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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Smartphone Review - A great and expensive foldable phone

Better folding. Samsung has made numerous improvements to the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G compared to its predecessor. There is a new hinge with more options, almost full screen displays and better battery life, for example. But the high price has remained from last year's model.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

The successor of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is called the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - a name change that probably indicates Samsung's intentions to use the Galaxy Z series for all its foldable smartphones. The Galaxy Z Flip was the first representative of this series, although it followed a slightly different concept to the Galaxy Fold and looked more like one of the foldable smartphones from the early 2000s in the process.

The Fold devices, on the other hand, look like a narrow smartphone when folded, which then expands into an almost square, tablet-like screen, when opened. There are still hardly any folding smartphones on the market since the release of the first Galaxy Fold. Still, the second-generation model promises to have made significant improvements with its more flexible hinge and larger front screen.

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G plays in exceedingly high price ranges. Nearly €2,000 must be put on the table for Samsung's latest foldable, but is it worth it?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Galaxy Z Fold Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) 8 x 2.4 - 3.1 GHz, Cortex-A77 / A55 (Kryo 585)
Graphics adapter
Memory
12 GB 
Display
7.60 inch 11.2:9, 2208 x 1768 pixel 372 PPI, capacitive touch screen, AMOLED, Front display: 6.2-inch, 2,260 x 816, AMOLED, HDR10+, glossy: yes, HDR, 120 Hz
Storage
256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash, 256 GB 
, 220 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: Audio output via USB Type-C, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, ANT+, USB Type-C
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.1, GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 6.9 x 159.2 x 128.2 ( = 0.27 x 6.27 x 5.05 in)
Battery
4500 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Charging
wireless charging, fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 10
Camera
Primary Camera: 12 MPix , f/1.8, phase comparison AF (dual-pixel), OIS, LED flash, videos @2160p/60fps, videos @720p/960 FPS (camera 1); 12.0 MP, f/2.4, phase comparison AF, OIS, telephoto lens (camera 2); 12.0 MP, f/2.2, wide angle lens (camera 3)
Secondary Camera: 10 MPix f/2.2, 26 mm, 1.22 µm (camera 1 - outdoor); 10 MP, f/2.2, 26 mm, 1.22µm (camera 2 - indoor)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo speakers, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, quick charger, USB cable, headset, SIM tool, 24 Months Warranty, LTE Cat. 20/18 (2,000 Mbps/210 Mbps); SAR values: 0.859 W/kg (head), 1.453 W/kg (body); dimensions closed: 159.2 x 68 x 16.8 mm; eSIM, fanless
Weight
279 g ( = 9.84 oz / 0.62 pounds), Power Supply: 65 g ( = 2.29 oz / 0.14 pounds)
Price
1949 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Comparison devices

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Drive
Size
Resolution
Best Price
87.6 %
10/2020
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
SD 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650
279 g256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash7.60"2208x1768
82.5 %
03/2020
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
SD 855+, Adreno 640
183 g256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash6.70"2636x1080
86.4 %
10/2019
Samsung Galaxy Fold
SD 855, Adreno 640
276 g512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash7.30"2152x1536
76.1 %
06/2020
Motorola Razr 2019
SD 710, Adreno 616
205 g128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash6.20"2142x876
82.6 %
04/2020
Huawei Mate Xs
Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16
300 g512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash8.00"2480x2200
87.1 %
09/2019
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU
226 g64 GB SSD6.50"2688x1242

Case - Improved hinge on Z Fold2

While the Galaxy Fold was only available in dull hues like black or silver-grey, colour comes into play for its successor. Although there are still only two basic colours from which to choose, bronze and black, the hinge cover can be customised in metallic shades of silver, gold, blue and red.

Another nice change is that this time the screens get by with a small punch hole on the inside display and an almost equally sized notch on outside display. The latter display is significantly larger than the one Samsung included in last year's model, too.

The smartphone is similar in weight to its predecessor, but when unfolded it now looks squarer, since the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is much taller than the Galaxy Fold. Samsung has protected outer sides with Gorilla Glass Victus, which is said to be even more scratch-resistant and sturdy than Gorilla Glass 6.

While the outer sides are quite well protected, the inner display will undoubtedly draw more attention. Apparently, Samsung has used Ultra-Thin Glass again, which it has covered with a protective film. Nevertheless, initial scratch tests have shown that the interior display is easily damaged, once again. Samsung itself also warns on the packaging foil of the smartphone that sharp objects or even fingernails could damage the larger of the two displays.

Even though the interior display continues to be delicate, the new hinge is a real highlight of the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. Once again, Samsung has used magnets to hold the smartphone together when closed. It can also be opened with one hand, but our device offers a good level of resistance in this regard. The smartphone can now be opened in any position, like a convertible laptop, which is another change from the first Galaxy Fold. The software adapts accordingly, and you can, for example, watch YouTube videos in the upper half of the smartphone while it is open. This opens many possibilities and makes the Galaxy Z Fold2 more versatile, in our opinion.

