• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone
    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Portable tablet
    $1440 $1800 Save $360

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is an amalgamation of smartphones and tablets, offering the portability of the formal with the usefulness of the latter. The only things holding it back are the mediocre cameras and the incredibly steep price. This phone is only right for a specific type of user.

    Pros
    • Large display
    • Room to multitask
    Cons
    • Durability concerns
    • Expensive
  • samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-square
    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
    The well-rounded flagship

    The Galaxy S22 Ultra might not be the latest Samsung flagship, but it's still a phone more than capable of handling anything you throw at it. And the reveal of its S23 replacement has brought the price down nicely, so if you've been on the fence, now would be a good time.

    Pros
    • Durability
    • Excellent cameras
    Cons
    • Performance issues outside the US
    • Harder to multitask

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 4 are far from the latest in Samsung's flagship lineup. The Galaxy S23 Ultra launched in February 2023, and the Z Fold 5 sits at the top of Samsung's current foldable lineup. That, however, doesn't mean that Samsung's 2022 flagships aren't worth considering. In fact, the S22 Ultra and Z Fold 4 both offer exceptional value with their fast processors, stunning displays, Samsung's One UI, and all the bells and whistles that come with top-tier hardware.

While both phones remain decidedly pricey, there's no denying that ample deals can help you get them at a relative bargain. That said, Samsung's foldable remains notably more expensive than the S22 Ultra, which begs the question — should you splurge on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, or is the lengthy zoom lens and S-Pen-equipped Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra the better deal?

Price, availability, and specs

With the Fold 5 out already, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 often goes on sale. So, it's a good idea to watch for a deal on last year's foldable flagship instead of forking out the $1,800 MSRP. The phone has been spotted selling for as low as $1,350, and the likelihood of it getting another discount remains high. Similarly, now that the S23 Ultra has been out for a while, buyers would be well advised to look out for a steal on the $1,200 S22 Ultra. The phone can be had for as little as $700 if you keep your eyes peeled for a deal.

As is the case with most Samsung phones, these two are available in dozens of countries, either unlocked or on a carrier plan, so getting hold of one should be easy. If you want a comprehensive list of specs for the two devices, you can see that below:


  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
    SoCSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
    RAM12GB8GB, 12GB
    Storage256GB, 512GB, or 1TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
    Battery4,400mAh5,000mAh
    PortsUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB-C
    Operating SystemAndroid 14 and One UI 5.1Android 14 and One UI 6
    Front camera4MP f/1.8 under-display camera (80˚ FoV, 2.0μm pixels), 10MP f/2.2 cover display camera (85˚ FoV, 1.22μm pixels)40MP, f/2.2
    ConnectivityUWB, NFCUWB, NFC
    DimensionsFolded: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8 mm, Open: 130.1 x 115.1 x 6.3 mm163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm
    ColorsGraygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, BurgundyPhantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Burgundy + Samsung.com exclusive Red and Sky Blue
    Rear camera50 MP f/1.8 wide-angle (85˚ FoV, OIS, 1.0μm pixels), 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (123˚ FoV, 1.12μm pixels), 10MP f/2.4 telephoto (36˚ FoV, OIS, 1.0μm pixels)108MP, f/1.8 primary; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10MP, f/2.4 3x telephoto; 10MP, f/4.9 10x telephoto
    Weight263g229g
    Charge speed25W wired, 15W wireless45W wired, 15W wireless
    IP RatingIPX8IP68
    PriceFrom $1,800From $1,200
    StylusYes (S Pen Fold Edition)S Pen
    Display type120Hz OLEDOLED, 120Hz
    Display dimensions7.6"6.8"
    Display resolution2176 x 18121440 x 3088
    Charge optionsWired, WirelessWired, Wireless
    Cellular connectivityLTE, 5G, mmWave5G, mmWave, LTE
    Wi-Fi connectivityWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 6E
    BluetoothBluetooth 5.2Bluetooth 5.2

Design and build quality

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Cases
Source: Samsung

These are both large, heavy phones. The Ultra is just a large, pointy rectangle, and that's one of the reasons we love it. The large display is perfect for the built-in S Pen, and that room is packed with a 5,000mAh battery and more cameras than you can imagine. The S22 Ultra is really a Galaxy Note with a new name. The downside is that it's always hard to use with one hand, and the separated camera lenses trap dust like nothing else.

The Fold 4 disguises its bulk cleverly. While it's twice as thick as the S22 when closed, it's also narrow and easy to type on with one hand. Open it up, and the massive screen welcomes you while the device's thickness halves. Despite being large, there's no room for the S Pen, periscope zoom, or battery from the Ultra. The hinge takes up too much space, leaving the Fold 4 with average cameras, an S Pen that must be stored in a case, and a 4,400mAh battery.

