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Samsung is back with another great foldable. The new $ 1,999 Galaxy Z Fold 2 replaces the original $ 1,980 Galaxy Fold and offers a number of notable enhancements, from a much larger external display to a more durable hinge, 5G, and a more powerful chipset.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is also more versatile than its predecessor, thanks to a new Flex mode and improved multitasking to run three apps on the screen at once. From the specs and design to features and software, our comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Fold will explain all the major differences between these two expensive futuristic devices.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: Design and Displays
While both the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Fold have a couple of screens inside and out, the screens on the newer device are better in almost every way.
The original Fold incorporated a small 4.6-inch AMOLED panel on the outside, along with a 7.3-inch AMOLED panel on the inside protected by a plastic substrate. The new model changes the external with a new 6.2-inch screen and increases the size of the main screen to 7.6 inches.
The 7.6-inch panel also sees an improved 120Hz refresh rate, which carries the dynamic LTPO technology introduced in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, allowing you to match its speed to the frame rate of whatever content is playing. actually.
Using ultra-thin glass will undoubtedly make the Z Fold 2’s large screen more durable and enjoyable to look at than that of the original Galaxy Fold, which suffered from strange depressions and an orange-peel effect under certain light. The Z Fold 2’s hinge is stronger too, due to Samsung’s new Sweeper system, which uses bristles to effectively move dust and debris behind the screen, where it could damage things. This was an issue for some early first-gen Galaxy Fold reviewers, so we’re happy to see it addressed here.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is slightly shorter but wider than its predecessor, and it weighs 9.9 ounces, which is half an ounce more than the original model. A new cam mechanism allows the screen of the Z Fold 2 to remain partially folded in various positions between closed or fully open, and when the device is closed, the space between the two halves is thinner. The first Galaxy Fold couldn’t stay partially open, was either fully open or not at all.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes in two colors: Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. The original Galaxy Fold was offered in Space Silver, Cosmos Black, Martian Green, and Astro Blue.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: Specifications
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 | Samsung Galaxy Fold | |
|---|---|---|
| starting price | $ 1,999 | $ 1,980 |
| Monitor | 7.6 inch indoor OLED (120Hz); 6.2-inch outdoor OLED | 7.3-inch indoor OLED (60Hz); 4.6-inch outdoor OLED |
| Processor | Snapdragon 865 Plus | Snapdragon 855 Plus |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Rear cameras | 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom) | 12MP wide, 16MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom) |
| Frontal camera | 10MP (both screens) | 10 MP exterior, 10 MP and 8 MP depth interior |
| Battery size | 4,500 mAh | 4,380 mAh |
| Battery life (hours: minutes) | Not tested yet | 10:01 |
| Size | 6.2 x 2.6 x 0.66 inches (closed); 6.2 x 5 x 0.27 inches (open) | 6.3 x 2.5 x 0.66 inches (closed); 6.3 x 4.6 x 0.27 inches (open) |
| Weight | 9.9 ounces | 9.3 ounces |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: Cameras
Triple-lens rear camera systems can be found on both the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Fold, and if you’re looking closely at the spec sheet, it will appear that not much has changed. Both devices have 12-megapixel 2x primary optical zoom telephoto lenses, with slight differences in aperture as Samsung has ditched its old variable aperture system on its latest models. Meanwhile, the old 16 MP ultra-wide shooter has been scrapped in favor of a 12 MP unit.
As for the front cameras, there are two 10MP lenses on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, above the exterior and interior displays. The first Fold had an additional 8MP front depth sensor on the inside, although that hasn’t made the jump to the newer model. However, the Z Fold 2 can still capture Live Focus selfies, even without the help of that extra sensor.
Samsung’s mobile imaging hardware is getting wildly good – the Note 20 Ultra has a phenomenal set of cameras, between its 108 MP main sensor and 5x optical zoom, while the regular Note 20 (which I’ve personally been using lately) has a solid also a stack of optics that can rival (and in many cases, surpass) Apple’s best efforts in the iPhone 11 Pro Max. So we expect the cameras on the new Fold to be even better than the ones they are replacing, despite how similar the hardware may look from the outside.
Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a couple of new camera tricks. Auto Framing keeps subjects in the frame when shooting movies. This is useful if you have the Z Fold 2 in its laptop-like Flex mode. You can also use the rear cameras for selfies and the front camera as a viewfinder; or you can let your subjects see themselves through the cover screen while taking photos, making sure no one asks you to take them againperhaps).
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: performance
Like the Galaxy Note 20 range, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 uses Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, along with 12GB of RAM. There’s only 256GB of non-expandable onboard storage on the Z Fold 2, and there isn’t a 512GB option this time around, which means you’ll have to make the most of what comes with the device.
The original Galaxy Fold, released last year, features the Snapdragon 855 chipset and 12GB of RAM. However, it came with a 512GB storage standard, one of the only obvious advantages of the first-gen model over the next.
The 865 Plus represents a notable improvement over the 855. Consider that the Galaxy Fold scored 2,619 points in the multi-core system-wide Geekbench 5 test we ran last year, while the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 scored 3,193. The newer foldable will certainly be more adept at multitasking and juggling background processes, which is exactly what you want from a multifaceted foldable tablet / phone hybrid like these devices.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: Software
Samsung introduced a number of useful UI features and tweaks to the original Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip that have been tweaked and improved for the Galaxy Z Fold 2.
One of them is Flex mode. Together with the new cam hinge on the Z Fold 2, the device can be deployed at various angles and remain still. When in this orientation, the phone will display different content at the top of the screen relative to the bottom, to provide expanded controls for certain applications. Google Duo is one of those apps, as is YouTube and most of Samsung’s source software, including the gallery and camera. Samsung says it is working with third-party developers to help create even more Flex mode-optimized apps.
App Continuity also allows you to take a closer look at the content displayed on the external display, simply by opening the device. For example, if you are watching a YouTube video while the phone is folded and then you open it, the video will instantly resume on the inner screen where it left off.
Samsung has also improved the multi-active window feature of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 so that it can be used to launch three applications together. Images and text can also be dragged between windows, which is sure to excite Z Fold 2 buyers for its productivity potential.
While Samsung may bring some newer software enhancements to the original Galaxy Fold over time, that device is physically unable to adapt to Flex mode, because it lacks the camera mechanism that allows the Z Fold 2’s hinge to stop in place. . That makes it arguably less attractive to power users and provides another reason to jump into the new model.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs. Galaxy Fold: battery and charging
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 4,500 mAh battery, a slight increase from the 4,380 mAh power pack in the first Fold. The new phone ships with a 25-watt charging adapter and once again supports wireless charging and PowerShare reverse charging for accessories, which is very convenient and impressive given how much Samsung has packed into this device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs Galaxy Fold: Outlook
Samsung’s first bet on a folding phone was ambitious, but clearly fraught with initial problems. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 addresses pretty much all the glitches someone could have had with its predecessor (save for the high price, of course).
We are in the process of testing and reviewing our Galaxy Z Fold 2, so we cannot recommend the device yet. However, if you’ve been waiting for a second-gen foldable to smooth out the woes of those first few attempts, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 looks more and more like that device could be – and a much smarter buy than its predecessor. . And for $ 2,000, it better be.