The maximum opening angle is 180°, but the hinge is stable and prevented us from opening the device any further and damaging the screen. Our unit is well made and fits our hands nicely, but we should point that the handset offers no IP protection against water or dust.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

Size comparison

172 mm / 6.77 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 205 g0.4519 lbs167.3 mm / 6.59 inch 73.6 mm / 2.9 inch 7.2 mm / 0.2835 inch 183 g0.4034 lbs161.3 mm / 6.35 inch 146.2 mm / 5.76 inch 11 mm / 0.4331 inch 300 g0.661 lbs160.9 mm / 6.33 inch 117.9 mm / 4.64 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 276 g0.608 lbs159.2 mm / 6.27 inch 128.2 mm / 5.05 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 279 g0.615 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity - Galaxy cell phone with fast memory

The Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is equipped with 256 GB of state-of-the-art UFS 3.1 storage and 12 GB of RAM. The USB Type-C port operates on the fast USB 3.1 Gen.1 standard too, allowing the device to quickly transfer data with a PC or Mac via a cable. Of course, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC for mobile payments are also available.

The Galaxy Z Fold2 5G does not support microSD cards though, and it only has one slot for a nano-SIM card. However, you can also use the device without a physical SIM card thanks to its built-in eSIM.

Underside: Speaker, Microphone, USB Type-C port
Underside: Speaker, Microphone, USB Type-C port
Topside: Microphone, Speaker
Topside: Microphone, Speaker
Right-hand side: Power button, volume rocker
Right-hand side: Power button, volume rocker
Left-hand side: SIM drawer
Left-hand side: SIM drawer

Software - Apps can change the screen

Samsung's OneUI 2.5 is based on Android 10 and comes with quite recent security patches at the time of testing.

Apps that are open on the outer display can be transferred to the larger, inner, screen by opening the smartphone.  However, this is only true if the app supports a resolution change while being used. If you want to go the other way round, i.e. to continue to view the apps when the phone is closed, then you must first designate these apps in settings. The nice thing about this transition is that it works completely without interruption when playing YouTube videos, for example.

Pre-installed advertising apps are also pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. Some of these can only be deactivated and are then no longer visible, but they still occupy storage space.

Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Software
Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Software
Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Software

Communication & GPS - Fast Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G

The Galaxy Z Fold2 5G comes, as its name suggests, with state-of-the-art communication options like 5G, LTE with up to 2 GBit/s downloads, and Wi-Fi 6. NFC and Bluetooth 5.1 are, of course, also on board, as we mentioned earlier.

The reception of the foldable smartphone is rather average, though. Other smartphones that are directly next to it offer higher signal strength on the same network for some reason. The Z Fold2 offers ok reception overall; our review unit offered at least half reception when being used inside in built-up areas.

With that said, the Z Fold2 offered excellent Wi-Fi performance in our tests, which we conducted using our reference Netgear Nighthawk AX12 router. The Z Fold2 outshines most other folding smartphones here and even the likes of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Samsung's latest foldable smartphone also maintains impressive signal strength.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Adreno 650, SD 865+ (Plus), 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
671 (626min - 693max) MBit/s
Motorola Razr 2019
Adreno 616, SD 710, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
619 (447min - 657max) MBit/s -8%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD
589 (461min - 625max) MBit/s -12%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Adreno 640, SD 855, 512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
576 (544min - 601max) MBit/s -14%
Huawei Mate Xs
Mali-G76 MP16, Kirin 990 5G, 512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
542 (479min - 631max) MBit/s -19%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Adreno 640, SD 855+, 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
474 (405min - 541max) MBit/s -29%
iperf3 receive AX12
Huawei Mate Xs
Mali-G76 MP16, Kirin 990 5G, 512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
963 (471min - 1110max) MBit/s +26%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Adreno 650, SD 865+ (Plus), 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
766 (468min - 808max) MBit/s
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Adreno 640, SD 855, 512 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
662 (623min - 679max) MBit/s -14%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Adreno 640, SD 855+, 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
605 (299min - 640max) MBit/s -21%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD
580 (550min - 597max) MBit/s -24%
Motorola Razr 2019
Adreno 616, SD 710, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
569 (236min - 657max) MBit/s -26%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s -51%
04590135180225270315360405450495540585630675720765Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø766 (468-808)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø671 (626-693)
Available satellite networks
Available satellite networks
GPS test: Outdoors
GPS test: Outdoors

The Z Fold2 reaches a GPS accuracy of 3 metres outdoors without delay, which is exceptionally good. Additionally, the device can access many satellite networks, allowing another tracking network to step in if one has low coverage.

We also took the Z Fold2 on a bike ride to compare its location accuracy against a Garmin Edge 520. The foldable smartphone fared well in this practical test and maintained accurate tracking throughout. At worst, there are minimal deviations from the actual route, so we can recommend the Z Fold2 for use as a navigation system.

GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Bridge
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Bridge
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Overview
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Overview
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Loop
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Loop
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Bridge
GPS test: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - Bridge

Telephone Functions & Call Quality - Only closed calls

Making a call with the Galaxy Fold2 5G is only possible when the device is closed as the earpiece is on the outside. The earpiece sounds good and brings the other person's voice to us reliably and clearly. The microphone, however, makes our voice sound quite tinny, as our counterpart confirmed to us during a phone call.

You can also use the phone open with the loudspeaker and the hands-free microphone, which makes the person on the other end of the call sound quite good. Our voice is also recorded more warmly and without interference, while the microphones can still pick our voice up even if we are speaking quietly.

