Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 on the identical time. But of the 2, the $1,000 Z Flip 3 has a well-known design that is primarily based on clamshell flip telephones which have been round for many years. It folds in half from a 6.7-inch cellphone all the way down to a sq. that is roughly the dimensions and thickness of a number of coasters stacked. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 3 prices $1,800, with a futuristic design nearer to one thing you’d see in a sci-fi film or TV present like Westworld. The latter folds open from a daily cellphone, right into a 7.6-inch sq. pill and lacks the identical “love at first sight” attraction because the Z Flip 3.This is as a result of Samsung’s cellphone/pill hybrid design remains to be inherently new in comparison with the tried-and-true flip cellphone motif the Flip 3 embraces. The Z Fold 3 is definitely a beautiful pill however when it is folded up, it has the identical hefty attraction as an air conditioner distant management.
Like120Hz cowl screenWater resistanceA fantastic pill experienceS Pen is a blast to make use ofSoftware enhancements for multi-tasking and Flex Mode
Don’t LikeBattery life lasts a couple of dayWeird, heavy cellphone when closed$1,800 remains to be costly
Despite its difficult attract, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a exceptional showcase of expertise and innovation. Pretty a lot anytime I open the cellphone in public, there may be somebody with a dumbfounded look on their face. For the worth, you get practically each excessive finish characteristic one would anticipate in a flagship Android cellphone. And for $1,800, you higher. The few compromises Samsung did make, like having B+ cameras as a substitute of A+ ones, aren’t dealbreakers and stand as additional reminders that the Z Fold 3’s excessive price ticket is as a result of the cellphone folds in half.
Throughout my time with the Z Fold 3, I saved asking myself why the pill even must fold in half? Or is there a greater approach to design a pill that folds all the way down to the dimensions of a cellphone? As a lot because the Z Fold 3 has improved over its predecessors, it is nonetheless largely an idea in the hunt for a function. And I could not escape that underlying conundrum. Yet if you need a pill that may fold up and match into your pocket, the Z Fold 3 definitely deserves your consideration. It’s the second greatest foldable cellphone Samsung has made up to now, with the most effective one being the extra sensible Galaxy Z Flip 3.Galaxy Z Fold 3 storage and pricing
US
UK
Australia
Galaxy Z Fold 3 256GB
$1,800
£1,599
AU$2,499
Galaxy Z Fold 3 512GB
$1,900
£1,699
AU$2,649
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has practically all of the refinements you would ask for however nonetheless really feel prefer it’s lacking a function.
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A stronger, lighter and thinner FoldThe Z Fold 3 takes on the identical design and type because the Z Fold 2 albeit with a bunch of enhancements. For some, the most effective enchancment is likely to be the $200 drop in value from the $2,000 value of the Z Fold 2. Most of the cellphone’s upgrades are extra iterative, small touches that add as much as a extra total refined bundle. For occasion it is lighter than the earlier Fold, which I seen as quickly as I picked it up. But it is nonetheless one of many heaviest telephones I reviewed this 12 months. It’s thinner and extra svelte than the Z Fold 2, however nonetheless one of many bulkiest telephones I’ve ever examined.It appears extra sturdy. Obviously, I solely had a few weeks with the Z Fold 3, so I can solely be hopeful that the enhancements I seen span the lifetime of the cellphone. The steel within the body and hinge is bolstered and you may really feel that additional tensile power while you maintain it, fold it and work together with it. The folding display screen, hinge and physique really feel extra like a single uniform complete as a substitute of being separate options. The 7.6-inch primary display screen nonetheless has a crease however it would not hassle me within the least. You might nitpick it if you need, however the iPhone’s notch is much extra of an eyesore.The Gorilla Glass Victus clad cowl display screen now has a clean 120Hz refresh charge that matches the principle show and appears beautiful. The Z Fold 3 has water resistance and will be submerged as much as 1.5 meters (about 5 ft) which is really exceptional for a folding cellphone.
Using an S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a blastOne indication that Samsung is assured concerning the Z Fold 3’s sturdiness is that it sells a pointy pointy stylus so that you can use on the display screen. It’s as if Samsung is saying, “We’re no longer worried about your fingernails making indentations on the main screen. Go ahead and try out an S Pen.”In my time utilizing the S Pen with the cellphone, the display screen appears similar to it did once I took it out of the field. And that is on high of all of the instances I folded and unfolded it, shoved it within the pockets of my denims and threw it in my backpack together with no matter else was in there.Samsung made two variations of the S Pen for the Z Fold 3. The S Pen Fold Edition, which lacks Bluetooth and prices $50, and the S Pen Pro, which has Bluetooth and prices $100. Both have a retractable tip which helps scale back put on and tear on the display screen. I solely received to check out the S Pen Fold Edition and I seen that the tip hardly ever retracted all the best way. Instead, it appears to alleviate a number of the strain I placed on the display screen once I draw or write. There is a small arsenal of S Pen methods like hover to amplify, which prompts when the S Pen is simply millimeters away from the display screen.The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the primary foldable cellphone that helps the S Pen.
