June Wan/

Samsung today took the wraps off of its latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 , showing off a new and improved camera system, enhanced productivity features, and a series of dashing colors. If you've been following the foldable market, though, there may have been a question or two in particular lingering in your mind as the virtual keynote flashed promotional videos left and right: Does the Galaxy Z Fold still have a crease? And if so, is it noticeable? 

The controversial crease has been a point of concern for foldable shoppers, particularly with Samsung's Z Fold and Z Flip lines, whose hinges create a tight enough bend at the center to present a visual and textural interference. Hold either Galaxy foldable at an angle and you'll immediately notice a stream of shadow and light refracting from the centerline of the devices. For some, this aspect of the design can be shrugged off. For others, it may as well be a deal-breaker.

More: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2022

Does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 have a crease?

Yes, the fourth-generation Fold and Flip still have a crease, but it's not as noticeable as in the past. Here's a shot of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. I used a white image to give a better idea of where and how light bounces from the inner 7.6-inch panel. Can you discern the crease running down the middle?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4's crease is less noticeable than the Z Fold 3's.

June Wan/

Courtesy of ZDNet's Jason Cipriani, here's an image of last year's Galaxy Z Fold 3, which had the same display size and resolution the Z Fold 4 does. Under similar lighting and with a white screen, you can see that the crease is more apparent. The verdict on whether Samsung lessened the bump on the newer foldable is clear.

Jason Cipriani/

That's not to say that the new hinge-crease design is forgivable. As I tap and swipe away on my review unit, there's a soft dent that serves as a constant reminder of Samsung's unpolished framework. Should it be a cause for concern if you're in the market for a Z Fold? Probably not. At least, that's what Samsung believes.

Preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

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Pricing and availability

Crease or not, there's still a lot to look forward to with the new Galaxy Z Fold 4. For the starting price of$1,799 , you'll get a smartphone geared with 12GB of RAM, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, Android 12L, and a camera system that rivals that of Samsung's Galaxy S22 Plus.

Should you be ready to buy, the Samsung store is currently bundling a complimentary memory upgrade, double your storage configuration at no cost, a year's worth of Samsung Care Plus, up to$1,000 off in trade-in credit, a Standing Cover with Pen case, and$100 worth of Samsung store credit. It's quite a deal for early-bird buyers.

Samsung Unpacked

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• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review: Three features I love (and two that I still wish for)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on review: Minor improvements to an already great tablet
• How to preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Tab S6 and more
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on review: Three upgrades that make a notable difference
• We tested every foldable phone on the market. These are the best models