It works really well now: Galaxy Fold is much better on the second attempt

Samsung is launching the second generation of its Galaxy Fold folding smartphone. The South Koreans improve the device in crucial areas and make it a very useful everyday companion for users with a large wallet and sturdy bags.

After initial problems, the Galaxy Fold was a pioneer last year that showed that folding smartphones can be suitable for everyday use. Now Samsung has presented the second generation, which has incorporated numerous suggestions from testers and users. It turns out that Samsung has made the right improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G is above all more stable and useful than its predecessor.

At first glance, not much has changed. The impression changes quickly when you switch on the device. Because then you can see the new outdoor display, which is 6.2 inches larger than the 4.6-inch screen of the predecessor. When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a full-fledged smartphone that is just thicker and longer than other devices. The Amoled display makes an excellent impression with strong contrasts and bright colors, and the maximum brightness is also impressive.

Long drawn out design

Although the fold is almost 1.7 centimeters thick at the joint when folded, its elongated design makes it easy to handle and fits well in your trouser pockets as long as you are not wearing skinny jeans. The high weight of 282 grams remains more problematic, as it can quickly lead to inconsistencies in jackets and in the long run becomes a stress test for bags made of finer materials.

When you open the device, you notice the improved hinge. While the predecessor still felt a slight crunch, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 opens and closes much more gently. At the same time, the connection is more stable and the hinge holds the display halves in place at almost every angle.

Indoor display without notch

An indoor display that has grown from 7.3 to 7.6 inches is unfolded. The increase is mainly due to the fact that Samsung removed the unsightly notch and now snaps the front camera through a small hole in the screen. The fold along the longitudinal axis remains visible, but is so gentle that it is hardly noticeable in most situations.

Thanks to an incorporated wafer-thin layer of glass, you hardly feel that your finger is sliding over plastic, but the display is still much more sensitive to scratches than conventional smartphone screens, which are protected by cover glass. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with the magnificent Amoled panel. Colors and contrasts correspond to those of the external display, with a pixel density of almost 390 ppi it is even a little sharper. It also offers a high refresh rate of up to 120 Hertz (Hz). In order to save electricity, the device dynamically adapts the frequency to the requirements; if you wish, you can basically stay with the standard of 60 Hz.

Samsung has not yet managed to make the Galaxy Fold waterproof, but improved brushes on the hinge should prevent dust from entering even more effectively than before. How this works over months has to be seen first, in the one-week test period there were no problems without further precautionary measures.

Multitasking in top form

The large indoor screen can be used even better in the second generation of the Fold. So you can now distribute three app windows in different layouts and content can be shared between the applications via drag and drop. This works with Samsung apps, but also with customized third-party applications.

When one half of the display is erected, compatible apps are split up. For example, on YouTube, the video then runs in the upper half, while the lower half is there for control; on Microsoft Word, the text field and keyboard are separate.

Samsung exhausts the possibilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with the camera app. So you can see the motif in the upper half, while a gallery of the last pictures, settings and triggers are available below. Samsung also cleverly implements the interplay between the exterior and interior displays. So you can open the device to use the main camera for a selfie. The preview can be seen on the indoor display, which can also be used to give photographed people the opportunity to position themselves.

Good cameras, high performance

The camera equipment itself is strong, although not quite as good as, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It is only a bit disappointing that the telephoto camera only offers two times optical magnification. Otherwise, like the main and ultra-wide-angle cameras, it takes very nice photos and videos. 12 megapixels are completely sufficient in each case, main and telephoto notches are optically stabilized.

The Galaxy Fold 2 certainly does not have any performance problems. It is powered by Qualcomm's current top chip Snapdragon 865+, which can access a full 12 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. The internal flash memory is 256 GB. With a capacity of 4500 milliampere hours, the battery has enough reserves to keep the device even over busy days.

Successful, but expensive

Samsung has done a great job and improved the Galaxy Fold at crucial points. If you are looking for a folding device that combines the advantages of smartphone and tablet, you have come to the right place. The fact that the fold is still quite heavy and a bit clunky when folded cannot be technically changed at the moment. Buyers have to live with that as well as the high price, which costs 1950 euros.