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The cowl display screen would not help both new S Pen which is a bummer as a result of there isn’t any approach to jot a fast be aware or a doodle with out opening up the Fold. And if in case you have an previous S Pen, you possibly can’t use it with the Z Fold 3.As a lot enjoyable as it’s to make use of an S Pen on that enormous vibrant display screen, the Fold by no means replaces the inherent comfort {that a} Galaxy Note gives. The Fold would not allow you to shortly make an observation. And there is not a spot to retailer the S Pen. It could be good when you might magnetically connect the S Pen to the Fold 3’s hinge in the identical approach you possibly can connect an Apple Pencil to an iPad Pro. I ought to be aware that Samsung sells a bundled S Pen Fold Edition and cellphone case that shops it alongside the hinge for $80.Under-display-camera selfies, Zoom calls on the Z Fold 3There are two, technically three, selfie cameras: let me clarify. You can take a selfie with the hole-punch selfie digital camera within the cowl display screen. Or you possibly can flip the quilt display screen down, use it as a stay preview and take a selfie with the principle rear digital camera. Or you need to use Samsung’s first ever under-display-camera that’s largely hidden behind the principle display screen.Out of the three choices, the one that’s the most curious is the under-display-camera. The a part of the show in entrance of the digital camera has fewer display screen parts and translucent wiring. At sure angles or when brighter colours are on the show, you possibly can see the a part of the display screen the place the digital camera is. Think of this digital camera setup like trying by way of a window that has blinds on it.The front-facing digital camera in the principle show of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (white display screen) is housed in a hole-punch lower out. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 makes use of an under-display-camera. Notice the tiny octagon form within the inexperienced leaf wallpaper on the Fold 3’s primary show.
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The under-display-camera is barely 4-megapixels which is not rather a lot, however that decrease decision helps it see by way of/round these display screen parts. Samsung additionally makes use of AI processing to enhance the picture high quality. I took selfies with all three choices on the Fold and, no shock, the pictures from the under-display-camera appeared the worst. Indoor selfies look extremely processed and out of doors snaps in good lighting don’t look significantly better.The under-display-camera is meant for video calls and works tremendous for them. On the few video calls I made utilizing it, individuals on the opposite finish mentioned that they did not discover something out of the bizarre.I took selfies with the totally different cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. From left-to-right listed below are selfies from: the principle rear digital camera, cowl display screen digital camera and under-display-camera.
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But let’s return to why there may be an under-display-camera. The thought is to scale back visible distractions on and across the show. There is not a notch. There is not a gap punch. Instead, you both see nothing (which yay!) or when vivid colours are displayed, you see a tiny glittery octagon that I discovered to be extra distracting than one thing like a hole-punch digital camera. At this level, the good thing about having a display screen freed from visible interruptions is not well worth the tradeoffs from this under-display-camera.The Z Fold 3 has B+ cameras at an A+ valueDespite all the enhancements to the cellphone’s {hardware}, the cameras are one space that largely stay the identical. In phrases of high quality and efficiency, they’re a step behind the digital camera techniques discovered on telephones just like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra. These are good cameras and for most individuals the pictures and movies they seize with them can be tremendous. There are 5 cameras on the Z Fold 3: the aforementioned under-display-camera, the quilt display screen selfie digital camera and a triple digital camera array on the “back” with a primary wide-angle digital camera, an ultrawide angle digital camera and a 2x optical telephoto digital camera that now has optical picture stabilization. In vivid lighting, pictures look good. Digital zoom as much as 4x magnification has minimal picture deterioration. If you go previous 6x, pictures look much less stellar and have softer particulars. Night mode on the Z Fold 3 is stable however in comparison with the S21 or S21 Ultra, photographs look comfortable. Take a glance beneath at just a few pictures I took with the brand new Fold.The digital camera {hardware} did not change, however the Z Fold 3 will get a brand new picture sign processor due to its Snapdragon 888 chip.
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Under good lighting, the Fold can seize nice pictures.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Notice the way it handles the highlights within the clouds and the main points above the home windows of the cream-colored constructing.
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There is one thing concerning the perspective of Samsung’s ultrawide cameras that all the time will get me.
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This was taken with the 2x telephoto digital camera.
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A good looking day yields some good views. Look on the highlights and shadows within the clouds.
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Night mode on the Fold 3 is not fairly to the extent of the Galaxy S21, however it’s nonetheless spectacular.
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Images look vivid and are largely freed from picture noise, even from the ultrawide digital camera.
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Videos are first rate, however undergo from picture noise in all however essentially the most excellent of conditions. Take a have a look at some movies I recorded with the Z Fold 3 beneath.
