(intense music)
- There's no dust or dirt here.
No small particles in the air.
Unlike out there, in the real world.
Which is why this bubble is
the only place for me to be to review
the new Samsung Galaxy Fold.
A device that comes with more warnings
than I ever thought possible.
(dramatic piano music)
Plus, I think about what we've learned since
the last time Samsung tried to launch this phone.
And, I said,
It wasn't ready.
The backlash was real.
This was supposed to by a Samsung Galaxy Fold review,
but it's not.
(crowd shouting)
(ominous music)
Even from the Korean media.
(speaking in foreign language)
Ultimately, Samsung revised the phone.
This new $2000 Fold has new protections from
the outside world.
Though, still requires quite a few protections from us.
And, so,
me and the new Galaxy Fold, we live here now.
(dramatic intense music)
Okay, we don't really live here.
But, first,
let's start with what's been fixed from
the first time around.
The Galaxy Fold is part phone and part tablet.
Inside the face of the big,
flexible 7.3 inch OLED screen isn't glass,
but plastic and the cover that once had visible edges
that I may have started to peel off is now tucked under
the display.
Samsung also strengthened this hinge
and put caps on this part of the screen
so no dirt or dust can get into it.
Samsung also says a new metal layer behind
the screen strengthens the device.
Still, compared to say,
this new Galaxy Note,
it all feels a little bit fragile,
even flimsy.
- So why is this screen so sensitive
to dirt, dust and pokes?
Well, science.
Glass doesn't bend, but can shatter.
Plastic bends, but can be punctured or stretched.
Samsung even includes a special case in the box.
I used the phone for the last week
and so far, so good.
Though, I accidentally left
a little dent in the screen with my fingernail.
When I first arrived here there was far more good than bad.
I really could see the benefits of a big, foldable screen.
The best thing about the phone?
The bigger, immersive apps.
Like Google Maps and YouTube.
It's really nice to be able to have
the bigger screen when you need it.
Apps like Instagram have even been resized for
the squarer shape.
You can't beat the size of this view finder either.
The cameras are what you'd expect from a Samsung phone.
Crisp, clear shots that sometimes are over-saturated.
Being able to split the screen
and look at email on one side
and my calendar on the other has also been a helpful trick.
You can do three windows but,
honestly, it's overkill.
Plus, battery life is impressive.
With two batteries inside, it lasts all day.
And the tablet streams video for 14 and a half hours.
And when I fold it up
and hold it to my ear it sounds pretty good
and the speaker is loud.
- [Joanna's Mom] Where are you calling from?
- A bubble.
I live in a bubble now.
- [Joanna's Mom] I am really beginning to worry about you.
- [Joanna] Then reality set in.
I realized I was still in a bubble.
And I quickly realized that the things
that make this a great tablet come at a pretty big cost.
The outside smaller screen,
which you use most when you quickly need to send an email
or a text is so small.
Like, need a magnifying glass, small.
And this black space on the top and bottom is an eyesore.
Taking photos of it reminds me of my first digital camera.
Plus you really need two hands to unfold it.
And yes, there's a giant crease in the middle of the screen
and you get used to it,
but it's there and then,
of course, there's the fragility.
Which is why I now live in a bubble.
A $2000 phone that's so easily broken
and needs to be handled so delicately seems like
a really bad idea for even
the wealthiest of bubble dwellers.
Samsung does throw in $149 screen replacement in
the first year, but after that it costs $599.
There's also 24/7 customer service for buyers.
- [Damian] Thank you for calling
Samsung Galaxy Premier service.
My name's Damian,
who do I have the pleasure of speaking with today?
- Hi, my name's Joanna.
Would you be my friend?
- [Damian] I'm sorry, what now?
- Unless you have access to
a beautiful bubble like this in the middle of nowhere,
I cannot recommend you buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold,
but I do recommend that you go check it out at a Best Buy
or AT&T store.
It's a great look at the future of our devices.
(intense music)
A future with bigger,
more expensive
and sturdier phones that we'll never wanna put down.
At least I've got a hot dog.