Samsung has been trying to make the foldable phone mainstream and currently has the rule of the global market. Every generation of its Fold and Flip phones are bringing new innovations, new ways to make life easier, besides presenting devices that are flaunt-worthy. Here’s a catch: Unless you get your “flex” game right, people around you won’t know for sure if you’re pro with the foldable phone. Here is how the Flex mode works on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4.
Flip or Fold?
The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you want the Fold or the Flip but there is a difference in the way it folds. With the Galaxy Z Fold4, you unfold the screen — like a book — to take advantage of the vast 7.6-inch screen, which is way wider than the 6.2-inch cover screen. It feels magical. On the Flip it’s different because of the clamshell design. The phone is flipped open to reveal a 6.7-inch screen, which is basically the size of any modern phone but when a call is over, you fold the phone shut and it becomes almost half the size.
In Flex mode on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 users can divide the screen into two to pursue different activities
Let’s Flex
The Flex mode on foldable phones ensures the device screen is open at certain angles. It’s a very useful feature to have because it lets you set the phone down and use it hands-free, like during video calls or while working on multiple applications.
To get the most out of Flex mode, turn off the orientation lock from the quick settings shade. Next, open an app and fold the phone screen halfway, like you do with a laptop. This means you can keep the phone on the table and go hands free.
At first, the content will fill the screen, top to bottom. But there will also be options to how you want to use the display, like the top part of the screen can be used for watching videos while the bottom half for checking mails. The use case will depend on the apps that are being used. Many of Samsung’s own apps — Calculator, Clock, Camera and so on — take full advantage of the Flex mode and so do apps like Zoom and YouTube.
This year, Samsung has put in a new option while “flexing”. Use a part of the screen as PC-style touched, complete with a cursor. It allows you pinch to zoom, use two fingers to scroll and so on.
When you are using the Flex mode on the Flip, one of the biggest advantages involves taking photographs. Just leave it on the table and go ahead and get a group photo clicked. It also spares you the headache of carrying a tripod. You can also use the Flex mode on the Flip to get a camcorder-style grip on the device while recording videos, giving shots more stability.
The improvements that are being made to the Flex mode highlights that Samsung is paying closer attention to software in addition to the hardware, which is important to prove the promise behind foldable phones. This is Samsung’s moment to make the foldable phone mainstream and the company is not sparing any effort.
Here’s how to flex and benefits
- To get the most out of Flex mode, turn off the orientation lock from the quick settings shade.
- Open an app and fold the phone screen halfway, like you do with a laptop. This means you can keep the phone on the table and go hands free.
- The use case will depend on the apps that are being used. Many of Samsung’s own apps — Calculator, Clock, Camera and so on — take full advantage of the Flex mode and so do apps like Zoom and YouTube
- It spares you the headache of carrying a tripod.