The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is so fantastic that it may just persuade folding phone critics to change their minds. Some of the issues about durability were resolved by Samsung. The display, for example, is up to 80% more durable, and the phone as a whole is waterproof. Do you want to do more with a 7.6-inch screen? There’s compatibility for the S Pen, as well as an under-display camera for a more immersive experience.
Do you think foldable phones are too expensive? Well, It is. At $899.99, the sequel is still somewhat costly. The new $899.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a better pick if you’re seeking a truly inexpensive foldable.
A brighter display and increased multitasking functions, including a Windows-like taskbar, are among the other major Galaxy Z Fold 3 enhancements. The battery life should be improved, the design is still cumbersome, and Samsung could have added the S Pen.
While the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is still a unique item. Samsung has polished the best folding phone available, making it an ideal alternative for power users who want a phone and tablet in one device.
What you will see here!
Specs at a glance:
- Colors: Phantom green and Phantom black
- CPU Speed2.84GHz, 2.4GHz, 1.8GHz
- CPU Type : Octa-Core
- Resolution : 2208 x 1768 (QXGA+)
- Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- S Pen support
- Rear camera 12.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 12.0 MP
- RAM – 12 GB
- ROM 256 GB
- SIM sized nano-SIM (4FF), Embedded-SIM
- GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
- USB Type-C
- Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
- 4400 Battery
Release date and Price of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was released on August 27, 2021, in the United States and the United Kingdom, and on September 10, 2021, in Australia.
Although the Z Fold 3 is less expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Foldable phones are still significantly more expensive than traditional top-end smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The 256GB Galaxy Fold 3 starts at $899.99 / £1,375.91, while the 512GB Galaxy Fold 3 costs $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$2,649. When the Z Fold 2 was introduced in 2020, it cost $1,999 / £1,799 / AU$2,999.
In the United States, Samsung is providing up to $800 off if you trade in an older gadget, whether it’s a phone, tablet, wearable, or any combination of the three, and you may trade in up to four devices to reach that maximum value. Then you could acquire this phone for $999, which is a far more appealing price.
In the UK, you may trade in your phone for up to £250, and those who pre-ordered received a Fold Starter Kit with a charger, a case for your Z Fold 3, and an S Pen stylus.
Design of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 keeps the same book-like form and functionality as its two predecessors, with a small but useable 6.2-inch Cover Display on the exterior that opens up to expose a gigantic 7.6-inch display on the inside.
The two displays, as well as a hinge mechanism that allows the phone to be folded and unfolded, make this the most eye-catching mobile gadget design in 2021. The majority of the individuals we showed the Galaxy Fold 3 to have never seen anything like it before.
And that’s what you’re paying for: the thrill of pulling a phone from your pocket and unfolding it to reveal not just a 7.6-inch tablet-like display, but also a camera that you’re technically ahead of the curve in terms of innovation.
It’s more durable than the Fold 2. The company’s Ultra-Thin Glass is less mushy this time, which is vital for playing games or scrolling through Instagram and TikTok videos
Even though it isn’t always practical, the Z Fold 3 design is impressive. You’ll have to get past the notion that you’re paying a premium to carry the heaviest flagship smartphone in decades while today’s thin-and-light phones are much less expensive. It’s a little lighter than the Z Fold 2, at 271g against 282g, but it’s still a big phone.
Display of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Samsung’s foldable smartphone’s tablet-like 7.6-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate remains its main selling feature.
The Fold 3 has become the preferred method to read ebooks and surf the web on a phone. Thanks to its wide 24.5:9 aspect ratio. Website columns display next to each other rather than stacked vertically. It is able to do spreadsheet tasks without feeling defeated, as we would with a regular smartphone.
You’ll have to get used to ignoring the still-noticeable center wrinkle on this inner AMOLED panel. But that was simple for us since we were instantly enthralled by the enormous screen and all it has to offer in everyday situations.
Playing games without our thumbs covering the entire display when reaching for on-screen controls gives us a lot of pleasure. It also exhibited a YouTube video to a group of people without having to hand over our tablet or force them to squint because the Z Fold 3 screen is so large.