Both phones are made of armored aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus, so they should put up a decent fight when dropped, although the S22 Ultra can be compromised by its curved display.

Display

z-fold-4-fold4-cover-display

Samsung's screens are gorgeous, and these phones continue to have some of the best in the business despite being a year old. The S22 Ultra has a 6.8-inch, 1440 x 3088 dynamic AMOLED display with 1,750-nit peak brightness, 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. Combine that with HDR support and Gorilla Glass Victus, and you have a screen you won't want to stop using.

Naturally, there's more to discuss concerning the Fold 4, as it has two displays. On the outside, we have a 6.2-inch, 904 x 2316 dynamic AMOLED display with 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, HDR support, Gorilla Glass Victus, and 1,000 nits of brightness.

Open up Fold 4, and you will find a 7.6-inch, 1812 x 2176 foldable dynamic AMOLED with 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, 1,000 nits of brightness, and HDR support. The screen sports ultra-thin glass, which makes the pre-installed screen protector a necessary evil to add a modicum of protection. However, there's much more screen to discuss regarding the Z Fold 4. The 7.6-inch main display has a 21.6:18 aspect ratio that proves highly effective for multitasking and viewing media. It can't claim the same top-of-the-line brightness and pixel density as the S22 Ultra, but you'd pretty much need to look at them side by side to notice a difference.

A note on the Fold 4 screen protector

As we just mentioned, the plastic screen protector on the inner Fold 4 display is a necessary evil, although it feels fine. If you damage the protector or it starts to bubble, each Fold 4 gets one free replacement on warranty. If you live near a Samsung store or repair center, this can be done in ten minutes, which is great. If you don't, the experience is underwhelming. Earlier this year, my wife had to have the protector on her Flip 4 replaced, but because there are hardly any Samsung stores in the UK, it had to be sent away, and it was gone for over two weeks. It's worth keeping this in mind when purchasing a foldable.

Performance and battery life

s22-ultra-with-spen

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 found in the Fold 4 was a more significant upgrade over the regular 8 Gen 1 found in the S22 Ultra than we expected. The processor wasn't just faster but significantly cooler. Thermal issues were rampant in the S22 Ultra regardless of which version you got, and that impacted performance and battery life.

Battery life on the S22 Ultra is fantastic out of the box, running over 24 hours with roughly 6 hours of screen time. That figure ticks up as you adjust settings, and while it won't ever be the longest-lasting battery on the market, it's excellent for how powerful the hardware is. It only rapidly deteriorates if you're doing things that heat up that 8 Gen 1.

The unique form factor of the Fold 4 makes battery management a challenge for Samsung, with the phone only able to hold a 4,400mAh cell rather than the 5,000mAh battery found in the S22. Thankfully, the efficiency of the 8+ Gen 1 makes it the first foldable that can actually last a full day of use, and it stays cool no matter what you do with it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 lying flat with its hinge open and inner display facing down.

Overall, you will have to be more aware of your remaining charge with the Z Fold 4 than with the S22 Ultra, although that depends on the model. The Snapdragon S22 Ultra may easily outlast the Fold 4, but the Exynos S22 Ultra is significantly worse, and the Fold 4 handily beats it for endurance.

The S22 Ultra's biggest win is charging speeds. The Z Fold 4 can charge at 15W wirelessly and 25W when plugged in, while the S22 Ultra can hit up to 45W when connected to a charger. That significantly reduces charging times and will get you out in the world and mobile quicker than the Fold. Wireless charging is the same as 15W.

A note on the Galaxy S22 Ultra processor

If you're in Europe, be aware of the Galaxy S22 Ultra's processor differences. While the rest of the world got the coveted Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 APU, the EU market's Galaxy S22 Ultra was saddled with the less powerful and somewhat bug-ridden Exynos 2200, produced in-house by Samsung. A decent chunk of owners reported camera and display issues that apparently stem from the less-reliable chipset. Some of these issues have been fixed, but it's best to avoid the Exynos version if possible. One of our writers can attest to that after having a far smoother and longer-lasting experience on the Z Fold 4, despite the smaller battery. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has the Snapdragon Gen 8+ Gen 1 no matter where you buy it, giving it a definite edge over the S22 Ultra if you're buying your phone in Europe.

