Finally, the Samsung folding phone is available. With the rather quiet launch a few weeks ago ended a months-long - and quite embarrassing for the electronics company - waiting time. After all, the innovative smartphone, which unfolds a huge screen of 7.3 inches when unfolding, the world was already presented in February with great brimstone.
Actually it should have been in stores in May. But then journalists found in the first test equipment blatant technical defects, especially on the screen.
They should now be fixed. And so I have been able to test the revised version of the Samsung mobile phone for a good week. It is sold under the name Galaxy Fold 5G, because the revised model is equipped with a 5G chip, which should originally be reserved for certain models. Whether you need it in light of the currently meager 5G offer in Germany is another matter. It is certain that he has once again made the device more expensive, at Samsung it is with 2300 euros in the price list.
But you get an extensive set of features, which in addition to lush 512 gigabytes of memory and the wireless Galaxy Buds headphones include that you have to buy other Samsung smartphones for 149 euros.
photo gallery
17 pictures
Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G in the test: flaps, wrinkles, smearsAlthough I thought the first time I tried the first version of the Galaxy Fold, I would not notice the crease in the middle of the screen after a short time: Even after a week of continuous use, I can not hide it. Bright backgrounds help to hide the kink. When reading on SPIEGEL ONLINE for example, the fold is really not on. As soon as the screen gets dark, it is obvious. The power-saving dark fashion and dark movies are treacherous in this respect.
In everyday life, I brought the Galaxy Fold at normal intensive use never to the limits of its battery capacity. As an extreme test, I let it play a full-HD movie at full brightness in an infinite loop. With its two batteries, Samsung's folding smartphone lasted for almost twelve hours, which is a good value.
How many windows would you like to have?
The real added value of the large interior screen is simply that you can see more with it. It's pretty much fun compared to other smartphones, whether you're surfing the web, reading news, writing emails, or playing games. Even when taking pictures, the plus in screen space pays off. It's just like having a little tablet in your hand. Only that one can fold it.
The only weakness is the old-fashioned aspect ratio of 4.2: 3. As a result, movies are always displayed with thick black bars.
The ability to use up to three apps on the 7.3-inch display in parallel, is pure Zahlenschinderei. While it may sometimes be useful to use two apps side by side, such as email and calendar, the windows in three apps are too small to do anything useful.
MIRROR ONLINE
With three apps it gets tight on Samsung's screen
At the crazy collection of cameras Samsung has changed nothing in the revised version. A total of six cameras are in the Galaxy Fold: The trio on the back corresponds to the Galaxy S10 +, inside is a 12-megapixel camera for selfies, which is an 8-megapixel depth sensor for blur effects to the side. There is also another selfie camera with 10 megapixels on the front.
Regardless of the variety of lenses, the photo quality is expected to be good, equivalent to that of the Galaxy S10 + and belongs to the top class. The detail sharpness and color reproduction of my test photos was, at least with day shots, outstanding. The currently hip night mode, however, could not convince me as the corresponding features in Google Pixel 4 and iPhone 11.
Inside hui, outside fie
Samsung offers two thin Kevlar-look protective covers, which should be installed if you do not feel like carrying a cleaning cloth. For as noble as the shiny metallic backs of the two halves of the case may be, they are so sensitive to dirt. In normal use, they quickly look so unsightly that you want to edit them with a cleaning cloth or at least rub clean on the trouser serve.
Matthias Kremp / THE MIRROR
Without protection, the Galaxy Fold 5G quickly becomes grubby
Incidentally, the same applies to the 4.6-inch outdoor display. The folding screen turned out to be far less susceptible to finger dirt, though I tapped it intensively. This may be due to the fact that it is well protected inside the device, on the other hand on the construction of plastic.
Conclusion
advantages and disadvantages
Innovative construction
Very good cameras
Good interior display
Extensive technical equipment
Galaxy Buds included
Very expensive
Fold visible on dark backgrounds
Exterior screen very small
In the revised after the debacle of the spring version of Samsung's Galaxy Fold meets my already expressed in February hope to be the beginning of a new generation of smartphones. The large folding display on its inside is as fascinating as the touch screen in the first iPhone. You can do things that were previously not possible with a smartphone. First and foremost, you can use it like a tablet.
And just like the iPhone could also define the Galaxy Fold a new trend and make folding phones to mainstream. For this to work, however, the folding technique has to be improved, so that you no longer see any wrinkles in the screen, and the devices have to be slimmer and lighter.
Above all, prices must change. Spending 2,300 euros on a smartphone can no longer be justified by rational arguments. Having a Galaxy Fold is cool, paying for one is painful.
Background: Product tests in the network world department
Which products are reported in the network world section?
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