The Cover Display, which was expanded to 6.2 inches in 2020 in response to overwhelming feedback on the Z Fold 1, has the same dimensions here – it’s cramped. Especially when clicking away on the thin keys of a narrow Cover Display keyboard, but now at least the screen refresh rate has been bumped up to 120Hz, trying to match what had been on the inner display previously.
S Pen
The S Pen is compatible with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It’s a game-changer for a phone that’s been dubbed the Note 21 Ultra successor unofficially.
Samsung is selling a brand-new S Pen that was created specifically for this foldable phone. The S Pen Fold Edition and the bigger S Pen Pro. Both Bluetooth for Air Actions and USB-C charging, are the two options.
While the integrated S Pen in the Note series was toothpick-sized and stored within the phone’s body. These new S Pen accessories are separate purchases that are larger and do not fit into the Fold. However, the size to be more artist and note-taker friendly, akin to the size of the S Pen for Samsung’s tablets.
If you’re worried about breaking the Z Fold 3’s sensitive screen, don’t be. If you apply too much pressure to the pen tip, it will retract. But haven’t had any problems so far while drawing and jotting notes throughout.
The only thing that is missing is support for the S Pen on the Cover Display. The larger inner display contains Samsung’s screen-off memos, and the notion seems like a perfect fit for the Cover Display.
Performance
Because it has some rather strong hardware under the hood. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 proved largely speedy throughout our hands-on time. The Snapdragon 888 processor is in charge, with 12GB of RAM to back it up. There’s also 256GB of internal storage as standard, with 512GB available as an option.
Whether you were running several apps each or racing around the track in Asphalt 9. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 delivered a fast performance in everyday use. However, there were a few issues, such as when switching from the cover to the main display.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 scored 3,418 in the multi-core and 1,107 in the single-core test on Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance. This compares favorably to the Galaxy S21 Ultra (3,400/1,123), but falls short of the iPhone 12 Pro Max (4,100/1,600).
On the 3DMark Wild Life graphics test, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 wasn’t quite as far behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Samsung managed 33 frames per second, whereas the iPhone managed 39.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 took 50 seconds to transcode a 4K movie to 1080p in our video editing test using the Adobe Premiere Rush software. This is faster than the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s time of 1 minute and 2 seconds, but it’s still lower than the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s time of 28 seconds.
Battery life
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a 4,400 mAh dual battery, which is somewhat less than the 4,500 mAh battery seen in the Z Fold 2. In addition, the results of the web surfing battery test, which entails surfing the web via 5G with a screen brightness of 150 nits, were disappointing.
In 60Hz display mode, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 lasted only 7 hours and 52 seconds, and much less in adaptive mode (up to 120Hz) at 6:35. On the same screen modes, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 lasted 10:10 and 9:05 minutes longer, respectively.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn’t come with a charger. The phone has reached 47 percent after 30 minutes, which isn’t bad.
Is Samsung galaxy Z fold 3 waterproof?
The Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 are water-resistant and can endure rain if left outside for an extended period of time, such as while camping. You can clean your device with fresh water if it becomes filthy or smeared.
Is there a limit on how many times I can fold the Samsung Galaxy Z fold 3?
A total of 2,00,000 folds.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 features Samsung’s ‘Ultra-Thin Glass,’ which the company claims is 80 percent more robust than its predecessor and can survive up to 2,00,000 folds, or 550 folds each day if used for a year.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3?
On the internal display set to its Adaptive 120Hz mode, the phone lasted for 6 hours and 36 minutes while continuously web surfing at 150 nits on cellular. It increased to 7 hours and 53 minutes when the frequency was changed to 60Hz.
Conclusion
Samsung holds the title of the finest folding phone with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, and it’s not just because there’s no competition right now. For a little less money than last time, you get a more durable design, enhanced multitasking, and better screens.
The under-display camera is a design improvement, allowing you to view more of the screen when it’s not in use. However, you’ll have to sacrifice some image quality from this 4MP camera.
Samsung also deserves praise for collaborating with developers to make more apps foldable-friendly. While You enjoy the S Pen support, However, believe Samsung should have used the stylus in the $899.99 price tag. Furthermore, the battery life might be improved, and the overall design could be thinner.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a hit, but only for those prepared to spend a premium for a phone that can also function as a tablet.
Read More:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review- The amazing foldable phone !
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review- Is it worth your money?
- Upgrade your typical smartphone experience with foldable phones in 2024!
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