A massive improvement over the last Fold

• Samsung announces Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

• Comes with larger primary and secondary screens 

• Infinity O display with Ultra-Thin Glass and 120 Hz refresh rate

• Same 3 camera setup as Note20 5G

• Redesigned hinge mechanism

• Second event scheduled for September 1 to release more details

Samsung has announced the successor to its immensely popular Galaxy Fold. It’s called the “Z Fold2 5G” after Samsung annoyed fans by changing to the “Z” naming scheme for its foldable phone lineup. 

The Z Fold2 has built upon all the drawbacks the original Fold had. The most noticeable being that the Fold2 is that both the primary and secondary displays have larger screens. The Fold had disappointed consumers with its tiny 4.6-inch secondary outer display. The Fold2 boasts a large 6.2-inch screen, enough to rival most other phablets. When opened, the primary display is a massive 7.6-inches, 0.3-inches more than the previous generation. This is attributed to a reduction in cameras.

The original Fold had 2 front cameras, which is now halved and the notch substituted for an “Infinity O” display. The secondary display is an Infinity O display as well with a single camera.

A great new innovation by Samsung is the “UTG”, or “Ultra-Thin Glass” in the primary 7.6-inch display. If you remember, this is the same glass Samsung used on the Z flip. The newly engineered glass is not only foldable but also tough at the same time. Samsung uses layers the glass within layers of high-quality plastic to ensure strength. The last generation Fold had a plastic display that eliminated an expected premium feel. 

The new Fold has “Flex Mode”, similar to the Z Flip which allows it to be used in halfway-open configurations and stood up on a desk, much like the Z Flip. In addition, both displays will have a 120Hz refresh rate, to ensure a smooth and buttery experience, something that should be standard on a presumed $2000 phone.

As the official reveal is on September 1, we have yet to get much information on all the cameras. But, it is rumored to have the same 3-camera setup on the back as on the Note20 5G, with a  12MP Ultra-Wide Lens, 108MP Wide-Angle Lens, and a 12MP Telephoto lens. The selfie cameras on the Infinity O display should be 10MP. 

The biggest improvement over the original Fold is the redesigned hinge. The hinge, dubbed the “Hideaway Hinge”, now has elastic fibers to clean dust or debris out from the hinge to prevent damage to the display, something Samsung refers to as “a sweeper”. Samsung also managed to make the phone 0.6 mm thinner than the original Fold and reduce the gap between the displays.

The company will offer the new Fold in “Mystic Black” and the much-rumored and loved “Mystic Bronze” colors. Samsung has continued its partnership with Thom Browne, by announcing a special limited Thom Browne edition Z Fold2 5G. Samsung didn’t announce any official pricing or release date and has scheduled a second event on September 1, to announce more details on the new Fold. If major leaker Max Winebach is to be believed, the Fold2 should start at $1999, a mere $19 more than the previous generation.

Conclusion: 

Samsung probably has increased its fanbase after the announcement. This is an amazing phone. It has huge improvements over the last Fold. Probably the best improvement is the larger secondary screen. No one is accustomed to using sub-5 inch screens in this age, an age where we have come to hate bezels. Also, the new hinge mechanism is sure to awe the competitors. But all this is only possible if the Fold2 is actually as durable as Samsung claims it to be.

Last year’s $1980 Fold was delayed a few months after review units began failing due to the fragile plastic-covered display. Users thought that the plastic film would be a screen protector and thought of removing it, ending up destroying the screen. When it was released, Samsung made a few tweaks and warned users of dust and “applying pressure” to the touchscreen. It remains to see if Samsung has indeed improved the design as much as they claim to. 

Arrio Gonsalves:

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