We got more time with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, the flip phone with a 6.7-inch screen that folds in half. Our first 24 hours with it have been positive, albeit limited, and good news, unlike the Galaxy Fold, this Samsung foldable is decidedly durable.
The actual problem this time has been buying the Z Flip – it’s sold out throughout the world despite being quite expensive.

It costs more than the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus, and it’s about the same price as the Galaxy S20 Ultra in most regions.
Is it worth the high price? We’re here to answer that in our ongoing Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review, and we’ve noticed five things in the past few hours.

The small 1.1-inch Cover Display on the front doesn’t offer a lot of room, but it packs in the basic essentials when it comes to notifications and quick information, like the time and battery percentage. When someone calls, their name shows up here.
Inside on the unfolded screen, we dug the Flex UI, which allows for multitasking with two apps and, in some cases, enables the controls of one app to be laid out across the Full HD+ screen. For example, taking a selfie puts the camera preview on the top screen, while all of the controls are on the bottom of the display. And the phone works great half-folded for video calls, acting as an impromptu tripod on a table.

We’ve found the camera quality and the chipset to be nearly the best, but not the best. That title will likely go to the S20 series, which pack more robust internals and better camera sensors, and those three S20 phones start to launch on March 6. It’s going to be a tough call for a lot of people with big enough budgets to afford either.

Design, display and battery

Yes, due to its small footprint, the Z Flip is lighter on specs compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, but it’s not short on novelty – that it has in spades. Just don’t expect the latest 7nm chipset, Samsung’s newest cameras or largest battery capacity

Specs and functionality

When it comes to cameras, there’s only two shooters on the rear of the Galaxy Z Flip. This isn’t going to compete with the Galaxy S20 Ultra anytime soon. There’s a 12MP F2.2 Ultra Wide camera that works with a 12MP F1.8 wide-angle shooter.

There’s a small cutout in the display for selfies when you have the phone unfolded and that’s achieved through a 10MP front-facing shooter. We were unable to test these out properly in our first time with the phone, but we’ll be sure to put them all through their paces at the time of our full review.

In the US and UK, the Galaxy Z Flip is using 2019’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset and it’s not currently clear if it’s different in other markets. That chipset should offer suitable amounts of power, but isn’t as impressive as the tech used inside the S20 range.

There’s only one variant of the Galaxy Z Flip that comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. There’s no microSD slot here though, so you won’t be able to expand that any further.

Early verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip doesn’t necessarily represent a pivot in Samsung’s foldable phone strategy – it feels more like another experiment to see which design sticks with consumers. Who knows, both the Fold and Flip styles may co-exist.

In launching after the Moto Razr, the Z Flip gets a lot of things right that Motorola got wrong, including stuffing in a bigger battery and thin glass, not plastic, to protect the 6.7-inch inner display. That’s not enough reason for everyone to pay so much money for a phone that’s just as pricey as the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which has better camera and specs. You have to be looking for something new and chic.

If anything, the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is evidence that the future of foldable phones hasn’t been decided; it’s a bold idea – and one that’s rather flexible, if you will.