Galaxy Z Fold4 • Unlocked vs iPhone SE (2020) • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, released in August 2022, and the Apple iPhone SE 2020, launched in April 2020, represent distinct philosophies in smartphone design and functionality. While the Galaxy Z Fold4 offers an innovative foldable form factor with an expansive display, the iPhone SE 2020 provides a compact, traditional smartphone experience. These devices operate on different ecosystems, with the Z Fold4 running Android and the iPhone SE 2020 running iOS, influencing their user interfaces and app availability.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical resilience. These two devices offer different expectations in terms of their practical lifespan and repairability.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy Z Fold4, released in August 2022, benefits from a more recent launch, promising four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, extending its support until around 2027. The iPhone SE 2020, released in April 2020, has received consistent iOS updates, with its operating system currently at iOS 26.4 as of March 2026, demonstrating Apple's commitment to long-term software support for its devices, with expectations of continued updates until approximately 2027-2029.
• Repairability: The iPhone SE 2020 received a repairability score of 6 out of 10 from iFixit, indicating that common repairs like screen and battery replacements are relatively straightforward, though its glass back can be challenging to replace. The Galaxy Z Fold4, with its complex foldable design, generally presents a more intricate repair process due to its multiple displays and hinge mechanism, though Samsung has made efforts to reduce screen repair costs with specific service plans.
• Expected Practical Lifespan: Users can expect both devices to remain functional and receive essential updates for several years. The Z Fold4's newer release and extended update policy suggest a slightly longer period of official software support for its operating system, while the iPhone SE 2020's robust software ecosystem ensures continued usability for its age.

Performance is a key differentiator, with the Galaxy Z Fold4 designed for high-demand tasks and the iPhone SE 2020 offering efficient performance for its form factor.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy Z Fold4 is equipped with a powerful, current-generation processor designed to handle demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and advanced gaming with ease. The iPhone SE 2020 features a powerful processor for its release year, providing smooth performance for everyday tasks, app navigation, and many popular games.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: With 12 GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold4 is well-suited for extensive multitasking, allowing users to run numerous applications simultaneously and switch between them without noticeable slowdowns. The iPhone SE 2020, with 3 GB of RAM, provides a responsive experience for typical smartphone usage, though it may show limitations when managing a large number of active applications or very demanding processes.
• Storage Options: Both devices offer various internal storage options, with the Z Fold4 providing up to 1 TB and the iPhone SE 2020 up to 256 GB, neither supporting expandable storage.

The display experience varies significantly between these two devices, catering to different preferences for screen size and technology.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy Z Fold4 features a 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display and a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast. The iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD, known for its color accuracy and brightness.
• Resolution and Clarity: The Z Fold4's main display has a resolution of 2176x1812 pixels, and its cover display is 2316x904 pixels, providing sharp visuals for both productivity and media consumption. The iPhone SE 2020 offers a resolution of 1334x750 pixels, which delivers clear text and images on its smaller screen.
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: Both displays on the Z Fold4 feature an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, contributing to smoother scrolling and more fluid animations. The iPhone SE 2020 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a typical brightness of 625 nits, offering good visibility in various lighting conditions.

The camera systems of the Galaxy Z Fold4 and iPhone SE 2020 reflect their different design philosophies and target user experiences.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy Z Fold4 features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, allowing for a range of photographic options. The iPhone SE 2020 is equipped with a single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear camera, which is capable of capturing detailed photos in good lighting.
• Photography Performance: The Z Fold4 offers improved low-light performance and enhanced image processing, resulting in detailed and natural-looking photos across various conditions. The iPhone SE 2020 performs well in bright conditions, producing clear images, but it lacks a dedicated Night Mode, which can limit its performance in very dim environments.
• Video Recording and Front Cameras: Both devices support 4K video recording. The Z Fold4 includes a 10-megapixel camera on its cover display and a 4-megapixel under-display camera on its main screen, along with advanced video features. The iPhone SE 2020 has a 7-megapixel front-facing camera, suitable for video calls and selfies.