Samsung Launches New Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 Smartphones

[Sasparilla]

With Sammy's marketshare declining, at least here in the U.S., they are really desperate that these solutions in search of a problem devices are successful.

They have a history of just throwing anything and everything to the wall of the market and if it pans out, that's one of the few new wins. They are certainly putting the year over year investment in these.

 

[TVreporter]

They'll price me out forever regardless of what they produce.

I'll give Samsung credit, they're willing to take risks and see what sticks. I know one friend who recently got a Fold and he loves it. Let's see how long the screen/hinge lasts is the big factor.

The watches look nice and plenty of features - hope the Apple Watch offers the same or more.

And Samsung always times these events just before Apple's to try to get a jump on them. Marketing team working OT!

 

[Spock]

I like the idea of a foldable phone but I tried using a friend of mines and the bump in the middle of the big screen was distracting to me.

 

[steve09090]

With Sammy's marketshare declining, at least here in the U.S., they are really desperate that these solutions in search of a problem devices are successful.

They have a history of just throwing anything and everything to the wall of the market and if it pans out, that's one of the few new wins. They are certainly putting the year over year investment in these.

Maybe if they gave away free matching Macarons with it. Apple just match cables and stuff, but macarons change the equation…mmmmm

 

[Mr. Dee]

Yep, Innovation these days is "Size of Apple's Bank Account" - "Apple Marketing Spend". Not much else.

And that’s why people are holding on to their older iPhones longer. They are not fooled these days. Apple has been selling pretty much the same phone since 2017. The fact that there are over 240 million iPhones ripe for an upgrade and they are not budging is concerning. Think about those on 11, 12, 13 in the coming years. They are not gonna be rushing out to get 15, 16 and 17.

 

[mzubb]

A coworker who I see every few months has a Galaxy fold. Not sure which model, it's the square one that unfolds taller. The first time I looked at it, it had a visible fold line, but not too distracting. Last month, the distorted area had spread to about a half inch wide.

I am really interested in the concept and I hope Samsung can improve the fold and maybe someday Apple will perfect it.

 

[steve09090]

And that’s why people are holding on to their older iPhones longer. They are not fooled these days. Apple has been selling pretty much the same phone since 2017. The fact that there are over 240 million iPhones ripe for an upgrade and they are not budging is concerning. Think about those on 11, 12, 13 in the coming years. They are not gonna be rushing out to get 15, 16 and 17.

100%. I used to upgrade every 2 years. 3s-4s, 4s-5s, then it went 5s-X (4 years) and X-12Pro (2 years but it was just for the camera) and I’m not looking at least to the 15.

 

[spartan1967]

Love that Flip! With Apple stopping Mini production, I am 100% positive this will be my new phone when my 13 Mini becomes obsolete. By then, the Flip will be even more refined. If Samsung stops making them, I will just buy the latest generation.

 

[Galley]

What’s the deal with the orientation of the watch face? Does it change based on the angle of your arm?

 

[M3gatron]

I can't believe people are complaining about creases and "not seeing the need" - we are living in a time with folding freaking screens and we just shrug it off.

They don't have a lot of other things to complain about like they did at first.
The rafinaments Samsung made are quite nice, the Fold and Flip are maturing really nicely.

 

[Abazigal]

And that’s why people are holding on to their older iPhones longer. They are not fooled these days. Apple has been selling pretty much the same phone since 2017. The fact that there are over 240 million iPhones ripe for an upgrade and they are not budging is concerning. Think about those on 11, 12, 13 in the coming years. They are not gonna be rushing out to get 15, 16 and 17.

I think you are conflating cause with effect.

First, it's not necessarily a bad thing that people are holding on to their iPhones longer. With over a billion active iPhone users, we are looking at annual sales of over 300 million iPhones due to upgrades alone. At this point, I am less worried about how many people plan to buy iPhones (the demand will always be there) and worry more about whether Apple can actually supply that many!

Second, the apple ecosystem means that Apple continues to earn even if consumers are not buying new iPhones, be it accessories (Apple Watch, AirPods), services or apps. Heck, Apple even earns every time you use Apple Pay. Apple doesn't need you to keep buying new iPhones, they just need you to keep using one.

Third, as smartphones mature, gone are the days when smartphones get so many significant new features in a single generation that would make every iPhone user want to run out and upgrade. It's wasteful, and as mentioned above, Apple simply wouldn't be able to make that many. I think Apple is doing the right thing by being very deliberate and measured with their annual iPhone upgrades. When you do finally decide to upgrade 3-5 years down the road, the next iPhone model will still represent a significant improvement over your current model.

There's nothing to fool. People were already holding on to their phones longer, Apple has pivoted from selling iPhones to selling to people with iPhones, and regardless of whether you upgrade your iPhone annually or not at all, Apple still wins either way.

