Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review - The only folding phone to buy - Android

Design

• Folded: 68.0 x 159.2 x 16.8mm
• Unfolded: 128.2 x 159.2 x 6.9mm
• 282g
• Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze

Everything about the Z Fold 2 is better than the original. Everything. The materials, the design, the execution, it’s all there. If you’re seeking a high-end handset, the  Fold 2 delivers.

Let’s start with materials. Last year’s Z Fold had a number of plastic parts that cheapened the experience just a bit. The Z Fold 2 updates the entire chassis to metal and the latest Gorilla Glass, and the difference is palpable. The entire phone comes across as substantial, stable, and solid. It feels like you’re actually getting what you pay for.

Of course, the phone is a massive brick and you know it when it’s in your pocket. It’s heavy and quite thick when folded in half. There’s a narrow gap in between the two halves when folded. It’s more than enough to slide a few pieces of paper in there, but the gap is less that of last year’s phone.

Each half of the phone is framed in a C-shaped piece of aluminum. The metal features a brushed finish and a slightly curved profile to help with hand feel. Glass pieces are fitted into the outer portions of the frame to form the front and back panels. The glass is curved just a bit where it reaches the metal. Uniformity is clutch here.

I had doubts about the longevity of the original Fold's hinge. I don't with the Z Fold 2.

The two halves of the frame are joined at the wholly redesigned hinge, which has a metal cover and disappears entirely when the phone is opened all the way. I really like the seamlessness of this design. Samsung carried over the stable hinge idea from the Z Flip. This allows the Z Fold 2 to sit open at any angle you wish. It can stand in tent mode, act as a mini laptop, or open to a full slate. There are no grinding parts, there is no scraping sound. The hinge simply feels fluid and strong. I had doubts about the longevity of the original Fold’s hinge. I don’t with the Z Fold 2. I particularly like how the two C-shaped frame elements come together to form a new spine down the middle of the device when opened. The phone is still slightly wedge shaped when folded. Slightly.

Some functional elements along the outer edge go a long way to improving usability. Foremost, the combined power button/fingerprint sensor on the right edge is pretty much flawless. The combo button makes more sense than the separate keys on last year’s phone. It’s a quick and reliable way to unlock the phone. The volume toggle is just above the power button and it also works well. Samsung tucked the SIM card tray into the side edge. There’s no expandable storage. You’ll see a speaker and microphone on the top edge that are mirrored on the bottom edge. The bottom also holds the USB-C port. There’s no headphone jack on this $2,000 puppy.

The rear surface is covered in textured glass just like the Note 20 line. I like the feel of it. A gigantic camera module in the upper corner is hard to miss. It looks almost identical to that of the Note 20 series, meaning there are three large lenses arranged in a vertical strip with a flash off to one side. It’s not as egregious as the module of the Note 20 Ultra, but it’s pretty close.