Samsung has officially unveiled its new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, with a bigger 7.6-inch display, 27 per cent smaller bezels and a smoother fold, retailing for a whopping £1,799.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2, unveiled at a virtual event today, is the Korean company’s third foldable phone and an update of the original Galaxy Fold, released last year.
When unfolded, the phone’s screen is bigger and more square in shape than its predecessor for a more cinematic and immersive viewing experience thanks to thinner bezels – the borders between a screen and a phone’s frame.
The device, which supports 5G, also comes with a Infinity-O display, which covers the entire face of the phone and features a small ‘hole punch’ for the camera.
Samsung revealed a sneak peak of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 at its virtual Unpacked event for the Galaxy Note 20 smartphone last month but has only just released full details.
The phone goes on sale on September 18, with pre-orders starting on the Samsung website from today.
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The new Galaxy Z Fold 2. The outer cover screen, which acts as the display when the phone is folded, is 6.2-inches, while the massive main screen when unfolded is 7.6-inches, making both larger than the original Galaxy Fold
Samsung has already released two foldable devices – the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip, which flips like a retro 90s phone thanks to a hinge through the screen.
‘Last year Samsung pioneered a new mobile category with the launch of the Galaxy Fold,’ said Gina Suk, manager of Marketing Relations at Samsung Electronics.
‘Now, our innovation journey continues with the Galaxy Z Fold 2.’
The new Galaxy Z Fold 2 has been redesigned based on consumer feedback and smartphone user behaviours, according to Samsung.
The company surveyed 476 Galaxy Fold users in the US and Korea late last year and found a 71 per cent surge in watching video clips and a 35 per cent increase in gaming compared to their previous smartphones.
The device’s ‘free stand’ capability allows it to stand from anywhere between a 75 to 115 degree angle for hands-free use, such as watching videos while exercising
The biggest difference between the original Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the two screens – the outer screen and the larger main screen that’s revealed when unfolded.
The cover screen is 1.63 times the size of the cover screen on last year’s model – 6.2 inches across compared with 4.6 inches on the original.
The main screen, meanwhile, is an impressive 7.6 inches across, bigger than the original Galaxy Fold’s 7.3 inches.
Dimensions of the device when unfolded measure slightly larger in width than the original – 5.04 inches, compared with 4.64 inches – and around the same length.
But the extra screen space for enjoying content is also thanks to smaller bezels and the Infinity O display.
Infinity-O, which is the closest thing to an all-screen design, has a tiny circular cut-out at the top of the display for the front camera.
Comparison with the original Galaxy Fold (left) released last year and the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 (right)
Galaxy Fold (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 2 (right). Despite the larger screen size and bigger dimensions generally, the new phone is slimmer in the user’s pocket thanks to less chunky body
The main screen now features a 120Hz default refresh rate for smoother scrolling and better gameplay, twice that of the Galaxy Fold.
Dual speakers on either side of the screen also provide a balanced stereo effect for a more immersive sound experience without the need for Bluetooth speakers.
The device’s ‘free stand’ capability allows it to stand from anywhere between a 75 to 115 degree angle for hands-free use, such as watching videos while exercising.
When completely folded, the new device is also slimmer than its predecessor for a better fit in the owner’s pocket, thanks to less chunky components.
Samsung has also touted more ‘seamless transitions’ when users want to switch between folded and unfolded mode while using apps.
Galaxy Z Fold 2 is available in two colours – mystic black and mystic bronze – although customers can pick the colour of the hinge
The original Galaxy Fold was released in September 2019, following technical troubles that held up its worldwide launch, including reports of broken displays after only a few days of use when the device was released to reviewers in April.
Some of the damage was caused by impact on the top and bottom exposed areas of the hinge, the company said.
Among the issues were dust and particles finding their way underneath the display and causing bumps and blemished in addition to interfering with the hinge mechanism.
The phone initially appears similar to the original Galaxy Fold. Both devices feature an outer screen and a giant inner screen that appears when unfolded
The main screen now features a 120Hz default refresh rate for smoother scrolling and better gameplay, twice that of the Galaxy Fold
Galaxy Z Fold 2 overcomes these issues with sweeper technology that makes it more difficult for dust to infiltrate the folding mechanism.
Its design is ‘anchored’ by the Hideaway Hinge, which fits into the device body with the CAM mechanism and enables free standing capabilities.
The designs uses a dual CAM mechanism that makes standing the device upright easier.
A CAM has two ridged-shaped parts with a flat surface in the middle and the folding and unfolding are maintained when the edges meet.
Galaxy Z Fold 2 is available in two colours – mystic black and mystic bronze.
But consumers have the option of customising the colour of the hideaway hinge to fit their tastes – either metallic silver, metallic red, metallic blue or metallic gold.
The phone also comes as a limited edition as part of a partnership with American clothes retailer Thom Browne, which goes on general sale in the UK on September 25 for a mind-numbing £2,999, exclusively on Samsung.com and Harrods.
Each Thom Browne Edition Package also includes the Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Buds Live and customised accessories.