Samsung announced at the beginning of the year, 2019, its first folding smartphone and the expectation could not be higher in these months. The first units that were distributed to specialized media presented durability problems that forced them to delay the launch but, for a few months, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is already on sale for $1,979.99 on Amazon.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has very powerful technical specifications, including a Snapdragon 855 processor, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage and a total of six cameras. However, the real hero is its 7.3 “folding screen that extends when you open the phone.
Samsung Galaxy Fold Review
Samsung has advanced to all major brands by launching the first folding smartphone. Although its launch had to be delayed due to the durability problems of the screen, the Samsung Galaxy Fold that you can buy today has overcome those problems.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a different design than other smartphones. When folded, it is a pretty blunt smartphone since it has a thickness of 17.1 mm and a weight of 276 gr. (In comparison, the Galaxy Note10 + is 7.9 mm thick and weighs 196 gr.). This makes it noticeable when you carry it in a pocket.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a 4.6 ″ screen on the outside that, although it is somewhat small by today’s standards, allows you to see notifications, make calls or use apps without opening the smartphone.
We can even take a selfie using the external front camera, although it looks a bit small.
When we open the Galaxy Fold, magic is done by unfolding before us the large screen of 7.3 ″.
This screen has a fairly square aspect (4.2: 3 ratio) and has a notch in the upper right corner to house two front cameras that I wish had been smaller.
The screen has a vertical fold in the central area that, curiously, is virtually invisible if you look at the screen just in front but it is perfectly noticeable if you look at it from an angle – that is, your friends see it more than yourself. This fold is also noticeable when you drag your finger on the screen. It is not serious but it is there.
The folding screen is a Dynamic OLED Flex Display panel with a pixel density of 362 dpi, so it is very sharp. The screen is compatible with HDR10 + and offers two color modes called Natural and Intense that cover the wide DCI P3 color space.
In Natural color mode, color fidelity is excellent, while Intense mode produces supersaturated colors (more unreal but more striking). The screen offers pure blacks, so the contrast is virtually infinite. The maximum brightness of the interior screen is not as high as in other high-end smartphones but stays in 546 nits (interestingly the external screen reaches 704 nits).
Samsung has incorporated a fingerprint reader on one side, in a position that is quite comfortable to reach when the phone is closed. However, I would have preferred it to be integrated into the power button to turn on the screen and unlock the phone in one motion.
Samsung has also incorporated a facial recognition system that, in general, works very well. This is the system that I use when opening the phone since, while opening, recognition occurs.
The performance of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is spectacular, as expected since it incorporates the powerful Snapdragon 855 processor accompanied by 12 GB of RAM, more than any mobile device needs.
Both in benchmarks and in my experience of use, the Samsung Galaxy Fold offers bestial performance. Not only do apps move smoothly, but demanding 3D games like Asphalt 9, Dead Effect 2, PUBG or Fortnite move at full speed in maximum quality mode.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold arrives with 512 GB of eUFS 3.0 storage, the fastest we can find today. This storage is not expandable by micro-SD but, with this capacity, it seems unlikely that you need more space.
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy Fold supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax), the new protocol for WiFi networks, and LTE / 4G cellular connectivity.
It only has space for a single nano-SIM card but it supports Dual SIM through an eSIM.
Samsung has equipped the Samsung Galaxy Fold with two batteries that add a capacity of 4,380 mAh, an amount that does not seem too large for such a large screen (although it is also true that you will often use the external screen).
In tests, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has obtained good results of autonomy, above what we expected given its large screen. In practice, you should have no problem reaching the end of the day with mixed use of both screens.
Samsung has not incorporated the fast cable and wireless charging systems present in the Galaxy Note10 +, but we have to settle for fast cable charging at only 15W. The entire charging process takes almost 2 hours.
The Galaxy Fold features stereo speakers, located on the right and left when the smartphone is deployed and offers Dolby Atmos surround sound for a more immersive 3D audio experience. These speakers emit a sound with great power and good quality.
In the absences section, we must mention the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been removed. In return, Samsung has included the magnificent Galaxy Buds wireless headphones in the box.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold comes with Android 9 Pie and, above, the Samsung One UI customization layer that seeks to simplify the use of the smartphone and make the most used buttons and controls more accessible.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a large number of software functionalities above Android such as gesture control, power-saving modes, secure folder, dual messaging, Game Tools, Samsung Pass, Samsung Pay or virtual assistant Bixby.
Samsung has added some features specially designed for the large folding screen such as Application Continuity, which allows you to open an app on the secondary screen and continue using it on the large folding screen when you open the seamless smartphone, or Multi-Active Window, which allows you to display Up to three apps on the screen at once, all of them running simultaneously.
It has added three cameras in the back of the Galaxy Fold that offer great versatility because they allow capturing with ultra-wide-angle (16MP f / 2.2), wide-angle (12MP f / 1.5 or f / 2.4) and telephoto lenses (12MP f /2.1).
