Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: The Ultimate Workhorse With a Fatal Flaw (1158 User Reviews Analyzed)

We analyzed 1158 verified reviews from actual users for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 to understand what it’s really like to own this device. Our method goes beyond simple star ratings to get to the core of the user experience.

We identify key product aspects—like the screen, camera, performance, and design—and analyze every mention. Our system determines if the feedback is positive, negative, or neutral, then calculates a final percentage score. This reveals what real owners praise and what they criticize.

💰 Value for Money: Transformative, Pricey, Worth It?

When evaluating the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 on Value for Money, the story isn’t about whether it’s cheap, but whether its revolutionary function feels worth the high price of admission. For many who took the plunge, the device delivers a transformative experience that makes going back to a normal phone unthinkable. Data shows that an impressive 71% of users felt the phone justified the upgrade, soaring 12 points above the category average of 59%.

This isn’t just an incremental update; it’s a redefinition of what a phone can be. As one user explained, the device’s utility fundamentally changed their workflow:

my phone has completely replaced my tablet… I consider this phone a great deal, because it is a 2-for-1 and is still cheaper for me than buying a phone and tablet separately.

The Cost-Satisfaction Tension

However, the excitement of owning the future is tempered by the very real cost of it today. While the form factor is a hit, overall satisfaction relative to the price point scores only 76%, a significant 8 points below the category average of 84%.

This gap highlights a core tension: users are impressed, but not always convinced the high price is fully justified by the day-to-day reality. This sentiment is perfectly captured by a user who, despite acknowledging the phone’s strengths, asked the critical question:

It’s very nice to have three windows open to do different things at the same time. That is where the fold 4 shines! However is multitasking worth the 1700 price point?

The Fold4’s Lasting “Wow” Factor

This complex value story becomes even more nuanced when viewed against its own successors. While newer models like the Galaxy Z Fold6 achieve higher satisfaction versus cost (81% vs the Fold4’s 76%), the Fold4 uniquely excels in justifying the initial leap to a foldable. Its 71% score for Upgrade Justification actually surpasses both the Fold5 (67%) and Fold6 (69%).

This suggests the Fold4 delivered a more profound “wow” factor for its time, making even hesitant buyers feel it was a “tremendous upgrade.” For those on the fence, it was the model that finally felt “ready to be relied upon as a daily use device,” convincing them to make the switch in a way later iterations, which offer more incremental improvements, do not.

Trade-Off: You are paying a steep premium for a device that genuinely feels like a game-changing upgrade, but accepting a cost-to-satisfaction ratio that lags behind the market and the risk of unexpected costs.

📸 Camera: Night & Day Mixed Bag

When analyzing the camera of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, user sentiment reveals a tale of two distinct experiences: one of incredible surprise and another of significant disappointment.

Brilliance in the Dark

The most celebrated and genuinely impressive aspect of the Fold4’s camera is its low-light performance. Scoring a remarkable 94% positive sentiment in this specific area, it vastly outshines the category average of 61%.

This isn’t just a minor statistical win; it translates into a powerful emotional and practical benefit for users, who are thrilled by the ability to achieve results like the following:

make all night shots super bright and clear as day.

For many, this capability to capture stunning images in challenging conditions feels like a standout feature that punches well above its weight. One user was even able to capture:

a close up of the moon – with CRISP craters & shadows!

Faltering in the Spotlight

However, this nighttime brilliance stands in stark contrast to the widespread frustration with the phone’s general image and video quality. It garners only 63% positive feedback—a full 15 points below the 78% average for phones in this premium class.

For a device with such a high price tag, users expect top-tier performance across the board, and many feel let down. This sentiment is perfectly captured by one user’s direct comparison:

Comparing it to my last device (S22 Ultra 5G) the camera fell way short, especially with the hefty price tag this device comes with.

This feeling of a downgrade is a recurring theme, with others noting that the camera quality is worse than that of much older phones.

is worse than my note 10+.

Competitive Context and Zoom

The competitive context adds another layer of complexity. While the Z Fold4’s camera feels like a step down from Samsung’s traditional “Ultra” flagships, it surprisingly holds its own—and in some cases, surpasses—its newer foldable successors.

Its zoom capabilities, for instance, are rated positively by 52% of users, significantly higher than the 23% and 35% achieved by the Fold5 and Fold6, respectively.

Yet, this doesn’t fully satisfy users whose expectations are shaped by Samsung’s non-folding phones. They appreciate the zoom but still feel a sense of compromise, with one user wishing it had capabilities from other models.

had the 10x zoom of the ultra phones,

This proves that for many buyers, the benchmark for a premium Samsung phone is set by the best camera the company makes, regardless of form factor.

