ofcourse they are the future.. c'mon bud its not like it takes a Phd to realize that.. simply from the aspect that the benefits are so many and what we prefer.. biggest screen realestate vs smallest mangeable footprint.. so if you wanna fold it, or you wanna roll it, or whatever.. its whe3re we are heading. and you can be the techonoligy will elevate.. its what we all want... and no I don't have one, as they are still too expensive for something I either drop or forget somewhere.. we already know are seing creases that are way less protruding then fx FOLD4.. like Mix Fold 2 and FIND N. and we are seeing dimensions arond 10mm folded and 265g.. that is simply so close to a normal flagship like S22 Ultra that is 9mm and 230g.. and its not easy to go very thin on a non foldable phone like fx 5mm, as it will be fragile.. Ofcourse foldable will be more and more comon.. most screen realestate vs smallest and most manageable footprint. (that is what I prefer) biggest con for FOLD4 is simply its kind of boring.. bulky and big with a protruding crease when we are seeing other vendors.. making way more sexy foldables.. Huawei foldable's, OPPO FOLD N, Xiaomi Mix Fold2.. IMO Samsung needs to step it up.. mainly one aspect they are ahead and thats the Software/firmware , but that is also very important in a foldable.. designwise. Would wonder about the Mix Fold2 as a purchase if its around 1 grand in the next few months,. (from an EU purchase)
No where flip is solving some kind problem which normal smart phone cant do .... moreover it making things complex ... basic necessity having phone to attend a call in this which opening up flip phone which is extra on my part
We humans can never make up our minds. The first cells were huge so we wanted smaller ones. Then they got to the point of being so tiny you could hardly hold them or read the numbers or press the buttons. Next, we had the clamshells which had more acreage, when open, which gave us bigger keys and display. Then Blackberry came along, followed by Apple, et al, and we needed them to be bigger, again, up to the point where they were getting close to a tablet, in size. Now we want to be able to fold them into a thick brick or we want to use our watch. The times they are achangin'.
No we just want bigger screen but not a bigger phone, like no notch no bezel just all screen, and when you achieve all screen and can’t get anymore screen without getting the phone bigger you fold it, stretch it, or roll it out but keep it slim light and portable.
One of the primary use cases of folding phones is to open it out and watch video content in its full glory. Yet no manufacturer has worked out that the square screen with hideous black bars is not the best way to do this.
Not talking about scratches and finger prints, inner screen is surprisingly very durable from drop because it's soft. Check out Z Fold Z flip 4 drop test.
The Z Fold 4 is my first foldable, and after returning it twice because I had problems adjusting to the high price, I finally got a third one after I missed it, and am sticking with it. Once I got used to having a phone that could be both a one-handed device on the go AND a gorgeous mini-tablet, I am wondering if I will ever go back to the slab phone design again. The Fold 4 is definitely heavy, but it feels like such a premium piece of tech. The opening and closing of the inside display is so satisfying. Like you, I don't really need to use it for multi-tasking for work, but I love love using it for reading web content, texting, social media, viewing photos. I used the Pixel 7 Pro for a few days, and aside from the form factor, I also missed how much faster the 8 Gen 1+ processor felt in comparison to Tensor G2. I am still getting used to the camera and the different options that the fold form factor brings to the table, but I think I am on board until I trade in for the Fold 5. I am used to the cover screen being smaller, I use swipe to text, and it works well.
I have the Galaxy z fold 2 and I love it! kinda... lol. I can't wait until the 5th or 6th version comes out and includes the S Pen housed IN the phone. There's so much you can do with these foldables. I opt out of upgrading to the 3rd or 4th version because I really didn't see much change.
there is nothing satisfying about opening and closing it, you just tell that to yourself as it makes you feel better about your purchase and you belive your own lie now. I got to use a Flip 4 for a week and a friend owns one, opening and closing sucks as its such a waste of time for ppl who uses phone heavily for work. The fold thing gets boring so so quick.
@@katinasoutherland7693 it was an excellent phone. However, I get bored easily, so I am back to the S23 Ultra. I do miss having the large screen, although the S23 Ultra has a pretty big one. I would recommend the Fold 5, anxious to see what upgrades they are adding.
still have my note 10+ waiting for a fold with a spen built in ... battery has a bit of degrade but not bad i can still make it all day and im always near a charger ..i did replace the usb c port... other then that its fine with the latest FW update.. longest phone i ever had .. im over it buying 1400+$ every year lol... 3 to 4 years update for me now... i love the s pen i do my memes and art work for work and its nice to use
The black bars while watching videos take away the benefit of having such large screen.. Samsung should fix the aspect ratio problem atleast in next gen and improve cameras, charging speed
The fold phone can become really popular if they can decrease the thickness of the phone body and increase the screen seize in the fold position. I don't really see fold phone replacing regular phone because their defects are too much of a big hurdle to overcome. I truly agree with you Mike of all the things you highlighted about the fold phone in this video. The detail nuances that you Mike explain in this video is clearly noticeable to me.
The best time to buy is truly either during pre-order season through Samsung if you trade in (they gave $900-1000 off if you traded in some samsung phones from the past couple years) + lot of random $100 off coupons or store credit, OR during a prime day or black Friday sale
Coming from the Note phone, this narrower front screen is a major negatives for me. The typing and the weird ratio of the screen really needs getting used to. And only 2 weeks in , it's work in progress...
I've been using folds since last year on my second flip an have owned the fold 2 since new I've had zero issues. So much so that I traded my s22 ultra for the fold 4
About typing, I just got a second hand pixel fold, and I'm finding the typing experience in both modes absolutely great. I haven't quite reached terminal velocity with typing in unfolded mode, but I really think I could increase my speed significantly still.