As we mentioned earlier in this review, you only use a physical SIM or an eSIM currently. However, dual-SIM functionality will be activated via a software update. The Z Fold2 supports VoLTE and VoWiFi without any problems, though.

Cameras - Flexible lenses in Z Fold2

Taking a selfie using the interior display
Taking a selfie using the interior display
Taking a selfie using the exterior display
Taking a selfie using the exterior display

The three camera lenses on the back of the case all have a resolution of 12 MP. In addition to the standard lens, there is also a telephoto and an ultra-wide-angle lens, so in theory, you should be able to zoom between the lenses without any loss of quality. This also works in the software, as it allows you to zoom in and out smoothly between the ultra-wide-angle and standard lenses. The telephoto lens, on the other hand, is probably only used in bright lighting conditions because of its smaller aperture. The 10x magnification that the Z Fold2 offers is only done with software, so it is only a digital zoom.

The main lens takes good photos, and objects in the focus area appear sharp with plenty of detail. However, it does not offer the same light-sensitivity as other camera sensors that use pixel binning. These also offer a higher absolute resolution and reduce it to increase light sensitivity by combining several pixels into one. So, the main camera is also not as flexible because it cannot capture images in greater than 12 MP. The main camera does well in low light though and takes detailed pictures. Exposure levels could be better, in our opinion.
The ultra-wide-angle lens also takes crisp-looking photos because of its high megapixel count. Accordingly, our test shots look sharp.

Videos can be recorded in up to 4K and 60 FPS, as you would expect from a high-end smartphone. However, recording videos at these settings means that you cannot use Auto framing, Samsung's new autofocus technology. This is only available at lower resolutions, for some reason. With that said, our test videos are a joy to watch because they are well lit, sharp, while the autofocus reacted precisely and quickly.

The default camera app on the Z Fold2 5G has been adapted to its large display. One can, for example, make the viewfinder smaller to display recently taken pictures next to it, or take another picture of a subject while making exposure adjustments in the built-in professional mode. The front display can also be used for previewing shots, which is interesting for taking selfies or portraits - what with the device having better rear cameras and all.

The Z Fold2 5G has two identical front-facing cameras, one on the inside display and one on the outside, making it quite flexible. Unsurprisingly, the two cameras produce comparable images, with both able to capture scenes brightly and in enough detail.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Hauptobjektiv BlumeHauptobjektiv UmgebungHauptobjektiv Low LightUltraweitwinkel

In our laboratory, the main camera exhibits minimal blur in perfect lighting conditions, but we can afford to be fussy when testing this class of smartphone. The main camera defines colours well, but we do notice some blurring, especially towards the edges of the image.

Image quality remains good with almost no light, though. However, colours generally look a bit too bright for our liking.

ColorChecker
19.6 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
17.1 ∆E
23.5 ∆E
14.1 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
16.3 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
14.1 ∆E
8.1 ∆E
11.1 ∆E
11.5 ∆E
10.9 ∆E
15.9 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
10 ∆E
14.3 ∆E
5.9 ∆E
5.6 ∆E
10.7 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
11 ∆E
1.7 ∆E
ColorChecker Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: 12.01 ∆E min: 1.73 - max: 23.49 ∆E
ColorChecker
12.8 ∆E
11 ∆E
16.5 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
18.3 ∆E
18.2 ∆E
11.4 ∆E
15.1 ∆E
9.6 ∆E
16.7 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
15 ∆E
14.8 ∆E
16.8 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
12.2 ∆E
15.5 ∆E
21.6 ∆E
19.2 ∆E
17.3 ∆E
17 ∆E
20 ∆E
17 ∆E
12.8 ∆E
ColorChecker Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: 15.08 ∆E min: 6.14 - max: 21.65 ∆E

Accessories & Warranty - Exclusive covers

The beautifully designed box of the Galaxy Fold2 5G contains a quick charger, a matching USB Type-C to Type-C cable, along with a SIM tool and an AKG-branded pair of USB Type-C earbuds.

Samsung has come up with its own wireless charger too, in which the smartphone can be charged lying down or standing up - allowing you to continue using it unhindered. Samsung charges around €50 for the privilege, for reference. The company also sells special aramid covers for the device, which are made from a blend of synthetic fibres that look like carbon or leather. These will set you back between €60 and €80 depending on the one that you purchase.

Input Devices & Operation - A fingerprint sensor on the outside

The keyboard is split by default when the smartphone is open, allowing you to type with both hands. However, you can also use the on-screen keyboard just like you would on any other smartphone or tablet. Both methods work well, and there are no sensitivity or precision issues around the bend in the middle of the display. Purely haptically, the fold is, of course, a bit unnerving, but it does not cause any problems when using the device.

The outside display is tall and skinny, making the keyboard either very narrow or overly stretched, depending on its orientation. But here, too, the smartphone splits the keyboard in widescreen mode, so it is reasonably easy to reach. Overall, it is still possible to use the keyboard in this way, but it is not as comfortable as the other option.

Samsung has placed the fingerprint sensor on the right-hand side of the case, integrating it within the power button. The combination allows the device to automatically identify you by your fingerprint when you switch on the phone, which is handy. Facial recognition is also possible via the outer and inner front-facing cameras. This works quickly and reliably, too.

