latest
Americans are looking forward to the golden age of foldable phones, survey says
Unsurprisingly, Samsung remains the most preferred brand for now
We've been talking about them for more than half a decade at this point, but it seems the foldable smartphone is still in its nascent stages of perfection and popularity. The Samsung Galaxy Z series dominates the conversation overall, but foreign competitors like Vivo have been taking big strides in the segment and making us wish we could buy the X Flip in North America. But with a power vacuum in place, a new survey indicates Americans are raring for a particular brand to get on with its own foldable smartphones.
Check out Samsung's next clamshell foldable in all these glorious colors
Gray, purple, black, yellow — which one will you pick?
We're quickly approaching Samsung's usual late-summer slot for announcing new flagship devices, but this year, it's the Galaxy Z-series we're expecting to see instead of a Note refresh. Both the Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 passed through the FCC last week, revealing stylus support for the latter. However, if you've been waiting to see what the next clamshell foldable from Samsung would look like, new renders have leaked that show the phone from all angles.This leak comes courtesy of GizNext, showing off virtually every aspect of the Z Flip3. Although only four variants are on display here, the site expects it to be available in eight different colors: green, violet, black, white, pink, dark blue, gray, and beige (which is somehow different from both yellow and white). That's a lot of options to pick from, but it makes it easy to find something that fits your taste.The device uses the same 6.7" internal display as the original Z Flip, complete with its super-tall 25:9 aspect ratio. The external display may not be as large as the one on the Z Fold2, but at 1.9", it's a significant step up from the first-gen model. Two lenses are places next to the external display, while the selfie camera is hidden under the internal screen. According to the report, the Z Flip3 uses a Snapdragon 888, though we'll have to keep waiting to learn its other specs, like its RAM and battery capacity.
Samsung's bringing some Galaxy S21 features to older phones with a software update
One UI 3.1 won't make your S20 into an S21, but you will get some of its features starting tonight
Samsung has just announced that it's officially bringing its Android 11-based One UI 3.1 software to older devices. Initially exclusive to the S21 series, this wider rollout includes the Galaxy S20 series, S10, Note10, Note20 series, Z Fold2, and Z Flip series, as well as some A-series phones. Better, that also means some features from the Galaxy S21 are trickling down to older devices with it, and the rollout starts tonight.
Samsung Z Flip 5G gets permanent price drop, foldable now costs as much as a Galaxy S21 Ultra
A marginally more accessible price at $1,200
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5G has just picked up a permanent price drop. When it launched last year as a slightly refreshed version of the original Z Flip, it came with a price bump to $1,450. But in the wake of the S21 series launch, Samsung cut its entry-level foldable's price down to "just" $1,200 in a permanent adjustment.
The Galaxy Z Flip is certainly among the most exciting phones of 2020, but it's also one of the most expensive handsets of the year with an MSRP of a whopping $1450. If you've been eyeing the flip phone, now might be the time to take out your wallet. The Z Flip is currently only $773 on Amazon, which is $607 off the MSRP — the lowest we've seen so far.In his review, our own Ryne was instantly in love with the new innovative form factor and the build quality (no creaking or flexing), but there are also a few caveats inherent to the shape: There's no IP rating for dust and water resistance, no headphone jack, and this version right here doesn't have 5G. The phone also runs on the fairly old Snapdragon 855+, but it still provides some oomph thanks in part to its reliance on fast UFS 3.0 storage. But most importantly, the phone provides an experience unlike most others on the market, and if you want to live on the cutting edge without spending an egregious amount of money, this Z Flip deal might be for you.
Samsung's foldable Galaxy Z Flip could be yours for just $880 ($500 off)
You have just a few hours to grab this deal of the day at B&H
Foldable phones and affordability don’t quite go hand in hand. For instance, the cheapest Samsung device to sport a flexible screen, the original Galaxy Z Flip, cost about $1400 at launch. That’s a lot of money! But if you'd still like to end calls by slamming the phone shut and flaunting your foldable, you can jump on this fantastic B&H deal that is straightaway striking $500 off the Galaxy Z Flip’s sky-high retail price.
Seemingly as part of today's Unpacked Part 2 and Galaxy Z Fold2 festivities, Samsung has dropped the price of the original 4G LTE Z Flip by , bringing the phone down to a still-expensive $1,299. There's one other perk, though: Samsung is also giving folks a free leather case if they pick one up — another $80 value.
Galaxy Z Flip review, two months later: The right phone at the wrong time
Folding phones are the future, but don't buy this one
Read update
The progress we've made with folding phones in just the last year is stunning. We went from teasing the concept behind a glass box to several shipping products in just about no time, culminating almost precisely one year later in this: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It's a folding vision from the future, loaded with flaws and bent like a scythe in preparation of the Flat Phone Reaping. Even if you don't buy the Z Flip (and you shouldn't), your current phone's days are numbered.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip is getting a new software feature for its "Flex mode," which changes app interfaces depending on the angle of the hinge. An update to the YouTube app rolling out today will deliver new Flex mode tweaks to Google's streaming app, separating video from the description/comments/recommendations while playing content.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is back in stock at Samsung's site
Unlocked models won't ship for weeks, though
If you were waiting for the Galaxy Z Flip to come back in stock at Samsung's storefront, get your credit card ready. Following factory shutdown woes, Samsung has opened orders up again — though dates for shipment vary, with unlocked models set weeks out.
The Galaxy Z Flip's glass display fails at almost every level in JerryRigEverything's torture test (Update: Teardown)
Durability test pokes holes in the phone's screen, polymer "protective layer" not enough to save it
Read update
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip was billed as the first folding phone with a glass display, but thanks to a "protective layer," the top-most surface you actually interact with is only as durable as a plastic screen protector. In a testing video published earlier today, Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything showed off how easily the phone's display scratches, in the end, literally poking holes in it.
Galaxy Z Flip first impressions: Folding phones have turned the corner
I'm convinced — this is the future
Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip, the company's latest folding phone, has been making plenty of waves in recent days — first for being the world's very first glass folding phone, and later for being more delicate than "glass" would imply. I've only had the day to play with the phone following our very brief time with it at Samsung's event, and while I'm trying to reserve my full judgment for later, I have to say: So far, I really like it.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip is now official as the first formal announcement at Samsung's Unpacked event, before even the Galaxy S20 series. The company is "changing the shape of the future" with the Galaxy Z Flip. The new folding phone, featuring a folding glass display, will be available starting this Friday the 14th, beginning at $1380.