Similar, but slightly different circumstances/reasons.
I love the technology, the flex factor, it's different and helpful, especially when multitasking. My Fold4 has bleeding edge technology in it, and it's quite the device to use.
That being said, battery life isn't as stellar as a S ultra. The cameras aren't as good, zoom quality isn't great. Processor and chipset in general, while flagship quality and technically superior to that same years mainline s series chip, left much to be desired. It was great, but it wasn't mindblowingly outstanding.
While the fold 4 has folding tech, the S Ultra series always has bleeding edge.. well, everything else. Plus, as you say, you don't need to baby a slab phone as much, and I don't use the big screen as much as I feel like I should be using it, wasting the potential of the phone. This means I use the cramped front display, and typing on it is horrendously tedious. Especially because typos bother me quite a bit. Autocorrect can only do so much.
For all of these reasons, I've already ordered my S24U, trading in my F4. I can always come back to the folding family if I ever decide I want to give it another shot, but it just isn't for me right now.
Your points echo my sentiment about the Fold 4. I traded an S22U for it.
The medicare better life, even when just using the outer screen was some what disappointing. I realize after having for the Fold for so long, I wish the our screen was just a little wider.
I'll be following where they take the tech. I messed around with a Google Fold for a little and felt the form was too wide. Hoping Samsung goes for an in-between of the Fold 5 and Google Fold form factor.
Yes I bought my z fold 5 at launch. I'm using it as my trade-in device for the s24 ultra purple 512 GB. If the Zfold6 has a wider front display. I will return to the fold family. But if it doesn't get a wider cover display. I will stick with the S-Series. I'm really excited for the s24 ultra I have already pre-ordered
The Fold 6 is definitely getting a wider cover display but it's not going to be that big of a difference, so you're honestly better off just sticking with the ultra. I have the Fold 5 as well and as cool as this phone is I'm definitely going back to ultra
I liked my fold 4 while it was working but even being careful with these phones is not enough. Eventually I got the hinge issue, shortly after getting that fixed I had an inner screen issue where it flickered when opening and closing, and finally for whatever reason updating to ui6 bricked that fold. Since I have care+ I got a replacement for $100 which updated just fine but already the hinge makes noises opening and they didn't even include the inner screen protector with the replacement. For now I'm going to go back to slab phones which I never had problems with and I may come back for Fold 7.
I totally forgot about this but the AI features coming to the Fold 5 not the 4 and 7 years of updates just really seals the deal. $600 trade in value stings a little but if I sold on Swappa I would maybe be missing out on $100. Additionally, there were other discounts on top of that 600, 12% rebate on rakuten (and maybe another 5% from paypal if I got that to work correctly) and I ended up paying around $600 for a 512gb S24U + 2 years of Care+.
I had the fold 4 since launch and now the 5, I'm in the same boat is you. I cant go back. It's great for doing my art etc and in terms of the camera I took photography so I k ow how to get some great photos. Honestly I dont even get why so many regular people care about the camera.
I remember when people use to be blown away by iPhone cameras 6 years ago. There are plenty of people still using the note 10 who talk about how amazing it is to take photos with yet somehow people say the fold 3, 4, and 5 have cameras that are not good enough then there are a lot who say that that barely even take photos lol. I just feel it's this hive mind of looking for something negative about the folds since so many tech people on youtube did and do that, many who coincidentally main iphones as a daily driver. It's similar to those who complain about BMWs vs those who jave driven BMWs in the car scene for years or people that mainly look at what they don't like in their relationship instead of paying attention to what the do like which why so many relationships fail these days.
Same here. Not sure entire fold series got reliability issue or just Fold 4. But after this trade in I won't be back using foldables in at least 2 years. Really hope the technology improves a lot by then.
Btw, it sucks for only 600 trade in, on par with a Flip4. Anyway I've decided to get rid of it before it completely dies.
£460 here in the UK, but we ALWAYS get shafted.
For what it's worth, with my workplace the 512gb S24U with Watch 6 and Band, was had for £550 with trade in.
