The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is no longer the brand’s flagship foldable, as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is now available to buy. That makes it a tricky time for anyone wanting to buy this unique device – should you buy the latest model or opt for last year’s version?
We’ve weighed up your options, and our recommendation is that you do not sign up for the Fold 4 on a plan – we’ve found that getting the newer Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 on a plan is actually cheaper from some providers. For example, Vodafone is currently offering a AU$300 device discount when you sign up for a plan, while Optus can throw in a Galaxy Watch 6 when you buy the Fold 5.
Opting to buy the Fold 4 outright could be a better option for some people, as it won’t lock you into a phone contract. If you go this route, check out our recommendations for the best SIM-only plans for pairing options. We suggest only buying the Fold 4 outright if you can find a discount of at least 30% or more – the biggest discount we’ve seen to date was 40% off.
Noteworthy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals
Before buying the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 on a plan, these are the deals you should know about:
- Optus | get a bonus Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 when you buy the Fold 5 on a plan, and remain on an Optus Watch Plan for 24 or 36 months
- Vodafone | save AU$300 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 when you connect to a plan + get a bonus AU$500 credit if you trade in an older device
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 plans: our picks
Best overall Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 plan
Best premium Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 plan
Cheap Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 plans
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is no ordinary phone, and as a result, it’s rather expensive. If you want to pick it up for the cheapest possible monthly price, you’ll be looking at the 256GB model on a 36-month contract. Here are the most affordable monthly options from the telcos that stock it. Be mindful that if you sign up to a 36-month contract, you’ll end up paying more in the long run because you’ll be tied to your chosen provider for longer.
Outright Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available to buy outright from these major retailers:
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | AU$2,499 | AU$2,699 | AU$2,999 |
| Colours | Black, beige, dark green, burgundy | Black, beige, dark green, burgundy | Black, beige, dark green, burgundy |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 at a glance: what you need to know
OS: Android 12 | Screen size: 7.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz | Resolution: 2176 x 1812 (main) 2316 x 904 (cover) | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 | Memory: 12GB | Weight: 263g |Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | Battery: 4,400mAh | Rear camera: 12MP ultrawide / 50MP wide / 10MP telephoto| Front camera: 10MP
There’s no getting around the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is exceptionally pricey, but at the same time, our early hands-on experience with it has made us think that it looks and feels more like a ‘regular’ flagship device.
As with its previous iterations, Samsung has gone to great lengths to prove that its latest foldable device isn’t just a novelty, but a powerful and user-friendly phone with more than a niche use case.
What makes the Fold line unique is its feel of getting two devices in one, and that has continued with the Fold 4. Both the outside cover screen and the main screen inside are gorgeous AMOLED displays, which feature an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
Their design has been tweaked a little with this iteration, making the cover display 2.7mm wider on the outside, giving a little more space, a less 'narrow' feel and 6.2-inches of screen real estate when using the device folded. Unfold the device and you’ll get a glorious 7.6-inches of screen with a 2176 x 1812 resolution. Samsung has also slimmed down the hinge on the Fold 4, making the device more svelte when folded and closer to regular smartphone territory than before.
The Fold 4 comes packing a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset with 12GB of RAM under the hood, bringing it in line with the very best flagship devices for late 2022. Early benchmarks suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 has increased performance by around 10% compared to its predecessor, and a 30% increase in power efficiency. That’s welcome news considering the Fold 4 has the same 4,400mAh battery capacity as the previous Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, and with that device you’ll need to reach for the charger most nights.
We would’ve liked to have seen better cameras in the Fold 4 (it’s carrying the same setup as the Samsung Galaxy S22), it’s still a powerful camera overall, though not quite as high-end as the top-of-the-line snapper on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which remains the king of Android phone photography.
