Samsung Launches The Foldable Galaxy Z Flip: 6 Things To Know

The device maker announces its second major foldable phone, and this time it folds top to bottom, similar to the original flip phones.

For those who've been dreaming of a return to the flip phone days of old, 2020 is shaping up to be a good year, with the latest announcement being Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip.

Unlike Samsung's first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Z Flip folds from top to bottom. That makes it more akin to the forthcoming foldable reboot of the Motorola Razr.

[Related: Samsung's Galaxy S20 5G Lineup: 10 Things To Know]

The Galaxy Fold was the industry's first mainstream foldable smartphone when it arrived in North America in September, but that device folded open from left to right into a 7.3-inch tablet.

The Galaxy Z Flip, instead, folds down into a compact-sized square.

What follows are six key things to know about Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip, announced today at the company's Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event in San Francisco.

Displays

The Galaxy Z Flip includes two AMOLED displays--a miniature display on the top cover of the device along with the full edge-to-edge display when opened. The top cover display will measure just 1.1 inches, while the unfolded display measures 6.7 inches and features resolution of 425 pixels per inch.

Samsung says the Galaxy Z Flip will include the company's first foldable glass display, made from bendable “ultra thin” glass. The result is a "premium look and feel that has never been seen with a foldable device before," Samsung said in a news release. The glass display distinguishes the Galaxy Flip Z from the plastic screen used on the Galaxy Fold.

Notifications

Like with the Galaxy Fold, the ability to have continuity between the cover display and the main display is key. Users of the Galaxy Z Flip can check things such as the date, time and battery status on the cover display, and can also receive notifications such as text messages. Users can then tap a notification on the cover display and open the device to access it on the full 6.7-inch display.

Flex Mode

Since the Galaxy Z Flip is a clamshell foldable, Samsung emphasized the usefulness of standing the device upright on a surface and using it in a split-screen mode. Samsung dubs this "flex mode," and says the Galaxy Z Flip will automatically shift into showing two 4-inch screens when it's stood upright. In flex mode, users can view content on the top screen and operate controls on the bottom screen, for instance.

Samsung also emphasized using the Galaxy Z Flip in flex mode for taking selfies and videos for social media posts. "You can create content for your social media feeds from the best angle and enjoy video recording with a 16:9 ratio that’s perfect for uploads to social media platforms, hands-free – no tripod needed," the company said in its news release.

Hinge

Samsung said the Galaxy Z Flip features a newly engineered hinge, which the company calls the "hideaway hinge." The hinge is "designed to ensure every flip and fold is smooth and stable," as well to ensure that the device can sit open at various angles similar to a laptop, Samsung said. Additionally, the hinge uses new "sweeper" technology to keep out dust and dirt from intrusion, the company said.

Specs

The Galaxy Z Flip includes a pair of 12-megapixel cameras on the rear--a wide-angle and ultra-wide sensor--and Samsung noted that the rear cameras can be used to take selfies even while the device is folded closed. The front-facing camera offers 10 megapixels.

The smartphone includes a decent-sized battery at 3,300 mAh, which is actually comprised of a dual-battery system. Samsung didn't offer a battery life estimate for the device.

On storage and RAM, the device will include 256 GB of internal storage and 8 GB of RAM. Samsung didn't specify the processor in the Galaxy Z Flip, beyond saying it will be a 7-nanometer, eight-core CPU with a clock speed of up to 2.95 GHz.

Price And Availability

Samsung said the Galaxy Z Flip will be available Feb. 14 for $1,380. That puts it well below the $1,980 pricing for the Galaxy Fold, and also makes it cheaper than the Motorola Razr foldable reboot, which is priced at $1,499.

The Galaxy Z Flip will be offered in purple or black, and will be available in "limited quantities" in the U.S. Samsung said it will be offering an unlocked model, and also mentioned AT&T and Sprint as carriers that will offer the device.