Using the default keyboard in landscape mode on the interior display
Using the default keyboard in landscape mode on the interior display
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode on the interior display
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode on the interior display
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode on the exterior display
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode on the exterior display

Display - Fullscreen at last

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

The small display of the predecessor on the outside has given way to an almost full-screen display, while there is only a small punch-hole camera that could get in the way on the inner display. By contrast, Samsung employed a large indentation in the upper corner of the Galaxy Fold, as we discussed in our review. The inner display offers almost a 4:3 form factor, but the front display is extremely narrow and long. Both screens support HDR10+, but only the larger inner display can operate at a 120 Hz refresh rate.

The brightness of the interior display is good with a full white background and much better than the Galaxy Fold. The maximum brightness does not yet come close to that of conventional smartphones, but it is enough for viewing HDR content. Also, the display is evenly lit, fortunately.

642
cd/m²
637
cd/m²
643
cd/m²
640
cd/m²
637
cd/m²
629
cd/m²
620
cd/m²
643
cd/m²
627
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 643 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 635.3 cd/m² Minimum: 1.76 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 637 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.25 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.17
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
AMOLED, 2208x1768, 7.60
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Dynamic AMOLED, 2636x1080, 6.70
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Infinity Flex-Display (Dynamic AMOLED, 7,3") und Super AMOLED (4,6"), 2152x1536, 7.30
Motorola Razr 2019
P-OLED, 2142x876, 6.20
Huawei Mate Xs
OLED, 2480x2200, 8.00
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
OLED, 2688x1242, 6.50
Screen
-11%
1%
-91%
-27%
20%
Brightness middle
637
705
11%
531
-17%
428
-33%
417
-35%
790
24%
Brightness
635
709
12%
532
-16%
428
-33%
418
-34%
790
24%
Brightness Distribution
96
97
1%
97
1%
89
-7%
99
3%
97
1%
Black Level *
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.25
3.1
-38%
2.3
-2%
6.39
-184%
2.6
-16%
1.4
38%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.12
5.4
-31%
3.7
10%
10.83
-163%
7.7
-87%
3.4
17%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.2
2.7
-23%
1.5
32%
5
-127%
2
9%
1.9
14%
Gamma
2.17 101%
2.11 104%
2.15 102%
2.25 98%
2.31 95%
2.23 99%
CCT
6689 97%
6264 104%
6631 98%
7649 85%
6276 104%
6466 101%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 219 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 219 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 219 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

PWM - exterior display
PWM - exterior display
Response times B/W exterior display
Response times B/W exterior display
Response times Grey/Grey exterior display
Response times Grey/Grey exterior display

The interior and exterior displays flicker at reduced brightness levels because the OLED panels use pulse-width modification (PWM) to regulate luminosity. If you have sensitive eyes, then you should try the displays in advance. The response times of both displays are fast.

In our tests with the CalMAN software we found that the 'Natural' setting in the options offers the most lifelike colours. At the same time, the exterior display is even a little more accurate than the larger interior one. With that said, both displays are at an exceedingly high level, and you will not see any differences from reference colours with the naked eye.

CalMAN - Greyscale
CalMAN - Greyscale
CalMAN - Colour accuracy
CalMAN - Colour accuracy
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - sRGB colour space
CalMAN - sRGB colour space
CalMAN - AdobeRGB colour space
CalMAN - AdobeRGB colour space
CalMAN - DCI P3 colour space
CalMAN - DCI P3 colour space
CalMAN - Colour accuracy - Natural colour setting
CalMAN - Colour accuracy - Natural colour setting
CalMAN - Greyscale (outside display) - Natural colour setting
CalMAN - Greyscale (outside display) - Natural colour setting
CalMAN - Colour accuracy (outside display) - Natural colour setting
CalMAN - Colour accuracy (outside display) - Natural colour setting

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3 ms rise
↘ 3 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 13 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
10 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 5 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 18 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The Galaxy Z Fold2 5G performs well outdoors, but one should avoid direct sunlight hitting the display, as the glare will quickly become strenuous for your eyes. The viewing angles of both displays leave nothing to be desired, though.

Outdoor use - Interior display
Outdoor use - Interior display
Outdoor use - Exterior display
Outdoor use - Exterior display
Viewing angles - Exterior display
Viewing angles - Exterior display
Viewing angles - Interior display
Viewing angles - Interior display

Performance - A lot of power for a lot of money

When it comes to performance, you can expect the best of the best from a smartphone that costs just under €2,000, and the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G delivers on all fronts. Samsung has equipped the smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, one of the fastest SoCs currently available, making it even more powerful than its predecessor. The inclusion of the Snapdragon 865+ probably makes it the fastest foldable smartphone, and one of the fastest smartphones ever.

The foldable is a fast performer in terms of graphics performance, too. In off-screen tests, so with a fixed resolution, our review unit outperforms all other devices. However, results are a little tighter at native screen resolution, simply because the competition offers fewer pixels than the Z Fold2 does.

