Last Updated on September 7, 2021 by Rick Darlinton
Samsung always has a way of stealing the spotlight, and now it has done it again with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung has found a way to make foldable appealing and accessible, staying way ahead of the competition.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold looks more refined than ever in its third iteration. Still, it had to make a few tradeoffs in order to reach a lower price than its predecessor. So let’s dive in to find out if the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 delivers what it promises.
Design
The Samsung Z Fold 3 adopts a similar style to its previous version, and to the untrained eye may even look the same. However, the Samsung Z Fold 3 weighs less and has a few touches that make the complete device more refined.
Although the phone has no dust resistance rating, its durability is superb even though it’s foldable. The hinges feel solid and sturdy. Moreover, their tensile force can be felt when interacting with the folding mechanism.
Then comes the IPX8 water-proofing, which is icing on the cake, making the folding phone withstand submerging up to 1.5 meters underwater.
Display
The display is something Samsung didn’t compromise when working on the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Z Fold 3. The phone has a 6.2-inch 2,268 x 832 display and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is a significant improvement over Fold 2. The display on this device also supports HDR10+, something missing from its predecessor.
However, when the phone is closed, the narrow aspect ratio is one area where both siblings are alike. The crease is also still there, but it’s significantly less visible. Moreover, when opened, the user can enjoy the 2208 x 1768 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel, which refreshes at 120Hz. All that gives the user an immersive and smooth experience.
Camera
The Samsung Z Fold 3 comes with five cameras on board, which may feel a little excessive, but each camera does serve its purpose well. There first comes a selfie camera of about 10 megapixels, and then there is a triple camera setup on the back, each having a 12-megapixel sensor.
Moreover, the cameras come with telephoto, regular and ultra-wide lenses. At the front, it has another camera, which people refer to as UDC. Although it has only a 4-megapixel sensor, it still is a fantastic piece of technology.
Performance
As anyone would expect from an $1800 phone, the Samsung Z Fold 3 is an overachiever when it comes to performance. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM. The phone supports Android 11 and will run anything thrown at it. Games operate super smooth on the 120Hz display, and split-screen apps show no sign of lag or stuttering.
Speakers
The speakers on the Samsung Z Fold 3 are as loud as one would want from a tablet. They are the same ones used on Fold 2, but Fold 3 has slighter bigger carved holes for the speaker, which may translate to a louder sound. However, we found no difference between the two.
Powerful Battery
The Samsung Z Fold 3 can get you through the day with its 4,400mAh battery. Besides, rarely will someone need to charge it once again in the evening. Even when it does run out of juice, the fast charging feature is there to get the phone ready to use again.
Software
Fold has an exciting feature called Flex mode, through which the phone makes multitasking a breeze. The users can view the applications on the upper half of the screen. Meanwhile, the brightness and navigation bar stays at the bottom.
Still, if the user wants videos or music to be played, the designated application will have the controls set at the bottom part of the screen. However, not all applications can support Flex Mode, either way, it’s a modernized approach.
Moreover, Galaxy Z Fold 3 allows you to multitask by operating two applications at a time. The user can easily adjust the applications side by side, making it easy for you to write a review as you watch a movie.
Charging
Samsung Fold 3 comes equipped with a fast-charging battery that can be fueled up in 25W. It isn’t entirely essential to buy a Samsung-branded charger for fast charging as nowadays, the standard USB-PD chargers can charge around 25W and more which would be ideal for the miraculous Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 isn’t entirely an affordable phone. However, it’s one of the more accessible options when it comes to foldable phones. It costs $1800 for the 256 GB version, which is $200 cheaper than its predecessor and is available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Green colors.
Final Verdict
Being one of the best foldable available right now, the Galaxy Fold 3 does everything one would require from a foldable and so much more. The dual display setup makes multitasking more accessible. Meanwhile, the 120Hz HD10+ display shows everything as crisp and vibrant as possible.
Moreover, the cameras are decent, and the performance is impressive. The only thing that would bother users of this phone is the size and weight. However, if one can get around that slight problem, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the perfect phone for productivity and entertainment.
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