Samsung Galaxy Fold review: This changes everything 

Samsung has been bending displays for so long w, it’s frankly surprising that catchphrase ‘bend it like Samsung’ never really caught on. Be that as it may, re’s little doubt that, one bends it like Samsung. Period.  

But while in past, Samsung’s attempts at bending its smartphone displays were largely centered around aestics – guised under argument of ‘more’ screen real estate – truth is, y didn’t serve any significant real-world purpose. Samsung probably knew that too and much like any or legacy brand of its stature, it did t stop at mere aestics. goal was to make something more useful. 

Galaxy Fold is first step in that direction and while it surely isn’t perfect, it feels just right – it feels like future. I’ve been using Galaxy Fold as my daily driver for a week w and here’s what I think about it – this changes everything. 

Got to kw when to hold 'em, kw when to fold 'em 

Samsung says Galaxy Fold is “a meticulously crafted luxury smartphone that unveils a new era of smartphone design,” and one couldn’t agree more. While structurally it would remind you of kia Communicator, Galaxy Fold is a whole new breed of foldable - one in which Samsung has been able to fully bend display, rar than stapling two in middle.  

idea seems simple on paper. Galaxy Fold has been designed to give users access to two ‘distinct’ categories of devices - a 7.3-inch primary tablet kind (something like say iP Mini) and a smaller 4.6-inch phone form factor – all in one device.  

Like a book, Galaxy Fold has a spine or hinge in middle, but re is partition on inside since Samsung’s flexible OLED or Infinity Flex simply passes through. re’s a secondary cover display on or (outer) side, that allows you to continue using device as a makeshift smartphone for when it is folded. 

re’s something very satisfying about unfolding Galaxy Fold – and n folding it back as it snaps toger. It's a very confident snap too. Very solid. t everybody will be able to put it in ir pocket and that makes sense. kind of demographic that Samsung is looking to target here – executives and CEOs and some early opters – are supposed to have deep pockets anyways. And even n, Galaxy Fold is kind of device y would want to show off. And man, kind of attention that this thing commands – it's simply hard to igre. 

Galaxy Fold exudes luxury from get-go – wonder, Samsung is offering deliveries through a concierge. It’s t pretty, but as I mentioned earlier, this thing feels like future.  

As for usability, well let’s just say, I have mixed feelings – but mostly y are positive. inner screen which is main screen is plastic – one's been able to bend glass that way yet – and re’s a distinct crease at center where it folds. You may be able to t see it while watching content but it’s re all time – and you will see it when screen is off.  

That’s something that you’ll have to get used to, way you get used to display cutouts. Speaking of which, re’s a thick tch at top left, that you can’t also igre. Especially while watching content.  

Coming to outer screen, it’s sharper, but it’s largely unusable because of size and aspect ratio. At best, you can use it to view time, make phone calls, and check your tifications – that's about it. 

Samsung is very clear about letting end-user kw, y must handle Galaxy Fold with care. For this may be future, but future is also fragile.  

-- main display is unlike any or out re. It’s t as smooth as regular glass, which means re’s some friction involved when you interact with it. It’s also highly susceptible to dust. So, you must get used to that, and be patient with it. A tight press, or an odd fingernail scratch may render Galaxy Fold’s main display unusable.   

-- Since Galaxy Fold folds inwards, it doesn’t fold flat as say Huawei Mate X. re’s some between hinge and body every time you fold it, which means you must be careful about any debris from entering and rendering Galaxy Fold’s main display unusable.  

-- Speaking of which, I can’t also vouch for durability of that hinge. Will it stay as firm and snappy, say after 1,000 folds and unfolds? same is true about crease on that main display. Will it get bigger, say after 1,000 folds and unfolds?  

-- Galaxy Fold isn’t certified for any sort of water and dust resistance like or Samsung high-end flagships like Galaxy S10 and Galaxy te 10, so that’s that. 

If you're gonna play game, you gotta learn to play it right 

Being a high-end Galaxy device means Samsung hasn’t cut any corners with Galaxy Fold – except that it does t have a hephone jack, stor expansion and IP rating. 