Foldables just need time to mature and with phones like the huawei mate x3, honor magic v2 and xiaomi mix fold the hardware is finally at a point im willing to try a foldable despite the software still needing some work. If samsung would just make their z fold as thin as chinese foldables it would be a no brainer for me to buy a z fold
I mean that's literally the point of why Samsung intentionally made the outer display so narrow: So you can use it ONE-HANDED for quick tasks. Anyone who tries to text on the outer display with two hands is literally using it wrong. 🤣🤣🤣
Having a folding phone is excellent. Especially when it's new. Less than 2 years later, I'm walking away. Screen damage is the issue. I treat my phones like babies. Look after them well, give them protection ect. But firstly the screen protector started bubbling and delaminating. After that just over a year later the actual screen has started showing microfractures in its surface. Waiting for the coming failure like everyone else are reporting. And samsung won't replace the screen because they will find any tiny nick or imperfection to blame you and void the warranty claim. So after over 12 years of loyal Samsung ownership. A Samsung Omnia, samsung S3, samsung note 3, samsung note 9 and my current samsung fold 3, I'm going to buy the Google pixel next. Samsung after care for premium phone owners has become shockingly bad. I'd expect a phone to either last over 2 years at the price of a decent gaming computer at £1800, and I'd expect much better after care. Samsung know there is a problem. But they don't want to pay the millions replacing people's phones for free. So enjoy your mobile phone death Samsung. You've lost me and many many others.... Maybe you should have kept the Note series going!? 🤬
No, they will always be a niche thing, if they eventually become anything at all. I'm inclined to think they are a marketing dept dream, and eventually they will wake up. I don't understand your term "glass slab." I have a Pixel 6A, but the only glass is the screen.
Quite inaccurate. In places that has more disposable income, I already see more and more people using foldables. I see at least 3 or 4 daily. People that switched rarely wants to switch back, the form factor and benefits are just to hard to give up.
I don't think that the current form factors of foldable phones are right quite yet. Maybe flexible glass could be used in other ways like a scrollable phone or tablet that has like a pen like housing. you could pull the screen out just like on a scroll.
While I agree that there are things I would change as well and things that are not perfect/annoying, this is the best phone I have ever owned (the original HTC One being #2). I had the LG V60 dual screen before and while I liked that phone a lot, that had even more drawbacks. The Fold 4 addressed nearly every issue I had with that phone. I don't want to go back to a single screen phone. I use my Fold 4 in the car like you had it set up Mike, I also am a sales rep and travel a lot so the Fold 4 is amazing to have to take notes, show videos, and be able to have multiple items up at one time. The battery is amazing, I love the stylus even if it is big and does not fit inside of the phone. It makes scrolling on the big screen and tapping with precision much easier. My last Samsung phone was the Note 5 and that was the first time I could stand Samsung's UI. The multitasking on this phone is out of this world and Samsung really nailed that aspect in my opinion. I am at that person that will have 3 apps up and a floating window for maps/media/calculator. As always with phones it comes down to your needs. Samsung had amazing trade in deals to get the price down to what any other flagship would be. The V60 was my test to see if folding or dual screen phones were worth it and switching to the Fold 4 was the right move in my opinion.
It depends. I'm retired now and no longer a power user, so the Z Flip 4 is perfect for me. Small and compact when i want, and a large phone when I want. The most useful feature is Flex mode, which will only get more useful over time.
I've had my z fold 3 for about 2 years, it's been returned twice because of the screen protector splitting along the crease, the third time it happened I just removed it, now the actual screen is cracking and the large display intermittently won't come on and also the speaker has now stopped working when fully opened, I really like the foldable phones but looks like I will be going back to the standard non foldable phone as foldable's are just not robust enough to last especially at the price you pay.
2:00 swipe when closed, one hand keyboard when opened. Solved. 2:30 you multi task not by default, but when needed to like while browsing. 5:15 vid ratio. True. Just open in a split. 6:23 better cheaper pen supported case 7:23 no comment on snapchat, i dont use it. Lmao 8:40 same, not having prob with dust. But still being careful with it. 9:50 fold wont replace slab, but flip will 100% surely do.
Front displays are too small in general, also on the largest slab phones. That is the whole point of wanting a foldable. Personally, I never type one handed and hardly ever use any smartphone one handed at all except answering calls. Agree on the "multitasking" nonsense - multitasking actually means running and using more than one app at the same time, not cramming more than one on a still tiny screen at the same time, when you can just quickly switch them anyway. Given I work that way on a 16" laptop screen, I won't start doing different on 8" instead of 6" tiny phone. Single app on somewhat bigger screen, easier to read and type, that is the foldable promise to me as well. For video we need double-hinge foldables that unfold to a 3 pane 10" tablet equivalent. That said, I do not tend to consume (visual) media on the go, so it's not something I would be disappointed about the square foldables not delivering.
As much as humans think that we actually multitask, the truth is your attention can only take Data one task at a time, so the multitasking of these phones is stupid
@@MikeOBrienMedia maybe a fraction but much improved on last year. I think they won't be able to make it wider until it's thinner. For quick messaging and checking stuff it's fine.
I agree with you that we will likely see larger scale adoption as the phones get thinner and folks see over time that the hardware is solid. I would like to be able to use the larger screen to read instead of having to take my Kindle with me. Great review as always.