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
983 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
738 Points -25%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
394 Points -60%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
766 Points -22%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
1326 Points +35%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (950 - 1006, n=6)
979 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (119 - 2138, n=212, last 2 years)
902 Points -8%
Multi-Core (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
3012 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
2665 Points -12%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1448 Points -52%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
2972 Points -1%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
3476 Points +15%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (3012 - 3458, n=6)
3243 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 6681, n=212, last 2 years)
2950 Points -2%
Vulkan Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
3545 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (3119 - 4105, n=6)
3655 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (79 - 9992, n=90, last 2 years)
4078 Points +15%
OpenCL Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
3533 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (3466 - 3671, n=6)
3556 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (434 - 10711, n=82, last 2 years)
3875 Points +10%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
14606 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
12665 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
12276 Points -16%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
9345 Points -36%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
10628 Points -27%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (13629 - 19824, n=5)
15404 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +3%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
12457 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
10261 Points -18%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
9655 Points -22%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
7460 Points -40%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
8512 Points -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (12355 - 14979, n=6)
13143 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points -13%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
91762 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
80419 Points -12%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
68675 Points -25%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
31801 Points -65%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
46141 Points -50%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
96826 Points +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (91762 - 117606, n=5)
102336 Points +12%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
128372 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
108418 Points -16%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
106066 Points -17%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
40461 Points -68%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
60860 Points -53%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
206190 Points +61%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (128372 - 169103, n=5)
158068 Points +23%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
45923 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
42240 Points -8%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
30743 Points -33%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
18181 Points -60%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
24989 Points -46%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
33898 Points -26%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (35563 - 56928, n=5)
46532 Points +1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
8272 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
8272 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
7363 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
7479 Points -10%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2840 Points -66%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4076 Points -51%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
7893 Points -5%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (8272 - 10046, n=6)
8977 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points -58%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
11107 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
11107 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
9480 Points -15%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
9918 Points -11%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2857 Points -74%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4044 Points -64%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
11302 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (11107 - 14283, n=6)
12559 Points +13%
Average of class Smartphone
  (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points -65%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4369 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4369 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4133 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4019 Points -8%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2780 Points -36%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4192 Points -4%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
3839 Points -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (4104 - 5301, n=6)
4589 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points -32%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
8709 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
8709 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
6601 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
7434 Points -15%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2859 Points -67%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4213 Points -52%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (8709 - 10467, n=6)
9355 Points +7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (704 - 23024, n=115, last 2 years)
9014 Points +4%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
11617 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
11617 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
7751 Points -33%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
9489 Points -18%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2931 Points -75%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4064 Points -65%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (11617 - 13779, n=6)
12893 Points +11%
Average of class Smartphone
  (607 - 45492, n=114, last 2 years)
15728 Points +35%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4642 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4642 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4344 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4228 Points -9%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2634 Points -43%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4836 Points +4%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (4178 - 5686, n=6)
4805 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1075 - 8749, n=114, last 2 years)
4327 Points -7%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
7224 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
5679 Points -21%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
5722 Points -21%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1927 Points -73%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
5689 Points -21%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
5471 Points -24%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (6850 - 7881, n=5)
7346 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points -63%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
9008 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
6314 Points -30%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
6350 Points -30%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1764 Points -80%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
6265 Points -30%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
6088 Points -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (8548 - 9140, n=5)
8924 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points -71%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4266 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4201 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4250 Points 0%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2847 Points -33%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4305 Points +1%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
4038 Points -5%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (4041 - 5318, n=5)
4572 Points +7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points -27%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
7909 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
5141 Points -35%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
6227 Points -21%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2006 Points -75%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4422 Points -44%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (7369 - 8780, n=6)
8154 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (317 - 20131, n=175, last 2 years)
6514 Points -18%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
10043 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
5424 Points -46%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
7114 Points -29%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1866 Points -81%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
5672 Points -44%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (9453 - 10442, n=6)
10019 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (267 - 33376, n=174, last 2 years)
9281 Points -8%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
4536 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4348 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4336 Points -4%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2720 Points -40%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
2497 Points -45%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
Points -100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (4159 - 5751, n=6)
4965 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (938 - 8480, n=174, last 2 years)
4150 Points -9%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
5960 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
3981 Points -33%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4974 Points -17%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1760 Points -70%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
3948 Points -34%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (4846 - 6977, n=5)
6060 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (365 - 6439, n=97, last 2 years)
2594 Points -56%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
7613 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4250 Points -44%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
5884 Points -23%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1635 Points -79%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4046 Points -47%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (7613 - 9054, n=5)
8645 Points +14%
Average of class Smartphone
  (298 - 8601, n=97, last 2 years)
2755 Points -64%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
3386 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
3259 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
3228 Points -5%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2406 Points -29%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
3638 Points +7%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (1845 - 3875, n=5)
3098 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1667 - 3525, n=97, last 2 years)
2668 Points -21%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
114 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
60 fps -47%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
60 fps -47%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
57 fps -50%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
58 fps -49%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
59 fps -48%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (60 - 142, n=5)
110.2 fps -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps -27%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
171 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
166 fps -3%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
115 fps -33%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
65 fps -62%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
139 fps -19%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
287 fps +68%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (171 - 225, n=5)
211 fps +23%
Average of class Smartphone
  (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +43%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
75 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
56 fps -25%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
58 fps -23%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
40 fps -47%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
47 fps -37%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps -20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (60 - 117, n=5)
80.2 fps +7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps -5%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
110 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
73 fps -34%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
90 fps -18%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
32 fps -71%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
81 fps -26%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
157 fps +43%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (110 - 134, n=5)
126.4 fps +15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +25%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
46 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
41 fps -11%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
46 fps 0%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
30 fps -35%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
26 fps -43%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps +30%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (41 - 82, n=5)
56 fps +22%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +30%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
75 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
51 fps -32%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
62 fps -17%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
23 fps -69%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
51 fps -32%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
100 fps +33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (75 - 93, n=5)
88.2 fps +18%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +29%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
29 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
25 fps -14%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
32 fps +10%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
16 fps -45%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
17 fps -41%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
48 fps +66%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (24 - 52, n=5)
36.8 fps +27%
Average of class Smartphone
  (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +48%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
46 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
31 fps -33%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
42 fps -9%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
13 fps -72%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
32 fps -30%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
63 fps +37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (46 - 57, n=5)
53.2 fps +16%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +27%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
34 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
23 fps -32%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
32 fps -6%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
17 fps -50%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
60 fps +76%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
58 fps +71%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (27 - 54, n=6)
41.5 fps +22%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 123, n=219, last 2 years)
43.2 fps +27%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
46 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
16 fps -65%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
42 fps -9%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
14 fps -70%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
165 fps +259%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
75 fps +63%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (46 - 59, n=6)
56 fps +22%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 229, n=219, last 2 years)
63 fps +37%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
23 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
34 fps +48%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
21 fps -9%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
11 fps -52%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
46 fps +100%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
46 fps +100%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (18 - 35, n=6)
27.2 fps +18%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.8 - 105, n=219, last 2 years)
32.2 fps +40%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
22 fps
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
39 fps +77%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
17 fps -23%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
5.2 fps -76%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
68 fps +209%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
29 fps +32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (22 - 22, n=6)
22 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 94, n=219, last 2 years)
25.1 fps +14%
AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
589249 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
463291 Points -21%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
205722 Points -65%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
470692 Points -20%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
510245 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (490260 - 622888, n=4)
571612 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
101336 Points -83%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
5480 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
4998 Points -9%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4835 Points -12%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
2970 Points -46%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
4640 Points -15%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
5607 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (5305 - 6247, n=4)
5656 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +4%
System (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
9196 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
8507 Points -7%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
8825 Points -4%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
5678 Points -38%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
8823 Points -4%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
14189 Points +54%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (8965 - 9901, n=4)
9264 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +5%
Memory (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
6141 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
5434 Points -12%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
4945 Points -19%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
3368 Points -45%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
6453 Points +5%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
2350 Points -62%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (5918 - 8056, n=4)
6654 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +1%
Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
11992 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
9334 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
9510 Points -21%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
3112 Points -74%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
8570 Points -29%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
16996 Points +42%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (11773 - 12048, n=4)
11899 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +16%
Web (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650, 12288
1331 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ / 855 Plus, Adreno 640, 8192
1446 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 12288
1317 Points -1%
Motorola Razr 2019
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 6144
1307 Points -2%
Huawei Mate Xs
HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16, 8192
950 Points -29%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU, 4096
1745 Points +31%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
  (1268 - 1621, n=4)
1407 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +12%

