I hate the way I use my phone.
The problem isn’t the amount of time I spend on my smartphone, although an average of about three hours a day (plus eight hours on my work laptop and about two hours in front of the TV) isn’t exactly healthy.
But it’s mostly how I use it: I mindlessly check news sites, my emails, social media, or even the weather, all for a quick dopamine hit. Every moment I have a break, I reach for my phone almost unconsciously.
I’ve tried all the usual solutions, including setting app limits and uninstalling social media apps. I leave my phone in another room before bed, and I’ve even disabled the YouTube app, which can’t be uninstalled on Android.
Still, nothing has stopped me from feeling an irresistible urge to check my phone throughout the day. Sure, I could trade in my phone for a basic one, but I don’t want to miss out on all the good things a smartphone offers.
It also wouldn’t be ideal for my job, which involves testing most of the best smartphones on the market. And, to be honest, I’m afraid I’d get lost all the time without Google Maps.
With all this in mind, I was very excited to try out a flip phone for the first time. In theory, they offer the best of both worlds: key functions and information via a small cover screen, then access to a full smartphone experience once unfolded.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
And I didn’t test just any smartphone. This was the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the latest version of Samsung’s market-leading foldable smartphone. However, I ran into some major issues shortly after setting it up.
Where are all the apps?
After transferring my data, I went straight to the settings, eager to install all the apps that I found useful but not distracting. Unfortunately, I came away bitterly disappointed.
By default, the Z Flip 6’s Cover Screen is limited to a handful of basic widgets, including Samsung’s Calendar, Reminder, and Weather widgets.
Mattias Inghe
Mattias Inghe
Mattias Inghe
The addition of apps is what Samsung calls a “Labs” feature, with the company warning that “some apps may not work as expected.” Even then, you only have five available: Google Maps, Google Messages, WhatsApp, Netflix, and YouTube. Gmail and Outlook are being rolled out via a software update.
Therefore, the notification functionality is very limited, with only basic canned responses available for most apps. Unless you follow the weird method to get any app working.
Here we go. Download Samsung’s “Good Lock” app from the Galaxy Store. Open the app and tap the “Life up” tab. Download and install “MultiStar.” Open it and tap “I ♡ Galaxy Folding.” Select all the apps you want to add to the Cover Screen. Tap “Enable Launcher Widget.” Phew.
To make the most of the Cover Display, I wanted access to the main messaging and audio apps, as well as Google’s Wallet, Calendar, and Keep Notes. In theory, that would mean I wouldn’t need to use the internal display at all during the day.
Unfortunately, as I soon discovered, there’s a reason Samsung doesn’t make them easy to install. These unoptimized apps proved more frustrating than functional. A tiny keyboard made typing tedious, while crucial text was often cut off or completely missing due to bugs.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Most of the time, I was opening the phone to do some important task, which defeated the point of having the Cover Screen. If anything, interacting with two screens meant my screen time increased slightly.
Bigger isn’t always better…but that’s the case here.
Could a larger Cover Display have avoided these issues? To some extent, yes, so Motorola’s Razr 50 Ultra (also known as the Razr+ (2024) in North America) might be a better choice for a screen time experience.
Its 4-inch Cover Display is significantly larger than the Z Flip 6’s 3.4-inch display, while a squarer design means apps display more naturally.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
As a result, Motorola lets you run any app on the Razr 50 Ultra’s Cover Screen without any complicated workarounds. My colleague Hannah Cowton even noted in her full review that it “helped me better manage my screen time,” though there’s no guarantee it would have had the same effect on me.
Samsung problem or flip phone problem?
Ultimately, I think we need to wait for more developers to optimize their apps for screen protectors before flip phones can be a true screen time solution.
In the meantime, they can be a useful way to introduce a little more friction into your smartphone usage. But I wouldn’t advise you to buy one with the specific goal of reducing your screen time, you might be disappointed.
Technically, my experience with the Z Flip 6 was a failure, with no significant change in my smartphone usage habits. However, it did make me more mindful of how I use a phone, which can only be a good thing.
Read our full Galaxy Z Flip 6 review to learn more about the device, or check out our guide to the best foldable phones for some great alternatives.