I think many of the cons you listed are app development more than phone issues, the developers would have to pretend the foldable are Apple and hurry up and fix their apps
I am on budget, but I buy flagships, my last was in 2022 with the SD 8 gen.1, it's not hot in my Edge 30 Pro by the way, but considering a SD8 Gen.3 device to be foldable, I just opened YT and played a video to check what I suspected and it is like he said- the screen is almost suqare, so I alligned my Edge 30 Pro to Fold 4 and the same video played on the wider fold 4 side was almost the same size as my regular phone. And like he mentioned for us who watch a lot of media this is a problem, I want to have the big screen for movies and YT and a comfortable phone to type, so I will stick to a regular flagship devices.
ofcourse they are the future.. c'mon bud its not like it takes a Phd to realize that.. simply from the aspect that the benefits are so many and what we prefer.. biggest screen realestate vs smallest mangeable footprint.. so if you wanna fold it, or you wanna roll it, or whatever.. its whe3re we are heading. and you can be the techonoligy will elevate.. its what we all want... and no I don't have one, as they are still too expensive for something I either drop or forget somewhere.. we already know are seing creases that are way less protruding then fx FOLD4.. like Mix Fold 2 and FIND N. and we are seeing dimensions arond 10mm folded and 265g.. that is simply so close to a normal flagship like S22 Ultra that is 9mm and 230g.. and its not easy to go very thin on a non foldable phone like fx 5mm, as it will be fragile.. Ofcourse foldable will be more and more comon.. most screen realestate vs smallest and most manageable footprint. (that is what I prefer) biggest con for FOLD4 is simply its kind of boring.. bulky and big with a protruding crease when we are seeing other vendors.. making way more sexy foldables.. Huawei foldable's, OPPO FOLD N, Xiaomi Mix Fold2.. IMO Samsung needs to step it up.. mainly one aspect they are ahead and thats the Software/firmware , but that is also very important in a foldable.. designwise. Would wonder about the Mix Fold2 as a purchase if its around 1 grand in the next few months,. (from an EU purchase)
Mike O'brian - I've watching your comments on the New Phones - But I don't get it - what are you looking for in this two phones from Samsung Flip and Fold 4 - - I don't get you - don't the size fit your hand? -- You have only criticism for these two products - but aren't any +'sss???
I would buy a tablet that has tge open dimensions of the zfold. I would also buy a single screened phone with the closed dimensions of a duo 2. Reasons. My budged. My clumbsiness need a tough case on both.
@@MikeOBrienMedia Right! I love your opinion on the entire subject. You are always my go to, whenever I think about upgrading any tech. Typing this on a Tab S7+ and I hate typing on this large of a screen, without an extra keyboard accessory... so I love extra real-estate, but there are draw backs. Keep up the top notch work!
Almost everyone who has an iPhone 5, iPhone SE, Galaxy Z Fold, etc. THAT'S why Samsung intentionally made the outer display so narrow so it can be used ONE-HANDED for quick tasks.
I've always seen the folded (front) size as too small horizontally. And an S Pen silo would be great. So let's put in a silo and make both both screens wider!
May I ask why though? I've been recently owning one and it's been a delight using it at a gym. Whilst I have yet to bring mine to a beach (reluctant to too, honestly), I've read many reviews of others bringing their folds to beaches and it's been fine.
I have a friend who has a fold 4. I will never own a folding phone until they make it more durable. If my fingernail or a piece of dust will scratch it then that's a nope. Price is not why.
You have no argument. I see many people with cracked glass iPhones and Android phones on the train. ANYTHING can break with enough force. Only an idiot would intentionally dig their fingernail into a foldable display. 🤣🤣🤣
tip for the keyboard: use g board go into the settings and adjust the "keyboard height" to your liking. this makes it much much easier. i am just as fast as my old note 10 and i have big hands. also for the inside screen you can use the "floating keyboard"and slide it over to the bottom right or left dependin on preference and then its basically the same as the front screen.
after watching the video i mostly agree. the biggest thing for me is the dust resistance. i wipe my spine off everytime before i open it. its been over a year. seems to be working well as i still open at a full 180 degrees but idk. i remember not giving af about my note. id lap that thing multiple times a week. this phone im way careful with. alot of times i just use the cover screen. after having it for so long now i mostly only use the inside screen when im hooked up to my keyboard/mouse like rightr now, or watching some videos at the end of the day. other than that its closed 85% of the time. i also dont like how i cant force my wallpapers to be the same automatically from inside to outside. like why do i gotta change it twice. i have the mirror screen option going. but that only does the apps and stuff. doesnt change the wallpaper. its not that big of a deal. just change it twice i guess.
Do people still sign contracts, been doing E-Signatures for years using secure interface. Even if you are still in the dark ages signing NDA’s then use an app that signs for you, I used that for 10 years before e-signatures. I found the user case for the s-pen nominal as I suck as an artist and notes are just so much better when typed. No wonder other folding phones do not have pen support. Nice for those that need it though, so I am sure there is a demographic that are sold by the s-pen, but for the majority, not really. For me, the Fold is a beta, and Samsung not really pushing the boundaries. No surprise, where can they go with it? So, with just slow uptake and y-o-y growth not what you would expect for a product that is hyped by YT creators to take off, I do not think Samsung has the solution. I am sure they have other devices being developed, so maybe one of them will grab us, but ATM the Fold4 is interesting but not that good for the majority, though great for a small minority, that can purpose it.
No...traditional cell phones are perfectly fine. Pretending foldable cell phones will replace what isn't broken is like pretending 3D TVs will or ever had the capacity to replace high def TVs. On that note, foldable cell phones are just another example of a dumb fad that people are pretending is the renaissance period for cell phones...when that very fad died out years ago for being largely unnecessary and impractical. You also have to factor in their absurd price tag...simply because they fold...yet they lack any worthwhile specs that are actually better than a traditional cell phone. I'm talking about YOU, Samsung...who likes to put your superior cameras on your traditional cell phones, your S and Note lines...not your more expensive foldable cell phones instead. Then again, the processor in your foldable cell phones, made the SAME YEAR as your traditional cell phones, is better... Folding phones do nothing necessary and game-changing that'll make them anywhere near worthy of questioning traditional cell phones. A reasonable price tag alone is still out of reach. People are simply misguided enough to mistake gimmicks for innovation, and these things as a result have gotten out of control with their perceived value and hype.
