Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G
If you were holding out for Samsung to work out all the kinks in its foldable formula before jumping in, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 might be the one to convince you to make the switch.
The old Fold models had some very unfortunate deal-breakers like a fragile display, poor water resistance, and the lack of a high refresh rate screen. At the Fold’s premium price point, these omissions were just a touch too much compromise to make for the novelty of folding.
Cutting to this year’s model, we see a brand new display that’s reported to be 80% more durable while also supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. All this while making the whole package lighter and thinner at the same time with improved hinge design and IPX8 water resistance for a proper flagship experience with fewer compromises.
The fold also saw the inclusion of a new under-screen front-facing camera that gives a much cleaner look to the device than its earlier punch-hole design. The hardware was not the only thing that got a revamp as the software has been better configured to take advantage of the bigger screen real estate.
It should be noted that the phone still uses the same battery pack as last year’s model so it remains to be seen if battery life is impacted by the new faster refresh rate. Another thing that might turn off customers is an eye-watering $1799 price tag, which while $200 shorter is still very expensive for a smartphone.
All told, the new Fold is a true flagship that represents 3 generations of improvements to the flooding formula.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G
The cheapest foldable phone ever released ( though $999 is still expensive for a phone), the Galaxy Z Flip 3 might be the perfect starting point for those interested in foldable phones, but not willing to sink in almost $2000 for its bigger brother.
The Flip 3 also received many of the hardware upgrades that the Fold 3 did with an 80% more durable display and Samsung’s new “armour aluminum” material that they say is stronger than anything used for smartphones before. The phone also received the same water IPX8 water resistance and a bigger outer notification display.
The Flip 3 also received the same updates to its software to make the folding part more functional and Samsung has partnered with major apps like Spotify and Chrome to make them more compatible with its folding features.
All this combined with a much-refined build quality makes these phones feel truly premium. However, this phone still carries the same battery as the last model and the cameras have not changed either, while both these things are perfectly usable it would have been nice to see more significant upgrades for this Price point.
To conclude, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a stylish and functional foldable that won’t break the bank (as hard as other folding phones).
