The Galaxy Z Flip has been leaked in the flesh. The name is now in the wild. And now, the Galaxy Z Flip has FCC clearance.
Galaxy Z Flip gets FCC approval
The device has passed through the FCC, the approving agency in the US for certifiable devices. All mobile devices that sell in the States must receive FCC approval. Mobile devices in other countries receive approval from those national agencies before a product launch.
The Galaxy Z Flip’s FCC approval means that Samsung is soon to announce the device for the US market. At this point, the device is more than a concept or series of photos; it’s real.
Its specs
The Galaxy Z Flip is expected to be one of the first foldables that just may prove popular for the world market and especially the US. After all, it comes in a “flip phone” form factor like the old flip phones of pre-smartphone days.
The Galaxy Z Flip could bring specs such as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC. A 6.7-inch or 6.9-inch display could power the device. These display sizes show that this “flip smartphone” is for consumers who want a big phone screen that’s portable in-pocket.
There will only be one selfie camera, a punch-hole camera, indicating the Z Flip will have an Infinity-O display. Samsung’s “Infinity-O” display label refers to its carved holes and cutouts for cameras and sensors. As for cameras, the Z Flip will only have three total, one selfie and two rear cameras. The selfie camera will be 10MP while both rear cameras will be 12MP.
There won’t be an in-display fingerprint sensor, but there will be a physical one on the side of the device. A 3,300mAh battery will keep the lights on.
The price range is somewhere near $1,400. It is just $100 more affordable than the $1,500 Motorola Razr (2019). Buyers can expect Google’s Android 10 and Samsung’s One UI 2.0 software (or some slight new update version)
An interesting feature about the Z Flip is that it will bend at 90- and 180-degree angles (double pivot hinge), allowing users to have video calls with the phone sitting on a flat surface. This means that buyers won’t have to hold the phone in their hands or prop it up while talking to contacts.
Galaxy Z Flip FCC clearance ushers in new nostalgic era
The Z Flip’s FCC clearance ushers in a new nostalgic era. The phone’s shape and that of the 2019 Razr are creating the “flip smartphone” category. Flip phones in the pre-smartphone era are basic cell phones that fold in the pocket. Their foldable form factor makes them appealing. Motorola’s genius to bring back the old hardware indicates that there is still a market for the flip phone form. A number of smartphone users love large phone screens but dislike the space they occupy in the pocket.
The Galaxy Z Flip will be Samsung’s second foldable, but not the first. Samsung released the Galaxy Fold last last Spring, only to recall it weeks later. The Fold had all sorts of problems, from flickering screens, to dust and dirt in the hinge, to its lack of durability. Though the Fold is the first foldable released on the world market, Samsung has sold between 400,000 and 500,000 Fold units according to former Samsung Mobile Division President D.J. Koh.
Nostalgia is key to sales. Customers will pay for the familiar when it takes them into the future. The Z Flip will do just that. Samsung will announce the Z Flip along with the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra on February 11th at its first Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event.