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Phones Samsung Z Fold 2
- Thread starter The Game 161
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I'm leaving the Samsung installed display protection on for now. Would just feel too nervous without it lol
Ok so some thoughts after a day...
The good:
- Hardware is best ive used on any phone. Its amazing. Everything feels premium.
-Screens are both really good. The front screen is just big enough to be useful. In future iterations, they need to make the front screen wider.
- Hinge is excellent. I have no frame of reference as I didnt use the first Fold, but I see no faults with it. Resistance is consistent throughout the entire range of motion.
- Crease is less noticeable than I thought it would be. You can feel it and at certain angles the light will hit it and it shows, but in day to day use its invisible.
- Performance is excellent. The phone flies.
- Battery seems good but too early to judge. This will vary more than with most phones because a lot depends on outer vs inner screen usage.
- Cameras seem pretty good in limited testing. Not Pixel or Note 20 quality but definitely in line or better than my S20 plus.
- Ergonomics are not too bad. I thought this phone would be unwieldy but it actually feels better to use than the S20 Ultra I had for a while. Weight is distributed well and even when closed it being so narrow makes it easy to hold.
- Multitasking finally makes sense. I've never used split screen on other phones because it was always too cramped to use for more than a few minutes. Here it actually makes sense and works well for the most part.
the bad/meh:
- Software is not polished. This isnt necessarily a Samsung problem as much as it is a Android problem. I noticed a decent amount of apps dont scale correctly on the outer display. It isnt always the case but it happens enough. Also, a lot of apps arent really useful on the big inner screen because they are just blown up versions of the regular version. I knew this going in but it actually makes a lot of them harder to use than with a normal size phone. Oh and flex mode isnt really useful in any app besides the camera.
- Screen protectors. While Im glad they are included, the inner one is a little hazy and if you wear polarized sunglasses you'll get the bad rainbow effect from it making it hard to read. And because of their warning and fragility of the inner screen, I'm too afraid to remove it.
- Lack of accessories. Again, I knew this going in but using this phone without a case or anything is making me nervous. And the limited number of cases out there are all backordered. Im also worried the ergonomics are going to take a dive when I had a case to an already huge device. It cant really afford to be any wider or thicker.
- Gimmicky. This is one I'm still up in the air on but I just figured I would mention it. Maybe I havent found the right combos of apps for multitasking yet but right now if im being honest, this doesnt feel like the game changer I thought it would. Maybe that changes in the next week or so, but right now it feels like cool tech but not something I couldnt do without if that makes sense.
- Fragility. Maybe this is a mental thing, but Im very aware of where this phone is at all times due to the combo of price and fragility. It hangs out the top of my pocket a lot of the time and so Im aware of it when sitting down and when doing stuff because Im worried it could fall and without a case and with its weight, im guessing the results would be bad. Hopefully when cases come out this will be put to rest.
As you can tell, I'm probably more lukewarm on the device than the others here who have their device. This could be because I want to find reasons not to keep a $2k phone lol but Im going to keep using it for another week and see if it growns on me. Dont get me wrong, the phone is amazing and the software shows a lot of potential. Im just not sure if its $2k great. For that price IMO it needs to be a game changer and so far Im not completely sold on it. But maybe I should just chill the **** out since its only been a day, lol. Just my two cents.
The good:
- Hardware is best ive used on any phone. Its amazing. Everything feels premium.
-Screens are both really good. The front screen is just big enough to be useful. In future iterations, they need to make the front screen wider.
- Hinge is excellent. I have no frame of reference as I didnt use the first Fold, but I see no faults with it. Resistance is consistent throughout the entire range of motion.
- Crease is less noticeable than I thought it would be. You can feel it and at certain angles the light will hit it and it shows, but in day to day use its invisible.
- Performance is excellent. The phone flies.
- Battery seems good but too early to judge. This will vary more than with most phones because a lot depends on outer vs inner screen usage.
- Cameras seem pretty good in limited testing. Not Pixel or Note 20 quality but definitely in line or better than my S20 plus.
- Ergonomics are not too bad. I thought this phone would be unwieldy but it actually feels better to use than the S20 Ultra I had for a while. Weight is distributed well and even when closed it being so narrow makes it easy to hold.
- Multitasking finally makes sense. I've never used split screen on other phones because it was always too cramped to use for more than a few minutes. Here it actually makes sense and works well for the most part.
the bad/meh:
- Software is not polished. This isnt necessarily a Samsung problem as much as it is a Android problem. I noticed a decent amount of apps dont scale correctly on the outer display. It isnt always the case but it happens enough. Also, a lot of apps arent really useful on the big inner screen because they are just blown up versions of the regular version. I knew this going in but it actually makes a lot of them harder to use than with a normal size phone. Oh and flex mode isnt really useful in any app besides the camera.
- Screen protectors. While Im glad they are included, the inner one is a little hazy and if you wear polarized sunglasses you'll get the bad rainbow effect from it making it hard to read. And because of their warning and fragility of the inner screen, I'm too afraid to remove it.
