Last month, during the virtual Samsung Unpacked event, we got a brief teaser along with some new information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 G5, and now it’s official. If you are someone who likes to have the latest and greatest technology, but you were a wee bit nervous about going with a first-generation Galaxy Fold device, your wait is almost over!
Most noticeably different from the first generation Galaxy Fold1 is the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G’s beautiful new Gorilla Glass Victus 6.2″, 60Hz Infinity-O Cover Screen. It is essentially an outer screen that you can use for everything without having to open the phone. From it, you can run apps, answer email, surf the web, read a book, watch a movie — anything you might typically do on the usual Android slab. Even better, when using the front screen, you’ll enjoy a seamless transition to the full screen when you open the device, and the app you are using will move back to the front screen when you close your device again. This makes having a front display a much more useful feature, any way you look at it.
When you open the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 to reveal its ridiculously huge and gorgeous 7.6″, 120Hz refresh speed main display that you can really appreciate what a technology leap the Fold2 has achieved. The main screen has minimized bezels and a notchless front-facing camera, and the display has a refresh rate of 120Hz for the smoothest scrolling and gameplay. The Z Fold2 has Samsung’s latest ultra-thin glass on the main screen, which will feel less like plastic and more like the smooth glass we expect to feel under our fingertips. If you are a gamer, or if you just like watching movies on your devices, you’ll appreciate that Samsung has also given the Galaxy Z Fold2 the “best dynamic sound available on a Galaxy device to date, with enhanced stereo effect and clear sound provided by high-dynamic dual speakers.”
With the main display, you’ll be able to use advanced Multi-Active Window to control your screen layout. With it, you’ll be able to open multiple files from the Samsung Notes app, the Internet app, the Myfiles app, and Office apps in Microsoft 365 at the same time and view them side by side for excellent multitasking. With the improved Multi-Window Tray, you can open multiple apps at once. You’ll be able to drag and drop from app to app when using Samsung native apps, including Gallery, Internet, Message, Myfiles, and Samsung Notes, as well as others, including Office apps in Microsoft 365, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Chrome, Google Maps.
The Galaxy Z Fold2’s body has been re-engineered and refined from the previous generation. The body is thinner and sleeker, and it employs the new Hideaway Hinge, which “fits seamlessly into the device body with the CAM mechanism and enables free-standing capabilities. The Hideaway Hinge on the Z Fold2 can be opened in multiple positions so you can use or view the Z Fold2 in just about any position. The hinge also uses sweeper technology, as discussed during the August Unpacked event, and which was first used on the Galaxy Z Flip. The gap between the body and hinge housing can repel dust and dirt particles using this sweeper tech. As a third-generation folding device, the Z Fold2 has an even smaller space for the sweeper structure than the Galaxy Z Flip had.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 will come with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage; there is no microSD expansion slot. It will also have a 4,500mAh internal battery and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor. As with the Note 20 series, the front-facing camera is 10-megapixels — there are actually two front-facing cameras (one inside and one on the front display), so no matter how you have the Z fold opened, you’ll always have a selfie cam handy. Built into the Gorilla Glass 6 glass back’s camera array and going in order from top to bottom, there will be a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera.
If all of this is making you want to scream, “Shut up and take my money,” here is what you need to know. The Galaxy Z Fold2 will be available on September 18 in carrier stores and from Samsung’s site, as well as from select online retailers. The Z Fold2 will be available in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. If you order from the Samsung site, you’ll be able to opt for customized hinge colors in Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red, and Metallic Blue. Pre-orders will begin on September 2, at 12:01 am ET; the price will be $1,999. You can get on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G pre-order list here.
Some other things worth knowing … Michael Josh (Gadget Match) received his review unit today, and he said that this is what greets you when you open the box:
And if you pull on this tab, you get the Fold 2. With a laundry list of care instructions printed on this plastic wrap…
Let’s go over them – as they’re very important.
Do not press the screen or the front camera lens with a hard object.
When folding the device make sure there are no objects that might get caught in between both screens.
The device is not dust or water proof.
Do not remove the screen protector film.
And last but not least the phone has magnets so keep your phone away from things like credit cards or implantable medical devices.
He also mentioned that there are no headphones in the box, but more importantly, there isn’t even a TPU case; you’ll want to make sure to get something to protect your investment.
If you bought a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold or a Galaxy Z Fip, you’ll be able to trade in your device and get the Galaxy Z Fold2 for as low as $25 per month with up to an $800 trade-in credit. If you don’t have one of Samsung’s folding phones to trade-in, you can still get up to $650 on trade-ins of other eligible devices; or you can take your chances on eBay and possibly get more for them to apply to your purchase. You can learn more about the terms for trading in your existing device to apply to the Galaxy Z Fold2’s purchase here.
Verizon is already sending out info about how they will give you up to $550 off when you add a line and purchase the Galaxy Z Fold2 and trade in your old smartphone on a Premium Unlimited Plan. They’re also adding a bonus of a $150 Verizon eGift Card when you purchase the Z Fold2 on their Verizon device payment plan. If you are upgrading, you can get up to $250 off when you buy the Z Fold2 and trade in your old smartphone on a Premium Unlimited Plan. They are offering 25% off on all Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 cases, screen protectors, and charging accessories during their pre-order period, which starts tomorrow, September 2. You can get more information about Verizon offers on the Galaxy Z Fold2 here.
So there you have it! Are you going to get one?
Update: Enjoy Michael Josh’s Unboxing video of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 including comments on his first 24 hours with it.