...The point is that there is no real advantage to using a foldable phone, since a 16:9 video watched with the screen open has the same resolution as if watched on a regular phone held horizontally. The only real use I can find in the big screen (aside from games, of course) is for video conferencing, but I don't know anyone who's had a meeting while in the car or sitting on a bench in the park. I agree with you that they are yet another attempt to foist on us a needlessly complex and expensive product, which in the end does nothing more than what we already have.
The biggest problem for me is the fragility of the fold and look of the crease itself. It will never equal a solid and perfectly flat piece of glass. They are neat but are indeed a bit of a fad. The solid glass screen in rectangular shape is here to stay for sure. People have had it for too long now and are very very comfortable with it. There is no hand held portable better to watch widescreen movies or TV on than with a solid flat screen phone turned in widescreen orientation. The dimensions are almost perfect and not having a crease just makes it an even better experience. The ergonomics are great, the ease of texting. Just about everything. I may be wrong, I have been in the past, but I just don't see a folding screen ever becoming truly mainstream just due to the fact that it's cheaper to get a solid screen and definitely more durable and more familiar, and a better quality experience when viewing video content and texting.
Year the inn and outher screen are to small. And totally agree the s-pen should have a salo. The app's fits will end up fitting better as they get more popular
Basically it's still a prototype, it's far too small when closed, ie not wide enough and not tall enough, when open it's completely the wrong aspect ratio and to small, doesn't have flagship cameras, and it's completely over priced....
Fold phones will not last as you lose too much time opening and closing the darn thing, if you really need a big screen for work purposes you use a tablet. The future will be sliding phones, fold are sht.
Rollable phones have disadvantages too like having less space internally for other components or a bigger battery because of the motor taking up space. Foldables and rollables will coexist.
The concept is cool, but the experience is just so different from a glass slab. I think a few more generations will help, but I am doubtful that they will fully replace slab phones
So what do you think? Will folding phones replace regular phones?
GALAXY Z-FOLD 4 (Latest Sale) mikeobrienmedia.com/ZFold4
Yes they will. Five people saw my fold phone last week and three are claiming they're going to buy it
No fold are not for everyone but I think it will be a good supplement for a lot of people
ofcourse they are the future.. c'mon bud its not like it takes a Phd to realize that..
simply from the aspect that the benefits are so many and what we prefer.. biggest screen realestate vs smallest mangeable footprint.. so if you wanna fold it, or you wanna roll it, or whatever.. its whe3re we are heading. and you can be the techonoligy will elevate..
its what we all want... and no I don't have one, as they are still too expensive for something I either drop or forget somewhere..
we already know are seing creases that are way less protruding then fx FOLD4.. like Mix Fold 2 and FIND N.
and we are seeing dimensions arond 10mm folded and 265g.. that is simply so close to a normal flagship like S22 Ultra that is 9mm and 230g..
and its not easy to go very thin on a non foldable phone like fx 5mm, as it will be fragile..
Ofcourse foldable will be more and more comon.. most screen realestate vs smallest and most manageable footprint. (that is what I prefer)
biggest con for FOLD4 is simply its kind of boring.. bulky and big with a protruding crease when we are seeing other vendors.. making way more sexy foldables..
Huawei foldable's, OPPO FOLD N, Xiaomi Mix Fold2.. IMO Samsung needs to step it up.. mainly one aspect they are ahead and thats the Software/firmware , but that is also very important in a foldable.. designwise.
Would wonder about the Mix Fold2 as a purchase if its around 1 grand in the next few months,. (from an EU purchase)
Yes foldable's will replace regular phones...they are the future..
No where flip is solving some kind problem which normal smart phone cant do .... moreover it making things complex ... basic necessity having phone to attend a call in this which opening up flip phone which is extra on my part
We humans can never make up our minds. The first cells were huge so we wanted smaller ones. Then they got to the point of being so tiny you could hardly hold them or read the numbers or press the buttons. Next, we had the clamshells which had more acreage, when open, which gave us bigger keys and display. Then Blackberry came along, followed by Apple, et al, and we needed them to be bigger, again, up to the point where they were getting close to a tablet, in size. Now we want to be able to fold them into a thick brick or we want to use our watch. The times they are achangin'.
No, we always wanted bigger screens and that's been consistent since the beginning
different use case means different needs...
@@kyle3815 Not before Blackberry, Apple et al came around.
No we just want bigger screen but not a bigger phone, like no notch no bezel just all screen, and when you achieve all screen and can’t get anymore screen without getting the phone bigger you fold it, stretch it, or roll it out but keep it slim light and portable.
@@whoowhaaat5666 And very breakable.
One of the primary use cases of folding phones is to open it out and watch video content in its full glory. Yet no manufacturer has worked out that the square screen with hideous black bars is not the best way to do this.
That's what the Galaxy Flex S aka Galaxy Z Flex will basically solve.
I just can't see folding phones becoming more common until the prices come down
And quality goes up
@inspectorvoid
Both are happening. Saw the durability improvements on the Z Flip 5 a year after launch, and just grabbed one refurbished half price.
Thinking about doing the same thing, except with a z flip 3, i just kinda want one as a backup phone to just have.@gabrielgingras814
Not talking about scratches and finger prints, inner screen is surprisingly very durable from drop because it's soft. Check out Z Fold Z flip 4 drop test.
