I’ve just spent one hour with Samsung Z Galaxy fold3 and Galaxy z flip3.
Better materials, more features, and a lower price for Samsung Z Galaxy fold3 and Galaxy Z flip3.
Is this the day that we’re going to look back on as the day that Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z flip3 started to go mainstream?
My first impression was that this generation felt a bit iterative, like an iPhone here.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z flip3 Specification
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 | Galaxy Z Flip3 5G |
| Screen Size: Main Screen: 7.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 6.2″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Screen Size: Main Screen: 6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 1.9″ Super AMOLED |
| Dimension: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4mm Close: 158.2 x 67.1 x 16.0~14.4mm | Dimension: 72.2 x 166 x 6.9 mm Close: 72.2 x 86.4 x 17.1~15.9 mm |
| Weight: 271g | Weight: 183g |
| Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-core | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-core |
| Max. display refresh rate 120 Hz (main, cover) | Max. display refresh rate: 120 Hz (main) |
| Camera: 12MP Wide 12MP Ultrawide 12MP Telephoto | Camera: 12MP Wide 12MP Ultrawide |
| Front Camera: 10MP Front Cover (HID) 4MP Front Main (UDC) | Front Camera: 10MP Front Main |
| Battery: 4,400mAh (typical) | Battery: 3,300mAh (typical) |
| Memory: 12GB | Memory: 8GB |
| Storage: 512GB / 256GB | Storage: 256GB / 128GB |
| S Pen compatibility: Yes | S Pen compatibility: No |
I mean from some angles.
The only way to tell the new ones from the old is with the help of the security sticker that Samsung put on my personal phone’s cameras, to prevent leaks.
Fixing the barn door after the horse is already gone.
There are more upgrades peppered in than it first appears, especially on the smaller phones.
Let’s start there. I finally found a phone case gaudy enough for me.
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Android Smartphone
The Galaxy Z Flip3 solves its predecessor’s biggest problem by ditching that minuscule 1.1-inch cover screen in favor of a new 1.9-inch panel that thanks to our friend Protagoras effectively quadruples the display area faces.
That means you can now actually read entire text messages without opening the phone, something you really couldn’t do before.
It also gives you room for custom clocks, wallpapers, widgets, even some animated animal friends that surprised me during my hands-on.
The new Galaxy Z Flip3 also just looks great.
The Gorilla Glass Victus™ casing has gotten a fancy facelift with two-tone color options now totaling seven bracketed by a more angular aluminum chassis that Samsung says is about 10% stronger than prior generations and then a much bigger deal.
Finally, both Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 are certified to IPX8 capable (Ingress Protection Marking) of taking a bath under one and a half meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
That’s a big win for the foldable world but still don’t be too careless with it at the beach.
Because water can still enter either phone through the hinge the phone relies on an internal coating to prevent damage.
Seawater or even chlorinated pool water are things you want to avoid.
Man sadly, the IPX8 in that IP reading means these things are not dust-tight either.
On both models, Samsung still relies on micro brushes within the hinge to keep it clear of debris.
Inside the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G’s, the display has been upgraded to correct my biggest complaint about last year’s, it’s bright enough that now you should be able to see it better in the sun.
The refresh rate has also been bumped to 120 hertz for the smooth scrolling befitting a flagship phone and ditto for the cover display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3.
And on both Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3.
When you slide your finger across that screen, you’ll no longer feel the rubbery mess of last year’s TPU screen protector.
There’s still a factory-applied top layer but it’s now made of a substance called PET which is more flexible, less prone to bubbling up and it just feels better.
Under a fingertip. It’s very similar to the ultra-thin glass that makes up the screen underneath.
The Galaxy Z Flip3 battery capacity is the same as last year and on the folder, it came down by 2%. more frustrating.
That’s a lot of upgrades to both these phones, then of course you get new processors to go with it.
Why did I start by saying this generation feels iterative?
Well, because a lot of core features here are staying the same.
Each phone’s Primary Camera array is also the same as last year, at least on the spec sheet.
Now look I’ve taken some wonderful photos with both the Fold 2 and Flip 5g over the past year.
I’ve also taken a lot that really should have come out better. Considering how expensive this family of devices is.
Recycling those cameras is a clear indication that Samsung’s key motivator this year was to hit a price point.
Another one is that there won’t be a charging brick included in the box.
Of course, there is one major camera change and that comes on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, but it’s cosmetic.
In a bid for a more consistent Canvas Samsung has hidden the internal selfie shooter beneath the primary display.
I don’t mind the effect which isn’t as bad as my camera kind of it out to be.
But Samsung made a big sacrifice on the resolution here with only a four-megapixel sensor.
The company justifies that by saying most Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 owners used the cover camera for selfies and the inner camera more for video calls.
But as one of those owners, I can tell you, the inner cameras still come in handy for selfies because especially in flex mode, that’s the only camera you have that can give you a preview of the shot.
My initial thought is that this change probably was not a great call.
Thankfully, the last update I’m covering today is much more useful.
This is the first year in a decade that Samsung isn’t releasing a new Galaxy Note, it’s passing the torch to the fold family in the form of the S Pen stylus.
Two of them are a $49-fold addition for the essentials or a $99 Pro model with more advanced Bluetooth-enabled features like a remote Camera Shutter.
Both pens also have a clever retractable tip to prevent you from damaging the folds display by pressing too hard.
And sadly, Samsung couldn’t find space for a silo in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 casing so if you want a sheath that smaller S Pen, you’ll need to spring for the $79 combo pack that includes a case with a special sleeve.
Like how those inner camera selfies will turn out on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, how well the new millimeter-wave 5g works on the Galaxy Z Flip3.
Whether the troubling fatigue cracking issue from the last generation has been fixed by these displays, which Samsung says are now 80% stronger and capable of 200,000 volts.
Those answers will have to wait for my initial and long-term reviews which I’ll achieve as always by buying these phones.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 will come in three colors starting just under 18 $100. Well, the Galaxy Z Flip3 makes history for a foldable by launching a penny below the four-figure mark at 999.
When you consider that last year’s prices were $2,000 and almost 1500 respectively.
And when you stack up this year’s aggressive trade-in offers, it seems clear that for Samsung this isn’t just a fad, but a genuine play to make foldable the new next big thing I’m all aboard for that because the more success Samsung enjoys in this space, the more motivated the competition will be to challenge that success with their interpretations of what I consider to be the most fun phones of the past decade.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 are up for pre-order now shipping on August 27.
This article was written following the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 at a press event hosted by Samsung.
As always, the manufacturer received no editorial input copy approval rights or an early preview of this content, and it provided no compensation for its production.
Until next time, thanks for reading and stay mobile my friends.