Trade-Off: Users gain class-leading low-light performance and surprisingly competent zoom for a foldable device but must accept a tangible compromise in overall image quality that falls short of the expectations set by other top-tier flagship phones.

📱 Screen: Brilliant Display, Fragile Build

When it comes to the screen experience on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, users are drawn in by its most brilliant qualities, even as they harbor deep-seated fears about its fragility. The experience is dominated by a core tension between show-stopping performance in some areas and significant real-world frustrations in others.

Visual Power & Brightness

The overwhelming highlight for users is the screen’s sheer visual power, particularly its brightness and outdoor visibility, which scores an exceptional 89% positive sentiment—a full 15 percentage points above the category average of 74%. This isn’t just a number; it fundamentally transforms how and where the phone can be used. For owners, this means the expansive inner display isn’t just for indoor use.

As one user celebrated:

The brightness of the phone allows for really good movies and really good gameplay.

Another described the immersive quality, noting:

When unfolded the tablet screen is immersive, large enough to get real work done, and is truly a tablet in the palm of your hand. It’s incredible.

This high praise extends to the fluid motion, with screen smoothness earning an 81% positive score, making for an experience that feels premium and responsive.

Durability & Build Quality Concerns

However, this enthusiasm is severely undermined by alarming concerns about long-term durability. The screen’s build quality registers a shockingly low 13% positive rating, falling 18 points short of the 31% category average. This data reflects a tangible user anxiety that the innovative folding mechanism is also its greatest weakness.

These fears are not abstract; they manifest in catastrophic failures that sour the entire ownership experience. One user shared their frustration:

After almost a year, it started to show its flaws… I have two black splotches on the screen that are VERY noticeable along the crease of the inner screen.

Another reported a more dramatic failure:

I was put off a bit after only having the device for two months and the internal (main) screen broke. The screen spiderwebbed up the crease and the spread to both sides.

This is compounded by practical issues like poor glare resistance, which at 19% positive is half the category average of 38%, leading to complaints like:

The glare is really bad when you have the Z Fold 4 mounted in the car.

Handling vs. The Successor

In a surprising turn, while the Fold4 shows its age in durability, it holds a notable advantage over its direct successor, the Galaxy Z Fold5, in day-to-day handling. The Fold4’s size and handling scores a 74% positive rating, significantly better than the Fold5’s 61%. This suggests that for many users, the newer model felt like a step backward in ergonomics.

This difference is critical because it impacts constant, daily interactions. Users of the Fold line often struggle with the narrow outer screen, with one Fold4 owner lamenting:

I have a really hard time texting on it. My fingers always seem to hit the wrong buttons when it is in phone mode.

The fact that the Fold4 is perceived as *less* problematic in this key area than its replacement is a crucial consideration for potential buyers weighing which generation to choose.

Trade-Off: Users gain an exceptionally bright, tablet-sized display for media and multitasking, but must accept significant risks regarding its long-term durability and frustrating usability quirks like poor glare resistance and a narrow outer screen.

✨Design: Glamorous But Fragile

Regarding the design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, users are captivated by its futuristic appeal, but this initial awe is often tempered by significant real-world frustrations. The phone’s visual identity earns an impressive 89% positive sentiment for its aesthetics, slightly edging out the category average of 88%.

This powerful emotional payoff is the core of the Fold4’s design appeal. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about the social currency the device provides. Owners feel they possess a unique piece of technology, with one user noting it is an:

eye catcher and conversation starter, using it in a public setting always gets someone’s attention.

Another relishes the experience, saying:

I just love flipping it open in front of my friends to get the ‘Wow!’

Build Quality and Handling

However, the daily experience of living with the Fold4 reveals crucial weaknesses. The build quality and materials score a low 53% positive rating, a stark 23-point drop from the 76% category average. This number translates into genuine anxiety and disappointment for users.

Some find the device too delicate, as one owner lamented:

The fragileness of this phone is way too high. A single drop and this happens?

Others face long-term reliability issues with its core mechanism, reporting:

The hinge does not open completely after 8 months of use.

These problems are compounded by issues with its size and handling, which at 54% positive sentiment, trails the 71% category average. Users describe it as:

clunky by comparison with other flagship phones,

A self-described “large man with larger than average hands” found that:

the z-fold is too heavy and too wide to use with one hand comfortably.