Drop test doesn’t scratch the screen?
The Z Fold 4 is my first foldable, and after returning it twice because I had problems adjusting to the high price, I finally got a third one after I missed it, and am sticking with it. Once I got used to having a phone that could be both a one-handed device on the go AND a gorgeous mini-tablet, I am wondering if I will ever go back to the slab phone design again. The Fold 4 is definitely heavy, but it feels like such a premium piece of tech. The opening and closing of the inside display is so satisfying. Like you, I don't really need to use it for multi-tasking for work, but I love love using it for reading web content, texting, social media, viewing photos. I used the Pixel 7 Pro for a few days, and aside from the form factor, I also missed how much faster the 8 Gen 1+ processor felt in comparison to Tensor G2. I am still getting used to the camera and the different options that the fold form factor brings to the table, but I think I am on board until I trade in for the Fold 5. I am used to the cover screen being smaller, I use swipe to text, and it works well.
I have the Galaxy z fold 2 and I love it! kinda... lol. I can't wait until the 5th or 6th version comes out and includes the S Pen housed IN the phone. There's so much you can do with these foldables. I opt out of upgrading to the 3rd or 4th version because I really didn't see much change.
there is nothing satisfying about opening and closing it, you just tell that to yourself as it makes you feel better about your purchase and you belive your own lie now. I got to use a Flip 4 for a week and a friend owns one, opening and closing sucks as its such a waste of time for ppl who uses phone heavily for work. The fold thing gets boring so so quick.
@user-he8fd8px3y nope, I can tell you that isn't it. I am pretty sure I can tell what I find satisfying since you aren't inside my head..
I'm just so curious because I'm thinking of buying either the OnePlus fold or the 5th gen Samsung how has yours held up this year? Thanks 🙏
@@katinasoutherland7693 it was an excellent phone. However, I get bored easily, so I am back to the S23 Ultra. I do miss having the large screen, although the S23 Ultra has a pretty big one. I would recommend the Fold 5, anxious to see what upgrades they are adding.
still have my note 10+ waiting for a fold with a spen built in ... battery has a bit of degrade but not bad i can still make it all day and im always near a charger ..i did replace the usb c port... other then that its fine with the latest FW update.. longest phone i ever had .. im over it buying 1400+$ every year lol... 3 to 4 years update for me now... i love the s pen i do my memes and art work for work and its nice to use
The black bars while watching videos take away the benefit of having such large screen.. Samsung should fix the aspect ratio problem atleast in next gen and improve cameras, charging speed
THIS!!! ☝️☝️☝️
I'm waiting for the Galaxy Flex S aka Galaxy Z Flex to arrive.
foldable phone: Revolutionary
tablet: nah . .
The fold phone can become really popular if they can decrease the thickness of the phone body and increase the screen seize in the fold position. I don't really see fold phone replacing regular phone because their defects are too much of a big hurdle to overcome. I truly agree with you Mike of all the things you highlighted about the fold phone in this video. The detail nuances that you Mike explain in this video is clearly noticeable to me.
The price point also needs to drop considerably.
Screen size and aspect ratio are two completely different things.
Don't confuse the two.
I'm more interested in the flip phone model, but if the tablet fold model comes down to $1000 or less, I will consider it.
i'll say the main issue is still the price.
The best time to buy is truly either during pre-order season through Samsung if you trade in (they gave $900-1000 off if you traded in some samsung phones from the past couple years) + lot of random $100 off coupons or store credit, OR during a prime day or black Friday sale
Coming from the Note phone, this narrower front screen is a major negatives for me. The typing and the weird ratio of the screen really needs getting used to. And only 2 weeks in , it's work in progress...
I've been using folds since last year on my second flip an have owned the fold 2 since new I've had zero issues. So much so that I traded my s22 ultra for the fold 4
Best top-level review of the Fold 4 I've seen yet, thank you.
About typing, I just got a second hand pixel fold, and I'm finding the typing experience in both modes absolutely great. I haven't quite reached terminal velocity with typing in unfolded mode, but I really think I could increase my speed significantly still.
Typing is better than iPad Mini for me at least
I agree. I find the Mini keyboard difficult to use.
because the ios/ipados keyboard is bad
Foldables just need time to mature and with phones like the huawei mate x3, honor magic v2 and xiaomi mix fold the hardware is finally at a point im willing to try a foldable despite the software still needing some work.
If samsung would just make their z fold as thin as chinese foldables it would be a no brainer for me to buy a z fold
To me the front screen is perfect for one hand typing
I mean that's literally the point of why Samsung intentionally made the outer display so narrow:
So you can use it ONE-HANDED for quick tasks.
Anyone who tries to text on the outer display with two hands is literally using it wrong. 🤣🤣🤣
I've had two fold 3s,both screens broke in the crease at the 6 month mark. Great concept, the tech just ain't there yet.
Agreed... And then you would lose thousands of dollars
The only issue I find with foldables is the weak display
The moment that's fixed I'll switch to a foldable
I mean, it is fixed. The weak display is protected when folded
@@skytheidiott I mean it's so vulnerable that even finger nails make permanent scratches.
