Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 Review: $ 2,000 Euro Innovation That Nobody Asked For?

Today’s hero, Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, is a phone with a flexible screen. Overall, it can probably be said that Samsung was the first to launch a phone with such technology in the global market. And yes, the “wow” effect is. Admittedly, it only takes a few moments when you fold the phone for the first time. So it’s just a big, bright AMOLED screen.

I did not use the first Fold, I only know that the manufacturer did its homework: it increased the diagonal of the front screen, and now it is no longer so insignificantly small and not very useful. The edges of the large screen are now symmetrical, the camera module is hidden in the hole in the screen.

screen

Since the main “horse” of this phone is the screen (more precisely the screens), I will start with them and not with the technical parameters. So up front, smaller, here: 6.2-inch AMOLED, clocked at 60 Hz. So a display that’s not special, except for one of its features, the aspect ratio, 2260 x 816 pixels. Generally speaking, very narrow and very long. This means that, above all, the keyboard is very “tight”. I used the phone for a few weeks. And every time I had to reply to a short message in a messenger or email, I almost always used the big screen because when I used the small one, I kept writing the wrong handwriting and there were a lot of mistakes when writing the text.

Second, the screen dimensions are so non-standard that when I play a video, I remember the iPhone 4 times. Take a look at the attached photos and you will understand what I mean. Therefore, you will not be able to watch the video comfortably.

And now, on what makes people choose this model: the flexible screen. I mentioned in previous reviews that I watch a lot on YouTube and Netflix. That is why I use this screen mainly to watch videos. Screen diagonal 7.6 inches, 2208 x 1768 pixels, 120 Hz AMOLED matrix. Then it is a full-fledged tablet. But here’s the catch: the screen’s aspect ratio is closer to 3 x 4, while almost all videos are shot at 16 x 9. Which means that no matter what you look at, almost a third of the screen it will not be used and you will see black bars across the top. and background. Getting closer? Yes, you can, but you will also lose part of the video.

Also worth mentioning is the second-gen Fold, a clearly visible, felt groove in the middle. I did not use the first Fold, I cannot compare it to the flex mechanism itself, but the slot is nowhere to be found.

I think you, like me, wondered how to get the most out of your phone by tilting the screen 90 degrees. I discovered two possibilities:
1. When using the front camera, do not hold or hold the phone in your hand. That is why it is very convenient to make video calls with colleagues or loved ones, just by leaning on yourself and buildings on the table.
2. It is convenient to watch movies when the phone is tilted.
I don’t see any more benefit from using the screen in this way.

In a review of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, I have said that the Note pen (style) will be useful for a child to draw like a toy, and the practical benefits of it are few. That’s right, I can definitely say the same about the Fold 2 big screen. The surprise effect will no longer be for you but for your child when drawing or playing games. I just don’t see any other benefit in it.
Ah yes, 120 hertz. But I’ve already tried them on other phones, and on one, which doesn’t even cost 300 euros, so it was no surprise. Oh, and I couldn’t expect anything else on the phone for that price.

The last nuance on the screens. Both have a protective film that can be peeled off. But if the small screen film has at least one oleophobic coating and your fingers slide well, then the large screen film is made of some kind of rubber, has no coating, collects fingerprints, and is constantly covered in dust and other dirt, so it must be constantly cleaned. This film can be peeled off on request, unlike Fold 1. I only advise you to use the screen with extreme caution, as it is not covered by any tempered glass to protect it from scratches or strong pressure.

Technical parameters

Well, somehow sad note that we started here. Let’s talk about what’s good on the phone. This is the speed. The device is equipped with the most powerful version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor (great and at the same time not Exynos), including 12 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of non-volatile memory. It is true that the memory cannot be expanded with the Micro SD card, even the second SIM card has no space here.

The phone “flies” no matter what you do: applications open in an instant, files and new applications are sent instantly, and the graphical environment works smoothly.

The phone software also allows you to take advantage of the larger screen by simultaneously displaying up to three applications on the screen. Tried running Youtube, SMS message window and loading Delfi.lt at the same time. The phone “hangs up”, a message appears stating that there is no SIM card inserted and that I am not connected to any network. Finally, after a few minutes, the phone was recovered.

