- Bright, crisp screen
- S-Pen support
- Water resistant
- Rear cameras aren't great
- Under-screen selfie camera is quite bad
- Still expensive
- SCREEN7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED inner screen, 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED outer screen
- REFRESH RATE120Hz on both screens
- PROCESSORQualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
- REAR CAMERAS12MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 12MP telephoto with OIS
- SELFIE CAMERAS10MP on outer screen, 4MP under display
- BATTERY4400 mAh with 25W fast charge support
Last year, we saw the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which had substantial advancements that made it more capable of living in the wild. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 now appears to be ready to take on the world. This is possibly the best case Samsung can make for a smartphone that can expand into a tablet, as the company has improved and fixed a number of small details over the years to get to this stage.
The differences between what you saw last year with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and what you have now are modest, but they all add up to offer you a device that you can suggest to folks who have that type of money to spare and are interested in this unique form factor. Because, let's face it, a foldable smartphone isn't quite "normal" or "popular" yet. And it's still quite pricey ($1,499). But, while many other smartphone companies have foldable smartphones on their rosters, Samsung's foldables this year, the Flip and the Fold, are genuinely perfectly good gadgets that you can recommend to consumers searching for something different. This is also a good opportunity to point out that we prefer the Fold to the Flip.
I used to be a big supporter of compact devices because I wanted them to fit in my pockets. And, in order to live in that perfect condition where I don't have to carry a bag solely for my phone, I'd have to give up a lot of other things, including screen real estate and battery life. I'm a convert now that I've had the iPhone 12 Pro Max for over six months. I can't lie: I like and prefer huge phones now. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a large phone even when closed. It's tall, narrow, and made of a thick slab that resembles a thick TV remote. It's also quite heavy.
When closed, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is still an extremely tall
When the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is closed, it's still a tall, narrow, and thick slab of a device that looks more like a remote control than a phone. Because of its design and weight, it's difficult to squeeze into a pocket - while it's marginally lighter than last year, it's still the size of two phones, with the weight to match. It won't fit in any pocket, so don't waste your time. The cover, which also features a space for the S-Pen, may be purchased for further protection, although it detracts from the device's attractiveness.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has an IPX8 rating, making it water-resistant like the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The foldable feels sturdier this year, however it is still not dust and sand resistant. I don't mistreat my devices, so I'm not concerned about them being damaged, but it's still comforting to know that they're better protected.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 with the cover.
The outer screen is 6.2 inches diagonally, yet despite its small size, it is quite acceptable. You can utilize all of the apps, including messaging, and take notes with the S-Pen. With the exception of typing, I could use the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 without having to open it, which is fantastic. Everything is quick and smooth on the outside panel, which has a 120Hz refresh rate. It just gets better when you open the phone, especially while texting. If you need to enter something quickly on the outer screen, swipe-typing is the ideal option.
When the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is fully opened, it reveals a crisp and brilliant 7.6-inch display. This monitor also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and is suitable for a wide range of applications. This tablet served me well for watching films, playing games, and reading - it was ideal. The inside selfie camera is the only element that detracts from the overall experience. The selfie camera has been "hidden" beneath the display by Samsung. A screen door hides the 4MP camera, which seems to be a smudge on the screen, as if the screen has glitched up in that small region. The selfie camera is really bad, and the fact that it takes in light through a screen makes it even worse. Please use the cameras on the rear of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you want to shoot selfies. For video calls, the Galaxy Z Fold 3's selfie camera is just about adequate. On both the external and internal screens, I found the faceID to be flaky, with the fingerprint scanner performing better for unlocking.
You can try to ignore the smudge on the screen now, but it will appear whenever the screen is bright, which is frequently. You can't take your gaze away. No one would have objected if Samsung had just used a hole punch for this.
Samsung has “hidden” its selfie camera under the display.
The screen is Samsung's ultra-thin glass, which is protected by a layer of PET (polythylene tetraphthalate). Yes, this is the layer that should never be peeled away. The screen crease is still noticeable, but it isn't bothersome.
You can use the S-Pen on another layer on the screen that is made up of Wacom digitisers. To use this feature, you'll need to purchase a new S-Pen developed expressly for the Fold, which you'll have to purchase separately. You'll also need the special Fold case to store the S-Pen, so if you want to try it, you'll have to pay more money. The Galaxy Z Fold 3's S-Pen support is a great feature to have. I found myself utilizing the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as a notepad while on calls, which was extremely helpful because it was my secondary smartphone. The S-Pen isn't supported by the exterior display, so you'll have to open the phone to take quick notes.
Most apps run smoothly on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 thanks to Samsung's One UI 3. While some apps, such as Twitter, appear strange on a smartphone, the majority of them do not. Some of these Android apps have been redesigned to accommodate the tablet-like screens and do not appear to be stretched-out versions of their previous counterparts. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 can be used in Flex mode, which is a good flex to have (sorry, not sorry), but I rarely used it. You also have a side dock that you may customize to show apps that you use the most frequently; by default, it shows the most recent apps you've accessed.
The S-Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a fun feature to have
The huge screen is what propels the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to the point where you might recommend it to a friend. It's ideal for watching videos, playing games, and reading and editing documents. In addition, the Snapdragon 888 processor and 12GB RAM offer a powerful performance. The battery on this device is 4,400 mAh, which could take you through an average workday depending on how much stuff you watch on it. However, if you plan on watching a lot of movies on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, you may find yourself reaching for the charger by the afternoon.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3's cameras are adequate, but not exceptional. The rear cameras' photos are bright and vibrant, but lack clarity, especially in night mode (12MP main sensors for wide and ultrawide, and 2X telephoto). On the front screen, there's a 10MP selfie camera that's far better than the one hidden beneath the screen. This time, Samsung has incorporated optical image stabilization to the telephoto lens. The images taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 look great on the bright Samsung screen, but not so much on other devices. Keep in mind that these aren't Samsung's greatest cameras.
Should you purchase it?
No, if cameras are a top priority for you. Aside from that, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers a lot of fun to play with. You get a bright, punchy huge screen, as well as a fully useful outer screen that's just as suitable for rapid use and support for the S-Pen. You get a device that allows you to do quick, simple tasks without needing to open your laptop. Sure, it can't do everything, but it can do a lot of things.
This is Samsung's attempt to normalize foldable smartphones to the point where a typical customer would consider them if they were given a budget. With several other smartphone brands producing smartphones that are nearly half the price of Samsung's regular offerings, the company is going the foldable route to establish an entirely new class of flagship products that will put it ahead of its competitors. While part of it is still in the works, we can see Samsung prioritizing elements such as the screen and the user experience above decent cameras. Samsung will ultimately obtain good cameras, which may or may not be a good thing.
Consider this: you can now purchase a device that folds; even if it lacks top-of-the-line cameras, it is still a technological miracle. You can overlook the'meh' cameras because Samsung has taken the foldable out of tech demos and presentations and placed it in your hands. Overall, this is a positive experience. Things will, without a doubt, improve. However, if you can afford it right now, we recommend that you do so.
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