Galaxy Z Flip4 vs. Find N2 Flip: Our long-term Flip review

Design

These are both flip phones - well, the modern interpretation of that, with folding inner screens and whatnot. They also both have only two main cameras, and they have external screens, and our review units are both purple - a very, very similar shade of purple. Truth be told, that similarity in hue was what prompted us to think about this new concept of a comparative long-term review.

It's impossible not to instantly realize what handset Oppo wanted its N2 Flip to compete head-on with. Although different on the inside, the outer hinge design is eerily similar (look at the hinge area when they're closed), we've already mentioned the color, but the corners' curvature radius is solidly within the uncanny valley too. Oh, wait, check out the button positioning!

This is worth noting because Oppo has, so far, been very fond of doing its own thing in this regard, and placing the volume buttons on the left side of its slab phones, opposite the power button on the right, whereas Samsung has been doing the "all buttons on the right side" thing for quite a while. Again, the inspiration for the N2 Flip is very clear.

There are, of course, differences, and pretty obvious ones at that. The Flip4 has a gap when closed, the N2 Flip does not. The Flip4 has a tiny external screen, the N2 Flip has a much larger one, although it's not put to use in almost any way in which you'd expect it to, which is a real shame. We are aware that the Flip5 is coming in a few months and will bring a larger display to its outside, but until then, this is what Samsung has to offer, and it's not much.

The cameras are similarly positioned, but the N2 Flip's individual circle-islands are bigger, implying it's a more serious camera phone. We'll see about that in the Camera section. Flipping both of these open, the uncanny similarities continue, although the N2 Flip's inner screen is marginally bigger, and that's reflected in the phone's overall dimensions too, especially when it comes to width - those 3+ extra mm aren't a huge delta, but they are clearly there and always felt if you play with the two handsets side by side.

The overall design for both of these phones is still exceptional, and of course, being foldable, neither is something you see all that often in public even today - though more and more people are aware of what you have when you rock one. A few years ago we got confused looks when using (especially folding or unfolding) a foldable in public, now it seems that most people know what that is, even if they don't have one. Build quality is top notch for both models, as you'd expect at such a price point.

Handling

The Flip4's frame is polished and slippery, although perhaps not to the level you might expect. When closed, the phone is very easy to pick up off a table, for example, purely because of the shape and the fact that there's a lot to grab. When it's opened, and lying flat on a table, things become more challenging due to the slippery frame as well as how thin the device is in this state.

The N2 Flip, on the other hand, loves sliding off of couches all by itself, so do take note of that. Its glass is way more slippery than the Flip4's. Its frame is similarly polished to the Flip4's, but it's much narrower, since the rear glass curves into it. It's a nicer looking design, but it makes the N2 Flip even harder to pick up when it's opened than the Flip4, since there's less frame to grab, and the little there is, will want to instantly slip out of your fingers.

One-handed use is perfectly doable with the Flip4 for people with medium and large hands, while those with the smallest of mitts may struggle a bit, but not to the same extent as with a mainstream slab-style device that isn't a Xiaomi 13 or Galaxy S23 or Asus Zenfone 9. This might explain why Samsung's Flip line has so far been extremely popular with women.

Weight-wise, there is some heft to the Flip4, but not overbearing. We'd call it comfortable to use throughout the day, though you might want to put a case on it to improve grip (and perhaps gain some peace of mind regarding what will happen if you drop it). Samsung doesn't provide one of those for you in the box, so you'll have to purchase it separately.

It's a similar story regarding handling with the N2 Flip, although its extra width does make it a bit less easy to handle one-handed. It's also ever so slightly heavier than its counterpart, but that's not a huge differentiating factor. This will be the more challenging of the two for people with small hands, for sure, so if you're in that camp and handling comfort is your main priority, go for the Samsung.

Other features

The Flip4 is IPX8 water resistant, being capable of withstanding submersion in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, while the N2 Flip has no such certification. Keep in mind that the "X" in "IPX8" means there is no dust protection whatsoever for the Flip4, so maybe don't take it to the beach with you - that of course goes for the N2 Flip as well. Similarly, neither are good for people who work in dusty environments, obviously.

The box contents is an area where the N2 Flip wins hands-down, as you might have expected. You get a charger and a two-part case, which even has a very considerate cutout for the fingerprint sensor on both sides, so that it's easier to place your thumb on it. Samsung wants extra money for both a charger and a case, on the other hand. The N2 Flip also wins in terms of external screen size, even if you can't really do much more with it than you can with the Flip4's, and so they're more or less tied for usability.

The Flip4 wins for pocketability and ease of use with one hand for people with smaller hands, thanks to its smaller overall footprint, but then loses out to the N2 Flip when it comes to the folded state, since its Chinese competitor folds flat, whereas it doesn't. You can use both in semi-folded states, although the Flip4 is more flexible and can be left at many more angles than the N2 Flip, so it wins that. In terms of overall design, we think it's a tie since they're way too similar for a winner to emerge. The same goes for build quality.

Design and build quality winner: Tie.

Speakers

Both phones have dual speakers, with the earpiece pulling double duty as the second channel, paired to a dedicated speaker at the bottom. The Flip4's speakers are surprisingly great considering how little space there must have been to work with, and the fact that this phone folds in the middle. They obviously aren't the best speakers we've ever heard on a phone, but given the aforementioned constraints, we think they're more than good. Media consumption sessions will go fine on these, but of course the more ambient noise there is the more they'll be drowned out.

The N2 Flip also has very good speakers, and subjectively they sound just a little bit louder on the loudest setting, and just a bit 'fuller' all-round, if that makes sense. So, by a hair, the N2 Flip wins the speakers category, but this was very, very close to a tie. Whichever of these phones you pick, you aren't likely to be disappointed in the speakers unless you're switching from a gaming phone or a top of the line slab - but who does that?

Speakers winner: N2 Flip.

Vibration motor

The Flip4's vibration motor is... adequate, but definitely not great. It's there, it does its thing, but we've seen many better ones out there, including in some mid-range-priced devices from the likes of Poco. Oh, and the N2 Flip's, which is miles better - this is no contest, really.

The Flip4 has a vibration motor, the N2 Flip has a very good one that feels 'fuller', more 3D if you will, and that has more range. It's just so much better that there's not more we can say here. The N2 Flip wins this hands-down, but don't take this to mean the Flip4's is horrible - it just doesn't live up to the price point, or to the point its competitor's is at, that's all. It's still very much serviceable, it's just that experiencing it on a daily basis is pretty meh.

Flip4: Vibration settings

Settings-wise, you get a System vibration intensity slider on the Flip4, and a similar Haptic intensity slider on the N2 Flip. The former's vibrations feel weak and shallow even on the highest setting, while the latter's might actually feel like too much if you go all the way.

N2 Flip: Vibration settings

Vibration and haptics winner: N2 Flip.