Lo and behold! The future of smartphones!
The Samsung Galaxy Fold has kickstarted the era of foldable phones globally and set a benchmark for other smartphone makers to adopt the foldable technology.
However, a phone that was being envisaged as the epitome of smartphone technology is now drawing a lot of flack from techies and reviewers all over the world for having a few chinks in its armour.
We got a hold of the Samsung Galaxy Fold for a few days and here’s what we think about the device.
What’s Good?
There are a lot of premium materials that have gone into making the Samsung Galaxy Fold a truely premium smartphone. The all-metal frame looks quite good but attracts a lot of smudges.
The 7.3-inch display is a Dynamic AMOLED screen that is bright with generous amounts of contrast and blacks. It captures the eye instantly but kills the mood when one sees the crease on the display.
The display on the front is a Super AMOLED screen but the smaller screen size means it eats up lesser battery. I liked the addition of a secondary display as it helps quickly access apps and gets things done without actually having to open the phone.
There are six cameras onboard the Galaxy Fold and barring a few extra sensors this is the same setup you see on Samsung flagships like the Note 10+. It’s a good camera set up so really nothing to complain about.
The Galaxy Fold comes loaded with a Snapdragon 855 processor and 12GB of RAM which makes this device a powerhouse! With 512GB of inbuilt storage, you wouldn’t have to worry about running out of memory.
The powerful hardware is well complimented with utility as you can multitask between three apps on the Fold. The big screen has an advantage while viewing media content on it and apps like Instagram and Facebook look great.
Battery life isn’t a problem with the Fold only if you manage to balance your overall usage between the two displays. If you’re binge-watching on the bigger screen then obviously you’ll drain more juice.
What’s Bad?
That crease... oh, that crease!
Yes, it’s a foldable display and the world knows it but that something that really should show. The crease on the Galaxy Fold stares right back at you when the display is not lit and subtly hides behind the content when you’re using the phone.
Honestly, if you’re paying Rs 1.65 lakh for a phone, you wouldn't want to compromise on something like that.
I’ll have to admit it’s not a texting-friendly device. On one hand, the smaller cover display is too small for fat fingers while the bigger screen is sure to slow your typing speed.
The Fold carries a lot of bulk with it. At 263 grams it’s almost as heavy as two phones. Imagine how it would feel in the hands and in one's pocket.
It’s not water or dustproof which means you’ll have to be extra careful with this one.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is bound to win a top prize if it’s competing for the title of the most powerful big-screen phone in the market.
The big foldable display is a great addition and the fact that you can fold your phone gives you a reason to pull it out and flaunt it every time you get the opportunity. It draws eyeballs very easily. Content viewing and multi-tasking are some of the key benefits which you should consider before buying the Fold. Frankly, the foldable tech would be better used for a tablet.
Speaking of buying it, the Fold is not meant for all. In fact, it should not be meant for all. Samsung needs to market this device in a smart way and reach out to people who not only have the money for it but would be okay carrying something that looks like the old Nokia 9110 communicator.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)