Having a folding phone is excellent. Especially when it's new. Less than 2 years later, I'm walking away. Screen damage is the issue. I treat my phones like babies. Look after them well, give them protection ect. But firstly the screen protector started bubbling and delaminating. After that just over a year later the actual screen has started showing microfractures in its surface. Waiting for the coming failure like everyone else are reporting. And samsung won't replace the screen because they will find any tiny nick or imperfection to blame you and void the warranty claim. So after over 12 years of loyal Samsung ownership. A Samsung Omnia, samsung S3, samsung note 3, samsung note 9 and my current samsung fold 3, I'm going to buy the Google pixel next. Samsung after care for premium phone owners has become shockingly bad. I'd expect a phone to either last over 2 years at the price of a decent gaming computer at £1800, and I'd expect much better after care. Samsung know there is a problem. But they don't want to pay the millions replacing people's phones for free. So enjoy your mobile phone death Samsung. You've lost me and many many others.... Maybe you should have kept the Note series going!? 🤬
What car mount would you recommend
I really enjoy seeing it and i love it ...but my pocket is like, bro don't even bother 🙃
Yeah that price is a killer
Good one 🤣
No, they will always be a niche thing, if they eventually become anything at all. I'm inclined to think they are a marketing dept dream, and eventually they will wake up. I don't understand your term "glass slab." I have a Pixel 6A, but the only glass is the screen.
Quite inaccurate. In places that has more disposable income, I already see more and more people using foldables. I see at least 3 or 4 daily. People that switched rarely wants to switch back, the form factor and benefits are just to hard to give up.
I don't think that the current form factors of foldable phones are right quite yet. Maybe flexible glass could be used in other ways like a scrollable phone or tablet that has like a pen like housing. you could pull the screen out just like on a scroll.
While I agree that there are things I would change as well and things that are not perfect/annoying, this is the best phone I have ever owned (the original HTC One being #2). I had the LG V60 dual screen before and while I liked that phone a lot, that had even more drawbacks. The Fold 4 addressed nearly every issue I had with that phone. I don't want to go back to a single screen phone. I use my Fold 4 in the car like you had it set up Mike, I also am a sales rep and travel a lot so the Fold 4 is amazing to have to take notes, show videos, and be able to have multiple items up at one time.
The battery is amazing, I love the stylus even if it is big and does not fit inside of the phone. It makes scrolling on the big screen and tapping with precision much easier. My last Samsung phone was the Note 5 and that was the first time I could stand Samsung's UI. The multitasking on this phone is out of this world and Samsung really nailed that aspect in my opinion. I am at that person that will have 3 apps up and a floating window for maps/media/calculator.
As always with phones it comes down to your needs. Samsung had amazing trade in deals to get the price down to what any other flagship would be. The V60 was my test to see if folding or dual screen phones were worth it and switching to the Fold 4 was the right move in my opinion.
It depends. I'm retired now and no longer a power user, so the Z Flip 4 is perfect for me. Small and compact when i want, and a large phone when I want. The most useful feature is Flex mode, which will only get more useful over time.
I've had my z fold 3 for about 2 years, it's been returned twice because of the screen protector splitting along the crease, the third time it happened I just removed it, now the actual screen is cracking and the large display intermittently won't come on and also the speaker has now stopped working when fully opened, I really like the foldable phones but looks like I will be going back to the standard non foldable phone as foldable's are just not robust enough to last especially at the price you pay.
Another great video , really good to hear the positives and negatives, I think it will a few years before I make the leap to a folding phone 📱
the most annoying drawback is finger smudge magnet inside screen. I hate to clean it everytime.
2:00 swipe when closed, one hand keyboard when opened. Solved.
2:30 you multi task not by default, but when needed to like while browsing.
5:15 vid ratio. True. Just open in a split.
6:23 better cheaper pen supported case
7:23 no comment on snapchat, i dont use it. Lmao
8:40 same, not having prob with dust. But still being careful with it.
9:50 fold wont replace slab, but flip will 100% surely do.
Front displays are too small in general, also on the largest slab phones. That is the whole point of wanting a foldable.
Personally, I never type one handed and hardly ever use any smartphone one handed at all except answering calls.
Agree on the "multitasking" nonsense - multitasking actually means running and using more than one app at the same time, not cramming more than one on a still tiny screen at the same time, when you can just quickly switch them anyway. Given I work that way on a 16" laptop screen, I won't start doing different on 8" instead of 6" tiny phone.
Single app on somewhat bigger screen, easier to read and type, that is the foldable promise to me as well.
For video we need double-hinge foldables that unfold to a 3 pane 10" tablet equivalent. That said, I do not tend to consume (visual) media on the go, so it's not something I would be disappointed about the square foldables not delivering.
As much as humans think that we actually multitask, the truth is your attention can only take Data one task at a time, so the multitasking of these phones is stupid
Use Gboard keyboard for when having it closed usage.
I was really hoping you'd cover pros and cons of the flip 4 as well. Please do a video on those as well.
As always - perfect review. Thank you for sharing!
There is a great Spigen tough case that has a cool silo for the Z Fold 4 S pen outside on one end and I use it all the time!
Interesting points. I agree that foldable won't replace slabs. They still make non touch screen phones so why not right?
One of the best phone on the market ... stylus and multi screen to write your note...
I make as many errors typing on the front screen as any other phone.
Interesting. You don't feel that the Fold 4's display is a bit too narrow?
@@MikeOBrienMedia maybe a fraction but much improved on last year. I think they won't be able to make it wider until it's thinner. For quick messaging and checking stuff it's fine.
Rear viewfinder screens doubling as minimal status displaysI, think is something we should get more.
I agree with you that we will likely see larger scale adoption as the phones get thinner and folks see over time that the hardware is solid. I would like to be able to use the larger screen to read instead of having to take my Kindle with me. Great review as always.
How is the battery performance?
Isn't there a case that holds spen on the hinge side?
It doesn't make much difference, but might solve the problem you are facing.