- Lack of accessories. Again, I knew this going in but using this phone without a case or anything is making me nervous. And the limited number of cases out there are all backordered. Im also worried the ergonomics are going to take a dive when I had a case to an already huge device. It cant really afford to be any wider or thicker.
- Gimmicky. This is one I'm still up in the air on but I just figured I would mention it. Maybe I havent found the right combos of apps for multitasking yet but right now if im being honest, this doesnt feel like the game changer I thought it would. Maybe that changes in the next week or so, but right now it feels like cool tech but not something I couldnt do without if that makes sense.
- Fragility. Maybe this is a mental thing, but Im very aware of where this phone is at all times due to the combo of price and fragility. It hangs out the top of my pocket a lot of the time and so Im aware of it when sitting down and when doing stuff because Im worried it could fall and without a case and with its weight, im guessing the results would be bad. Hopefully when cases come out this will be put to rest.
As you can tell, I'm probably more lukewarm on the device than the others here who have their device. This could be because I want to find reasons not to keep a $2k phone lol but Im going to keep using it for another week and see if it growns on me. Dont get me wrong, the phone is amazing and the software shows a lot of potential. Im just not sure if its $2k great. For that price IMO it needs to be a game changer and so far Im not completely sold on it. But maybe I should just chill the **** out since its only been a day, lol. Just my two cents.
The outside glass is Gorilla Glass Victus and the frame is metal, so as along as its closed I wouldn’t worry too much about its fragility, probably more drop and scratch resistant than other flagships released in the past couple years.
The inner display when open on the other hand.....
Well, maybe. If you watched any of the JerryRig videos, all these Gorilla glass versions are basically small upgrades on themselves. But in the grand scheme of things, its still class and it still only has a certain hardness level. And really, the improvements are mostly to scratch protection and not shatter protection. A drop of this phone face down on concrete is still going to result in a cracked screen more often then not IMO.
The inside screen is a tough call. I see a lot of people on reddit removing the screen protector and saying it looks 1000x better without it. And Im sure it does. But I would need clear confirmation from Samsung that removing the inner screen protector doesnt void warranty or exclude one from the $150 one time screen replacement.
I dont agree. Even though I might be one of those people that return it, I can see how this is the ultimate phone for a lot of people. For productivity or media consumption, it destroys even the best flagship phones out there because they just cant compete with the screen size. But for people that work from home and are at a desk most of the day, I dont know if this is better than a good phone and an iPad. It is basically worse versions of both of those things, but on the flip side, it does do both of those things.
That's fine if you don't agree but I'd be very surprised if even 50% of users on here who have bought one will keep it.
Anyone wanting the best camera or something less fragile until tech improves probably won't entertain this device. And any power business user will likely already be covered with a laptop or tablet set up.
That's fine if you don't agree but I'd be very surprised if even 50% of users on here who have bought one will keep it.
Anyone wanting the best camera or something less fragile until tech improves probably won't entertain this device. And any power business user will likely already be covered with a laptop or tablet set up.
Maybe. But its certainly not a lacking camera, is just isnt quite up to Pixel or Pro Max levels. Its a solid B camera. But nobody that bought this was doing so for the camera, so thats probably a moot point.
I can see a lot of power users going with this actually. Ones that are tired of toting a phone and tablet/laptop wherever they go. Like I said, I get the target audience of this device, Im just not sure if I fall under that category besides being a tech enthusiast. But early reviews from the others here are all overwhelmingly positive.
Oh and for those wondering, this can absolutely be a daily driver phone. I was wrong there. Its pocketable enough and feels durable enough. And its feels pretty normal when using it for calls. The narrow and thick design I was argue actually feels more comfortable as a phone then the typical super wide and thin devices we're used to.
Oh, of course you always run the risk of shattering the display on a drop, but on some of the drop tests I’ve seen on the Note 20 Ultra with Victus, I have been impressed. And this has a flat display. So closed, I think it would do fairly well.
I had a Moto RAZR for a couple weeks earlier in the year, and only after a couple of days I had very light scratches on the inside plastic display, light enough that when the screen was on you couldn’t tell, but with the screen off and at an angle you could see them. I plan on keeping the inner display screen protector on as long as possible.
I think you underestimate how many owners who need glasses sudden realize the benefit of the larger screen let alone it's functionalityThat's fine if you don't agree but I'd be very surprised if even 50% of users on here who have bought one will keep it.
Anyone wanting the best camera or something less fragile until tech improves probably won't entertain this device. And any power business user will likely already be covered with a laptop or tablet set up.
Like many here not until you own and use a Fold, a lot of the almost petty myths spread by hypothesizing the arse out of ever nook and cranny are barely founded
Well you would say that. You've been championing it since the first fold as it very clearly works for you. Which is great. ??
I'm not saying this phone is not fit for 'anyone' but it is still very niche in my opinion.
Hence my comment of it being quite probable that a lot of people will be returning them.
But that's not necessarily Fold related. It's the same with any Samsung. Most people go back to iPhones or Pixels after the shine has worn off with a Samsung device. It's only really the Note 20 Ultra which I do see people keeping hold of longer, as it seems to tick more boxes than their previous flagships.