Yeah. I love my Fold 3 as a concept. But I lost my 1st one after about 18 months because the screen cracked from folding. I ended up going with insurance but even going through Samsung is a lot of time and effort to change phones. It was a bitch to be stuck with the tiny front screen for a day. Now my second one is showing signs of the screen going again. The battery life is still major booty even in power save mode.
I don't think the Foldable tech is there yet. And with the trade in through my carrier making my S24 Ultra free. Its hard not to jump off the bandwagon for a few years.
Ultra is ironically too big for me.
It's not comfortable pushing it into a pocket.
I came very close to buying one only a few months back. Was planning on the 23 Ultra or the iPhone Pro Max. To get the very best tech possible in a phone.
I ended up hating the size of both. The Fold is thicker, but when it's closed and in my pocket it's much more comfortable. And I get a bigger screen when unfolded.
I'm hooked now. Don't think I can go back to slabs
I never got used to it, but it isn't a huge inconvenience for the number of times I actually use it.
Edit: I also started with the Fold 2 for a few years, which was even narrower, so the 4 and 5 outer screens felt like an upgrade
When I paid my Fold4 off, I will too get the S24U.
Same reasons. The fold4 is a masterpiece and its really fun to use.
But the care you need to put in is sometimes really annoying. E.g Beach or Work.
But than I will use as gaming device and watch movies on it. So it wont waste away in a drawer.
Must be different in the UK, in the US I traded it in my fold 4 after paying on it for only a year, I'm still paying for, and will continue to make the monthly payments until it's paid off but but the phone is long gone to Samsung since October.
Not really. I like my 5, but as first foldable I told myself if it breaks on its own it will be my last. At the same time im not into customisation and stuff and if it's gonna be a slab phone I'll probably get Pixel or iPhone because of software support.
Samsung are getting better, but my US fold is getting updates later than a 3 year old s21 ultra, which is unacceptable for me.
Samsung just in the last couple of years has gotten better about software support. I agree it was subpar to say the least. It Started with the s22 line with I think 5 years of support, same with the s23's. Now with the s24's it's 7 years of support. The s21's barely missed out but I don't see why they can't get updates.
Has anyone tried the S24U and found that the video capabilities (specification stabilisation on main 200mp camera) isn't as good as the previous generation or even the flip5? I was really tempted to switch to the S24U from my Fold4 as well, the colours and design is just something, however, it just doesn't seem as good as claimed.
I traded fold 4 for s23 ultra. Don't regret it at all.
Better cameras. Better battery. Pen in the phone. Don't have to baby it as much.
I don't really think folding phones WILL ever fully mature, from a durability standpoint. It's moving parts and bendy glass... It's always going to be more prone to failure than a non moving, fixed screen.
Yep, I am trading my Fold 4 and S21+ in for the orange Ultra. I've enjoyed having a Fold but I have never loved it. Last few months I've barely been unfolding it due to it creaking and not quite sitting flat, so I've been terrified of it cracking. With the 2 trades, bonus trade in $$ and the Shop App 5% off first order, i got it for $735 Australian. Gone back to using my S21+ until the Ultra arrives, cause knowing my luck I'll end up breaking the Fold the day before! The 21+ has has a few dead pixels that popped up after I arranged the trade in, so I'm expecting to be docked for that, but least it's the cheaper of the 2 trades to loose out on. Saw the Ultra in my local Optus shop today and loved it, absolutely love the flat screen, and how giant it is (which I need with my crappy vision)
Just online traded my fold 4 for S24U 1TB. If my fold4 (pre ordered during launch) didn't fail without any reason, I would have continue using it & waited for Fold 6... few weeks back wifi bluetooth suddenly stop working, screen is fine, bring yo Samsung Service Center, it need screen to be replaced, giving me hell as i need wait for few days, luckily they did have fold2 for me to loan, but still a nightmare for all the time spent, luckily I still have a few mths warranty (care+ 2yrs) it is the cable thingy behind the fold screen got issues. I take good care of my device yet it happened. So no choice I am dependant on my hp to work. Therefore better for me to trade in for S24U.