 

[ponzicoinbro]

These phones are garbage and they are so desperate to get rid of them that they come with a garbage NFT.

I’ve never seen a new phone get dumped on to the used markets faster than all the Folds and it will be the same result with the new ones.

 

[Abazigal]

It's funny that the YouTube hands-on videos of the new Samsung phones dropped on YouTube at the same time as their keynote started. Does Samsung have so little faith in their own marketing material?

 

[notabadname]

My friend has had 3 of these, 1 each of the prior Gens. The 1st was just terrible, and was replaced twice due to issues with the fold, bubbles and debris gettin inside the fold, and delaminination. The others have been better. But interestingly, he probably opens the device a max of 10% of the time - when seated, and both hands are available, to watch a video or see an image in a larger format. The Video, because of 16:9 aspect, doesn’t really look any bigger than on my iPhone (13 Max) when viewed in landscape, it just has much bigger letterboxing due to the squarish screen when opened. But his regular (folded) use finds him looking at a much smaller screen than mine, and a thicker phone that is harder to put in a pocket. The open format is practically an unusable feature when single-handed. I still don’t see the day-to-day benefit for most people. But yes, it looks cool and the tech is neat.

The day the device (when closed) is about the thickness and size of my current iPhone for regular use, and then when opened becomes an iPad mini essentially, I am in.

 

[Macalway]

They are crushing it. In some ways, Apple is actually behind. Hilarious.

Love this company.

 

[webkit]

With Sammy's marketshare declining, at least here in the U.S., they are really desperate that these solutions in search of a problem devices are successful.

Smartphone device market share for Apple has seen declines in the U.S. too.

According to Counterpoint:
Apple's Q4 U.S. market share dropped from 65% in 2020 to 56% in 2021.
Apple's Q1 U.S. market share dropped from 55% in 2021 to 50% in 2022.

Samsung's Q4 U.S. market share increased from 16% in 2020 to 22% in 2021.
Samsung's Q1 U.S. market share decreased from 27% in 2021 to 24% in 2022.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I like how Samsung likes to try new things

Uh-huh, and you like customers being guinea pigs?

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

My friend has had 3 of these, 1 each of the prior Gens. The 1st was just terrible, and was replaced twice due to issues with the fold, bubbles and debris gettin inside the fold, and delaminination. The others have been better. But interestingly, he probably opens the device a max of 10% of the time - when seated, and both hands are available, to watch a video or see an image in a larger format. The Video, because of 16:9 aspect, doesn’t really look any bigger than on my iPhone (13 Max) when viewed in landscape, it just has much bigger letterboxing due to the squarish screen when opened. But his regular (folded) use finds him looking at a much smaller screen than mine, and a thicker phone that is harder to put in a pocket. The open format is practically an unusable feature when single-handed. I still don’t see the day-to-day benefit for most people. But yes, it looks cool and the tech is neat.

The day the device (when closed) is about the thickness and size of my current iPhone for regular use, and then when opened becomes an iPad mini essentially, I am in.

Very reasonable take on the form factor, and I agree with you: looks very cool and I'm excited to see where it goes in the future, but it's not there yet for me.

 

[GSWForever8]

Personally, the flip looks quite good, after all, you could fold between a phone and a tablet. But the flip looks more like an only flip phone, why would I want to flip my phone just to use it?

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

Uh-huh, and you like customers being guinea pigs?

And how are customers not guinea pigs with new things from Apple? I am thinking butterfly keyboard, touch bar etc.
Also, how could any manufacturer try out new things without testing it on the customers first?

 

[MJaP]

I'm waiting for the next generation folding phone...

 

[VulchR]

Waiting for Apple to release their folding phone, so we can progress from "nobody needs a folding phone" to "my folding iPhone is great" stage of acceptance on this forum.

Unlikely from my viewpoint, unless Apple releases a phone with a precision hinge joining two separate screens. Until then I am not interested in either of the Samsung Creases.

Anyway I am waiting for the origami phone - one fold isn't enough.

EDIT: Ugh - beat me to it.

I'm waiting for the next generation folding phone...

 

[1557750]

I have no hate for Samsung. Owned Galaxy’s and liked them. Think their flips/folders are overpriced for the lack of durability. We’ll see if the Z Flip can produce better pics and how the battery life does this time round.

Just hope Apple stays away from folding phones.

 

[Madhatter32]

Flip phones make so much sense. Larger screen when it is being used. Smaller form factor when in the pocket or used as a phone. I have wanted one of these since I retired my Motorola Razr. If only it ran iOS ... that would be even better.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Uh-huh, and you like customers being guinea pigs?

Not a nice way to describe the people who purchased a Mac with the butterfly keyboard...