Galaxy Fold is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, has 12GB RAM and 512GB internal stor, and a total of six cameras (triple rear cameras consisting of one 12MP wide (77-degree field of view) sensor with f/1.5 aperture and dual pixel OIS, a 16MP ultra-wide (123-degree field of view) sensor with f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus, and a 12MP telephoto sensor with OIS, dual front cameras consisting of one 10MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture and a secondary 8MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture, and ar 10MP camera on cover). Galaxy Fold furr packs two batteries which entail in a total battery capacity of 4,380mAh. re’s LTE and support for Samsung Dex as well. 

But real star of show here is software experience. Building a foldable is one thing, building an experience is ar. You can make as many foldable devices as you want and you can pack m with top-tier hardware too, but one’s going to bor if user experience is lacking. Samsung says it has worked extensively on software side so users will be able to seamlessly transition between smartphone and tablet mode on Galaxy Fold. Samsung is particularly touting app continuity and ability to run as many as three individual apps simultaneously.   

Samsung’s app continuity feature works as vertised. This means if you have an application open on outer screen, it will be right re on inner screen when you unfold it, and it will be re fully resized for that form factor. This will be of course dependent on app as well. re will be instances when an app – especially games – will need to shut down and reopen to apt to newer aspect ratio. This is something that I got used to over time.  

Running three apps toger on main display also works like a charm – those looking for more, can of course, use Samsung’s floating multi-windows. 

Quick pointers on Galaxy Fold as an everyday phone: 

-- It really helps that Samsung isn’t using its tablet Android software in Galaxy Fold and making it apt to different form factors – that would have been just wrong. It’s using smartphone Android software – which is Android 9 Pie-based One UI – which has right tools to apt more seamlessly. And it’s only going to be better with Android 10 which packs necessary APIs to make a case for foldables. 

-- Flagship-gre hardware ensures everything works seamlessly and without any visible lag. 

-- same is true about Galaxy Fold’s cameras. Samsung has ensured you’re rey to point and shoot, from any screen, and quality of pictures (and videos) taken from Galaxy Fold are in line with what we’ve seen with Galaxy te 10 and Galaxy S10 before it. Because well, it has same cameras and very similar processing algorithms.  

-- Galaxy Fold comes with high-quality dual speakers that can get quite loud with good stereo separation. 

-- Phone calls me with Galaxy Fold are of good quality across board – re’s thing really to complain here. Galaxy Fold supports single SIM only. 

-- Galaxy Fold has fantastic battery life. Even though it has a battery capacity comparable to Galaxy te 10+’s, battery life is much better. Galaxy Fold is easily a one-and-a-half-day phone. I have been averaging around 9-10 hours of screen on time almost consistently on this one which is thing short of phemenal. Galaxy Fold supports 15W fast wired and wireless charging, and also Samsung’s PowerShare which allows it to wirelessly charge or compatible devices.  

Should you buy Samsung Galaxy Fold? 

Samsung Galaxy Fold is future of all smartphones. Or at least, this is what all smartphones should aspire to be in days to come. It isn’t re yet, and I will t recommend all of you to invest Rs 1.65 lakh on it, but if you do, chances are you won’t even care about whole back story. You’ll be in it for experience. That experience, for lack of a better word, will be magical. 

Galaxy Fold indeed changes everything, just like Galaxy te did once upon a time. Galaxy te me little sense upon a time, and chances are re will be many who wouldn’t care about Galaxy Fold eir. But I am also sure that it won’t stop Samsung from making se things – better.  

Yes, price is on higher side right w, but so is kind of techlogy involved. Galaxy Fold belongs to first wave of foldable devices – it is first foldable to launch in India – and making a foldable device doesn’t come cheap. Possibly in days to come, with more vanced techlogy, brands like Samsung may be able to make se things more affordable – but that will happen when it will happen. same is true about Galaxy Fold’s longevity aspect. It has h a rocky start but, Samsung has been able to fix it in time for a consumer release – at least in India. 

And as far as I can tell after using it for a week, Galaxy Fold gives me a new hope – foldables are here, and foldables are here to stay. 

(Ims by Saurabh Singh)

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