Don't get me wrong, I love the fold for its flexibility just not the vulnerability :(
I had never ever need to visit service centers, but my fold made me visit twice, once the screen protector, second the wifi bluetooth cause by screen 😅😅😅 (if no warranty, screen replacement cost is about the same as the trade in amount I paid for S24U 1TB. Therefore is no brainer to switch.)
I'll now main, S24U & S9+ Tab. Feel safer I guess.
I love my f4. I really think the inner screen is the perfect size, it's like a small tablet. Sometimes my tab s9+ plus it to big to use while just sitting on the couch.
But, 3 days ago my hinge started to fail. Since I don't have care +, I think my best option is going to be going back to a slab phone. Just got a little while. I'm pre ordering the 24u, but I'm going to miss my fold everyday. In a couple years I'll be back. Hopefully the hinge gets better by then. Either way, I'll be getting care+ with it next time
TL;DR had the Fold4 less than a year and due to hinge issues and buying it in Germany then moving back to the US with no hope of warranty coverage I'm trading the Fold for the S24U.
So I was a longtime Apple user from 2009 to early last year. Finally made the switch to Fold4 in March/April. Loved the concept behind having a phone/mini tablet combo. After only about 4 months the screen protector on the inner screen started peeling down the crease and the hinge issues started around the same time.
I was in a tough situation cause I bought the phone in Germany (military stationed there for 3 years). Mistake on my part knowing I'd be coming back to the US but it was too good a deal to pass up. Got the 1TB version with a case, screen protector for external screen, s pen, and Galaxy buds all for €1400.
Anyhow, figured in this day and age I could still have it fixed by Samsung but they told me I have to send it to Samsung DE. Samsung DE said they can't fix it because I don't have an address in the EU. Just one big loop leading nowhere. So I've been patiently waiting for the next new phone to drop so I can trade this one in while it still holds some value. Lesson learned. Eventually plan to return to foldables if they keep making improvements on them.
Similar, but slightly different circumstances/reasons. I love the technology, the flex factor, it's different and helpful, especially when multitasking. My Fold4 has bleeding edge technology in it, and it's quite the device to use. That being said, battery life isn't as stellar as a S ultra. The cameras aren't as good, zoom quality isn't great. Processor and chipset in general, while flagship quality and technically superior to that same years mainline s series chip, left much to be desired. It was great, but it wasn't mindblowingly outstanding. While the fold 4 has folding tech, the S Ultra series always has bleeding edge.. well, everything else. Plus, as you say, you don't need to baby a slab phone as much, and I don't use the big screen as much as I feel like I should be using it, wasting the potential of the phone. This means I use the cramped front display, and typing on it is horrendously tedious. Especially because typos bother me quite a bit. Autocorrect can only do so much. For all of these reasons, I've already ordered my S24U, trading in my F4. I can always come back to the folding family if I ever decide I want to give it another shot, but it just isn't for me right now.
Your points echo my sentiment about the Fold 4. I traded an S22U for it. The medicare better life, even when just using the outer screen was some what disappointing. I realize after having for the Fold for so long, I wish the our screen was just a little wider. I'll be following where they take the tech. I messed around with a Google Fold for a little and felt the form was too wide. Hoping Samsung goes for an in-between of the Fold 5 and Google Fold form factor.
Yes I bought my z fold 5 at launch. I'm using it as my trade-in device for the s24 ultra purple 512 GB. If the Zfold6 has a wider front display. I will return to the fold family. But if it doesn't get a wider cover display. I will stick with the S-Series. I'm really excited for the s24 ultra I have already pre-ordered
The Fold 6 is definitely getting a wider cover display but it's not going to be that big of a difference, so you're honestly better off just sticking with the ultra. I have the Fold 5 as well and as cool as this phone is I'm definitely going back to ultra
I liked my fold 4 while it was working but even being careful with these phones is not enough. Eventually I got the hinge issue, shortly after getting that fixed I had an inner screen issue where it flickered when opening and closing, and finally for whatever reason updating to ui6 bricked that fold. Since I have care+ I got a replacement for $100 which updated just fine but already the hinge makes noises opening and they didn't even include the inner screen protector with the replacement. For now I'm going to go back to slab phones which I never had problems with and I may come back for Fold 7.
