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| My most expensive BTS 'merch' so far: Samsung Z Flip4 in Bora Purple |
Hey, it's been a while! I'm finally breaking the hiatus of my blog after almost 2 years! And as most of you don't know, I became a fan of BTS in September of 2020, and officially (via the fan club) in 2021, so shopping for BTS merch became a habit of mine–an expensive one at that. My most expensive BTS 'merch' since then? A Samsung Z Flip4 (256GB) in Bora Purple, which currently retails for Php 62,990.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I bought this using my own money. And by the way, I've been too deep in the Bangtan universe to the point that I've even created another Instagram profile to document and share all my BTS hauls! (@bangtan.budols follow meeee)
So anyway, back to the Z Flip4: I actually got my new phone last August 26 (it was supposed to be 24 but there were some changes that pushed the delivery back). Unfortunately, though, it didn't come with free photocards nor any #BTS memorabilia except for the ringtone that Suga made just for Samsung. (Somebody call JinHit entertainment and make it happen!)
As it has been a little over a month since I got the phone, plus I've received some messages and comments asking how was the phone and my experience with it, I thought of sharing them here in my blog. Bear in mind that I am no tech expert, and I'm sharing stuff based off of my experience with the Z Flip 4. First things first, you might want to check my unboxing video:
Samsung Z Flip 4 in Bora Purple: Unboxing
In the box: Samsung Z Flip4, Fast Charging Data Cable, Ejection Pin, Quick Start Guide
Samsung Z Flip 4 Specs
DIMENSIONSFolded: 71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1mm (Hinge) - 15.9mm (Sagging)Unfolded: 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9mmWEIGHT187gDISPLAYMain screen: 6.7" FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2640 x 1080, 425 ppi, HDR10+ certified, Up to 120Hz refresh rateCover screen: 1.9" Super AMOLED Display, 512 x 260, 302 ppiCAMERAFront camera: 10MP, F2.4 apertureRear camera: 12MP Ultra Wide Camera, F2.2 aperture and 12MP Wide-angle Camera, F1.8 apertureMaterial: Super clear glass with Corning® Gorilla® Glass with DX for Wide-angle CameraFeatures: OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for Wide-angle Camera, Up to 10x digital zoomIntelligent features: Scene optimizer, Shot suggestions, Scan QR codesCamera modes: Single Take, Quick Shot, Photo, Video, Pro, Panorama, Food, Night, Portrait, Portrait Video, Pro Video, Super Slow-mo, Slow motion, Hyperlapse, Director's ViewVIDEO RECORDINGResolution: 4K UHD video recording at 30 and 60 fps (3840 x 2160), 1080p FHD video recording at 30 and 60 fps (1920 x 1080), 720p HD video recording at 30 fps (1280 x 720)Shooting speed: Super steady 1080p video support at 30 fps, Super Slow-mo 720p video support at 960 fps, Slow motion 1080p video support at 240 fps, Hyperlapse 4K video support at 30 fpsPERFORMANCEBattery capacity: 3700 mAhCharging: Super fast charging (via 25W Power Adapter, sold separately), Fast wireless charging 2.0, Reverse wireless chargingNETWORK & CONNECTIVITYData: 5G, LTEWi-FI: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, HE160, MIMO, 1024-QAMBluetooth: Bluetooth® v 5.2 (LE up to 2Mbps), USB Type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)MEMORY8GB RAM with 128/256/512GB internal storage (UFS 3.1)SIM CARDOne eSIM One Physical SIM, No microSDOSAndroid 12WATER RESISTANCEIPx8SENSORS & BUTTONSSensors: Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensorButtons: Power key, Volume key
So what do I think of my Samsung Z Flip 4 so far?
Honestly, for me it's been good so far. I love how compact it is—it's almost the size of a compact mirror or powder actually. And as you can see, even my cat, Button, loves it! By the way, I didn't have any issue with the screen. At first, I can see and really notice the "line" where the fold happens, but after few hours of use I got used to it. Up to now it really doesn't bother me. However, coming from my old phone which is a Samsung S20 Ultra, some things really did take a bit of adjustment since we're not exactly comparing apples to apples here.
I was really supposed to get a Samsung S22 Ultra, however, I didn't like the body, and I felt like I'm not yet completely sold on getting a new phone since my S20 Ultra is still amazing. The S22 also felt too big for someone like me who wants my devices to be light and easy to carry, which fit the Z Flip4's profile.
Plus, what actually sealed the deal was when Samsung revealed the Bora Purple color which is a tribute to my 7 boys! Bora (보라) translates to 'Purple' in Korean, and BTS always says "Borahae" (보라해) which is a word/term created by BTS' V (Kim Taehyung) meaning "I Purple (Love) You". What I loved even more was a whole new music video of their newest single, "Yet To Come" which highlights the Samsung Z Flip4.
Butttttt I do think some features of my new phone did not impress me, especially on the top 3 things I look first on a phone before buying... Here's how the Z Flip4 lived up so far:
1. Camera
Although the Ultra Wide and Wide-angle + Nightography is really good, I was so used to the Space (100x) Zoom of my S20 Ultra. I use the zoom to see things better especially if they are faraway as I have really bad eyesight (400+ with astigmatism). The Z Flip 4's max zoom is 10x, but it's really pixelated when you reach that.
2. Battery
I am a heavy mobile phone user. I use it for everything: work and leisure. My phone is literally on my hand every 30 minute or so. My favorite social apps include Instagram and YouTube, then I mostly use Chrome to browse articles and just Google anything. There's also work stuff where I always use Samsung Email, Microsoft Outlook and Teams. All of those activities actually drain my battery so fast. My old phone, the Samsung S20 Ultra has a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh, but even so, since I am a heavy user, my battery drained quickly, which is why I considered getting a new phone. The Z Flip4's battery is only at 3,700 mAh, quite far from the 5,000 mAh of my S20 Ultra. The only consolation here is the Super Fast charging of the Z Flip4 (activated only via the 25W adapter) which gives me 55% after about 30 minutes. Still, I think that is a bit of a hassle as I need to bring a fast charging battery pack and cable with me all the time especially if I am outside.
3. Storage
Unfortunately, the Z Flip4 does not have a memory card slot so it only uses the internal storage. This is why I got the 256GB instead of the base one at 128GB. I take lots of photos and videos of my 2 cats (Instagram: @cottony.buttony) on a daily basis, plus events are slowly returning so storage is really important for me. This was actually almost a deal breaker for me but good thing I have OTG drives to solve that.
As for the top 3 things I we and my cats truly love about the Z Flip 4:
1. It is compact.
Did I mention it is compact? LOL. When folded, my Z Flip4 truly fits the palm of my hand perfectly. What I super love about it is that it fits my small bags so I can finally wear more small bags from now on. Not mini bags though since I always need to carry a battery pack with me.
2. The cover screen is too cute!
There are several widgets to choose from, and I can quickly check the time, or even take selfies even if my phone is folded! I even enjoyed creating a video wallpaper of my cats. Check this reel I made:
As mentioned earlier, the Ultra Wide and Wide-angle plus Nightography is amazing! I can't stress that enough so you be the judge and see them for yourself. Below are photos taken using the Samsung Z Flip4:
There you have it! Was there anything I missed? What would you like to know more about this phone? Do comment below and I'll try to reply as honestly as I could!
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