the Amazon Fire 7. Unless you're a giant, this phone is unlikely to fit comfortably in your pocket with its 166.9 x 76 x dimensions. 8.8mm. The Z Flip has a 6.7-inch screen, but when folded, the dimensions shrink to just 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.3mm. This can fit in most pockets and at 17.3mm it can be considered super thick by modern smartphone standards let's not forget the legendary Nokia 3310 was a big 22mm it's almost definitely more comfortable than trying to put a Galaxy Fold or Mate X on your clothes.
Fits in your pocket
Galaxy Z Flip marketing doesn't do this phone justice. Its true usefulness will probably only become apparent to you when you hold it in your hand. This was the case for me, and while I'm still skeptical of foldable phones in general, this seems to be another big step forward for the new form factor that many are excited about. Obviously, the price is still high at €1380 / €1300 (around AU$2050) at launch, but it's sure to drop over time. I really hope future iterations see more affordable options as well. It's cheaper than the $1,980 / £1,900 / AU$2,900 / £1,900 Galaxy Fold, but you can feel the influence of that first try on the Z Flip. The hinge technology is similar and the outer edge of the device is the same to ensure dust doesn't get in and scratch the screen. Samsung has found a way to include these features in a different form factor, as well as charge less for it. The price of future foldable phones will be the driver of profitability for manufacturers, and I can't wait to see what comes next.