Figured I'd make one more dirty video before cleaning up my desk. Today we're durability
testing the brand new Samsung Z Flip 4. The smaller and cuter sibling to the Samsung Z Fold 4.
If I had to pick between the two I'd probably go with this smaller flip form factor
assuming, of course, that it can survive the few little stressful
situations that I've arranged for it today.
At right around $1,000 it would be a real shame if it were too fragile. Today we'll
find out. This video's sponsored by Audible. Let's get started.
[Intro]
Just like when we opened up the Fold we are immediately greeted by a long list
of things we cannot do. And the list all by itself kind of makes the Flip 4 seem fragile,
but I'm going to need to do my own research on this one. The phone itself is nice and big when
opened. And when closed it's all nice and small, and that about sums up the whole experience. When
the phone is closed we are left with a 1.9 inch cover display on the outside which is capable of
performing some basic tasks, but we'll get to that more in just a second. First, the scratch test.
One of the smaller scratch tests we've ever done for sure, but it is nice to know what the screen
is made from and how careful we need to be with it over time. Plastic screens are a level 2 or 3,
glass is a 5 or 6, and sapphire would be a level 8 or 9. Let me know if you want to see
Samsung's new sapphire watch tested down in the comments. As we can see on this tiny rectangle,
there are some scratches at a level 6, with deeper grooves at a level 7. Meaning Samsung
is using tempered Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which is a rather long name for a piece of glass.
The phone can indeed be opened with one hand, but only if my thumbnail is allowed to scrape along
the surface of that inner screen. We can see if my nail will be an issue with another scratch test.
Samsung is again talking about their ultra thin glass mumbo jumbo this time around,
but as you can clearly see, the UTG is not what's covering the surface. The surface,
again, scratches at a level 2, with deeper grooves at a level 3. It's definitely solidly in the realm
in which fingernails are very much able to cause damage to the surface. We'll have to see how many
layers down Samsung hid that ultra thin glass. But it's definitely not doing us any favors here
on the top. Ultra thin glass sounds cool in the marketing videos, but in reality and every day
useage owners should be very careful of where your fingernails are at, especially if you're trying to
operate one-handed. I almost used my pink Jerry Rig Knife to pull the paper off the screen,
but it turns out there is a series of magnets that caught my knife along the top edge of the phone,
as well as the bottom edge. Strong enough that it would be unwise to fight them with my razor,
just so we don't accidentally stab the plastic inner screen and end this video
early. This also means though that the front 10 megapixel under screen camera is only protected
by plastic. The camera is not hidden under glass or pixels like we saw on the Fold.
Speaking of protection and marketable terminology, the sides of the Flip 4 are made from armor
aluminum which is aluminum with the word armor in front of it. We have a scratchable capacitive side
mounted fingerprint scanner. Huge fan of that. And we have a metal removable volume rocker.
Up at the top we have more metal with a microphone hole. And down the left side we have the metal SIM
card tray, along with more metal on the sides. This phone again is IP68 water resistant,
and the pile of dust on my desk is probably making it nervous. The bottom of the phone has
an improved 25 watt fast charging USB-C port to help power the larger internal battery, but we'll
get to that more during the teardown, or you know, maybe sooner if the phone falls apart during this
video. And again, Samsung has included plastic bumpers along the inner screen to help keep
things padded and safe for that middle display. Samsung says their folding screen has the ability
to flex along this hinge over 200,000 times with no damage. Assuming that the phone is used in a
reasonably reasonable manner throughout all those folds. The Samsung lettering is still inlaid.
Now the almost 2 inch exterior screen does have some perks. I'm sure it would be more intuitive
if I read some instructions or something, but it does give us the ability to use the
more powerful rear cameras as selfie takers, and switch between the two lenses with just
a swipe. The upper 12 megapixel ultra wide camera is protected by glass. And
the lower 12 megapixel regular camera is also protected with that circle of glass.
And there are more large matte glass panels
covering protecting the rest of the phone. A double tap to the exterior screen can also tell
us the time, which is quite a big change from the days of our grandparents when a high tech
alarm clock consisted of glowing radioactive radium next to your head while you sleep.
There's actually a true story called The Radioactive Boy Scout about a guy who
tried building his own nuclear reactor in his mom's garden shed using old smoke detectors,
gun sights, radioactive alarm clocks, and duct tape. The audiobook from my
channel sponsor Audible is no tutorial by any means. Not that I was looking for a tutorial,
I was just...I mean...it's just some crazy stuff. From his mom's garden shed the radioactive boy
scout single handedly exposed about 40,000 people to dangerous levels of radiation. Don't want to be
his neighbor. You can give the story a listen for free with a link down in the description.
New members can try Audible for free for 30 days. Visit audible.com/jerryrig or text the
word “jerryrig” to 500-500. Audible has a huge selection of audiobooks across every genre from
memoirs to best sellers, even a massive selection of Audible Originals narrated by celebrities or
renowned experts. The Audible app makes it easy to listen anytime, anywhere, traveling, working out,
walking, or doing chores. Or, you know, maybe even if you're out working in your mom's garden
shed. And it's free for your first 30 days. Audible.com/jerryrig or text the word “jerryrig”
to 500-500. The Radioactive Boy Scout is a good one and the link is down in the description.
Turns out, and no spoilers obviously, but one of the only ways to really deal with radioactive
material is to bury it. Dirt is good for all kinds of things. Samsung does seem a bit nervous about
it though which is probably why it's not included in their phone's IPX8 water resistant rating. I
think it's pretty safe to say though that unless you took a Flip 4 and actually buried it in a
hole, this is probably the most dust the phone could ever naturally or accidentally encounter.
The internal magnets are collecting my screws for me and now we have dust on
the hinge and on the screens, both front and back.
And it's all still opening and closing just fine. No grinding or grating and no sounds of dirt
on the inside...yet. I agree that dust is most likely dangerous for Samsung's folding phones,
but they definitely don't need to be kept in a clean room to stay functional.
And I hope my tests provide some peace of mind for the owners. I would, however,
counsel against holding the Flip 4 over open flame.
The inner screen is a 1080p dynamic 6.7 inch 10=20 hertz AMOLED, but since it's
covered by plastic the surface would rather deform and melt instead of hurting pixels.
The outer display is a 260 x 512 and is covered by glass. And as we can tell from the pixels
going white and not fully recovering, it is also AMOLED. Finally the bend test. Samsung's folding
phones are in a weird spot of being extremely durable while also being extremely fragile
all at the same time. And this Fold 4 kind of follows in its predecessor's footsteps...except
for one very strange noise. And an abnormal reverse curvature. [Popping sound] Like you
guys hear that right? The Samsung Flip 4 bends backwards much further than its previous family
members and physically pops. But at the same time still remains functional with no visible
damage on the exterior. The hinge and two rear slabs of glass lock the phone out and keep it
from snapping backwards entirely, but there's definitely something broken on the inside...to
the point where the phone, even with its strong magnets, does not stay closed anymore. I think
there's something popped out of the channel groove inside of the hinge, but even with all that abuse,
the Flip 4 still remains entirely functional which means it does pass my durability test.
I'm pretty sure Samsung changed up the Flip 4 hinge design just like they did with the
Fold 4 and removed those internal gears. We'll have to find out for sure during
the teardown. Along with how many layers deep Samsung hid their ultra thin glass.
Don't forget your free audiobook down in the description. It's rather eye opening
to see how close the radioactive boy scout got to making his own reactor.
Hit that subscribe button if you haven't already. Come hang out with me on Instagram and Twitter.
And thanks a ton for watching. I'll see you around.