However, a software bug bothered me so much that I didn’t even want to use the phone. And I think it will be relevant to a lot of people here. Instagram doesn’t work well on your phone. First of all, it is not displayed in full screen. And second, clicking on any Instagram story immediately opens a quick reaction window, and you can’t see that or that story anymore, the window hangs. You have to click in the text entry window, then click Back and the stories can be viewed. I know there are additional apps that solve these problems and I understand that Instagram may not yet be optimized for a flexible display, but does the buyer expect this when paying $ 2,000 for a phone?

The speakers here are two, and they are very strong and expressive. As the ads say, “probably the best on the market.” Plays louder than any previously tested phone with stereo speakers.

The finger reader is here, in my favorite place, on the side of the phone. When it runs, it runs fast, the screen unlocks instantly. I remember torturing with the Note 20 Ultra fingerprint reader built into the display, so thank you Samsung for installing a proven and working solution. But whether it’s from the shape of the phone or my exaggerated fear of pulling it out of my hands, it seems like Fold 2 tries to scan my finger many times. And after five unsuccessful attempts, it is necessary to enter the PIN code, otherwise the screen will not unlock. This happens at least 10 to 15 times a day. I have not had this problem when using any other phone.

Cameras

The cameras on this phone also asked me questions. Because everything is very ambiguous. The main 12-megapixel sensor here captures 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, and it does that very well. The detail is good, the focus does not “run” when looking for an object, it records sound in high quality. Optical image stabilization has been tested by climbing steep stairs; it works perfectly.

Shoot well with this device. Both the main camera and the 12-megapixel wide-angle camera (which covers a wide-angle by the way) shoot well both day and night. I will give examples. BET. But at the end of the day, it is a phone for 2,000 euros, and I expected it to shoot not “not bad”, but better than the Note 20 Ultra (which is much cheaper), or at least as well. And there is a rush to disappoint you. The level of quality of the photos of Note is not expected. However, the optical zoom is, but only twice. In some photos the exposure is good, in some even simple frames the image is overexposed, the color range does not correspond to reality, the color tone is bluish, a bit with a purple tone.

I had a very inexpensive phone from another manufacturer on hand and couldn’t see the difference in some of the photos, others just had different color temperatures and some of the best photos were taken with the cheap phone.

The 10-megapixel Fold 2 front camera: For anyone, the quality of photos is sometimes lower than that of a budget device, and that is completely unjustifiable. During the day, facial features are artificially softened, the face looks rosy, color distortions at sunset, and a lot of noise in the dark.

I don’t understand what the manufacturer was thinking. Isn’t an accent on the phone enough, in this case a flexible screen? After all, we choose a phone, especially an expensive one, for all occasions.

Battery

I have said it many times and I will repeat it again: for me, the large capacity battery is one of the most important features of the phone. And no matter how powerful or beautiful it is, if the battery is poor, I would not even consider buying such a phone. The phone has a built-in 4500 mAh battery. And do you think that a battery of this capacity in a phone with two large screens will not be enough? It is clear that it will not be enough. Other manufacturers install batteries of this size or capacity in their flagships with a single display. By the way, here is another model from Samsung: a budget Galaxy M51, with a 7000 mAh battery and fast charging. Why not install such a battery in the Fold? After all, yes or yes, the phone is big and heavy. The user is unlikely to feel the extra weight, and everyone here will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the phone for longer.

When actively used, the battery barely lasted into the night. I wouldn’t be quick to call the included 25-watt charger, the phone is fully charged in over an hour and a half. Other flagships also have a 60-watt charge with a full charge in less than an hour.

Summary

I tried really hard to see more positives in the Galaxy Fold 2 model. Both shell materials are good and the phone runs fast. The screens are bright, the speakers are loud. But the low battery, mediocre camera and little use of a practically square screen prevented me from enjoying this device in the way I imagined. And that case of Instagram… Maybe Fold 3 will finally put everything in its place?