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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Replaced My Laptop for a Week

This foldable phone can be a desktop computer or tablet, and it bends in half for video chats.

Headshot of Justin Eastzer
Headshot of Justin Eastzer
Justin Eastzer CNET Perspectives Contributor
Justin Eastzer is a CNET Perspectives Contributor and former CNET host. Prior to CNET, he worked in Hollywood in TV development and on shows like America's Got Talent. As the founder of Diabetech, he now reports on consumer and diabetes technology on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and the Diabetech podcast. Justin's mission is to educate his viewers so they can live a happier, healthier, tech-ier and more informed life.
Expertise Nearly a decade of experience creating for video platforms like YouTube and three years' experience building Diabetech, a leading diabetes technology news source. Credentials
  • Audience-building across multiple social networks, including over 5 million subscribers for America's Got Talent and a niche diabetes tech education and community building platform
Justin Eastzer

Samsung calls the $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold 4 a "multitasking powerhouse," so I put that claim to the test by using it as my main work computer for an entire week. 

Samsung's newest foldable is a great productivity device when used in Dex mode, which lets you connect the device to a bigger screen like a monitor or TV. But there are still some notable shortcomings when it comes to using a phone as my primary computer, not all of which are necessarily Samsung's fault. The mobile apps for Slack and Zoom, for example, didn't translate well to a desktop experience.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4, which launched in August, is the latest version of Samsung's tablet-smartphone hybrid. It has a 6.2-inch cover screen but turns into a 7.6-inch miniature tablet when unfolded. In addition to Dex mode, which is also available on non-folding Galaxy devices, Samsung puts that bendable screen to use with a feature called Flex mode. When in this mode, you can fold the phone halfway so that it stands upright, which is useful for making video calls.  

To see how the Z Fold 4 powered my work week, check out the video above.