With the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung has made a few changes that have gone a long way in improving the way its book-style foldout works like a regular phone. This includes a better camera that’s on par with the Galaxy S22’s, a slightly improved design, and a new processor. But there are many ways Samsung could further upgrade its large-format foldable phone. And considering Samsung is facing new competition from the upcoming Google Pixel Fold, I hope it takes action.
The biggest change I hope to see in the successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (which will likely be called the Galaxy Z Fold 5, although we don’t know for sure) is more software taking advantage of its foldable form. Having a giant screen that fits in your pocket is great. But Samsung needs to come up with a more compelling argument if it really wants foldables to appeal to more than just early adopters.
The Galaxy Z Fold is in its fourth generation, but foldables still haven’t had the breakthrough moment Samsung has been waiting for. While foldable phone sales are growing, they will account for just 1.1 percent of the overall smartphone market in 2022, according to International Data Corporation projections.
Samsung is holding its next Unpacked event next month in South Korea, so it’s possible we’ll hear more about the next Z Fold then. Here’s everything I hope to see from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 next year.
Other Software Features
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers a giant screen that fits in your pocket. But it needs more than that to win people over.
Yes the The design of Galaxy Z Fold that’s what makes it noteworthy. But impressive hardware doesn’t mean much without the accompanying software. Samsung has done a lot to improve the way apps work on the Z Fold’s 7.6-inch internal display in the years since its launch. For example, the Z Fold 4 has a dock that sits at the bottom of the screen for quick access to apps, as well as the ability to use the bottom half of the screen as a touchpad in Flex mode.
The problem is that these features don’t do a great job of convincing users why they would want a foldable phone in the first place. Instead, they make the process of using apps on the Z Fold slightly easier and more convenient.
I don’t think any company has adequately answered this question yet, but I’ve seen some promising attempts. Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2, for example, transforms into a digital book when you open the Kindle app, complete with page-turning animations. It’s worth mentioning, however, that the Surface Duo is different from the Z Fold in that it consists of two separate displays joined together by a hinge. This could change with The next Duo from Microsoft, however, according to a report from Windows Central. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is also a much better phone overall thanks to its superior camera and smoother software improvements, among other benefits.
Google is also thinking about ways to take advantage of both the external and internal screens on its upcoming Pixel Fold for tasks such as language translation. While we have yet to use the Pixel Fold extensively, it’s refreshing to see ideas that feel new when it comes to how the software conforms to foldable devices. Let’s hope Samsung takes note.
Samsung was among the first to release a foldable phone, meaning it had longer lead times than most of its competitors in this department. This is another reason why I hope to see more ambitious features from Samsung in future versions of the Galaxy Z Fold.
A larger coverage screen
Google Pixel Fold.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is slightly wider than its predecessor, making it feel more like a normal phone when closed. Still, I’d love to see Samsung take it a step further with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The upcoming Pixel Fold made me realize how useful it is to have a cover screen that almost matches the shape and width of the display on a regular, phone. not foldable. While I only spent a few minutes with the Pixel Fold, that was enough time to see how using apps might feel more natural on a larger screen.
That said, I imagine making the screen too wide could present some challenges for Samsung, as this could affect the shape and aspect ratio of the internal screen as well.
A built-in S Pen
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3 support the S Pen, but you need to purchase it separately.
The S Pen could help Samsung answer that critical question of who the Galaxy Z Fold is. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and 4 both support the S Pen, but you need to purchase it separately and there is no storage mechanism for it. Instead Samsung it should bundle the S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and add a way to conveniently store it inside or plug it into your device.
This could make the Galaxy Z Fold 5 even more useful for taking notes, drawing and editing documents. That might not be important to everyone, but it could make the Z Fold more appealing to the productivity-oriented crowd that Samsung seems to be targeting. It would also make the Z Fold’s high price a little easier to swallow since you’ll get more for your money.
Samsung has not discussed its plans for the Galaxy Z Fold series. But a report from The Elec said Samsung cited the addition of an S Pen slot as a key challenge that must be overcome to make foldables more popular. This means that Samsung may at least be thinking about bundling the S Pen with its future foldable devices.
A less noticeable crease
The fold of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 still stands out.
Samsung has gradually refined the Z Fold’s design over the years, but the fold hasn’t gone away yet. While it’s not always visible, you can feel the crease when you slide your finger across the screen. Reducing the fold may make the Galaxy Z Fold feel more like a regular tablet when unfolded.
Samsung may be the leader when it comes to foldable phones, but other companies are making rapid progress when it comes to reducing the crease. Take Huawei and Oppo, the latter of which is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world.
The screen turned on Mate XS 2 from Huawei wraps around the front of the device so it can function as a regular phone when folded and as a tablet when unfolded – a design that makes the fold barely exist. CNET’s Sareena Dayaram tried Oppo’s new one Find N2 foldable, writing that he “almost never saw or felt the crease”. These advances make me want to see more progress from Samsung in this regard. There’s a chance Samsung is looking into how to address this issue, considering The Elec’s report also suggests that Samsung is interested in making the Z Fold less fold.
A slimmer design
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 still looks thick when closed.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a sturdy build and large screen coverage. But it still feels bulky to use like a regular phone when closed. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 measures 0.5 to 0.6 inches thick when folded, while the iPhone 14 AND Galaxy S22 both measure approximately 0.3 inches thick. That extra bulk might not bother those who mostly use their Galaxy Z Fold open in tablet mode. But it’s another roadblock to adoption for those who aren’t yet convinced by the promise of foldable phones.
If a leak turns out to be true, Samsung may be planning to address the thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold. A well-known leaker who recently calls himself Ice Universe tweeted that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a new waterdrop hinge. In a Message on Twitter in response to Ice Universe’s tweet, display analyst Ross Young said that this type of hinge could make the device 0.3mm thinner.
A lower price
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is significantly more expensive than your average non-folding phone at a regular price point.
With a regular price tag of $1,800, calling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 expensive might be an understatement. You will get a discount when you exchange an old device, with Samsung listing the 256GB model for $900 with an eligible trade-in. But this still sits at the high end of the spectrum compared to many non-folding phones, such as those in the Galaxy S22 range and Pixels 7 family.
Samsung is at least aware of this conundrum. “It’s definitely a challenge we’re facing and will need to address,” TM Roh, president and head of the mobile experience business at Samsung, said in an interview with CNET earlier this year about the Z’s pricing. Fold.
Foldable phones are still a nascent part of the broader smartphone market, but changes like these could bring them closer to becoming viable alternatives to our everyday devices. Samsung helped popularize the big screen phones we use today with its first Galaxy Note phone in 2011. He’s trying to do the same with leaflets, but clearly there are still challenges to overcome.
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