I think many of the cons you listed are app development more than phone issues, the developers would have to pretend the foldable are Apple and hurry up and fix their apps
Imagine putting your $2,000 fragile folding phone in a $10 Chinese nightmare dashboard phone holder 😂😩
I am on budget, but I buy flagships, my last was in 2022 with the SD 8 gen.1, it's not hot in my Edge 30 Pro by the way, but considering a SD8 Gen.3 device to be foldable, I just opened YT and played a video to check what I suspected and it is like he said- the screen is almost suqare, so I alligned my Edge 30 Pro to Fold 4 and the same video played on the wider fold 4 side was almost the same size as my regular phone. And like he mentioned for us who watch a lot of media this is a problem, I want to have the big screen for movies and YT and a comfortable phone to type, so I will stick to a regular flagship devices.
Your review really help me not to just chase a trend ✨
expectation never match reality for these things
Is that a Z fold in your pocket or are you glad to see me?
Did that gab... In the middle, is a huge turn off. For the price!? Hell no... You have fun with that
Hi Mike. Is the Fold a good substitute to e-readers like the Kindle? I see browsers being used on the demos, but never dedicated reading apps.
Yes It is!!! I'm also a Fold 4 user!
Love my flip4....
Well done mike!
Can use wireless charger?
Yes
ofcourse they are the future.. c'mon bud its not like it takes a Phd to realize that..
simply from the aspect that the benefits are so many and what we prefer.. biggest screen realestate vs smallest mangeable footprint.. so if you wanna fold it, or you wanna roll it, or whatever.. its whe3re we are heading. and you can be the techonoligy will elevate..
its what we all want... and no I don't have one, as they are still too expensive for something I either drop or forget somewhere..
we already know are seing creases that are way less protruding then fx FOLD4.. like Mix Fold 2 and FIND N.
and we are seeing dimensions arond 10mm folded and 265g.. that is simply so close to a normal flagship like S22 Ultra that is 9mm and 230g..
and its not easy to go very thin on a non foldable phone like fx 5mm, as it will be fragile..
Ofcourse foldable will be more and more comon.. most screen realestate vs smallest and most manageable footprint. (that is what I prefer)
biggest con for FOLD4 is simply its kind of boring.. bulky and big with a protruding crease when we are seeing other vendors.. making way more sexy foldables..
Huawei foldable's, OPPO FOLD N, Xiaomi Mix Fold2.. IMO Samsung needs to step it up.. mainly one aspect they are ahead and thats the Software/firmware , but that is also very important in a foldable.. designwise.
Would wonder about the Mix Fold2 as a purchase if its around 1 grand in the next few months,. (from an EU purchase)
Galaxy Flex S aka Galaxy Z Flex is what a foldable phone SHOULD BE.
Mike O'brian - I've watching your comments on the New Phones - But I don't get it - what are you looking for in this two phones from Samsung Flip and Fold 4 - - I don't get you - don't the size fit your hand? -- You have only criticism for these two products - but aren't any +'sss???
I would buy a tablet that has tge open dimensions of the zfold.
I would also buy a single screened phone with the closed dimensions of a duo 2.
Reasons. My budged. My clumbsiness need a tough case on both.
Only when they're as waterproof and durable as my note.
And when they have an s-pen silo!
@@MikeOBrienMedia Right! I love your opinion on the entire subject. You are always my go to, whenever I think about upgrading any tech. Typing this on a Tab S7+ and I hate typing on this large of a screen, without an extra keyboard accessory... so I love extra real-estate, but there are draw backs. Keep up the top notch work!
They are water waterproof, and about durability go check Jerry rigs everything video about it
Who types with one hand?
Almost everyone who has an iPhone 5, iPhone SE, Galaxy Z Fold, etc.
THAT'S why Samsung intentionally made the outer display so narrow so it can be used ONE-HANDED for quick tasks.
I've always seen the folded (front) size as too small horizontally. And an S Pen silo would be great. So let's put in a silo and make both both screens wider!
I recommend using bixby routine to autoadjust font size between folded and unfolded stages. It improved my fold experience a ton!
Small and narrow are two completely different things.
Don't confuse screen size with aspect ratio.
After months with the galaxy fold 2.... I decided folding phones will never replace tablets.
Taking it to the gym or beach was just not worth it.
May I ask why though? I've been recently owning one and it's been a delight using it at a gym. Whilst I have yet to bring mine to a beach (reluctant to too, honestly), I've read many reviews of others bringing their folds to beaches and it's been fine.
Tech fab for sure. Not worth the cost or the hassle.
No ways. I strongly dislike to folding look. I would prefer a foldable with split screens that function like a pcs second screen. Much more solid idea
That would be the LG V60 dual screen.
I have a friend who has a fold 4. I will never own a folding phone until they make it more durable. If my fingernail or a piece of dust will scratch it then that's a nope. Price is not why.
You have no argument.
I see many people with cracked glass iPhones and Android phones on the train.
ANYTHING can break with enough force. Only an idiot would intentionally dig their fingernail into a foldable display. 🤣🤣🤣
OnePlus Open solves some of these issues
A lot of your problems you described may be resolved by the pixel fold.
tip for the keyboard:
use g board
go into the settings and adjust the "keyboard height" to your liking. this makes it much much easier. i am just as fast as my old note 10 and i have big hands.
also for the inside screen you can use the "floating keyboard"and slide it over to the bottom right or left dependin on preference and then its basically the same as the front screen.
after watching the video i mostly agree. the biggest thing for me is the dust resistance. i wipe my spine off everytime before i open it. its been over a year. seems to be working well as i still open at a full 180 degrees but idk. i remember not giving af about my note. id lap that thing multiple times a week. this phone im way careful with.
alot of times i just use the cover screen. after having it for so long now i mostly only use the inside screen when im hooked up to my keyboard/mouse like rightr now, or watching some videos at the end of the day. other than that its closed 85% of the time.
i also dont like how i cant force my wallpapers to be the same automatically from inside to outside. like why do i gotta change it twice. i have the mirror screen option going. but that only does the apps and stuff. doesnt change the wallpaper. its not that big of a deal. just change it twice i guess.
