Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 undergoes testing: introduces an unexpected cinematic turn
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Embraces 21:9 Aspect Ratio for a Cinematic Experience
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, the latest addition to Samsung's line of foldable clamshell phones, boasts a 21:9 aspect ratio on its 6.9-inch Super AMOLED display, setting it apart from many contemporary smartphones.
This aspect ratio, also seen in the Xperia 1 VI by Sony, is a strategic move to differentiate these devices. For the Galaxy Z Flip 7, it offers significant benefits and some drawbacks, especially when compared to non-foldable phones and streaming services.
Benefits:
The 21:9 ratio on the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s display provides a wider, more standard screen shape compared to previous extremely narrow ratios like 22:9. This makes typing, browsing, and gaming more natural and comfortable, improving usability on the folded screen.
When unfolded, the device delivers a large, expansive display perfect for multitasking, content editing, and immersive media viewing, leveraging the tablet-like form with a more balanced aspect ratio.
The 21:9 aspect ratio aligns better with many modern cinematic contents, which are often filmed in ultra-wide formats, thus enhancing video watching by reducing black bars and making full use of the screen width.
Drawbacks:
For the Galaxy Z Fold series, the crease in foldable displays can create visual distractions, especially with lighting, affecting dark scenes in videos and gaming. This can break immersion and require adjusting how you hold the phone.
When playing mobile games developed primarily for more traditional 16:9 or 18:9 aspect ratios, some apps on foldables with taller or more unusual ratios might show thick black bars or have awkward scaling, limiting the use of the full screen.
Battery life can be mediocre in foldable phones, partly due to these large, high-brightness, high-refresh-rate displays.
Comparison to Non-Foldable Phones and Streaming Services:
| Aspect | Foldable Phones (21:9) | Non-Foldable Phones (Typically 16:9 to 20:9) | Streaming Services | |----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Screen Usability | Larger, more immersive when unfolded, compact folded size | Generally consistent, no crease or folding issues | Most content optimized for 16:9 or cinematic ultra-wide formats (close to 21:9) | | Aspect Ratio Match with Content | Better for cinematic films (which often use 21:9 or similar) | May have black bars on ultra-wide content | Provide multiple aspect ratios; cinematic content often in 21:9 or similar | | Visual Artifacts | Fold creases affect image uniformity; some apps not optimized | No creases, stable image display | Streaming adjusts to device ratios but fixed aspect ratio content may show bars | | Portability | Compact folded form factor | Fixed size, usually larger when bigger displays | N/A |
In essence, the 21:9 aspect ratio on foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 7 improves cinematic content viewing and multitasking flexibility, making media consumption more immersive than on most traditional smartphones. However, the foldable form factor introduces issues such as the fold crease distraction, app and game compatibility quirks, and battery trade-offs which non-foldables avoid.
The Galaxy Z Flip7, though smaller and designed for portability, also benefits from a big, bright FlexWindow and main display with high refresh rates, but its foldable form means similar crease and usage compromises despite the advanced display technology.
The thickness of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is 13.7mm, making it thinner than its predecessor, the Z Flip 6, which was 14.9mm thick. The device also boasts an IP48 rating, making it more protected than ever.
However, Samsung needs to develop a feature to automatically recognize and adjust the screen size for 21:9 content to ensure immersive viewing. For example, when watching the Ironheart series on Disney+, the display fits the 21:9 aspect ratio when zoomed in, but the service does not automatically fill the screen, leading to black bars around the content.
The Xperia 1 VI, priced around $300 more than the Flip 7, is marketed towards film-makers and professionals and offers a similar 21:9 aspect ratio. But like the Flip 7, it faces challenges in terms of app compatibility and battery life due to its high-resolution, high-refresh-rate display.
In 2009, the LG BL40 Chocolate, one of the first phones with a 21:9 ratio screen, faced similar issues with app portal and video player limitations, making it difficult to get 21:9 video content onto the device. Today, while progress has been made, the app ecosystem for foldable phones still requires further development to fully realise the potential of the 21:9 aspect ratio.
- The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7's use of a 21:9 aspect ratio is particularly beneficial for viewing cinematic content, as this aspect ratio better aligns with many modern films and reduces the presence of black bars on the screen.
- When it comes to gaming and app usage, some applications designed for traditional 16:9 or 18:9 aspect ratios may not optimal on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, potentially resulting in thick black bars or awkward scaling, thereby limiting the use of the full screen.