Cameras

S22 Ultra camera UI

Three main cameras with flagship-level resolutions let you take incredible pictures with the Z Fold 4. The under-display camera itself hasn't changed when using the foldable display, but it's harder to see than last year's camera. The main rear sensor has finally been upgraded to the same 50MP sensor found in the S22+, and you can use the cover screen as a viewfinder to take selfies with that supreme sensor. It's not the most extravagant camera setup in the world, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

The best part of the Fold 4's camera experience is Flex Mode. You can open the hinge to almost any angle, and the phone will hold it. So, propping it up somewhere and then using hand gestures to make it take the photo is a great way to get group selfies without a tripod. This also works well for video calls by letting you put the phone on a desk instead of holding it. The Fold 4 will even move the call controls down to the lower half of the display in this mode.

On paper, the S22 Ultra camera setup is at least twice as powerful. In real-world usage, its doubled pixel count of the 180MP main sensor and additional lens provide the camera with more information to feed into its processing algorithm. If you take a lot of pictures, few high-end smartphones do it better.

z-fold-4-fold4-productivity-2

If there are any gripes with either phone's cameras, they center around Samsung's camera software and image processing. Compared to models known for high picture quality (such as the Pixel lineup), Samsung smartphone cameras trend toward longer exposure times that can lead to some blowouts in bright scenes. In some cases, they're mildly inconsistent, quirky, and have a bit of a learning curve. That's where camera specs start to matter less and software implementation more. The upside of this minor drawback is that Samsung can continue refining it via updates.

The zoom lenses are the biggest reason to use the S22 Ultra cameras. The 3X lens is perfect for portrait shots, offering plenty of natural bokeh (blur) without needing to enhance it with software. The 10X lens blows our minds every time we use it, proving incredibly useful at concerts and other events. Whether those software quirks are something you can live with to access this amazing hardware is up to you, but the S22 Ultra is one of our favorite smartphone cameras.

Software and support

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 sitting on a wicker tabletop and showing an ice cream cone on its wallpaper

Both phones launched with Android 12, with the S22 Ultra using One UI 4.1 and the Fold 4 running 4.1.1. Since then, both devices have been updated to Android 13 along with One UI 5.1, which debuted on the S23 series. Samsung promises both phones four years of software updates and five years of security patches, so you'll maintain security and functionality for years without issue. That means both devices will continue to see Android upgrades to Android 16.

As noted earlier, both support the premium Samsung S Pen, though you'll have to buy it separately for the Z Fold 4. Both also work swimmingly with Samsung Dex, which offers a desktop experience and relies heavily on the massively powerful hardware inside each phone.

The software benefits for the Z Fold 4 include how the standard One UI features work on a larger display like this. For example, both phones support multi-window and pop-up apps, but the Fold 4 can use three split apps at once instead of just two, and you won't feel cramped doing so. The S Pen might not store easily without an accessory, but using it on a larger screen feels better.

In a welcome development for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung reorganized its Care+ extended warranty service and now offers rock-bottom prices on screen replacements. As long as you subscribe to Care+ for $11 per month, your deductible for screen replacements is a mere $29. The discounted repair cost even applies to accidental damage like drops and spills. So, no matter what goes wrong with your phone — except intentional damage or "acts of god" like natural disasters — Samsung will repair or replace it for the price of family pizza night, as long as you're a Care+ subscriber.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs. S22 Ultra: Which is right for you?

Usually, recommending one phone over another comes down to subtle differences in performance, the screen, or the cameras. But these devices and how you use them differ so much that the spec sheet means less than usual. Based on specs alone, the S22 Ultra would be the go-to, thanks to its brighter display, superior camera system, built-in S Pen, and better battery life (if you're in the US).

In reality, recommending one of these phones depends on what you do with your smartphone. If you're constantly multitasking, reading and responding to email, consuming a lot of media, and enjoying using a small tablet, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the obvious choice. Nothing comes close to it in terms of raw multitasking prowess, and watching YouTube or your streaming service of choice on a screen this big is great. Just keep the quirks surrounding the folding display in mind.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Editor's choice

Portable tablet

$1440 $1800 Save $360

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is an amalgamation of smartphones and tablets, offering the portability of the formal with the usefulness of the latter. The only things holding it back are the mediocre cameras and the incredibly steep price. This phone is only right for a certain type of user.

If what you want most from your phone is reliability, the S22 Ultra is your best bet. Performance and battery life are rock solid, the display is bright, beautiful, and sharp, and the cameras are leaps and bounds ahead of the Fold 4.

samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-square
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Runner-up

The well-rounded flagship

The S22 Ultra might not be the latest Samsung flagship, but it's still a phone more than capable of anything you throw at it. And the reveal of its replacement has brought the price down nicely, so if you've been on the fence, now would be a good time.