I use gboard and you dont have split keyboard which i like more
Do people still sign contracts, been doing E-Signatures for years using secure interface. Even if you are still in the dark ages signing NDA’s then use an app that signs for you, I used that for 10 years before e-signatures. I found the user case for the s-pen nominal as I suck as an artist and notes are just so much better when typed. No wonder other folding phones do not have pen support. Nice for those that need it though, so I am sure there is a demographic that are sold by the s-pen, but for the majority, not really.
For me, the Fold is a beta, and Samsung not really pushing the boundaries. No surprise, where can they go with it? So, with just slow uptake and y-o-y growth not what you would expect for a product that is hyped by YT creators to take off, I do not think Samsung has the solution. I am sure they have other devices being developed, so maybe one of them will grab us, but ATM the Fold4 is interesting but not that good for the majority, though great for a small minority, that can purpose it.
Galaxy Flex S aka Galaxy Z Flex is what a foldable phone SHOULD BE.
Great content. Until samsung makes a folding phone using gorilla glass on the main screen I'll stick with my note20 ultra
U think OnePlus open is a good choice
Thets why i have a tablet. I will never get a folding phone.
once you learn to swipe you may never go back to normal typing
I use swipe all the time. That is basically the only way to use the front keyboard. It is much harder to use swipe on the large keyboard
No...traditional cell phones are perfectly fine. Pretending foldable cell phones will replace what isn't broken is like pretending 3D TVs will or ever had the capacity to replace high def TVs.
On that note, foldable cell phones are just another example of a dumb fad that people are pretending is the renaissance period for cell phones...when that very fad died out years ago for being largely unnecessary and impractical. You also have to factor in their absurd price tag...simply because they fold...yet they lack any worthwhile specs that are actually better than a traditional cell phone. I'm talking about YOU, Samsung...who likes to put your superior cameras on your traditional cell phones, your S and Note lines...not your more expensive foldable cell phones instead. Then again, the processor in your foldable cell phones, made the SAME YEAR as your traditional cell phones, is better...
Folding phones do nothing necessary and game-changing that'll make them anywhere near worthy of questioning traditional cell phones. A reasonable price tag alone is still out of reach. People are simply misguided enough to mistake gimmicks for innovation, and these things as a result have gotten out of control with their perceived value and hype.
Foldable price is lowing and getting more features
...The point is that there is no real advantage to using a foldable phone, since a 16:9 video watched with the screen open has the same resolution as if watched on a regular phone held horizontally. The only real use I can find in the big screen (aside from games, of course) is for video conferencing, but I don't know anyone who's had a meeting while in the car or sitting on a bench in the park. I agree with you that they are yet another attempt to foist on us a needlessly complex and expensive product, which in the end does nothing more than what we already have.
Once samsung widens that front cover screen I'm all in!! If they add a housed s-pen I'd pay 2200.00 lol p.s gaming on the fold is awesome
Yeah that is a pretty good summary of my video in one sentence
@@MikeOBrienMedia facts
@@drestrick3899 Gaming on the inner display of the Z Fold puts you at a DISADVANTAGE especially for online multiplayer games.
🤣🤣🤣
The biggest problem for me is the fragility of the fold and look of the crease itself. It will never equal a solid and perfectly flat piece of glass. They are neat but are indeed a bit of a fad. The solid glass screen in rectangular shape is here to stay for sure. People have had it for too long now and are very very comfortable with it. There is no hand held portable better to watch widescreen movies or TV on than with a solid flat screen phone turned in widescreen orientation. The dimensions are almost perfect and not having a crease just makes it an even better experience. The ergonomics are great, the ease of texting. Just about everything. I may be wrong, I have been in the past, but I just don't see a folding screen ever becoming truly mainstream just due to the fact that it's cheaper to get a solid screen and definitely more durable and more familiar, and a better quality experience when viewing video content and texting.
Year the inn and outher screen are to small. And totally agree the s-pen should have a salo. The app's fits will end up fitting better as they get more popular
nitpicking lmao
foldable phones absolutely suck... they're like 3D glasses... a stupid fad
NO
Basically it's still a prototype, it's far too small when closed, ie not wide enough and not tall enough, when open it's completely the wrong aspect ratio and to small, doesn't have flagship cameras, and it's completely over priced....
St fu
Screen size and aspect ratio are two completely different things.
Also, the Z Fold 4 can be found for $1,200 or less if you know where to look.
Foldable are not going to be a thing until they don't scratch with a nail.
Fold phones will not last as you lose too much time opening and closing the darn thing, if you really need a big screen for work purposes you use a tablet. The future will be sliding phones, fold are sht.
Rollable phones have disadvantages too like having less space internally for other components or a bigger battery because of the motor taking up space.
Foldables and rollables will coexist.
No way 👍
The concept is cool, but the experience is just so different from a glass slab. I think a few more generations will help, but I am doubtful that they will fully replace slab phones
Foldable phones are just a fad. I believe the will be replaced in a couple of years with the rollable/extendable phones. Which will be another fad.
Tell me you're an idiot who lacks VISION without telling me you're an idiot who lacks VISION.
🤣🤣🤣
🌼🌻☘️
Thanks for watching
Pros and cons? It’s an overpriced piece of shit with too many moving parts that breaks easily. What else do you need boy?
The only way folding phones become standard is if Apple makes one. Then everybody will buy it
Nope.
The price is the biggest problem.
Galaxy Z Flip sells very well because it's $1,000 or LESS.
Apple won't go for that price anytime soon.