Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Well-executed folding display with articulating hinge and improved protection from dust

Still too expensive to justify its form factor

For the rest of us who are not getting one - the key takeaway here is that the foldable race is really on now and it will be a fun one to watch.

Flip phone form factor is practical and fun ; Great all-around performance ; Solid camera quality ; It feels like a standard smartphone when open ; It’s the least expensive foldable out there

Inherently more fragile than other phones ; External screen is too small to be helpful ; The main glass screen is still prone to scratching ; Flex Mode is pretty limited ; Less future-proof than more traditional rivals

Its inherent fragility, more than anything, is why I hesitate to embrace the Z Flip more fully. Sure, these things might last longer than Samsung suggests, but we don't live our lives in hermetically sealed labs. The real world is messy. Accidents...

Great performance ; Decent battery life ; Solid-feeling, smooth hinge

Glass screen’s plastic covering picks up scratches easily ; Cameras aren’t as good as S10 or iPhone 11 ; Expensive

At the end of the day, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is still an expensive curiosity that you shouldn’t buy. But it is a sign that something far less curious and far more normal is actually possible.

Outstanding, futuristic design and cool look; Compact when closed, fits in small pockets; Generous 256GB on-board storage

Super expensive for what it is; Screen can be easily scratched or permanently damaged by a fingernail; No water resistance; Having to flip it open for practically anything gets annoying quickly

Outer screen more useful ; Improved performance ; Clean UI ; Loud speakers

Camera mixed bag ; Battery could have been better ; Heats up

Fun, gadget-like feel ; Great build quality ; Good cameras ; Foldable

So-so battery life ; Slow charging

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip was a great foldable for its time. Even if the clamshell-style form factor isn't quite as useful as something like the Galaxy Z Fold series, the quality of the hinge and display outweigh the negatives. However, the Galaxy Z...

Snapdragon 855 Plus is plenty powerful ; Ultra-thin glass aids durability ; Compact design when folded ; Less expensive than other foldables

Subpar battery life ; Exterior smudges easily ; Still pretty pricey at $1,380

or Galaxy S21 Plus, but the advances Samsung made with this device over the Galaxy Fold makes us think that foldable phones actually have a future.