Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Should you upgrade?

Samsung officially released the latest generation of its best-selling Galaxy Z Flip smartphone, the Z Flip 4. While the clamshell handset brings changes to the camera system, processing power, and battery life, current Z Flip 3 owners may be on the fence with the similar-looking, similarly priced successor. If you’re wondering whether the new changes are worth upgrading to, here’s our take. 

Specifications

You should upgrade if… 

1. You want a longer-lasting battery 

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Z Flip 3 and Z Flip 4 is the latter’s bigger, more efficient battery. With the Flip 4’s battery capacity of 3,700mAh (versus the Z Flip 3’s 3,300mAh), Samsung says the Z Flip 4 should last three hours longer. It also charges faster, with Super Fast Charging capable of juicing up to 50% in about 30 minutes. If battery life is one of the main downers of your Z Flip 3 experience, the Z Flip 4 should bring you a little more Zen. 

2. You want the latest Samsung cameras

While both phones feature a 12MP ultra-wide lens and 10MP selfie camera, the main lens, which you’re probably taking the most pictures and videos with, has been updated. Using 1.8 micron pixels instead of the Z Flip 3’s 1.4, the Flip 4 can take sharper photos — no matter the lighting condition.

The Z Flip 4’s dual-camera setup at the rear is also near-identical to that of this year’s Galaxy S22 Plus, which ZDNET’s Jason Cipriani reviewed with positive remarks. Flex Mode also sees some new benefits like continuous video recording, and the new Cover Screen can now serve as a viewfinder for photos in every aspect ratio. 

3. You want faster and more powerful performance 

With the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, the Z Flip 4 operates with the newest and fastest Qualcomm processor at the helm. The Z Flip 3, on the other hand, uses last year’s Snapdragon 888 chipset. While only one generation behind the Snapdragon 8+, the 888 is not as battery-efficient and snappy as its successor. From our testing of other Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 handsets, we have high expectations for the performance and output of the Z Flip 4 — as should you. 

You shouldn’t upgrade if… 

1. You want a smaller/bigger handset 

If you were expecting a smaller or larger clamshell this time around, I have bad news. The dimensions of the new Z Flip are practically identical to the Z Flip 3, from the display sizes to the thickness. You can expect hand-feel (both flipped open and closed) to be the same with this year’s model. 

2. You want a larger Cover Screen 

Like the handset sizes, the Cover Screen size is identical at 1.9 inches diagonal. That means that the physical functionality on the Z Flip 3 carries over to the Z Flip 4. Samsung has introduced a few software tweaks to the Cover Screen, like the ability to personalize its appearance, add new widgets, and actually reply to text messages from the smaller display. We expect the same features to come to the Z Flip via software updates, though. 

3. You’re expecting a cheaper price 

If you were hoping that the Z Flip 4 would come at even a slightly cheaper price than the Z Flip 3, I’m sorry to tell you that it, too, is debuting with a $999 price tag. While the Z Flip 3 has lost a year’s worth of resale value, Samsung currently is offering enhanced trade-in credits when you purchase the Z Flip 4. In the Samsung store, the Z Flip 3 is valued at $900 if you trade it in for the 4, which is as good as it’ll get. 

More: The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 deals