Our test device appears a bit tamer in browser benchmarks though, and only manages a midfield finish among other comparison devices. But we are talking about high-end smartphones anyway, so this still means that the Z Fold2 loads pages quickly, as it does with photos. Even complex HTML 5 pages load promptly and run smoothly.

Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
129.1 Points +71%
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104.5 Points +38%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chrome 85)
75.5 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (69.8 - 75.5, n=4)
72.4 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
63.1 Points -16%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
55.8 Points -26%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samung Browser 10.1)
53.8 Points -29%
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83)
38.51 Points -49%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
301.9 Points +130%
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +48%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chrome 85)
131.5 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (121.7 - 131.5, n=4)
127 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
113.9 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samsung Browser 10.1)
113.7 Points -14%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
103.6 Points -21%
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83)
54.2 Points -59%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
153 runs/min +109%
Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=151, last 2 years)
105.7 runs/min +44%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chome 85)
73.3 runs/min
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (41.2 - 73.3, n=4)
64.2 runs/min -12%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
63.1 runs/min -14%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
62.5 runs/min -15%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samsung Browser 10.1)
61.5 runs/min -16%
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chome 83)
29 runs/min -60%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
181 Points +59%
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=119, last 2 years)
131.8 Points +16%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samsung Browser 10.1)
129 Points +13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (114 - 126, n=4)
119.8 Points +5%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chrome 85)
114 Points
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
98 Points -14%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
98 Points -14%
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83)
57 Points -50%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
49388 Points +84%
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +25%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chrome 85)
26906 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (25953 - 27360, n=4)
26679 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samsung Browser 10.1)
24128 Points -10%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
23781 Points -12%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
20917 Points -22%
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83)
9771 Points -64%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83)
3558 ms * -84%
Huawei Mate Xs (Huawei Browser 10.1)
2219 ms * -15%
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80)
2077 ms * -8%
Samsung Galaxy Fold (Samsung Browser 10.1)
2003 ms * -4%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G (Chrome 85)
1931 ms *
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus) (1854 - 1947, n=4)
1908 ms * +1%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +14%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 13.1)
571 ms * +70%