Successor Improvements

The design challenges of the Fold4 are thrown into sharp relief when compared to its successors. The subsequent Galaxy Z Fold5 and Fold6 show marked improvements in the exact areas where the Fold4 struggles.

For instance, positive sentiment for size and handling jumps by a massive 20 points to 74% for the Fold5, while build quality sees an 18-point leap to 71%. This data suggests that Samsung directly addressed the user frustrations around the Fold4’s bulk and perceived fragility.

For a potential buyer, this makes the decision stark. Opting for the Fold4 means accepting design compromises that its successors have largely solved, making the newer models a significantly more refined and practical choice.

Trade-Off: Users gain a gorgeous, conversation-starting device but must accept significant compromises in daily handling and long-term durability that later models have rectified.

🔥 Performance: Hot Power, Cool Multitasking

When evaluating the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, users describe a device of two extremes. It’s a category-defining productivity tool on one hand, but one whose immense power can generate significant heat. The story of its performance isn’t about whether it’s fast—it’s about the consistency of that speed under pressure.

Unmatched Multitasking Prowess

The overwhelming source of user delight is the phone’s multitasking capability, which earns a near-perfect 99% positive sentiment, far exceeding the 83% category average. This isn’t just a minor feature; for many, it fundamentally changes how they work and play, effectively replacing other devices.

The large inner screen, powered by a processor that users praise for its speed (92% positive sentiment), allows for a level of productivity previously reserved for laptops. As one user put it:

This device is outstanding for multitasking of any kind. Gone are the days of wanting to drag a tablet or laptop with you. I’ve used mine to make entire new spreadsheets on the fly and never once did I find myself wishing I had my laptop.

This sentiment is echoed by another who states:

It’s very nice to have three windows open to do different things at the same time. That is where the Fold4 shines!

A Critical Weakness: Thermal Management

However, this high-octane performance reveals a critical weakness. While the phone’s 50% positive score for handling heat is better than the dismal 33% category average, it means that half of the users who comment on the phone’s temperature have a negative experience.

For these users, the problem isn’t a minor annoyance but a major frustration that can lead to performance throttling and real-world safety concerns. The impact is visceral, with one owner exclaiming:

This phone gets smoking hot!!!

Another user shared a more worrying experience:

the phone is overheating so bad I can’t leave it charging overnight, afraid it would start a fire.

This issue directly impacts the device’s core functions, undercutting the very multitasking prowess that users otherwise celebrate. As one person noted, the heat forces them to compromise:

Sometimes the phone gets hot due to the heavy usage, so I’ll have to resort to having two apps open at times.

Comparison Against Successors

In a surprising twist, the Galaxy Z Fold4 holds its ground remarkably well against its newer successors, the Fold5 and Fold6. Its multitasking capability (99% positive) is virtually identical to that of the newer models (98% each), suggesting the Fold4 set a gold standard for productivity that has yet to be meaningfully surpassed. More revealingly, the Fold4’s Achilles’ heel—thermal management—appears to be even more of an issue on its successors.

The Fold4’s 50% positive rating is notably better than the 43% for the Fold5 and 38% for the Fold6, indicating that users looking to upgrade for better heat control may be disappointed. This makes the Fold4’s performance profile a unique value proposition for those who can tolerate its warmth, as newer versions don’t necessarily solve this core problem.

Trade-Off: The Galaxy Z Fold4 offers world-class multitasking power that even its successors can’t top, but achieving that performance requires accepting a significant thermal management compromise.

🤖 Software & Operating System: Multitasking Marvel, Stability Mess

When it comes to the Software & Operating System of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the user experience is a dramatic story of exceptional innovation clashing with significant frustration. While some aspects of the software deliver a futuristic and powerful experience, others leave users feeling let down by a lack of stability and polish.

Unmatched Multitasking

The shining star of the Fold4’s software is its unmatched multitasking capability, which earns a perfect 100% positive sentiment score—a full 6 points above the category average. This isn’t just about numbers; it fundamentally redefines how users interact with their device, turning a phone into a portable command center.

Owners feel this transformation in their daily lives, as one user explained:

The ability to be able to split screens and arrange the screens in multiple ways is amazing. I use the 3 screen split open very often.

This feature empowers users to be more productive and efficient, with another user stating that “when I use it for work it literally becomes a laptop, tablet.” This is bolstered by a generally smooth user interface, scoring 78% positive sentiment, where users praise a system that “feels tailor made” for the unique hardware.

Frustrating Instability

However, this brilliance is severely tarnished by the phone’s greatest weakness: software stability. With an alarmingly low 16% positive score—a stark 11 points below the category average—bugs and glitches are a common and deeply frustrating reality.

