Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs. Z Fold 3 Comparison: What’s the Difference?

After seeing incremental changes and updates to the Galaxy S22 line in February, it’s now the turn of the ultra-flagship Galaxy Z Fold. Samsung announced the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at its latest Samsung Unpacked event — all of which will arrive on August 26 — and, well, the new Fold is sure to see looks like a Galaxy Fold.

While this new version isn’t very different from last year’s model in terms of looks, it does bring some new features, including improved durability and a wider outward-facing cover. But how does the Galaxy Z Fold 4 stack up to the Z Fold 3 when we get to the heart of the matter on paper? Here we compare them spec by spec to see how different Samsung’s upcoming Fold is.

Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Z Fold 4: Small, Iterative Improvements

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold line has certainly come a long way since its disastrous origins. While the cheaper Z Flip has become the new option for those curious about foldability, the Galaxy Z Folds remain the flagship-level premium phones in Samsung’s lineup. Last year’s Z Fold 3 helped break new ground in the normality of folding phones with features like water resistance, which still pale in comparison to traditional flat phones. That said, the new Z Fold 4 retains many of the improvements from last year’s Fold 3, such as that IPX8 resistance, a 7.6-inch foldable OLED, and a thin but usable outer display – which are now cheaper to repair in the case of an accident.

The Z Fold 4, like the S22 generation, offers numerous small improvements that repeat the latest model. The outer screen is now about 3mm wider, offering an aspect ratio that feels a little less clunky and slim. The selfie camera below the display should also fit the screen better, and that inner screen is more durable than last year’s model, despite the phone being slightly lighter. Samsung says this lighter construction helps with one-handed use.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that delivers faster performance, and the main camera has been upgraded with more megapixels and a larger sensor for improved nighttime performance. Sadly, the Samsung coined term “Nightography” will remain for now, but if the trade-off for that word crime is better photos, well, okay.

All of these changes to the Z Fold 4 are still the same price as the outgoing model, meaning it starts at $1,799.99 with 256GB of storage. Aside from all the ongoing pre-order promotions that get you a free storage bump up to 512GB, there’s no denying that this is an expensive phone. So if this generation doesn’t mean enough change for you, maybe there’s something to be said about looking for a discounted Z Fold 3 before it’s long gone. But to better judge how the two compare on paper, below is a side-by-side comparison that outlines the finer details of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 4.

While the Fold 4 certainly looks cool, it’s hard to deny that on paper it feels like a modest bump over the Fold 3. Aside from the upgrade to the main camera sensor, telephoto magnification, the new CPU and a slightly wider cover screen, you’ll need a Squint a bit to see some differences. (I’m looking at you, aspect ratios.)

Yes, it now shoots 8K video, but only at 24 frames per second – and most people may not want to deal with those huge file sizes. The durability improvements and cheaper repairs are a welcome change, but Samsung’s claim of a 45 percent stronger main display is one of those numbers that sounds big at first, but it’s hard to say how much of a difference it makes in the long run.

Perhaps the obvious improvements will become more apparent in our full review. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments about what you think of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4.

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