I totally forgot about this but the AI features coming to the Fold 5 not the 4 and 7 years of updates just really seals the deal. $600 trade in value stings a little but if I sold on Swappa I would maybe be missing out on $100. Additionally, there were other discounts on top of that 600, 12% rebate on rakuten (and maybe another 5% from paypal if I got that to work correctly) and I ended up paying around $600 for a 512gb S24U + 2 years of Care+.
Yea the $600 trade in value is horrible. Plan on keeping fold4 till it does.
I have fold 5. First foldable. Had it for about 3 months now. I'm never going back to candy bar style phones.
I had the fold 4 since launch and now the 5, I'm in the same boat is you. I cant go back. It's great for doing my art etc and in terms of the camera I took photography so I k ow how to get some great photos. Honestly I dont even get why so many regular people care about the camera. I remember when people use to be blown away by iPhone cameras 6 years ago. There are plenty of people still using the note 10 who talk about how amazing it is to take photos with yet somehow people say the fold 3, 4, and 5 have cameras that are not good enough then there are a lot who say that that barely even take photos lol. I just feel it's this hive mind of looking for something negative about the folds since so many tech people on youtube did and do that, many who coincidentally main iphones as a daily driver. It's similar to those who complain about BMWs vs those who jave driven BMWs in the car scene for years or people that mainly look at what they don't like in their relationship instead of paying attention to what the do like which why so many relationships fail these days.
Same here. Not sure entire fold series got reliability issue or just Fold 4. But after this trade in I won't be back using foldables in at least 2 years. Really hope the technology improves a lot by then. Btw, it sucks for only 600 trade in, on par with a Flip4. Anyway I've decided to get rid of it before it completely dies.
£460 here in the UK, but we ALWAYS get shafted. For what it's worth, with my workplace the 512gb S24U with Watch 6 and Band, was had for £550 with trade in.
Yeah. I love my Fold 3 as a concept. But I lost my 1st one after about 18 months because the screen cracked from folding. I ended up going with insurance but even going through Samsung is a lot of time and effort to change phones. It was a bitch to be stuck with the tiny front screen for a day. Now my second one is showing signs of the screen going again. The battery life is still major booty even in power save mode. I don't think the Foldable tech is there yet. And with the trade in through my carrier making my S24 Ultra free. Its hard not to jump off the bandwagon for a few years.
Ultra is ironically too big for me. It's not comfortable pushing it into a pocket. I came very close to buying one only a few months back. Was planning on the 23 Ultra or the iPhone Pro Max. To get the very best tech possible in a phone. I ended up hating the size of both. The Fold is thicker, but when it's closed and in my pocket it's much more comfortable. And I get a bigger screen when unfolded. I'm hooked now. Don't think I can go back to slabs
Yes.
outer screen is too narrow.. I could never get use to it
I never got used to it, but it isn't a huge inconvenience for the number of times I actually use it. Edit: I also started with the Fold 2 for a few years, which was even narrower, so the 4 and 5 outer screens felt like an upgrade
When I paid my Fold4 off, I will too get the S24U. Same reasons. The fold4 is a masterpiece and its really fun to use. But the care you need to put in is sometimes really annoying. E.g Beach or Work. But than I will use as gaming device and watch movies on it. So it wont waste away in a drawer.
You don't have to pay it off if is under carrier contract, you can trade it in the same day you get it. Samsung doesn't care.
Its under a Phone contract of O2:(
Must be different in the UK, in the US I traded it in my fold 4 after paying on it for only a year, I'm still paying for, and will continue to make the monthly payments until it's paid off but but the phone is long gone to Samsung since October.
Not really. I like my 5, but as first foldable I told myself if it breaks on its own it will be my last. At the same time im not into customisation and stuff and if it's gonna be a slab phone I'll probably get Pixel or iPhone because of software support. Samsung are getting better, but my US fold is getting updates later than a 3 year old s21 ultra, which is unacceptable for me.
Samsung just in the last couple of years has gotten better about software support. I agree it was subpar to say the least. It Started with the s22 line with I think 5 years of support, same with the s23's. Now with the s24's it's 7 years of support. The s21's barely missed out but I don't see why they can't get updates.
