Samsung Is Wrong, Software Is The Biggest Problem For Foldables
Ryan Hines / Android Authority
High-end phones are not cheap. Samsung knows this – we all do – but the company recently made an interesting statement when asked about this cost. Essentially, Samsung expects high-end devices to become cheaper in the future, but this year the team focused on reducing customer pain points rather than cutting costs. For the Galaxy Z Fold 5, that means a lighter and thinner design, and for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, that means flexible windows and an updated wrap-around display.
While both 5G updates make life easier in their own ways, I'm not sure Samsung has its head in the right place. It has its share of flexible windows, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn't much lighter than its predecessor (around 10 grams). Instead, I think future giant Leap foldable devices will have to upgrade the software.
Small steps
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority
Of course, I'm not saying that Samsung is sitting idly by with the same software after the first series of foldable phones. The Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip have improved software over the past few years as Samsung has built confidence in its high-end devices.
In the case of the Galaxy Z Fold, the biggest update was the adoption of Android 12L. Google's move toward tablet-centric software introduced the taskbar and improved multitasking. Although I hardly ever use the three windows on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it's nice to have that option. In many ways, the ability to change multitasking layouts and grab apps from the taskbar finally makes the Galaxy Z Fold feel more like a small tablet than a full-sized phone, which it should have been. we were from the beginning.
A year later, Android 12L is still the Galaxy Z Fold's biggest update to date.
Samsung's customization options go beyond other high-end devices. You can choose whether or not to display the overlay on the inner screen, opening the door to two completely different backgrounds and layouts for two separate screens. On the other hand, the Google Pixel Fold treats the inner screen as an extension of the cover, keeping the same apps, widgets and wallpapers, but allowing you to swipe left or right between the two halves. Google won't let you place a widget in the middle of that screen, which isn't a problem for Samsung.
For the Galaxy Z Flip, its biggest update happened recently. While the Flex Window experience on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a double-edged sword (I'll get back to that in a minute), there's no doubt that it's better than the previous Galaxy Z for apps and widgets. Flip 4 never existed. This iteration relies heavily on CoverScreen OS to make the most of the 1.9-inch panel, but it often feels more like a gimmick than a feature. Sure, you can open Gmail, but you have to change the settings to make it look like a real app. The Flex window is now large enough to support a full-sized keyboard and mini versions of apps like Spotify and Slack, meaning I can use my phone all day without ever opening it.
big hit
Ryan Hines / Android Authority
Despite the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold updates, it often feels like Samsung is trying to play the classics with its older problems. When you introduce a new complex, polished or raw feature, it is hidden in the Labs section of the Settings menu. I wouldn't mind the approach if the functionality was eventually moved to a more user-friendly section of the menu, but simple things like the Flex Mode panel controls are still part of the Lab years later.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the main victim of Lab Downside, and you'll need Samsung's demo menu (and some additional software) to take full advantage of the flexible window. You can use Labs to toggle some apps that Samsung says are optimized for Windows Flex, but you'll need to install Good Lock and jump through a few hoops for the rest of your apps. Compare that to the Motorola Razr Plus, which lets you add apps to skins seamlessly, and it's easy to see how Motorola is gaining traction in the software space.
Leaving the software is a way for Samsung to let its competitors catch up.
The biggest problem is that not all Samsung apps are optimized equally. For example, Google Maps prioritizes the rest of the interface over the map itself, meaning you can't just follow the blue line to your destination. The experimental nature of Flex Window means that Samsung can pretend that multitasking doesn't exist. There is no way to swipe and access recent apps from the Flex window, Samsung promises Good Lock for apps. Instead, you should place the app drawer next to the Flex Window home screen so you only have to swipe once. This is finally a case of Samsung showing off the Flex Window as the world's largest Galaxy Watch, rather than the smallest Galaxy smartphone.
Otherwise, the main problem of the Galaxy Z Fold is the optimization of applications. Where the Galaxy Z Flip struggles to shrink apps, the Galaxy Z Fold tries to fit them onto its 7.6-inch screen. Apps without a tablet-friendly layout barely fit on the square tablet, meaning you're stuck with empty space unless you decide to multitask all the time. The Galaxy Z Fold is definitely a step up from the Pixel Fold in that it defaults to portrait orientation, but it's hard to balance performance with spatial layouts of apps.
Hardware is not the only problem
Ryan Hines / Android Authority
Whether you're focusing on the software issues Samsung has fixed or the ones it hasn't, one thing is clear: there are no hardware issues, Samsung has plenty of time to tighten the hinge, perfect the button layout, and to perfect one of the fastest and most accurate. Precise side fingerprint reader. The Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold still have creases in their screens, but the rest of Samsung's devices are setting the standard for foldable phones.
After using the Motorola Razr Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, there is no doubt that one is better than the other. The first thing I did with both folding pairs was open the hinge 90 degrees and try to move it back and forth. The reborn Motorola Razr reacted like one of those inflatable cars you see outside a car dealership, jumping out of my hand. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was stable. The tight hinge means that the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold can also be moved almost infinitely, which is a lifesaver when no one is ducking behind the camera during a group selfie.
We can live with minor hardware glitches, but smooth software is essential.
Don't get me wrong, reducing the gap between the two halves of the screen is a huge improvement for Samsung. I can't bemoan the thin line of dust that often finds its way into the crease, so I'm not saying the strong team has lost the ball completely this year. However, this year Google and Motorola also introduced completely flat folding phones, and it didn't take five generations to make it happen.
After all, it's easier to live with great software and hardware with minor flaws than the other way around. We complain more about in-app ads and clunky layouts than screen wrinkles and a poor under-screen camera. Samsung should take what Motorola did with the Razr Plus experience and improve upon it, while also finding a way for developers to improve their apps for the Galaxy Z Fold's internal display.
1% discount
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The new hinge is finally fitted
Bright and vivid screen
Powerful multitasking features
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
New large flexible window
Excellent build quality
Strong rear camera
what do you think Does Samsung's high-end software require as much effort, or should it double down on hardware upgrades? Tell us in the poll below.
Should Samsung focus on its high-end hardware or software?
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