These aren’t minor hiccups; they are significant problems that disrupt the core experience. One user detailed a catastrophic failure:

I never dropped this phone but all of a sudden it just suddenly had issues yesterday. Phone auto shuts down whenever I flip it open.

The frustration extends to poor app optimization, a problem users feel should have been addressed by the fourth generation. This forces users to adapt their behavior to the phone’s flaws, as one lamented:

For the fourth iteration in this series, I would have expected Samsung to maybe work with app developers for better support. It’s kind of a shame really that 90% of the time I figure I’ll use the outer screen so that the inner one doesn’t mess everything up.

Comparison to Successors

This software inconsistency becomes a critical decision point when comparing the Fold4 to its successors. While later models like the Fold5 and Fold6 offer a more stable experience with a 23% positive score for stability issues, they still lag behind expectations, suggesting the problem is persistent across the product line.

This 7-point improvement, however, could be enough to sway buyers who prioritize reliability over the Fold4’s slightly cheaper price point. The multitasking prowess of the Fold4, however, remains a key selling point, matching the Fold5’s perfect 100% score and even slightly edging out the Fold6’s 93%.

This makes the decision for a potential buyer complex: opt for the pioneering multitasking power of the Fold4, or pay a premium for the incremental—but meaningful—stability improvements of its newer siblings.

Trade-Off: The Galaxy Z Fold4 offers a revolutionary multitasking experience that no competitor can match, but it comes at the cost of frustrating software instability and app optimization issues that undermine its ambitious design.

🔋 Battery: Fast Charge, Fast Drain

For the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the story of its battery is a dramatic mix of surprising strengths and significant frustrations. While many users are won over by its rapid charging capabilities, which score an impressive 81% positive sentiment—far exceeding the category average of 69%—this speed is a necessary convenience.

The fast charging helps mitigate what many find to be a core weakness. One user celebrated this, noting:

charges super fast with recommended charging brick

Another found the fast wireless charging to be a huge plus:

so convenient to just lay it down and forget about cords

This feature provides a practical, anxiety-reducing benefit, allowing users to quickly top up and get back to using the device’s demanding features.

Rapid Battery Drain

However, this bright spot is overshadowed by a major concern: inconsistent and rapid battery drain. This factor registers an alarmingly low 11% positive score, worse than the already low category average of 15%.

This translates into real-world anxiety for power users drawn to the device’s multitasking prowess. The frustration is palpable, with one owner describing the experience:

truly lousy at best, Despicably horrible at worst…the phone often lasts as little as 4-6 hours.

This forces users to constantly monitor their power levels, undermining the freedom the large screen promises. Another user pinpointed the cause, stating that when using the inner tablet display…

the screens eat up the juice.

A Series-Wide Compromise

This struggle with battery endurance is not unique to the Fold4 but appears to be a broader characteristic of the Fold series. The Fold4’s general battery life sentiment sits at 60%, nearly identical to its successors, the Fold5 and Fold6.

However, this is a stark 14 percentage points below the category average of 74% for flagship phones. This significant gap reveals a fundamental compromise buyers must accept.

As one user articulated perfectly:

While the battery for the Z Fold 4 is certainly better than its predecessor, it does not mean that it matches the capability of other flagship devices.

This sentiment highlights that while Samsung has made incremental improvements, the form factor itself still demands a major sacrifice in battery performance compared to traditional phones, forcing users to choose between a revolutionary screen and all-day power.

Trade-Off: Users gain the convenience of rapid charging speeds at the significant cost of subpar endurance and high battery drain, a fundamental compromise for the large, power-hungry foldable screen.

Bottom Line

• ✅ Its software-driven multitasking is a standout feature, earning a perfect 100% positive sentiment for fundamentally redefining user workflow.
• ⚠️ Durability is the primary failure point, with screen build quality earning a shockingly low 13% positive rating amid reports of total failure along the crease.
• 🏁 It feels like a downgrade from traditional flagships, with its general camera quality scoring 15 points below the premium category average and drawing unfavorable comparisons to the S22 Ultra.
• 🔻 Newer models offer a clear design upgrade; the Fold5 boasts an 18-point jump in build quality satisfaction and a 20-point jump in handling over the Fold4.
• 🏁 It surprisingly outperforms newer Folds on key pain points, with better thermal management scores (50% positive vs. the Fold6’s 38%) and superior zoom ratings.
• 💡 The Fold4 is a game-changing productivity tool for users who will trade durability, battery life, and camera quality for a revolutionary multitasking experience.