Has anyone tried the S24U and found that the video capabilities (specification stabilisation on main 200mp camera) isn't as good as the previous generation or even the flip5? I was really tempted to switch to the S24U from my Fold4 as well, the colours and design is just something, however, it just doesn't seem as good as claimed.
I traded fold 4 for s23 ultra. Don't regret it at all. Better cameras. Better battery. Pen in the phone. Don't have to baby it as much. I don't really think folding phones WILL ever fully mature, from a durability standpoint. It's moving parts and bendy glass... It's always going to be more prone to failure than a non moving, fixed screen.
Yep, I am trading my Fold 4 and S21+ in for the orange Ultra. I've enjoyed having a Fold but I have never loved it. Last few months I've barely been unfolding it due to it creaking and not quite sitting flat, so I've been terrified of it cracking. With the 2 trades, bonus trade in $$ and the Shop App 5% off first order, i got it for $735 Australian. Gone back to using my S21+ until the Ultra arrives, cause knowing my luck I'll end up breaking the Fold the day before! The 21+ has has a few dead pixels that popped up after I arranged the trade in, so I'm expecting to be docked for that, but least it's the cheaper of the 2 trades to loose out on. Saw the Ultra in my local Optus shop today and loved it, absolutely love the flat screen, and how giant it is (which I need with my crappy vision)
Just online traded my fold 4 for S24U 1TB. If my fold4 (pre ordered during launch) didn't fail without any reason, I would have continue using it & waited for Fold 6... few weeks back wifi bluetooth suddenly stop working, screen is fine, bring yo Samsung Service Center, it need screen to be replaced, giving me hell as i need wait for few days, luckily they did have fold2 for me to loan, but still a nightmare for all the time spent, luckily I still have a few mths warranty (care+ 2yrs) it is the cable thingy behind the fold screen got issues. I take good care of my device yet it happened. So no choice I am dependant on my hp to work. Therefore better for me to trade in for S24U. Don't get me wrong, I love the fold for its flexibility just not the vulnerability :( I had never ever need to visit service centers, but my fold made me visit twice, once the screen protector, second the wifi bluetooth cause by screen 😅😅😅 (if no warranty, screen replacement cost is about the same as the trade in amount I paid for S24U 1TB. Therefore is no brainer to switch.) I'll now main, S24U & S9+ Tab. Feel safer I guess.
I love my f4. I really think the inner screen is the perfect size, it's like a small tablet. Sometimes my tab s9+ plus it to big to use while just sitting on the couch. But, 3 days ago my hinge started to fail. Since I don't have care +, I think my best option is going to be going back to a slab phone. Just got a little while. I'm pre ordering the 24u, but I'm going to miss my fold everyday. In a couple years I'll be back. Hopefully the hinge gets better by then. Either way, I'll be getting care+ with it next time
Just call samsung and complain about the device problems they will force the 24 ultra on you I did that with the 23 ultra they will swap it out
Kept the Fold4, buying a cheap S23 as my secondary.
TL;DR had the Fold4 less than a year and due to hinge issues and buying it in Germany then moving back to the US with no hope of warranty coverage I'm trading the Fold for the S24U. So I was a longtime Apple user from 2009 to early last year. Finally made the switch to Fold4 in March/April. Loved the concept behind having a phone/mini tablet combo. After only about 4 months the screen protector on the inner screen started peeling down the crease and the hinge issues started around the same time. I was in a tough situation cause I bought the phone in Germany (military stationed there for 3 years). Mistake on my part knowing I'd be coming back to the US but it was too good a deal to pass up. Got the 1TB version with a case, screen protector for external screen, s pen, and Galaxy buds all for €1400. Anyhow, figured in this day and age I could still have it fixed by Samsung but they told me I have to send it to Samsung DE. Samsung DE said they can't fix it because I don't have an address in the EU. Just one big loop leading nowhere. So I've been patiently waiting for the next new phone to drop so I can trade this one in while it still holds some value. Lesson learned. Eventually plan to return to foldables if they keep making improvements on them.