SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The first Samsung Galaxy Fold, while groundbreaking in some ways, still felt like somewhat of a prototype. You could see the portion where the screen folded; the front screen when the device is closed was comically tiny; and the supposed first batch of the device had a screen that was peeling off easily.
It was a rough start for the device, although its form factor did wow a gadget scene that was bored with the usually rectangular phone.
The Galaxy Fold2 improves on these fronts tremendously. It truly feels like a finished product rather than the very expensive prototype that the first one felt like.
It’s still prohibitively expensive for the regular consumer, but for anyone in the market for the fancy new thing, the Fold2 is so much easier to recommend.
The Fold2 is finally worthy of being called a premium phone like its S-series and Note line brethren. It’s solid in the hand, and the matte back paired with a glossy spine gives it some flair. The back feels exactly like the surface on the Note 20. The crease where the phone folds is still visible but less so than the first one. When you’re watching videos or playing a game, it all but disappears.
The screen has lost the plasticky feel of its predecessor, which was a big factor in making the first one feel less premium. The screen on the Fold2 feels just like screens on Samsung’s flagship phones.
In fact, I truly see the benefit of a 120Hz display on the Fold2. The fast refresh rate is far more palpable on the big tablet-like screen of the Fold2. The best example for this benefit is when you’re scrolling through Netflix shows and movies. On standard 60Hz displays, the image really blurs as you swipe through the selection. Here, it’s buttery smooth, and is a treat for the eyes.
The tablet-like screen is great for games too. The big screen, in fact, could be advantageous for those who play competitive games as it gives them larger buttons to tap and larger targets.
The right size
The 7.6-inch screen when it’s unfolded, I found, is just the perfect size for my hands. It’s the right size for gripping it securely when you’re using the phone while lying in bed. The experience is still almost phone-like but obviously with a much bigger screen. Quickly switching from the Fold2 to a regular phone, I found myself missing the large screen when watching videos on YouTube. The foldable is a really fun form factor, disregarding its price.
The screen is big but you can still balance it in one hand when you’re watching something on it. Typing will require two hands though.
The front screen doesn’t have a 120Hz refresh rate. But it’s great that it’s now large enough that it’s usable. The front screen grew from 4.6 inches to 6.2 inches. The first Fold’s front screen was just too small to do anything meaningful. The Fold2’s is big enough for browsing Facebook or Instagram or reading articles. It’s still on the small side compared to regular smartphones but not too small that you have to open it up to do anything meaningful like with the original Fold.
Check out how the typing experience differs in tablet and phone modes:
But make no mistake; the Fold2 is still best used in tablet mode. The front screen will get a few things done, and allow you to find and call a contact easily or send a quick reply, but for longer conversations and longer reading sessions, you’ll have to open it up.
All that said, the Fold2’s main appeal truly lies in its being a tablet that you could, well, fold, and put in your pocket. It’s essentially the world’s most portable tablet with the build, the feel, and the specs you’d expect from a Samsung flagship, albeit no waterproofing.
But at P110,000, there’s still not enough here to justify a purchase for the mass consumer, even for the ones that regularly go for the flagships. This feels like a device category that would gain some mainstream acceptance at the 70,000-peso mark.
As it stands, it still feels mainly like a device meant to maintain the brand’s reputation as one of the world’s consumer technology leaders. – Rappler.com
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