The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is an impressive feat of technology, combining cutting-edge design, a powerful chipset, and a versatile camera setup. Here’s a comprehensive review based on its features and specs:
Design and Build
Samsung has packed this phone with durability and style. The aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back enhance its resilience, while the IP48 water resistance offers additional protection. Weighing 236g, it feels sturdy but still folds compactly to make it more portable than a typical tablet. Unfolded, the screen spans 8.0 inches, providing a near-tablet experience for work or entertainment; while folded, it measures 6.5 inches—perfect for single-hand use.
Display
The Galaxy Z Fold Special features an 8.0-inch Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2600 nits peak brightness, ensuring vibrant colors, smooth scrolling, and excellent outdoor visibility. The Ultra Flexible Glass (UFG) gives it the necessary flexibility for folding while maintaining display quality. The cover display, with the same 120Hz and brightness specifications, provides a 6.5-inch screen ideal for quick access.
Performance
This device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which has an 8-core CPU and Adreno 750 GPU that deliver incredible speed and responsiveness, even with demanding tasks and graphics-heavy gaming. It comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (UFS 4.0), making multitasking seamless and storage ample, though it lacks expandable memory.
Camera
Samsung equips the Galaxy Z Fold Special with a versatile triple-camera setup:
- 200 MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) captures detailed images.
- 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom provides flexibility for close-up shots.
- 12 MP ultrawide lens with a 123° field of view offers excellent coverage for group or landscape shots.
It also supports 8K video recording at 30 fps, a feature only a few phones offer. The 4 MP selfie camera and 10 MP cover camera allow for high-quality selfies and video calls, with the latter supporting 4K video at 60 fps.
Battery and Charging
Given the display size and power, the 4400mAh battery is modest. Samsung compensates with 25W wired charging (50% charge in 30 minutes), 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories.
Software and Additional Features
Running Android 14 with One UI 6.1.1, it includes Samsung’s commitment to 7 major Android updates, which promises longevity. The Samsung DeX support provides a desktop experience, making it productive for on-the-go professionals. The inclusion of Ultra Wideband (UWB) adds advanced spatial awareness features.
Verdict
At around €1870, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special is undoubtedly an investment. Its high-end features, like the expansive foldable display, robust camera, and powerful performance, make it suitable for those looking for a cutting-edge, multitasking device that combines the functionalities of a tablet and smartphone.
Pros:
- Premium build and innovative foldable design
- High-performance Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- Versatile camera with 8K video capabilities
- Samsung DeX and UWB support
- Long software support
Cons:
- Expensive
- No microSD card slot
- Battery capacity could be higher
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