Photo from Samsung
I was there when the Motorola Razr became the coolest phone in Metro Manila. There were Nokias, Sony Ericsons, HTC, but they all looked terrible when placed beside the sleek clamshell device. The ultra thin flip phone was so iconic that everyone in my age range could not forget about it despite the amount of time that passed.
Naturally, I was excited when Samsung unveiled their first Z Flip in 2020. The only thing that deterred me from buying it was my own principle of not getting the first generation of a tech product. It turned out to be a good call because a lot of issues arose from that first generation Z Flip later on.
What I got instead was an iPhone Pro Max. It’s great. Huge screen, all-day battery life, great camera, smooth video, and I was fortunate enough to afford the 512GB model. It had everything I needed for work and play. However, the size became a hindrance after the honeymoon period.
I noticed I have the ‘smartphone bump’ in my pinky. It quickly developed just months after using the huge and heavy iPhone. Then I became annoyed at how it felt in my pockets. It looked especially weird in photos when you see the huge rectangle in my front pocket.
It was at this point that I started thinking about a foldable. Samsung just released their Z Flip5 but I’m thinking if I hold out longer, Apple might release their own foldable like what they did with the iPhone 6s Plus and the iPhone X. Late entries to a new category (that Samsung spearheaded) but turned out okay. That isn’t happening so far though.
A few days ago, the YouTube algorithm suddenly recommended to me the Samsung Z Flip6. I’m curious how it is and after only two videos, I’m thinking of breaking the Apple Ecosystem I’m in.
Incremental upgrades since the first generation have finally created a flip phone worthy of being a new flagship. The hinge is more sturdy now that it can hold its position at any angle, the screen is brighter, it has flagship level cameras, and the crease on the screen is significantly less than the previous iterations – among other improvements.
But what I’m amazed by is the form factor and the outer screen. Unlike in the first generation where you only get cameras on the cover, the Flip6 has a secondary screen outside so you can do minor tasks without opening the full screen. This also allows the Flip6 to be more battery efficient as you don’t need to draw the full power in operating the smaller screen. Add to this its cute size and the Flip 6 has become a powerhouse in compact functionality.
Another draw is the colors available. I hate Apple’s yearly decision of standard iPhones being colorful but the Pro ones are all boring and bland. Compare that to the Flip6’s options of Blue, Yellow, Mint, and Peach along with the standard White, Black, and Silver – it really lets you be you.
My workflow will undoubtedly be hampered though. I can’t Airdrop my files anymore and have to go back to including Google Drive in the process. Depending on where I am, it can be a slow alternative or a deal-breaker in my workflow.
Despite that, the idea of having the Samsung Flip6 is doing laps in my mind. It can fit in my breast pocket, in the inner pocket of my suit, won’t take up much space on the table, and won’t feel like my whole thigh is stuck to a device, all while having the same functionality and quality as my iPhone. Sure, the 3 vs 2 cameras will be another debate but in my industry, the Indian is always better than any arrow.
There are other flip phones in the market like those from Xiaomi and Motorola but the Flip6 has the advantage of being a Samsung. Their phones get updates quicker and now longer as Samsung promised earlier this year that their phones moving forward will get 7 years of OS and security updates. That beats other brands and even Apple which has a maximum of around 5 years with their devices.
If no sudden expenses come up until Christmas, I might push through with a new Flip phone come 2025. If not, I’ll pray hard to all the tech oppas in Samsung that they at least fit a telephoto camera in the next Flip. That will certainly be irresistible and will probably make me have a second phone for the first time in a decade.
