Foldable smartphones tend to have an external display that shows you at least some iInformation, and in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Cover Screen tends to be very limited in what it can show you. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4’s external display is just another window into the entire Android operating system. As a result, the Z Flip 4’s cover screen can feel borderline, but that doesn’t have to be the case. CoverScreen OS, developed by XDA Recognized Developer Jagan 2intended to make your cover presentation more usable.
CoverScreen OS is an app that you can install on your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 or Z Flip 4, and it gives you more control over the cover screen. For example, it has a better notification system, a better media player, support for any widgets you can add to your home screen, still It allows you to access the default cover screen easily. Applications can be run from it (although the use cases are limited), and it works surprisingly well. I used the cover screen to scan my loyalty card at the local Lidl since their loyalty card is just a QR code in an app. It’s a niche use case for sure, but it is He is my work.
On the other hand, the dumbest use case I’ve found actually works he is playing Call of Duty: Mobile. It works just fine on a cover screen – you can navigate menus and play online – with the biggest limitation being that the small screen makes it difficult to play. it’s not Great, But this is not the point. The point is, you can make the cover screen do things it’s definitely not supposed to do, and it’s great to try out different apps.
What it’s like to use CoverScreen OS
While it seems like a gimmick at first, CoverScreen OS actually has a lot of uses, far more than I ever thought there would be. With comprehensive tool support comes many options, including the ability to run full applications such as games, which can be useful in certain situations.
My favorite use was Shazam. I love music, and when I’m out and about, I rely on the Google Pixel 7 Pro’s Now Playing feature to decide what music I’m listening to. I installed the Ambient Music Mod on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, but it doesn’t catch everything, and I can’t be rude and take out my phone when I’m out at a bar with friends. However, I remembered that I had a Shazam widget on my cover screen and it was quickly and technically able to recognize ambient music.
There are other uses too, but Shazam is one I use the most. The media player is also noticeably better with its search capabilities, though you will need a subscription to use it. It also comes with an app drawer that lets you operate Anything Your phone, whether it works or not tends to be a bit of a coin.
Overall, it’s a surprisingly well-made app that turns the Z Flip 4’s cover screen from something extra to a feature of actual use. It does not take away any existing functionality, and you can use full applications on it. Additionally, you can try to run apps like Call of duty on it and show it off to your friends, even though that’s obviously a silly use case.
CoverScreen OS configuration
CoverScreen OS is also great because it’s very easy to use and setup. You install the app, give it the permissions it needs (admittedly, there are quite a few), and then it launches. The app has a built-in tutorial to show you how it works, and will still allow you to use the original face cover functionality as well.
CoverScreen OS is a free app, but you can pay for a subscription ($1.99 per month or $14.99 per year) to access additional features like searching through your music, and getting caller ID support on many VoIP apps (you can only enable it for one at a time otherwise it), and much more. For example, if you accept a Messenger call via the dedicated VoIP caller ID screen, you won’t be able to hang up with the free version of this app. There are some weird limitations all over the place if you’re using the free version, but all in all, I’ve never had a problem just using it.
Here is the list of features that you will get with CoverScreen OS:
- app drawer
- Caller ID screen for VoIP applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, etc.)
- Support for all 3rd party home screen widgets
- Quick switch for different device settings
- Gesture navigation support
- Notification support
- Powerful media playback controls with support for multiple sessions and an interactive progress bar
- Voice, QWERTY and T9 keyboard support
- On-screen LED notification indicator / Edge lighting
- Flex mode support
Some of the paid features include:
- Search by music
- Enable Caller ID for multiple VoIP applications simultaneously
- Organize the app drawer
Will we see official cover screen apps?
While it’s great that a developer figured out how to make the Flip 4’s cover screen more useful, Oppo has already figured it out with the Oppo Find N2 Flip. With its larger Cover Screen and native support for apps, videos, and more, it goes way beyond what Samsung has achieved with its Cover Screen. Hopefully, it will make Flip 5 more useful than ever (as Flip 4 is still way ahead of where the original Flip was).
Either way, if you have a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 or Z Flip 4, CoverScreen OS is a must-have app. It makes Cover Screen properly useful in many situations, and while it can be a bit gimmicky, there are actual, practical ways to use it. It improves the already existing functionality (the widget support alone is incredible) and makes it something you can get more out of your device. Whether or not you buy the subscription is up to you (I didn’t), but there are definitely reasons you might want to, especially if you think you’ll be using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 for a long time.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a clamshell foldable device that combines the compact form factor of phones of yesteryear with the modern Android experience. It’s also powered by Qualcomm’s most powerful chipset and advanced foldable OLED technology.
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