Galaxy Z Fold4 • Unlocked vs OnePlus 12 • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 (released in August 2022) and the OnePlus 12 (globally launched in January 2024) represent distinct approaches to high-end smartphone design. The Galaxy Z Fold4 offers a unique foldable form factor that transforms from a traditional smartphone into a tablet-like experience, while the OnePlus 12 is a conventional, powerful slab-style smartphone. Both devices run on the Android operating system, with Samsung's One UI and OnePlus's OxygenOS providing different user interfaces and feature sets.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, several factors come into play, including software support and physical durability.

• Software Support: The Galaxy Z Fold4 was promised four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, extending its support until approximately 2027. The OnePlus 12 offers a similar commitment with four years of Android updates and five years of security patches, meaning it will receive updates until around 2028.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy Z Fold4 features an IPX8 water resistance rating, allowing it to withstand submersion in water, and uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ on its cover screen and back, along with an Armor Aluminum frame. The OnePlus 12 has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, protecting against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets, and incorporates Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both its front and back. User reports for foldable devices like the Z Fold4 have sometimes indicated potential issues with the hinge or inner screen over extended use. The OnePlus 12 has a reported repairability score of 7.5 out of 10, suggesting moderate ease of repair.
• Practical Lifespan: While both devices offer substantial software support, the Z Fold4's unique folding mechanism introduces a different set of long-term durability considerations compared to the more traditional design of the OnePlus 12.

Both smartphones deliver robust performance, but they are equipped with different generations of processing technology, impacting their overall responsiveness and efficiency.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy Z Fold4 is powered by a processor from 2022, which handles demanding applications and multitasking with efficiency. The OnePlus 12, featuring a newer generation processor from 2023, offers enhanced speed and improved thermal management, resulting in smoother performance for intensive tasks like high-fidelity gaming and complex video editing.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: Both devices come with 12GB of RAM in their base configurations, ensuring capable multitasking. The OnePlus 12 also offers a 16GB RAM option, which can provide additional headroom for users who frequently switch between many applications or run memory-intensive programs. The newer processor in the OnePlus 12 contributes to a generally snappier feel in daily interactions and app loading times.
• Storage Options: Both models offer ample internal storage, with options up to 1TB for the Galaxy Z Fold4 and up to 512GB for the global version of the OnePlus 12, utilizing fast UFS 3.1 and UFS 4.0 storage technologies respectively.

The display experience is a primary differentiator, with the Galaxy Z Fold4 offering a unique foldable design and the OnePlus 12 providing a large, high-quality traditional screen.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy Z Fold4 features a 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display and a 6.2-inch AMOLED cover screen, both with adaptive 120Hz refresh rates. This allows for a compact phone experience that unfolds into a larger, tablet-like canvas. The OnePlus 12 boasts a single 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate.
• Resolution and Brightness: The Z Fold4's main display has a resolution of 2176 x 1812 pixels, while the OnePlus 12 offers a 3168 x 1440 pixel resolution. Both provide sharp visuals. For outdoor visibility, the OnePlus 12 can reach a peak brightness of 4500 nits, significantly brighter than the Z Fold4's 1200 nits peak brightness, making the OnePlus 12 easier to view in direct sunlight.
• Viewing Experience: The Z Fold4's large unfolded screen is well-suited for immersive media consumption and productivity with multiple apps. The OnePlus 12 offers a vibrant and smooth viewing experience on its expansive, bright display, ideal for gaming and high-quality video.

Both devices feature versatile camera systems designed to capture a variety of moments, though with different strengths and configurations.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy Z Fold4 includes a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. The OnePlus 12 also has a triple rear camera system, co-developed with Hasselblad, featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
• Photography Performance: The Z Fold4 is noted for producing warm, vibrant, and detailed images, performing well in everyday photography and offering improved low-light capabilities over its predecessor. The OnePlus 12 is praised for its excellent image quality across various conditions, with users reporting strong performance in portraits and selfies, and good detail from its telephoto lens. Both can record video at up to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second.
• Front Cameras and Audio: The Z Fold4 has a 10MP camera on its cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera on its main screen. The OnePlus 12 features a 32MP front camera. For audio, the OnePlus 12 supports Dolby Atmos, enhancing its speaker output for media consumption.