Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review
This phone suits someone charmed by the foldable novelty and willing to live with all-day charging and slow performance as the price of that form factor. If you need a phone that actually lasts a full day and charges quickly, or one that can run modern software and games without lag, any current mid-range device will serve you far better.
This review is written with AI assistance from Samsung’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Galaxy Z Flip defined a foldable phone category back in 2020 with its vanity-mirror form, but six years on, the Snapdragon 855+ chip and 3300 mAh battery feel plainly dated, and you're paying vintage money for a phone that was already a compromise between novelty and practicality.
Design & Build
At 183 grams and 7.2mm unfolded, the Z Flip is light and thin, and the mirror finishes look sharp in marketing photos. The aluminum frame is solid, but the weak point is the materials: the display cover is plastic that scratches within weeks of use and yellows over time, and the Gorilla Glass 6 back fingerprints heavily and scuffs easily. Six years of real-world drops and pocket lint have not been kind to most of these phones in circulation. The 1.1-inch Super AMOLED cover display is useful for glances and quick replies, but it's too small to be a real second screen—you still unfold constantly.
Display
The 6.7-inch foldable AMOLED panel is where the engineering shows. Color is punchy, blacks are deep, and HDR10+ content looks properly graded. At 425 ppi, text is crisp at normal viewing distance. The real problem is the 60Hz refresh rate, which feels noticeably sluggish when scrolling through feeds or switching apps compared to the 90Hz and 120Hz standard in rivals even at the time. Brightness figures aren't published, so sunlight usability is a question mark—foldable phones tend to struggle there anyway because of the plastic layer.
Performance
The Snapdragon 855+ from late 2019 was quick for a flagship, but it is showing its age now. Everyday tasks like messaging, email, and web browsing run without hiccup, and One UI 4.1.1 is responsive enough for its generation. Gaming and video editing, however, reveal the limits: you will not run the latest AAA mobile games at high settings without stuttering, and rendering times lag behind current chips. This is not a phone for someone who demands snappy performance six years into ownership. The 8GB RAM is decent but no longer spacious for keeping many apps in memory.
Camera
The dual rear setup is genuinely capable for a 2020 foldable. The 12MP main shooter has f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus, and optical image stabilization, which means handheld video and daylight stills are steady and detailed. The 123-degree ultrawide is useful for landscapes and group shots, though 12MP resolution is modest. Where it falters is in low light—the larger pixels help, but the chip's computational photography is well behind what newer processors achieve. The 10MP selfie is basic. Video tops out at 4K 60fps, which is fine, and the 960fps slow-motion mode is a nice toy that rarely gets used.
Battery & Charging
This is where the foldable form factor inflicts its worst punishment. The 3300 mAh battery is half the capacity of modern phones because the folding hinge takes up precious space, and there is no way around it: you will charge daily even on light use, and heavy use drains it by dinner time. Streaming video or gaming cuts battery life to four or five hours. The 15W wired charging is borderline painfully slow—you need at least 60 minutes from zero to full, and wireless charging at 10W stretches it past 90 minutes. By 2020 standards this was already slow; by 2026, it feels archaic. Power users should look elsewhere.
Software
The phone shipped with Android 10 and received updates to Android 12 running One UI 4.1.1, which is respectable support for a 2020 launch. One UI remains Samsung's polished take on Android with useful features like One Handed Operation+ and good integration with other Galaxy devices. However, Google and Samsung have moved on; security patches will likely end soon, and future Android versions may not arrive. If you need current software support, this phone is past its window.
Value & Verdict Context
At launch, the Z Flip was €770 and justified that price by being the world's only foldable with this form factor and promise. Today, you can find used units in that ballpark, but you are paying 2020 flagship money for a phone with 2020 flagship battery life, 2020 flagship charging, and a chip that is genuinely struggling six years later. The foldable gimmick has worn off; the practical compromises have not. If foldable phones still excite you and you do not mind tethering to a charger, a used Z Flip is a curiosity worth exploring. Everyone else should buy something current.
Verdict
This phone suits someone charmed by the foldable novelty and willing to live with all-day charging and slow performance as the price of that form factor. If you need a phone that actually lasts a full day and charges quickly, or one that can run modern software and games without lag, any current mid-range device will serve you far better.
- Folds down to pocket size (87.4 mm folded), genuinely different from candy-bar phones if you still care about that novelty
- 6.7-inch AMOLED main display with HDR10+ is sharp and colorful for video and photos
- 12MP main camera with optical stabilization and fast f/1.8 aperture handles daylight and video decently
- Dual SIM via eSIM, NFC, and stereo speakers add practical versatility
- 3300 mAh battery drains to zero by evening under any meaningful use; folding phones waste internal space, making this one fundamentally limited even for 2020
- 15W wired charging and 10W wireless are glacially slow by any standard; you need 60–90 minutes to refill from empty
- Snapdragon 855+ is six years old and will stutter on newer apps and games that younger flagships handle smoothly
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2020, February 11 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7 inches, 101.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio), Foldable Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2636 pixels (~425 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Selfie camera | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm |
| Battery | 3300 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wiredWireless |
| Software | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1.1 |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 167.3 x 73.6 x 7.2 mm Folded: 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.3 mm |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Build | Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Galaxy Z Flip support 5G?
No. The Galaxy Z Flip tops out at GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the Galaxy Z Flip use?
The Galaxy Z Flip runs on the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm).
What display does the Galaxy Z Flip have?
A 6.7 inches, 101.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) Foldable Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+, 1080 x 2636 pixels (~425 ppi density).
How big is the Galaxy Z Flip battery?
The Galaxy Z Flip has a 3300 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 15W wiredWireless.
Does the Galaxy Z Flip have NFC?
Yes, the Galaxy Z Flip has NFC.
Does the Galaxy Z Flip support a microSD card?
No, the Galaxy Z Flip does not support expandable storage.
Does the Galaxy Z Flip have a headphone jack?
No, the Galaxy Z Flip does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Galaxy Z Flip isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne
Galaxy S10 Lite
Galaxy Note10 Lite
iPhone 12 Pro Max
