Samsung has released their new phone lineup for 2020, including the Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, and most notably the Z Flip. The release occurred on Feb. 11 2020 in San Francisco, where Samsung hosted their Unpacked event. With the Z Flip officially launching on February 14, it represents Samsung’s vision for foldable phones in the future. 

The Z Flip features a 6.7 inch screen that folds vertically into 3.4 inches to fit compactly in the user’s pocket. The Z Flip is Samsung’s second iteration of a folding phone, with the predecessor being the Galaxy Fold. A major issue that Samsung had with the Galaxy Fold was that consumers would mistakenly peel the protective plastic screen protector, resulting in permanent screen damage. Another major issue that many Galaxy Fold users pointed out was how the phone’s hinge mechanism could allow for dust and other debris to easily enter the phone. However, with the release of the Z Flip, Samsung has responded to these criticisms by tucking the plastic screen protector beneath the bezels to avoid confusing consumers. The Z Flip also features a new layer of fibers within the hinge in order to capture particles before they enter the phone. 

Samsung’s boldest claim about the Z Flip is how it features the first folding glass screen. The company is able to accomplish this by making the glass extremely thin, using glass that is only 30 microns thick. For comparison, a human hair is around 75 microns thin. The Z Flip uses a Snapdragon 855 plus processor. For memory, the Z Flip has 8 GB of RAM(Random-access memory) and 256 GB of internal storage. The Motorola Razr, another folding phone, has an older processor, the Snapdragon 710 while having slightly more RAM at 6GB and costing $1,500. Both phones last around 13 hours maximum in day-to-day life. Noticeably missing from the Z Flip are 5G capability, an expandable microSD slot, and a headphone jack. 

Senior Megan Nee expressed, “Camera quality is really important. I got my current phone, the Google Pixel 3a because of its great camera quality and low price. I like taking pictures and I’d rather not carry a big camera around with me all the time. Phones are way too expensive, especially flagship ones. Spending $1000 on a phone just seems so excessive to me. I usually get budget phones though.”

In terms of cameras, the Z Flip has 3 cameras: a 12-megapixel main lens and ultra wide angle lens on the outside, and a 10-megapixel camera on the inside. The outside also features a 1.06 inch screen for notifications, time, and the outside cameras. Although folding smartphones are now a reality, they may not be for everyone, with the Z Flip retailing for $1,380.