Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
Anchor
Google PlayI have not owned a flip phone in well over a decade, but I’m generally interested in these new form factors. In the world of mobile technology, I look at foldables as the missing link that sits somewhere between your typical smartphone of today and the types of devices that will populate the future. Many skeptics will take one look at these devices and say, “What would I ever use that for?” And that viewpoint is justifiable. These devices are expensive, and for many a folding device is nothing more than a gimmick with no useful applications.
Without risk there is no reward. In a world of flat phones these are bold chances that Samsung is taking. If Samsung doesn’t make these phones, we may never see new form factors from competitors. Here’s everything you need to know about the Galaxy Z Flip4, The Galaxy Z Fold4, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro, and Galaxy Buds Pro2.
I can honestly say I have spent a lot of time grabbing for the Fold4, and enjoying every minute of it. If a smartphone and a tablet had a baby, that baby would be the Galaxy Z fold4. If you’ve been on the fence because you weren’t sure whether a foldable device would feel more like a prototype or device from the future, you can feel confident about getting off the fence for this one. The Galaxy Z Fold4 is a flagship phone that is ready for primetime. This is a device built for productivity, whose fold feels like form following function as opposed to a gimmick.
Designs and Folds
The magic really happens when the Fold4 is opened. There are many different ways of unlocking your phone. I find that the face scanner and fingerprint reader work as well as those features do on most smartphones. It sometimes takes another try or two to unlock the phone. I’ve tried recalibrating, and it has gotten better as my face and finger are scanned over and over again. Right now, I’d say facial recognition works around 75% of the time, which isn’t bad, but it gives me enough misses for me to notice. The inside camera being an under-display camera means it is far less noticeable than a notch or punch out, but that comes at the cost of fidelity and reliability when unlocking your phone.
The Buds2 Pro has active noise canceling and ambient sound modes. The ambient sound mode passes ambient noise through, which is good for paying attention walking down the sidewalk. The noise canceling mode also works quite well, and is great for plane or train travel. There is also an “off” mode which is neither, but still blocks out noise like an earplug might. If you find yourself losing your things, there is a SmartThings find feature that allows you to be notified when you leave your Buds behind or allows you to track and find your devices. If these sound like they’d be perfect for you, then you can pick up a pair starting at $229.99, in graphite, white, or purple.
Galaxy Watch5 Pro
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro comes in one size, 45 mm. It is a noticeably large watch both in weight and size. If your wrist would look unnatural in a G-shock watch (purley because of sizing), then this watch may be too big for you. With that extra size comes a whole bunch of extra features including a larger 590mAh battery, a GPS, and a more durable body and screen.
The battery typically lasted me three days between charges. I’ve been using an Apple Watch for the last 5 years, so it took me a minute to get used to the UX/UI of the device, but once I did, I really enjoyed the experience. There isn’t a rotating bezel as seen in previous models, but you can still run your finger around the circumference of the watch in order to quickly switch between menus.
The biggest features for most smart watches are health and notification related. This watch does both of those things well. While you can track any type of workout, the GPS which is exclusive to the pro, excels in walking/hiking/running activities. You can either set a route and get turn by turn instructions from your phone, or you can go where your heart takes you and then use the “track back” feature to guide yourself back to where you started. This means that if you wanted to you could leave your phone at home and stream music via YouTube Music during your workout. There are also features like sleep tracking, heart monitoring, temperature sensor, and a number of settings that can help you track your workouts and fitness goals. If this sounds like something you’d like, you can get it in black or gray titanium starting at $449.99 (Wi-Fi only) and $499.99(LTE).
If a Samsung phone was my daily use phone, then the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and the Galaxy Watch5 Pro would be my go-to products, without question. However, since some of their features are locked into a Galaxy ecosystem, these are currently best suited for somebody that loves Galaxy products already.
BottomLine
This new lineup of Galaxy devices are all strong contenders in the smartphone, wearable, and earphone market. They work best together, and are filled with innovative ideas and features. Samsung should be applauded for taking risks with a form factor that they’ve been honing and perfecting over the last few years. That being said, the new Apple products are right around the corner. If you are an Android person, that may not factor into your decision making, but waiting a week or so will give you the time to make the right decision. This innovation comes at a premium price across the board, but if you look at carrier and trade-in deals you can bring down the price to a much more palatable price point.
