I posted this a while ago, so I’ll paste it here from my old comment.

I bought a Z Fold 2 in 2020 and still use it today. Battery life is great, screens are still great (both outer and inner). I always have a cheap case for it that covers the front screen. I have dropped it twice outside on the concrete ground and the cheap case broke, but NOT the phone, so I just bought another case each time–to me, that’s what the cheap case is for. I really like it and will probably get another version at some point, but here are my main takeaways:

• Outer screen is very slim (think almost TV remote-sized). I have gotten used to it but God forbid you hand it to someone else to type on, they always say it’s too small

• It’s too long for my pockets, but I’m a woman that wears women’s clothes, and our pockets are too damn small for anything, so I have to carry it in my purse

• The screen protectors it comes with do start to fray at the edges over time, but I have never had it bubble up at the folding point/crease on the inner screen

• If you are not known for being delicate with your phone, this is not the phone for you. If you work outdoors regularly, have a tendency to drop your phone regularly, etc, don’t buy this

• It’s expensive

• Not all apps are compatible with the big screen so sometimes you’re stuck with the small screen view on the big inner screen

• Having a portable tablet is great! I got rid of my tablet when I bought this phone and have no regrets

• It’s great for driving when using Google Maps or whichever driving app you choose. Having the big screen makes it so much easier to see the directions

• Any video looks better on the big screen

• I have used the big screen to view maps I downloaded for hiking

My wife and I both used Z Flip 4 for over a year. Mine isn’t my daily anymore but it’s still fine. Wife’s inner screen died on hers just after the warranty expired. I guess that’s mixed results. 😄

Honestly I’ve thought about going back to mine once or twice since my Pixel 8 Pro had some issues (now mostly resolved).

Had a fold 3 since launch 3 years ago. It’s the best phone I’ve ever used. Software is brilliant and clearly a focus for samsung. The big inner screen is amazing for work and games as well as browsing. Well worth it.

The crease is just a non-issue. People see it from an angle and they think it looks bad and that it would bother them, but i assure you, when you are using the phone yourself and its facing you, like all phones that you are currently interacting with are facing you, you cannot see it. After using this phone for 3 years, i can honestly say i forget its even there.

Anyone complaining about the crease has almost definitely never used one of these phones. I hear the complaint and i can only drawn that conclusion. Its like saying you dont like a certain food that you have never tasted.

There are downsides to the fold phone that the flips wont have. Like the fold 3 is a bit heavier than most normal phones and it has sometimes been an issue when using my phone lying down somewhere as it can be cumbersome to hold up at arms length.

Also the strange aspect ratio means that video is too small to play on the outer screen and doesnt fill the inner screen. You get black boxes at the top and bottom, so video is always a little bit smaller than the inner screen. This doesnt affect games, it seems that 99% of games support the aspect ratio and often give you some level of advantage.

This would not be true on the flip phones as they have a normal screen size when open.

Incidentally, next week i am buying the fold 6 and locking in for another 3 years on a contact. If that is any endorsement.

Edit: reading throught the comments here i noticed a consistent pattern.

Those who have the folding phones cant recommend them enough and say they are the best phones they ever bought.

Those that dont have one but have a friend that has one are saying dont get one as they look bad.

(Of course there are some exceptions on both sides but a quick mental tally, and it seems that what im saying is true)

If you want to weigh in, then maybe own or have owned one before deciding they are good or bad. Your friend might disagree with your concerns about their phone.

I’ve been using a z fold3 since it came out. I’ve had to replace the screen once (under warranty) and replace the stock screen protectors but I still love it and plan to get another foldable whenever it kicks the bucket.