* ... smaller is better

The Z Fold2 does not support expandable storage using a microSD. So, you must make do with its 256 GB of UFS 3.1 flash memory, which cut a fine figure in our tests.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5GSamsung Galaxy Z FlipSamsung Galaxy FoldMotorola Razr 2019Huawei Mate XsApple iPhone 11 Pro MaxAverage 256 GB UFS 3.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-17%
-47%
-68%
-10%
29%
13%
Sequential Read 256KB
1681
1443
-14%
1303
-22%
510
-70%
1767
5%
1767 ?(1004 - 2037, n=85)
5%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
-13%
Sequential Write 256KB
757
523
-31%
394.5
-48%
186.4
-75%
402.7
-47%
1135 ?(452 - 1873, n=85)
50%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
42%
Random Read 4KB
232.1
184.5
-21%
158.4
-32%
88.6
-62%
202.9
-13%
282 ?(173.5 - 543, n=85)
21%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
4%
Random Write 4KB
220.6
212.9
-3%
34.41
-84%
80.1
-64%
259.1
17%
312 ?(197.5 - 499, n=86)
41%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
20%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
82.6 ?(Nano Memory Card)
75.9 ?(65.6 - 85.8, n=4)
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
72.1 ?(Nano Memory Card)
61.9 ?(55.6 - 69.3, n=4)

Games - 60 FPS is almost always possible

With the tools of GameBench, we checked the framerates in some recent triple-A mobile games. Our test device reached a stable 60 FPS in PUBG Mobile, but we noticed framerate drops to below 50 FPS in the very demanding online role-playing game Genshin Impact. The game always remains playable, though.

The huge display, which nevertheless fits well in our hands, is ideal for gaming. The expanse of screen provides better immersion than on many other smartphones, principally because of its size. We encountered no problems with using the accelerometer or and touchscreen during our gaming tests, either.

PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; PUBG Mobile; Smooth; 1.0.0: Ø59.9 (58-60)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; PUBG Mobile; HD; 1.0.0: Ø59.8 (57-60)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; Genshin Impact; highest 120 fps; 1.0.0_1112729_1135452: Ø58.7 (48-60)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G; Genshin Impact; lowest 120 fps; 1.0.0_1112729_1135452: Ø59.5 (53-61)

Emissions - Good stereo speakers in the Galaxy phone

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

A large smartphone also tends to offer a lot of space for cooling, which is the case with the Z Fold2. We measured a maximum external temperature of 41.8 °C on the top side of the device during our tests, but this is limited to a small area. The smartphone stays much cooler in other areas too, and 41.8 °C is not a critical temperature.

Under longer loads, however, the smartphone cannot maintain its full performance. Our review unit lost almost a third of its peak performance after thirty runs of GFXBench 3 Manhattan, for example.

Max. Load
 41.8 °C
107 F
39.6 °C
103 F
34.9 °C
95 F
 
 37.9 °C
100 F
35.9 °C
97 F
32.9 °C
91 F
 
 31.6 °C
89 F
33.8 °C
93 F
30.9 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 41.8 °C = 107 F
Average: 35.5 °C = 96 F
32.4 °C
90 F
35.7 °C
96 F
36.5 °C
98 F
32.7 °C
91 F
33 °C
91 F
35.2 °C
95 F
28.8 °C
84 F
30.1 °C
86 F
30.7 °C
87 F
Maximum: 36.5 °C = 98 F
Average: 32.8 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.6 °C = 105 F | Room Temperature 20.6 °C = 69 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.5 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.8 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
A heat map of the interior display of the Galaxy Z Fold2
A heat map of the interior display of the Galaxy Z Fold2
A heat map of the exterior of the Galaxy Z Fold2
A heat map of the exterior of the Galaxy Z Fold2

Speakers

Pink Noise speaker-test
Pink Noise speaker-test

The stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the edges of the device are cleverly placed, allowing them to be used in both closed and open positions. Of course, the device can only generate a stereo effect if it is held in the correct position. You must hold the Z Fold2 in landscape mode to hear the stereo effect, and even then, you must make sure you have it the right way up.

Looking at the results of our pink noise test, then it seems that the speakers in the Z Fold2 are quite like those in its predecessor. The ones in our review unit accentuate high-pitched tones slightly more though, which improves audio quality in our opinion. The Galaxy Fold offered decent speakers, meaning that the ones in the Z Fold2 can get loud while remaining balanced.

The Z Fold2 also supports audio output via USB Type-C or Bluetooth. Both worked well without any problems during our tests.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.240.62538.936.33128.330.34032.332.85034.537.46328.2338021.62310021.631.612517.139.116020.146.220016.547.92501351.831511.65940012.563.450013.165.763012.565.28001270100012.773.4125013.373.2160012.273.9200012.872.6250013.174.531501375.2400013.870.9500014.564.7630015.359.9800016.458.91000017.162.6125001862.61600018.962.3SPL6526.283.6N17.20.753.5median 13.8median 62.6median 68.5Delta3.911.91532.244.236.234.129.127.83026.442.342.126.827.520.321252717.231.217.950.417.150.317.957.316.26116.56515.368.115.670.315.670.114.873.514.472.214.673.914.776.814.174.714.474.314.475.114.972.514.770.814.571.114.868.61559.316.658.227.185.20.963.6median 15median 70.11.37.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSamsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5GSamsung Galaxy Fold
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 68.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 68.5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 68.5% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (117.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Samsung Galaxy Fold audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 70% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Management - Good stamina

Energy Consumption

The large screen of the Z Fold2 dictates that the device consumes more power than that of normal smartphones, as the table below demonstrates. However, the Huawei Mate Xs is considerably more power-hungry under load, so Samsung has done a good job of optimising the Z Fold2 in this regard.

