Samsung’s second stab at making a foldable smartphone has a killer form-factor that sets it apart from almost everything else out there. Unfortunately, by most metrics, it also lags behind everything else you could possibly buy for the premium price-tag. It’s also missing a lot of the things you’d usually take for granted in a smartphone that costs this much.

When spending less money gets you a better display, longer battery life, sharper optics, 5G connectivity and less worries, being able to fold a 6.7-inch screen in on itself doesn’t seem nearly so tempting.

Ultraportable; Clean software;

Lacks flagship features & camera; Durability concerns; Too expensive;

Flip, flip, hooray! With the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung is launching its second foldable smartphone, which features a folding concept similar to that of the Razr. The price is also similarly high, but the Samsung mobile phone promises a stronger configuration based on its data sheet. In this review you'll find out if the Galaxy Z Flip also convinces in everyday life or if it's just an expensive fashion gag.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is particularly convincing with its folding concept, which is much easier ...

fancy and compact foldable mobile phone; bright and color-accurate OLED panel; fast Snapdragon SoC; good cameras; dual-SIM via eSIM; broad frequency range;

no storage expansion possible; Wi-Fi should be faster; moderate call quality; sliding properties of the display surface could be better;

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is a tantalising, desirable look at one possible future of the smartphone. A big phone that folds into a compact square is surprisingly pleasing to use, much easier to pocket and has the side benefit of adding a bit of distance between you and your phone.

Pros: a screen that folds in half, big screen made pocketable, stands on its own, good camera, day+ battery life, exciting and different, One UI 2, good gestures, wireless charging and powersharing, nano sim and esim

Cons: durability unknowns, no dust or water resistance, high cost, no headphone socket, no telephoto camera, no expandable storage

It’s been a little over a year since foldable display smartphones have become a real thing. Samsung hit a few snags with the launch of the Fold and Huawei took a few extra months to make sure the Mate X could withstand the rigors of day-to-day use.

Incredible performance, Great durability, Coolest phone money can buy

Software still needs improving, Definitely not affordable, Average cameras

Slick, compact design, solid battery life, more durable screen and hinge, side-mounted fingerprint sensor

Mono speakers, very limited water resistance, exterior cover screen could be bigger, somewhat difficult to open with one hand, expensive

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip ($1,380) is the first folding-screen smartphone that incontrovertibly works. It's still a bit clunky, a big square that says "niche luxury item" rather than "everyone's next smartphone." But that's OK. After all, expensive, uniquely designed clothing exists, and people pay for and enjoy it. Here at PCMag, we review flashy desktop PCs where you're definitely paying extra for the clear case and blue coolant fluid, but they rate highly. So given that the Galaxy Z Flip works, and it does, I'm happy to give it a salute while at the same time not recommending it for most people. We've now seen three generations of folding phones, and they're improving fast. The Galaxy Fold had some serious initial build issues. The Motorola Razr doesn't actually work very well as a smartphone. Yes, the Z Flip has a scratchable screen and costs $1,380, but at least it does everything you want it to. So if you love the design and can foot the bill, take it to Fashion Week. Every...

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the first folding phone to really work, but it's still a costly and potentially fragile fashion object rather than a mainstream hit.

Solid all-around performance; L-shaped mode is good for taking photos

The utility of the folding screen doesn't justify the high price

The Galaxy Z Flip was the best foldable phone, at least until the Galaxy Z Fold 2 came along. As clever as the design of the Flip is, at a still-high $1,380, it’s hard to recommend this phone over more traditional flagships like the iPhone 11 Pro and Galaxy S20 Plus.

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

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the first really successful folding smartphone. And it is especially perfect for you who love to film or take pictures of yourself!

For the first time, the foldable form factor works and gives the user new, creative possibilities. The build quality is good, and the performance is top notch.

Is not dust and water repellent. The front screen could have been bigger, and the camera lacks optical zoom.

Just love it

Great design; Nippy performance; Novelty factor;

Front screen too small; Main screen is fragile; Mono speaker;