Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

No huge leap from the Flip3, but then again it didn’t need to be: this is the best flipping phone you can buy

- ALEX WALKER-TODD

PRICE 128GB, £833 (£999 inc VAT) from samsung.com/uk

Due to the excellence of the Flip3 (see issue 326, p70), Samsung had no need to reinvent its clamshell-style foldable. And it hasn't. Indeed, at first glance both the Flip4 and the Fold4 (see overleaf) look almost indistinguishable from their predecessors. That means the Z Flip4 rocks a familiar two-tone clamshell form factor, a dual rear camera and an external cover display. So what's new?

In terms of design, very little. It has a straight-sided look with a fraction less rounding than the Flip3, with a black "visor" along the top edge of the back that hosts two rear camera sensors and the cover display. The rest of the back comprises Gorilla Glass Victus Plus set against a colour-matched Armor Aluminium frame. Launch colours include Graphite, Pink Gold, Bora Purple and Blue, and the ability to mix and match both back colours and frame finishes if you buy the Bespoke Edition direct from Samsung.

One subtle change is that the frame - lightly textured on the Flip3 - is now highly polished, while the back glass is diffused instead of glossy. This makes for a classier look and means you're less likely to spot fingerprints.

Gaps ahoy

Despite sticking to the same primary screen size as the Flip3, Samsung has made the Flip4 smaller. When closed, the logo-engraved hinge doesn't protrude as much as it did before, and its folded height is 1.5mm shorter thanks in part to slimmer bezels.