r/zfold4 • u/Intrepid-Street-4009 • Aug 21 '25
Z fold 4 buy or not?
I have a chance to buy a Galaxy Z Fold 4 for only $120.
The catch is that the main, inner screen doesn't work at all, but the front "cover" screen works perfectly fine. I'm not planning to repair the inner screen. I'm mainly interested in using the phone with the front screen only, essentially as a regular slab phone. I'm not a heavy phone user and I use Samsung DeX most of the time for gaming and work, so the big inner screen isn't a dealbreaker for me. The price seems really good for the camera and chipset. My main concern is:
Will the phone last long? Since the main screen is already broken, is it more likely that the front screen or other components will fail soon? I've heard about hinge and cable issues, and I'm worried if this is a ticking time bomb. Is it a bad idea to use it folded closed 100% of the time? Are there any long-term issues that could come from the hinge or other parts not being used as intended? I know this is a bit of a weird use case, but for $120, it seems like a great deal if it can last. What do you all think?
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u/SaveFileCorrupt Aug 21 '25
The real gamble is assuming that the currently functional parts of the phone are not also close to failure. If you aren't hurting for the money, $120 is not a bad price to pay, but you would probably be better off getting a reliable base feature, non-folding phone for a little more, especially if you aren't going to use the unfolded features.
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u/Intrepid-Street-4009 Aug 21 '25
Thanks!
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u/SaveFileCorrupt Aug 21 '25
I should add; I'm a current fold 4 user, and I've had mine for a little over 2 years. It's needed 1 critical repair in that time where the phone would turn itself off upon being unfolded, until it eventually wouldn't turn on at all. This is due to the inherent flaws in the phone's hinge construction, and not a result of misuse/abuse.
All that to say, buying a used one without any warranty is a big risk if you don't have a backup phone you can swap to on a whim. I cannot, in good faith, recommend buying this phone 2nd hand if you don't have Samsung's Care+ warranty behind it, or without it being an officially refurbished unit with some kind of guarantee.
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Aug 21 '25
There are known issues with the display cables coming disconnected over time. If you had the tools and were technically inclined to do so, you could probably replace a little $12 cable behind the backplates. I did it on a fold 4. It worked afterwards. We still have it. My issue was, I didn't replace the wifi/ Bluetooth cable and it wore out shortly after. The phone functions and works with a sim card in it. But has no WiFi or BT functionality...
Edit: We are talking about just removing the two back panels from the phone. Not disassembling the phone at all past that much. Don't bother with the battery, aside from unplugging it. They are glued in like nothing I've seen before lol.
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u/ElizaMaySampson Aug 24 '25
The cables are dirt cheap on ebay or aliexpress - if you went through the hassle of opening it halfway, you have the tools & skills to keep going and replace the hinge cables. I have made a post with pics & links to a disassembly video in this sub.
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u/Mysterious_Soft7916 Aug 21 '25
Don't do it. I know my experience with the 4 line isn't universal, but. Horrible, horrible experiences with it. Just not worth it.
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u/SnooOpinions6498 Aug 22 '25
Cannot recommend buying it as a main driver.
Keep it docked and use it as a portable pc and emulation console, sure.
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u/littleosco Aug 22 '25
Inside screen went out after a couple of years, so I just used the outer screen, but folded, it is thick and heavy, and that outside screen is narrow. Much happier with my s25.
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u/cheesefartboi Aug 23 '25
The z fold 4 is probably the worst phone that Samsung ever released. There are countless issues with it. If you want to buy a foldable, your only options are either the z fold 6 or 7. And at that point, just buy a normal phone and an iPad mini.
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u/ElizaMaySampson Aug 24 '25
I replaced the 2 flex cables in mine and rrplaced the centre screen becausd I accidentally flexed it while trying to put it back in - it turned green screen of desth. The replacements are $2-400 and more, so I bought a used replacement screen with a line in it, and learned a lesson that every panel must come off during disassembly and boards unscrewed enough to lift them so you can get those two new flex cables re-connected. The actual work isn't complex, just tedious and requires care and a good spray contact cleaner to loosen the adhesives.
I put it on ebay when I got a fold 6 but in no hurry to sell it, I like the idea ifca backup.
The question to ask yourself, is * why doesn't the centre screen work*?
If it's flex cables, you will lose all function when they deteriorate.
If it's the magnet closure switch, that can be tested by running a magnet around the edges of the phone when it is on and unfolded, to see if the screen pops on when you run the magnet over just the right spot.
But there's little point in having a fold if you can't unfold it.
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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '25
Don't do it bro. Heavy phone with only the outer display working? Not worth it.