I just used Samsung's Galaxy Fold for the first time - here are 5 things that stood out to me the most
- Samsung's Galaxy Fold, the company's first foldable smartphone, launches on April 26 starting at $1,980.
- Here's a brief look at what it's like to use it.
- Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.
Samsung has been talking about foldable devices for years, but it wasn't until February that the company finally took the wraps off its first smartphone to use this technology, the Galaxy Fold.
While Samsung's presentation answered many questions, such as how the device worked, what it looks like, and how much it will cost, it left an even bigger one: What is it like to actually use the Galaxy Fold?
In a rare move, Samsung did not allow media attendees to try the device after its Unpacked keynote in February. But that changed on Monday when Samsung provided a closer look at the $1,980 Galaxy Fold ahead of its April 26 launch.
Here are a few takeaways after spending some brief time with the Galaxy Fold:
Tablet mode feels the most natural and useful.
With its 7.3-inch tablet screen and 4.6-inch phone screen, the Galaxy Fold's form factor is different than any other smartphone available today. Despite this, the Galaxy Fold felt surprisingly natural to use, even with one hand. When unfolded and being used in tablet mode, the device's screen features a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it ideal for reading, watching video, and playing games - particularly when held in landscape mode.
Although rival smartphone makers like Huawei have taken a different approach to foldable phone designs that feature a foldable screen placed on the outside, Samsung's decision to situate the screen inside the clamshell makes it feel like you're opening a book when you unfold it.
There's also virtually no bezel when in tablet mode, which made the experience of playing mobile games or watching video feel especially immersive.
The clamshell design will most certainly stand out.
Samsung is no stranger to experimenting with new form factors for cell phones, as evidenced by older devices like the Samsung Juke from 2007, which swiveled open like a switch blade.
The Galaxy Fold, like some of these older Samsung phones, is just as unique. When folded, the Galaxy Fold feels noticeably thicker, longer, and surprisingly skinnier than any other modern smartphone I've used. You can also very faintly see the crease in the center of the screen when using the phone in tablet mode, although I didn't find that it distracted from the experience in any way. The company says the hinge is durable enough to withstand 200,000 folds and unfolds, which should mean that it could last for up to five years if you unfold it 100 times per day.
The front cover screen will take some getting used to.
In an era when the average smartphone screen is at least five inches or larger, going back to a 4.6-inch screen can feel a bit jarring. In my brief experience with the device, I found that the front screen was a bit too small for most tasks.
The display also does not occupy the entire front of the device because Samsung wanted to keep the aspect ratio at 21:9 to provide a more comfortable and natural experience. I can imagine using the front screen to check the time or read a quick text message, but many people using the device will probably use it in tablet mode most often.
But otherwise, there's no learning curve.
Many of the features Samsung touted on stage when unveiling the Galaxy Fold worked easily and fluidly in use. When using Google Maps in phone mode, for example, a more full version of the map appeared in tablet mode as soon as I opened it, with no stutter or lag.
Running three apps at once on screen is as simple as swiping in from the right side of the screen and choosing the app you'd like to launch.
The Galaxy Fold feels more like a "phablet" than any other smartphone I've used.
Samsung popularized the term "phablet" with its line of Galaxy Note smartphones, which it launched in 2011. At the time, that term referenced smartphones like the Note that had larger screens than the average phone, effectively allowing them to double as a tablet. But that description feels more relevant to the Galaxy Fold than any other device before it.
In fact, because tablet mode is such a big part of the experience, it almost feels like a foldable tablet more than a smartphone-tablet hybrid that came before it.