Our review unit can consume up to 10.5 W though, making it thirstier than all our comparison devices. By contrast, the Huawei Mate Xs tops out at 8.46 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1 / 2.1 / 2.8 Watt
Load midlight 6.8 / 10.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
4500 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
3300 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Fold
4235 mAh
Motorola Razr 2019
2510 mAh
Huawei Mate Xs
4500 mAh
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
3969 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
42%
42%
42%
-40%
10%
-18%
25%
Idle Minimum *
1
0.59
41%
0.6
40%
0.7
30%
2.22
-122%
0.92
8%
1.3 ?(0.63 - 2.41, n=4)
-30%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
11%
Idle Average *
2.1
0.88
58%
0.85
60%
1.2
43%
3.94
-88%
2.9
-38%
3 ?(2.06 - 4.42, n=4)
-43%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
31%
Idle Maximum *
2.8
0.95
66%
1
64%
1.8
36%
4.01
-43%
2.94
-5%
3.19 ?(2.08 - 4.43, n=4)
-14%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
42%
Load Average *
6.8
4.97
27%
4.47
34%
3.2
53%
4.34
36%
3.65
46%
6.96 ?(5.55 - 8.86, n=4)
-2%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
18%
Load Maximum *
10.5
8.37
20%
9.02
14%
5.2
50%
8.46
19%
6.18
41%
10.5 ?(9.71 - 11.6, n=4)
-0%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
21%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The battery in the Z Fold2 has grown minimally compared to the one that Samsung included its predecessor, with an increase of just 265 mAh. The Z Fold2 lasted significantly longer in our Wi-Fi battery test though, lasting 12:16 hours compared to the 10:00 hours of the original Galaxy Fold. This is only a mediocre value for all smartphones though, but it is enough for everyday use. Under load, the runtime is comparable to that of its predecessor and is on par with other foldable smartphones.

The included charger has a maximum output of 25 W. The bundled charger recharges our review unit fully in about 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
30h 53min
WiFi Websurfing
12h 16min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
13h 52min
Load (maximum brightness)
5h 02min
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
4500 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
3300 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Fold
4235 mAh
Motorola Razr 2019
2510 mAh
Huawei Mate Xs
4500 mAh
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
3969 mAh
Battery Runtime
-26%
1%
-29%
-17%
41%
Reader / Idle
1853
1741
-6%
1724
-7%
988
-47%
1071
-42%
2618
41%
H.264
832
527
-37%
1027
23%
586
-30%
762
-8%
1346
62%
WiFi v1.3
736
647
-12%
600
-18%
469
-36%
481
-35%
909
24%
Load
302
157
-48%
316
5%
296
-2%
357
18%
408
35%

Pros

+ great, flexible hinge
+ high-quality build
+ large screens with narrow bezels
+ good software customisation
+ precise GPS module
+ plenty of power
+ fast Wi-Fi performance
+ good memory capacity
+ balanced speakers
+ long battery life

Cons

- the screen is still sensitive
- awfully expensive
- bulky to carry around in a trouser pocket
- throttling under load
- average microphones
- Dual-SIM connectivity only with an eSIM

Verdict - Improved, but also suitable for the mass market?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G smartphone review. Test device courtesy of Samsung Germany.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G smartphone review. Test device courtesy of Samsung Germany.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is a piece of the future that you can try out right now. That may be great, but it comes at a price. Samsung wants just under €2,000 for its innovative smartphone, for which you will receive a premium device that still has a sensitive folding screen. The visible and noticeable crease in the middle of the interior screen is also unsightly.

Why does the foldable smartphone still feel great? On the one hand, because of the new hinge, which is much more flexible than its predecessor. On the other hand, the larger screens are an improvement, as is the software customisation, which, for example, provides seamless transfer of YouTube videos from the interior to the exterior display. This feature may not work well with all apps yet, but if it does work, it will be a great feature.

More suitable for everyday use and even higher quality than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G takes many steps in the right direction. It is still extremely expensive, though.

The performance and features of the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G meet the standards that we have come to expect from a premium smartphone, as do the Wi-Fi speeds, GPS accuracy and its stylish design. Small annoyances exist though, such as the middling mobile network reception strength and the high maximum power consumption.

All in all, the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is even more suitable for everyday use than its predecessor. In saying that, it remains expensive and, because of its sensitive screen, is only worthwhile for enthusiasts who have enough change lying around.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G - 08/31/2022 v7
Florian Schmitt

Chassis
88%
Keyboard
73 / 75 → 97%
Pointing Device
97%
Connectivity
49 / 70 → 70%
Weight
87%
Battery
89%
Display
91%
Games Performance
60 / 64 → 94%
Application Performance
83 / 86 → 97%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
80 / 90 → 89%
Camera
77%
Average
82%
88%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Smartphone Review - A great and expensive foldable phone
Florian Schmitt, 2020-10-20 (Update: 2020-10-20)