Samsung gave me the hype-tastic opportunity to spend two weeks with the stunning Mystic Bronze Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, and it honestly felt like I was given the keys to a Rolls-Royce Sweptail so I could drive to the local spaza for a Fanta Zero and some chips.
For most, a mobile phone is something that’s dropped in a pocket, and taken a drive to the shops or movies, maybe a nightclub, whatever, to bust out a quick selfie and Instagram update so your mom can comment somebody totally irrelevant about your Aunty Mildred’s hernia operation, right? Well, the Galaxy Z Fold2 is way too posh for that sort of thing. It tells you from the get-go that it’s not dust resistant, or wants anything to do with water, and to please make sure your ATM card doesn’t get placed in the fold and smoosh up against any part of the screen, because it’s going to break and and you’ll cry.
So, what market is Samsung is going for with this ultra-premium smartphone?
For me (for a #blessed two weeks, anyway), the Galaxy Z Fold2 was a notebook first, then a tablet, and then a phone, because, like oh, it’s also a phone. For that reason, it doesn’t do pockets. No, no, no. The Z Fold2 deserves a bag or briefcase, and a special place on your desk whilst you discuss with your team of accountants where to invest your next million. Perhaps on a velvet cushion. Or a private jet.
The Galaxy Z Fold2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chip, a super-fast octo-core Kryo 585 CPU, the Adreno 650 GPU, and 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, with 256GB (non-expandable) built-in storage. It also, obviously, features an internal and external screen. Both the external Super AMOLED 6.23-inch and internal Dynamic AMOLED 7.6-inch screens support HDR10+, although only the foldable internal screen hits your eyeballs at a very acceptable 120Hz.
The phone is equipped with five cameras – two 10MP selfie cams, each with a notch cut out in the screens, and three 12MP main cameras on the back. Your photos will look great, but remember, this isn’t a phone you’d take out on a camping trip for that perfect sunset shot because who knows when somebody is going to trip and spill soda on it. It does support 4K recording at 60FPS, so you can think about that while you don’t actually use it. Safety first, kids!
According to my kitchen scale, the phone itself weighs in at 287 grams without a SIM card, and is encased with smudge-resistant brushed aluminium that even stretches across the back of the hinge. The phone also comes standard with a factory-fitted plastic cover over the glass, but don’t forget to stay away from anything that could scratch or damage this phone, including your kids/cats/ex, just in case.
Android 10 runs like a dream on this phone, and using software as basic as the calculator app while messing around with the foldable screen is super cool. Obviously, apps that support multiscreen – or better yet, Flex Mode – would truly bring the Galaxy Z Fold2 to life, but I have yet to see any third-party application take advantage of this. Fingers crossed for 2021?
The battery life was decent and I never felt like the unit wouldn’t make it through the day due to the large 4,500mAh in the belly of this beast. And I have to say, it felt so good in my hands. Like a butterfly, but with internet.