There will inevitably be some individuals who anticipate the best possible cameras on a cellphone that prices $1,800. I’d argue that Samsung made a sensible tradeoff to maintain that value below $2,000.Like the Z Flip 3, the Z Fold 3 is actually its personal tripod. Because of its measurement and suppleness you possibly can put it practically anyplace to seize a novel angle or perspective.The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will get multi-tasking properOn the within, the Z Fold 3 packs practically each 2021 Android spec you would need. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM. It runs Android 11 and Samsung’s One UI 3. Split display screen apps are extra customizable, benefiting from the bigger pill display screen. You can put them facet by facet, stacked vertically and even have three. You can transfer every app round and resize their home windows. You also can save cut up display screen app groupings and setups for later.Like the Z Flip 3, the cellphone’s settings has a bit referred to as Labs which helps you to optimize practically any app for the display screen. For instance, natively Instagram exhibits up in a skinny vertical side ratio with display screen house on both facet of the app. I went into Labs, and compelled it to be displayed throughout the complete display screen which labored nicely.Multi-tasking is enjoyable and customizable on the Z Fold 3. You can save app window layouts to make use of the identical setup once more.
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A novel trait that each the Flip and Fold share is Flex Mode. You can place both cellphone half open like a mini laptop computer. Flex Mode will get extra help in One UI 3 and there are extra apps that may make the most of it. Some apps simply transfer to the highest half of the display screen with system navigation and brightness controls on the underside. Other apps, like for movies and music, place the playback controls on the underside half of the display screen. Not each app is optimized for Flex Mode, however this can be a large step up from the Fold 2. I nonetheless wish to see apps go farther and even be designed round Flex Mode. Can you think about a sport designed for Flex Mode?The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has lower than common battery lifeThe Z Fold 3’s largest disadvantage is its battery life. The dual-4,400mAh batteries are literally a tad smaller than those within the Fold 2. As a end result, the Z Fold 3 barely makes it by way of a day. I think about that has rather a lot to do with the mix of 5G connectivity and the truth that there are two screens that run at 120Hz. Screen-on time throughout my evaluation averaged about three and a half hours, which is not nice. I’m nonetheless operating CNET’s battery take a look at and can replace this evaluation with the outcomes quickly.The Fold lacks mud resistance. In my use this wasn’t a problem. But I like to recommend being cautious when you take the Z Fold 3 to the seaside or on a hike or anyplace there’s potential for small particles to work together with the cellphone. This would not be cellphone for Salt BAE.The screens and end on the physique accumulate finger smudges simply. I discover myself wiping it clear consistently.The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are fairly the pairing. One is aimed extra on the mainstream and the opposite primarily at early-adopters.
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A greater foldable, however not the bestWhile I proceed testing the Galaxy Z Fold 3, I nonetheless query who this cellphone is for precisely. A cellphone fanatic may love all the expertise within the Fold, particularly that folding display screen. Foldable telephones are nonetheless at a relatively early stage, however the lower cost provided by the Z Fold 3 and the Z Flip 3 in comparison with their predecessors exhibits an effort to make them extra accessible. And I hope that is a pattern that continues within the coming years. I nonetheless maintain that most individuals who need a folding cellphone will probably wish to contemplate the Z Flip 3 for its acquainted flip cellphone aesthetic, however if you need that bigger pill form the Z Fold 3 fulfills that promise.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Fold
Galaxy Z Fold 3
Galaxy Z Fold 2
Galaxy Fold
Display measurement, decision, refresh charge
External: 6.2-inch AMOLED (2,268×832 pixels); Internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,208×1,768 pixels)
External 6.2-inch AMOLED (2,260×816 pixels); Internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,208×1,768 pixels)
External: 4.6-inch AMOLED; (1,680×720-pixels); Internal: 7.3-inch AMOLED; (2,152×1,536 pixels)
Pixel density
387ppi (exterior) + 374ppi (inner)
386ppi (exterior) + 373ppi (inner)
362ppi (inner display screen)
Dimensions
Folded: 67x158x16mm (hinge) ~14.4mm (sagging); unfolded: 128x158x6.4mm
Folded: 68x159x16.8mm (hinge) ~13.8mm (sagging); unfolded: 128x159x6.9mm (body) ~6mm (display screen)
Folded: 63x161x15.7mm ~17.1mm; unfolded: 118x161x6.9mm ~7.6mm
Weight
271 grams
282 grams
276grams
Software
Android 11
Android 10
Android 9
Camera
12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (extensive),12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12 megapixel (telephoto)
12-megapixel (extensive), 16-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
Front digital camera
4-megapixel (below show), 10-megapixel (entrance cowl)
10-megapixel (primary show), 10-megapixel (entrance cowl)
10-megapixel (primary show), 10-megapixel (entrance cowl), 8-megapixel (3D depth)
Video
4K
4K
4K
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Storage
256GB, 512GB
256GB
512GB
RAM
12GB
12GB
12GB
Fingerprint reader
Side
Side
No
Battery
4,400 mAh
4,500 mAh
4,380 mAh
Special options
Foldable show, 120Hz refresh charge (entrance cowl and primary show), water-resistance, S Pen help, 5G
Foldable show, 120Hz refresh charge (primary show), wi-fi charging help, 5G
Foldable show, Power button, wi-fi charging, quick charging
Price (USD)
$1,800 (256GB)
$2,000
$1,980