Galaxy Z Flip 4 Rumors: A Bigger Cover Screen? – CNET

We’re nearly halfway through 2022, and Samsung already showed off its flagship Galaxy S22 line and affordable Galaxy S21 FE. Rumors point to more exciting phones from the tech giant, specifically the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 4 (and Galaxy Z Fold 4). 

Although the Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 4 are both foldable phones, they differ in many ways. The most noticeable difference is that the Z Fold bends like a book, while the Z Flip folds vertically. Last year’s Z Flip 3 was dubbed the “most normal foldable available,” by CNET’s Patrick Holland and the upcoming Z Flip 4 will probably bring some welcome upgrades and refinements. 

We’re collecting all the rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s release date, price, new features and specs, and will be updating this story as new information becomes available. Here’s what we’ve heard so far. Just note that, since these are rumors, none of the specs have been confirmed by Samsung. 

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Release date: Possibly August or September

It’s too soon to have any reputable rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Flip 4 release date. But looking at the history of the foldable phone (and that of its Galaxy Z Fold sibling), we can broadly deduce when to expect the new device. 

The Galaxy Z Flip’s launches don’t appear to follow a specific pattern, as the original was announced in February 2020 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was released in August 2021. However, Samsung seems to have buddied the device with the Galaxy Z Fold, which is why the Z Flip jumped from version 1 to 3 — to match the naming convention of the Z Fold. 

The 2019 Galaxy Fold and 2020 Z Fold 2 were released in September, while the Z Fold 3 debuted in August 2021. If Samsung plans on releasing the phones as a pair, we can likely expect the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in August or September alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4. 

Price: The Galaxy Z Flip 4 could be less expensive

We haven’t yet heard much in terms of the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s possible price either. But, we can look to rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for hints. 

A Korean leaker who goes by the handle yeux1122 suggests the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 4 will cost less than the Z Fold 3. (Leaker yeux1122 doesn’t have much of a track record compared to others. MacRumors reported in February that they correctly guessed the iPad Mini 6’s release time frame, but were incorrect about the tablet’s screen size.) Although the tipster didn’t provide any further detail, that speculation aligns with the phone’s price history. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 ($1,800) got a price drop compared to the Fold 2 ($2,000). The price of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was slashed last year as well to $1,000 from $1,380 for the original Z Flip. 

With that in mind, it’s within the realm of possibility for Samsung to decrease the cost of the Z Flip 4. But, like every other rumor, we won’t know for sure until the company announces the device. 

Design: Larger cover screen and an extendable display

Rumors about the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 4’s display suggest Samsung’s making a few small tweaks rather than large sweeping upgrades. According to Korean news site The Elec, the Z Flip 4 will retain the 6.7-inch internal foldable display of the Z Flip 3, but the external cover screen will slightly increase from 1.83 to 1.9-inches. Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, however, believes that the cover display could increase further to 2 inches.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3’s cover screen, the display on the outside when the phone is closed, is four times larger than that of the original Z Flip, and Holland lauded the move as a “step in the right direction.” A slightly bigger cover screen could make reading notifications and swiping widgets a little easier.  

According to a patent Samsung filed with the World Intellectual Property Office, however, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 may get more than just a new cover screen. The patent, as Dutch blog LetsGoDigital reported in March, shows a Galaxy Z Flip that has both a foldable and extendable screen that can be pulled out to create a display that is twice as large. 

Read more: 6 Exciting Gadgets We Want From Samsung This Year

Cameras: Rotating lenses?

Samsung didn’t upgrade the camera hardware for the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but the upcoming Z Flip 4 may offer some improvements. If rumors are to be believed, the new foldable will offer a rotating camera and a better under-display camera. 

Samsung filed another patent application with the World Intellectual Property Office for a clamshell phone sporting a rotating camera, as LetsGoDigital reported in July. The camera, which lives on the foldable’s hinge, has two lenses and can pivot to be used when the phone is closed, open or at different angles in between. This means the camera could take selfies and meet other photography needs. 

Although a one-size-fits-all camera sounds neat, it may also cause the foldable’s hinge to be significantly larger, making the phone itself bigger and bulkier. 

Additional rumors from Korean leaker yeux1122, suggest Samsung has tested versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 with an improved under-display camera that can be used on the cover screen, too. However, the company is also rumored to have tested versions of the phone with a perforated, punch-hole cutout display.

We still have some months until the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s possible reveal, but we have some helpful information to check out while you wait. You can read up on rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and CNET’s reviews of Samsung’s newest flagship phones, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra. Have an Android phone that needs tweaking? Take a look at these settings to change and how to clear your browser cache. More of an Apple fan? We’re collecting iPhone 14 rumors, too.