Samsung officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 last month at Unpacked, right next to the Galaxy Note 20 family. Unlike the Note 20 Ultra, however, we had to wait until now to actually get our hands on the thing. But bless the UPS driver, we finally have one in the house.
What's new about Samsung's newest foldable device and how does it actually feel to use it? Let's get into that.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: A Premium Build
Probably the biggest difference between the first Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Fold 2 is the build quality. While Fold used a decent amount of plastic around the body over the last year, the second generation swapped that out with a lot more metal - and boy, does it feel hefty. It's pretty thick like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but the lack of rounded corners makes it even more substantial than this device.
You'll also find that the front display has grown significantly since the previous generation, which is what we were hoping for on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. Last year's Fold had a front screen, which was hardly usable due to its uncomfortable size, enclosed in the glass. With the Fold 2, you get a much larger 6.2-inch display that is reinforced with the latest Gorilla Glass Victus. This display is about a third narrower than the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but still perfectly usable. Make no mistake though: just like the first Galaxy Fold, you'll want to open this thing up and use the indoor screen as much as possible.
The inner display: Fixed many problems
This indoor screen has also been greatly improved since the last generation. It's now a 7.6-inch dynamic AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Unfortunately, just like with the Note 20 Ultra, you can't force the screen to keep this refresh rate all the time. It only changes depending on the type of content you are using. Read an e-book? The screen is updated at 10-11 Hz. Watch a movie? That is 24Hz. Of course, if you swipe across the interface and play supported games, you can get up to 120Hz.
Connected: Update rate explained: what do 60 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz mean?
You'll also be pleased to see that Samsung replaced the plastic OLED display from last year with the ultra-thin glass (UTG) we saw in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. This composite material feels a lot more like real glass compared to the plastic display from last year. It also feels more sturdy and reinforced. There is still a small crease in the middle of the display, but it is less pronounced than last year and is only really visible from certain angles. Otherwise it feels pretty similar to a conventional smartphone.
The camera cutout was drastically reduced compared to the previous year, and Samsung opted for a hole cutout instead. This is similar to what we've seen in the latest Samsung Galaxy devices. The cutout leaves a lot more display and a lot less plastic edge. Overall, it looks a lot cleaner than the first Galaxy Fold. I'm a fan.
Internals spiced up
Just like the first fold, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has some crazy specs. They have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage (oddly less than the 512GB option we saw last year). The phone also has a 4,500 mAh battery with 25 W fast charge and wireless charging.
In addition to these core specs, we have a brand new camera system for the Z Fold 2. The rear camera module is similar to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with three 12MP sensors flanking the camera bump. You have a main, a wide angle and a telephoto lens that allow the Z-fold to capture almost any situation. If Samsung has ported a similar color science from the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, these cameras shouldn't be anything to scoff at.
Connected: Galaxy Note 20 Ultra camera versus Galaxy S20 Ultra camera: sibling rivalry
The internal punch-hole selfie camera is 10 MP, but Samsung says you may be more inclined to use the rear cameras to take selfies instead. Because the Z Fold 2 has this outer display, you can see yourself while taking selfies with the main rear sensors. The screen isn't nearly as big, of course. So if you'd rather use the interior trim, this 10-megapixel pinhole camera should work just fine too.
Another big change from last year is a vastly improved hinge mechanism on the Galaxy Z Fold 2. While last year's Fold could only sit in a few positions, the Z Fold 2 took inspiration from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip so that it could bend anywhere between zero and 180 degrees. That said, you can open it at an angle if you want to watch YouTube videos on the internal display, or you can set it to take a long exposure at any angle. Samsung calls this Flex mode, and certain apps should be scaled to fit in the top half of the display when you're using it. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite seem to work on our device yet. We are asking Samsung for an update and will be in touch when we hear more.
Full specifications:
Show
Outside:
6.2 inch HD + AMOLED
Resolution of 2,260 x 816
386ppi
Aspect ratio 25: 9
60Hz refresh rate
Inner:
7.6 inch QXGA + AMOLED
Resolution 2,208 x 1,768
373ppi
Aspect ratio 22.5: 18
120Hz refresh rate
Central processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
camp
256 GB UFS 3.1 integrated
No expandable memory
power
4,500mAh double battery
Fast loading
Wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging
Cameras
Outside front:
10MP sensor
ƒ2.2, 1.22 μm, 80 degree field of view
Outer stern:
12MP wide angle
1.8, 1.8 µm, 83 degree field of view
Dual pixel AF, OIS
12MP ultra wide
ƒ2.2, 1.12um, 123 degree field of view
12MP Tele
2.4, 1.0um, 45 degree field of view
PDAF, OIS
Internal:
10MP sensor
ƒ2.2, 1.22 μm, 80 degree field of view
Connectivity
Sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax
HE80 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
MST and NFC
safety
Capacitive fingerprint sensor (mounted on the side)
Audio
Stereo speakers
Dolby Atmos certified
No headphone jack
operating system
Android 10
Dimensions
Folded:
68.0 x 159.2 x 16.8 mm (on the hinge)
Unfolded
128.2 x 159.2 x 6.9 mm (on the frame)
Colours
Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: The full review will follow shortly
We are working hard to put our thoughts together on the Galaxy Z Fold 2. By then, is there anything you want to know about this matter that we haven't covered? Write your questions in the comments below and we will surely answer them when we can!
If you want to get your hands on your own Galaxy Z Fold 2, it will cost you. Samsung sells this thing for a cool $ 1,999. You can reserve a pre-order now, but orders will be open at midnight on September 2nd. The phone will officially go on sale on September 18th.