The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the latest in Samsung’s line of foldables to endure JerryRigAll Torture Test exposing devices to razor blades, lighters and handfuls of dirt. Like the Fold 3 and Fold 2 before it, the Fold 4 survived the test, albeit with quite a few scratches and some burned-out pixels.
But the real question is whether the Fold 4 can stand the test of time. Samsung has taken significant steps to improve the durability of its foldable lines, make them water resistant and add stronger displays with a stiffer aluminum frame. And while the company has released videos — both this year and last — designed to instill confidence about the durability of its devices, they still don’t indicate how well they’ll perform after years of use.
Users reported experiencing several issues, including: cracked screens and noticeable folds, shortly after purchasing new Galaxy Z Flip 3 or Fold 3 devices last year. But even if users had no problems buying the foldable last year, they are starting to crop up for some owners now. Zoe Kleinman, a technology editor at the BBC, posted on Twitter that her Galaxy Z Flip 3 has developed a crack where the device creases, rendering both the lower and upper halves of the device unusable. Multiple users On reddit have also been put in similar situations months after their purchase.
The release of the first Galaxy Z Fold in 2019 was significantly delayed due to a defective screen and Samsung has clearly come a long way since then. While Samsung advertises its Z Fold 4 as “incredible technology built to last,” it describes its Z Flip 4 as “serious durability [that] let yourself bend and flip to your heart’s content” and lasts 200,000 times. While that may be true in lab conditions, daily wear and tear over a longer period of time can be more difficult to predict.
Fortunately, Samsung has cut the cost of repairing the screens on a Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4 to $29, but only if you subscribe to Samsung’s Care Plus service, which costs $8 to $11/month, depending on the device you purchased. Without the plan (and if you’re not under warranty), you could pay $499 to replace the Z Fold 4’s inner screen or $357 to fix it. The Z Flip 4 is slightly less expensive, costing $349 for an inner screen replacement and $219 for a repair. However, first- and second-generation Flip and Fold devices (assuming you still have one that doesn’t need a replacement yet) are eligible for cheaper one-time screen replacements starting at $119.