Samsung has added a functionality called Scene Optimization that, by AI, detects a scene like food or vegetation and applies certain settings automatically, normally related to color saturation.
We also found a Night mode that increases the brightness of the scene as if we were taking a long exposure photograph, but without the risk of it moving. Photography takes longer to save but the result is good.
Samsung has also incorporated the Dynamic Focus mode that allows you to blur the background of a photo (even afterward) to simulate the known bokeh effect, and the result is quite good. This effect is also available when recording video, but there the results are improved as imperfections are noted.
In general, the performance of the rear cameras of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is good, both in conditions of good light and at night, although I would not dare to say that it is the best. The telephoto camera, for example, is not as bright as others, so the phone often chooses to use the main camera and cuts.
The external and internal front camera of the Samsung Galaxy Fold has a 10MP sensor and f / 2.2 aperture and allows taking individual selfies or group selfies with a wider viewing angle. The internal front camera is also accompanied by a depth camera that helps when taking selfies in Dynamic Focus mode.
The rear camera is capable of recording video in 4K resolution at 30 / 60fps, Full HD at 30 / 60fps and HD, while either of the two front cameras can record videos in 4K, Full HD and HD formats at 30fps. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Fold allows you to record HDR10 + video at 30fps with greater contrast and color although this functionality is in beta.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a price of $1,979.99 on Amazon, so it is possibly the most expensive smartphone you can buy today without counting some special editions.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is a different smartphone, with a large screen that falls in love and makes it difficult to return to conventional screens. Its hardware accompanies since it is the best of the high range, so its main handicap is, apart from the price, its ergonomics since it is a fairly thick and heavy device when it is closed.
Samsung Galaxy Fold Specifications
| Launch | Announced: 2019, February Status: Available. Released 2019, September |
| Colors | * Space Silver * Cosmos Black |
| Dimensions & Weight | Dimensions Folded: 62.8 x 160.9 x 17.1 mm (Hinge)–15.7 mm (Sagging) Unfolded: 117.9 x 160.9 x 7.6 mm (Frame)–6.9 mm (Screen) Weight 276 g |
| Display | Main Display 7.3″ QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED Display (4.2:3) Infinity Flex Display (2152×1536) 362ppi Cover Display 4.6″ HD+ Super AMOLED Display (21:9) 720×1680 399ppi |
| Camera | Cover Camera * 10MP Selfie Camera * Pixel size: 1.22μm * FOV: 80˚ * F.No (aperture): F2.2 Front Camera * 10MP Selfie Camera * Pixel size: 1.22μm * FOV: 80˚ * F.No (aperture): F2.2 * 8MP RGB Depth Camera * Pixel Size: 1.12μm * FOV: 85˚ * F.No (aperture): F1.9 Rear Camera * 16MP Ultra Wide Camera * Pixel size: 1.0μm * FOV: 123˚ * F.No (aperture): F2.2 * 12MP Wide-angle Camera * Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS * Pixel size: 1.4μm * FOV: 77˚ * Dual Aperture: F1.5 mode/F2.4 mode * 12MP Telephoto Camera * PDAF, OIS * Pixel size: 1.0μm * FOV: 45˚ * F.No (aperture): F2.4 |
| Intelligent features | Scene Optimizer Shot suggestions Flaw Detection |
| Battery | Battery capacity * LTE model: 4380mAh (typical) dual battery * 5G model: 4235mAh (typical) dual battery |
| Charging | Fast Charging compatible via power cord and wireless |
| Memory | 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage |
| SIM Card | LTE model: one eSIM and one Nano SIM 5G model: one Nano SIM |
| OS | Android 9 (Pie) |
| In the Box | Galaxy Fold Device Galaxy Buds Data Cable Travel Adapter Ejection Pin USB Connector (OTG) Quick Start Guide Slim Cover |
The Best and Worst of Samsung Galaxy Fold
The best:
The Worst:
Price and competitors
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is on sale in Spain for $1,979.99 on Amazon, a high price that surpasses any other high-end smartphone on the market. Therefore, it is not a smartphone for all budgets but only for those who want the latest technology regardless of price.
The Galaxy Buds wireless headphones are included in the box, as well as a case divided into two parts to protect the smartphone.
The Huawei Mate X has a design with a folding screen but, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the screen does not bend inwards but outwards. This design has the advantage that it does not need a secondary screen or many cameras, but on the other hand the screen is always exposed.
In terms of technical features, the Huawei Mate X is a very powerful smartphone as it has an 8 ″ folding OLED screen, Kirin 980 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, 40MP camera (angular) + 8MP (telephoto) + 16MP (ultra-wide-angle) + ToF and 4,500 mAh battery.
Motorola recently announced the Moto Razr, which is a reissue of the legendary 2004 model with a 6.2 “folding screen, 2.7” secondary display, Snapdragon 710 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and 2,510 mAh battery.
All Image Credits: Galaxy Fold (Official Samsung website)
