Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review: When Foldables Go Mainstream

Samsung wants to brand foldables mainstream. And they may take merely washed that with the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Non only is the price actually attainable, but it steps in line with all of the other flagship smartphones on the market place today. But is that enough for the Galaxy Z Flip three to sell "millions"? Let's find out in our total review.

Both displays get plenty of upgrades

Both the main display and the Cover Display on the Milky way Z Flip three got enough of upgrades this time around. Let'south showtime with the Embrace Display.

The Encompass Display is at present four-times larger, measuring in at i.9-inches. Now regular math won't point to it being four-times bigger since the original was ane.1-inches. Only it really is. This larger display means that you can do even more here. This includes being able to actually read and take care of notifications on the Cover Display. Showing widgets for the weather, calendar, timer and more than. Believe information technology or not, it actually makes the Cover Display super useful now.

So there's the main display. That's where you lot're going to spend the majority of your time, of course. It's still a half dozen.vii-inch FHD+ display, at a 22:ix attribute ratio. Which makes information technology pretty tall, and admittedly a bit tougher to actually use. Just it's not bad. Notwithstanding, when it comes to upgrades, this display got a few likewise. It'south now a 120Hz display, and volition exist in the "Adaptive" manner all the fourth dimension. So it will move between 2Hz and 120Hz depending on what you're doing. At that place's also a new screen protector on the display here that is going to make it more durable. Making it less likely for you to damage it.

The principal display overall, looks great. Now is it the all-time display in a smartphone? No. Not this time. Which is rare for Samsung. Only the best display in a foldable? Probably. Or coming in 2nd to the Milky way Z Fold iii. The colors are plenty vibrant, and the brandish even gets super bright. I've used it exterior in direct sunlight and was able to actually see the display quite clearly.

The hinge gets stronger

The hinger is stronger and more than durable on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Samsung is using what it calls "Armor Aluminum" which the company says is stronger than Series 7000 Aluminum. So there's that. They rate the hinge as working for up to 500,000 folds on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Which Samsung believes will last you around five to six years. Simply nosotros'll have to see about that a bit subsequently on.

It definitely feels stronger, and is fifty-fifty tougher to actually open and close. On the original Galaxy Z Flip, I was able to open and close it with one hand. That's not the case with the Galaxy Z Flip 3. That may change after another week or so, as it gets worn in a bit. But you lot won't be slamming the phone shut like an older flip phone, unfortunately.

The only bad part about this swivel, is the fact that information technology nevertheless does not allow the phone to fold apartment. At that place is still a bit of a gap at the hinge. Just the screen is covered with the dust caps, allowing the phone to be IPX8 rated for water resistance, which is nice. But it is not dust proof, then little particles tin even so get in.

The design grows on you

I'll admit, when I started seeing the leaks for the Galaxy Z Flip 3, I wasn't sold on the design. The two-toned back with the screen taking upward part of it and then whatever colour you become, taking up the rest. Even in our briefing with Samsung, I wasn't sold on the design. Merely after using it for a few days, I actually kinda dig it.

Samsung didn't send u.s. the best colour, as nosotros have the Cream colour here, simply information technology's non bad. The Green color looks better, but that'southward my stance.

The design is pretty skilful and functional. There'southward an outline on either side of the behind, around the swivel. Which looks rather unique and definitely shows that you lot are using a Galaxy Z Flip 3. While the bulk of the back is also glass. Surprisingly, it does not pick up many fingerprints. Which I did not expect. And information technology makes the fact that it is not a matte finish like Samsung's other phones, a bit less of a downside.

The but gripe I take with the blueprint is the placement of the fingerprint sensor. Information technology'due south pretty high on the side of the phone. And I often need to re-arrange my grip of the phone to get it to work properly. At present this is likely down to some physics reasons, why information technology is so far up. Like it tin can't be to shut to the swivel, every bit that might compromise the sensor working a year or two down the route.

