Samsung wowed everyone last year when it introduced the Galaxy Fold. Sure, it took a few months to figure out the kinks after the first batch of units saw some fatal manufacturing defects.

Well-executed folding display with articulating hinge and improved protection from dust; Wireless charging and powershare; Gorgeous finish and design has us feeling the nostalgia; Galaxy Concierge Premier customer care; Flagship level camera experience

Samsung’s brand-new Galaxy Z Flip is the third folding screen phone that I’ve reviewed. It happens to also be the best folding screen phone I’ve reviewed — but don’t let that fool you.

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

The Galaxy Z Flip is your best bet at a good foldable experience should you be in the market for one. However, if you’re on the fence about these devices, you’ll be more than fine waiting to see how Samsung improves them. For those who think folding phones are a gimmick, I think you’re mistaken.

The real question with the Z Flip is how much are you willing to compromise in exchange for novelty? For many people, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip will meet their requirements in battery, camera and power, providing something unique that looks great; but for the gamers, enthusiasts and power users, the...

It's cool; Great retro flip action; Plenty of power; Solid build; Good camera performance

Display longevity concerns; No waterproofing; Price

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip isn’t just the latest foldable phone to hit store shelves -- it’s also the least expensive, and the one we enjoy using the most. The main draw here is the design: The Z Flip feels like a perfectly normal smartphone while open and folds down to half size when closed.

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

Update, July 22: Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip 5G will be released Aug. 7 for $1,450. Original story follows.

Samsung does almost everything right with its new foldable flip phone, proving that this experimental design has a right to exist.

Sits open for selfies and video calls; Foldable glass screen; Camera quality; Ultraportable;

Expensive; Overly small outer display; Susceptible to damage;

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

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.

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 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