I think Lisa Gade noted that she observed that the Fold V1 display appeared to have some self healing like properties as her small dint disappeared
There is no evidence to support the Fold is any less resilient to drops than any other phone and more likely to be better in closed mode and under some falls the impact can be absorbed by the hinge flexing and/or the glass
I'll agree that its a niche device. But only because foldable phones are still rare and most are really beta. I bet almost nobody would be returning it if its wasnt $2k, lol. I know I wouldnt.
Totally agree. If it was £1200 or so, I think people would definitely be keeping hold.
Hell, I'd be tempted at a much lesser cost to use if for reading, media and Google Sheets which I use daily and is a pain on a normal mobile screen.
Have you not noticed the lack of the inverse of your claim LOL
There are almost no posts here of Note or other Android users saying the IPhone is so appealing they are swapping OS
In this thread we have plenty of mixed users and those that dabble in and out because it's risk free due to generous return policies. If they lived elsewhere they would be less fickle with both comments and purchases.
There is no reliable stats to be obtained by us here as we are not indicative of norms and most people are not playing with $1k and $2k phones
Have you been reading these threads. LOL
I've been round here long enough to know people use both. I'm in that camp too after all.
And that's exactly why people are returning them. Because they can. Free trial and off if goes back. But in doing that it just shows how niche it is. My comment was around how many people will be keeping these things. And you said it exactly yourself. Most people are not playing with phones this price. But if us tech lovers aren't... Who is. Old people who have bad eye sight? Not sure.
Has anyone else noticed the speaker quality isn't great, for calls at least. I'm having a really tough time hearing both the loudspeaker and also the earpiece. At first I thought maybe there was some factory wrap still there, but it's all clear.
This is on calls, the loudspeaker sounds really low, the earpiece sounds low and it's very directional so you have to shift the phone around until it's firing just right, shift a bit more and you lose a lot of volume. I did try some music on it and it did sound pretty good (nice volume, no bass just as most reviewers noted) so maybe it's an issue with the phone app. For phone calls my iphone 11 max is wayyyyy louder and clear.
Also it seems that stuff gets inside the inner screen VERY easily. I've been doing some work in the garage, just some sweeping and organization and the phone is closed and deep inside a cargo pocket, I have not taken it out inside the garage at all. Every time I go in the house and open it up there is dust and junk inside the screen, I'm talking about big pieces, that's a big concern. Yeah I don't think this would be a good construction phone.
This is on calls, the loudspeaker sounds really low, the earpiece sounds low and it's very directional so you have to shift the phone around until it's firing just right, shift a bit more and you lose a lot of volume. I did try some music on it and it did sound pretty good (nice volume, no bass just as most reviewers noted) so maybe it's an issue with the phone app. For phone calls my iphone 11 max is wayyyyy louder and clear.
Also it seems that stuff gets inside the inner screen VERY easily. I've been doing some work in the garage, just some sweeping and organization and the phone is closed and deep inside a cargo pocket, I have not taken it out inside the garage at all. Every time I go in the house and open it up there is dust and junk inside the screen, I'm talking about big pieces, that's a big concern. Yeah I don't think this would be a good construction phone.
Samsung internet is a tablet version. You can see your tabs at the top. Its well done.
Samsung native apps are pretty much all optimized for the foldable display. Same goes for the main Microsoft Office apps. Other than that its a crapshoot. Some apps that have tablet or desktop modes will switch, but many are just stretched.
I think the earpiece is just really small. So its easy to slide off the earpiece and not be able to hear very well.
Why should it matter who is buying them the fact that there was say ~1m Fold V1 sold and the Fold V2 is likely to sell considerably more is enough for this format to continue
Whats wrong with being niche that in it's own right has appeal
For a luxury niche device that's outstanding, many designer or expensive/luxury items at 2k can only dream of selling in those numbers and it was something Apple exploited for several years with Mac's selling in premium product market
Add to this the tech enthusiasts and those that see the value of replacing say two devices phone/tablet combo with one etc
There are plenty of buyers, heck we even have someone here complaining of poor service because they are selling so well they can't get one
Not everything has to sell in the 10's of millions to be a desirable product and as we seen some may be returning only because they can't justify 2k not because they do not want it but can afford to play with a return window for fun
Stuff getting inside between the displays is a big concern for me too. The Fold doesn't close all the way at the hinge so it could let something get in and scratch the screen. I am not going to take the default installed display protector off anytime soon for sure!
I haven't tried making any calls yet.
I think we are looking at this device very differently. And I don't think either is right or wrong.
I am with MKBHD where he questions who this phone is for, and whilst it may be the best foldable it's still filled with compromises. For some, those compromises will likely depend on their usage.
It being niche is not a positive in my opinion. I think it's almost there in terms of being a viable device for a lot of people. But as it is currently I'm not sure. And I still don't buy the argument that it will replace a tablet (particularly an apple tablet) and a mobile phone. Unless all that person does on their tablet is consume content.
Hmm that's not good news, I'm very sensitive to those phones that have very directional ear pieces. Will have to do further testing, but right now if the primary function of being a phone is neutered this isn't going to work for me.