On the other side of the telephone, you'll see the mmWave window. This is simply a piece of drinking glass that allows the mmWave modem to work with 5G UWB on Verizon or 5G+ on AT&T.

Bombardment life suffers

Really the simply thing I can notice to mutter about with the Galaxy Z Flip three is the bombardment life. Information technology's the aforementioned 3300mAh capacity bombardment from the previous ii Milky way Z Flip smartphones. And in 2021, that'south a pretty pocket-size bombardment for a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz display. It definitely shows.

Most days, I'grand lucky to become around 4 hours of screen on time. Don't expect to go more than five, unless y'all actually baby the phone, and don't utilize it on 5G.

Luckily information technology does take fast charging and can charge at upwards to 25W with the right charger – which is non included in the box this twelvemonth. So you lot can hands top it off, if you lot demand a scrap more battery. But it would have been nice to get a larger battery hither, and one that could final the total day.

Android for foldables is getting there

Google actually added support for foldables to Android a couple of years agone. Just that was only the start. Companies, including Google and Samsung, needed to still work on this software to get it working well on foldables. This included making apps piece of work improve in multi-window, using them across the 2 screens and more.

It'south getting in that location, but even so non perfect. Luckily, on the Milky way Z Flip 3, the software isn't as big of an result. As the Encompass Brandish is still too small for most apps to be used in that location. So it's just a matter of stretching the app beyond the 20:nine display.

Ane of the libation features bachelor on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (and the Fold iii) is Popular-Upwards View. This essentially allows you to open an app equally a separate window on the telephone. Which allows for some sweet multi-window features too. And gives you almost a desktop-like feel, on your phone. Admittedly, this does work better on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, merely information technology works corking on the Flip 3 as well.

This is good, because DeX mode does not work on the Galaxy Z Flip three. Meaning that y'all can't go DeX on the Flip iii, just you can nevertheless plug information technology into a monitor and use DeX, like you can on the Galaxy S21 series.

Out of the box, the Galaxy Z Flip three runs on Android eleven and One UI 3.1.1. Currently that is the latest version of both. Only Android 12 is getting prepare to release in the next month or two. It will get updated to Android 12, and Samsung has been getting faster with updating its phones. So it shouldn't take a long fourth dimension for this 1. But we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Cameras are rather disappointing

When you retrieve almost how Samsung was able to hit this price point, i affair that comes to mind is the cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. They are the aforementioned as the original Galaxy Z Flip that launched last yr. Which means it is basically the Milky way S10 cameras hither. At present those cameras are not bad, really, but they are pretty old at this signal.

We're looking at two 12-megapixel sensors on the back – one ultrawide and one wide – along with a 10-megapixel hole-punch selfie camera. Samsung did bring over some of the Milky way S21 features here, like the AI-based Bokeh for Portrait mode. Simply the quality of pictures hither is really starting to bear witness how onetime these sensors are.

However, those buying the Galaxy Z Flip 3, likely are not buying it for the best camera out in that location, and Samsung knows this. And so providing an adequate sensor is likely proficient enough for nearly people.

Below, yous can see some of the camera samples from our time with the Galaxy Z Flip iii, and see for yourself how it stacks upward.

Galaxy Z Flip three Camera Samples - Google Drive

Should I buy the Milky way Z Flip 3?

In that location's a lot to like about the Galaxy Z Flip 3. It does everything a "regular" smartphone tin exercise, has all the aforementioned features as a "regular" smartphone and even comes in at the same toll. I can meet the Galaxy Z Flip three selling millions and perhaps condign one of the most popular smartphones of the year.

The only real upshot with the Galaxy Z Flip three is the battery life. And if you can work around that, then the Milky way Z Flip iii is a actually great smartphone to choice up at $999. And if you're lucky, you lot tin can become it for complimentary thanks to the many different deals that are currently bachelor for information technology.

If you're thinking about the Galaxy Z Flip 3 or the Galaxy S21 Ultra, get the Flip 3. Not merely is it cheaper, but you lot're going to love living the "flippy boi" life.