Samsung Is Wrong, Software Is The Biggest Problem For Foldables

Ryan Haynes / Android Authority

Foldable phones aren't cheap. Samsung knows this, as we all do, but the company recently made an interesting announcement when asked about its value. Originally, Samsung believed foldable devices would become cheaper in the future, but this year, the team focused on easing customers' pain rather than cutting costs. For the Galaxy Z Fold 5, that means a lighter and thinner design, and for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, that means the introduction of Flex Window and an updated Cover Screen interface.

While both fifth-generation updates make life easier in their own way, I'm not sure Samsung is in the right place. It has its fair share of flexible windows, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is no lighter than its predecessor (about 10 grams). Instead, I think Leap's next giant leaflets will improve the experience of the software.

little steps

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Of course, I'm not saying that Samsung just sat back and used the same software for its first foldable phones. Both the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip have received software updates in recent years as Samsung places more faith in its foldable hardware.

In the case of the Galaxy Z Fold, the most notable update has been the introduction of Android 12L. Google app sharing for tablets introduced the app tray and improved multitasking. While I rarely use three windows on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it's nice to have that option. In many ways, the ability to switch faceted layouts and load apps from the system tray finally makes the Galaxy Z Fold feel more like a small tablet than the big phone it was always meant to be.

One year later, Android 12L is still the biggest update for the Galaxy Z Fold.

Samsung's customization options go beyond other foldable devices. You can choose whether or not to mirror the cover screen to the internal display, opening the door to two completely different wallpapers and layouts for your two separate displays. The Google Pixel Fold, on the other hand, treats the internal screen as an extension of the coverage bar, keeping the same apps, widgets and wallpapers, but allowing you to swipe left or right between the two halves. Google doesn't let you place a widget in the center of the screen - Samsung has no problem.

As for the Galaxy Z Flip, its biggest update just recently arrived. While using Flex Window on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a double-edged sword (which I'll cover in a minute), there's no question that it's better than the previous Galaxy Z Flip 4 for apps and widgets. This iteration mostly used the CoverScreen OS to make the most of the 1.9-inch panel, but this often felt more like a gimmick than a feature. Sure, you could be running Gmail, but you need to tweak the settings to make it look like a real app. The Flex window is now large enough to support a full-size keyboard and miniature versions of apps like Spotify and Slack, meaning I can use my phone all day without opening it.

big obstacle

Ryan Haynes / Android Authority

Despite updates to the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold, it often feels like Samsung is trying to play hopscotch to fix its longest-running problems. Whenever we introduce a new packable feature, no matter how pure or raw, it gets hidden in the Labs section of the settings menu. I'd have no problems with my approach if it meant moving the features to a more convenient menu section at the end, but simple things like the Flex Mode panel controls are still part of the lab years later.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a major victim of lab glitches, you need Samsung's experimental menu (and some additional software) to take full advantage of the flex window. You can use Labs to tweak some of the apps that Samsung says are optimized for Flex Windows, but you'll need to install Good Lock and go through a few hoops for the rest of your apps. Compare that to the Motorola Razr Plus, which makes it easy to add apps to the cover screen, and it's easy to see how Motorola is making its way into the software realm.

Installing software in the background is one way to catch up with the competition, Samsung.

The biggest problem is that not all Samsung-optimized apps are well-optimized. For example, Google Maps prioritizes the rest of the interface over the map itself, meaning you can't just follow the blue line to your destination. The experimental nature of Flex Window apps means that Samsung could claim that multitasking isn't available. You can't swipe up from the Flex window to access recent apps because Samsung mandated Good Lock with apps. Instead, you should place the app drawer next to the Flex Window home screen so you only need to swipe once. Samsung is finally treating the Flex Window like the world's largest Galaxy Watch, rather than the smallest Galaxy smartphone.

The biggest problem with the Galaxy Z Fold is optimizing apps in a different way. While the Galaxy Z Flip struggled to keep apps small, the Galaxy Z Fold is trying to stretch them to a 7.6-inch screen. Apps that don't have a proper tablet layout don't scale as well to square panels, meaning you're left with a lot of wasted space unless you choose to multitask all the time. Sure, the Galaxy Z Fold has an edge over the Pixel Fold because it's portrait-focused by default, but it's difficult to balance performance with space, rendering app layouts useless.

Hardware isn't the only problem

Ryan Haynes / Android Authority

Whether you're focusing on software that Samsung made or software that didn't make it, one thing is clear: the problem isn't with the hardware. Samsung has had plenty of time to tighten up the hinge, improve button placement, and refine one of the fastest and most accurate fingerprint scanners on the side. The screens of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold still have creases, but the rest of Samsung's hardware sets the standard for foldable phones.

After using both the Motorola Razr Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, there's no question that one hinge is better than the other. The first thing I did with both zippers was open the zipper 90 degrees and try to swing it back and forth. Motorola's resurrected Razer reacted like an inflatable boat you might see outside a car dealership, bouncing back and forth from my hand. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was solid. The tight hinge means the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold can take on an almost infinite number of positions, making it a lifesaver when taking group selfies when no one can hide behind the camera.

We can live with minor hardware glitches, but smart software fixes the problem.

Don't get me wrong, eliminating the half-screen gap is a major upgrade for Samsung. I can't complain about the fine lines of fabric digging into the crease more often than not, so I'm not saying the team that fell this year missed the ball completely. However, Google and Motorola introduced fully enclosed foldable phones this year, and it didn't take them five generations to get there.

After all, it's easier to live with great software and slightly flawed hardware than the other way around. We complain more about in-app ads and awkward layouts than about screen wrinkles and weak on-screen cameras. Samsung needs to take what Motorola did with the Razer Plus experience and make it even better as developers find a way to optimize their apps for the Galaxy Z Fold's internal display.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Samsung Galaxy Z flip 5

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Galaxy Z Fold 5: the biggest problems and shortcomings