Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 - The Best Foldable Phone?
Posted by Mbuyoti M on 16th Aug 2021
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 looks like the best foldable phone yet, with a more durable design and S Pen support, and the multitasking features are even better. You need a case to store the stylus and the cameras are not upgraded, but overall the Z Fold 3 looks very promising for power users.
Before we proceed, here is a list of the pros and cons of the Z Fold 3
Pros
- More durable, water resistant design
- Dual 120Hz displays
- S Pen support
- Improved multitasking features
- More optimized foldable apps
Cons
- Still pricey
- Camera hardware not upgraded
- No S Pen or charger included
- Bulky when closed
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is determined to win over foldable phone skeptics. Worried about the device’s durability? The display is up to 80% tougher, and the whole phone is water resistant. Want to do more with a massive 7.6-inch screen? There’s S Pen support, plus an under-display camera for more immersive viewing.
Think foldable phones cost too much? Well, we can’t help you much there. This sequel is still pricey at $1,799, but at least it’s $200 cheaper than its predecessor at launch. If you’re looking for a truly affordable foldable, the new $999 Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a better bet.
Other notable Galaxy Z Fold 3 upgrades include a brighter display and enhanced multitasking features, complete with a Windows-like taskbar.
While this foldable is still a niche device, based on our Galaxy Z Fold 3 review in progress it looks like Samsung has refined the best foldable phone you can buy, making it a potentially excellent choice for power users who want a phone and tablet in one device. Stay tuned for more test results and our final rating.
Here are some quick pros and cons
- The under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 impresses with its ability to disappear when you're viewing content. However, the 4MP resolution is not great for selfies.
- The main7.6-inch display is easier to view outdoors, as the panel gets up to 30% brighter. We also appreciate the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which enables smoother scrolling.
- We really like the Taskbar feature, which lets you pin your favorite apps to the side of the display and follow you to any app. It's just like Windows. However, you have to dig in the Labs setting to turn this on.
- There's no getting around the fact that theGalaxy Z Fold 3 is a thick phone when closed. You will definitely notice this phone-tablet combo when it's in your pocket.
- More apps have been optimized for the Fold 3, including Spotify, Gmail, Chrome and TikTok.
- S Pen support is a great addition but we wish Samsung didn't charge extra for this accessory.
- The overall camera quality is very good from the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with it taking sharp and colorful images for the most part. But the iPhone 12 Pro is better.
- The Galaxy Z Fold's 3 battery life could be better.The foldable lasted under 8 hours on our web surfing battery test, while better phones last 10 hours or more.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 design and durability
A bit sleeker and way stronger — that’s the best way to describe the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s design, which adds a lot of in the way of durability.
Right off the bat, you’ll be glad to know that the new Galaxy Z Fold is IPX8 water resistant, which means it can withstand being in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. I doubt most people will dunk this foldable, but it’s good to know it can handle everything from splashes to rain.
Unfortunately, we are not able to test water resistance on our review sample, but we have purchased a Galaxy Z Fold 3 and will put that unit to the test and update this review. Just note that the Z Fold 3 is not dust resistant, so I wouldn’t feel comfy bringing this foldable to the beach.
To further fortify the Galaxy Z Fold 3, its stronger Armor Aluminum body and Gorilla Glass Victus display are designed to resist scratches and drops. Last but not least, Samsung claims that the Z Fold 3 employs a new protective PET film that when combined with “optimized” main screen layers results in a 80% more durable screen.
Another plus: the Hideaway Hinge is thinner than before. In fact, the whole device is a bit sleeker then before. The Z Fold 3 measures 6.2 x 2.6 x 0.56 to 0.62 inches when closed and 6.2 x 5 x 0.25 when open. And it weighs 9.5 ounces. Compare that to 6.2 x 2.6 x 0.66 inches (closed), 6.2 x 5 x 0.27 inches (open) and 9.9 ounces for the Galaxy Z Fold 2.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes in three main colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green and Phantom Silver. I’m a fan of the silver because it pops most.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 displays
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 once again features two displays: a 6.2-inch OLED cover display and a 7.6-inch main screen that’s revealed once you unfold the device
Both panels offer a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and I experienced smooth scrolling and overall performance during my hands-on time with the phone.
The resolution for the interior screen is the same as before at 2208 x 1768 pixels, but the good news is that the new display is rated to be 29% brighter than before, thanks to new Eco display technology.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s main display looks pretty stunning, and a big reason for that is a new under-display camera. Instead of having to stare at a notch or punch hole, the UDC on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is nearly invisible, especially when you go full screen on content like photos and videos. When the display is dark, say on the home screen, you can make out the tiny hole, but it’s not that noticeable.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 S Pen
Given that I’ve always found using a stylus on even the biggest phablets cramped, it’s refreshing to see Samsung add S Pen support to a 7.6-inch foldable phone. There’s simply more room to take notes, sketch or mark up documents without having to constantly zoom in.
The catch is that the S Pen isn’t included and there are two options: S Pen Fold Edition ($49) and S Pen Pro ($99). While both pens feature a retractable tip to prevent display damage, the S Pen Pro adds Bluetooth connectivity for doing things like controlling media playback or taking photos remotely.
The good news? The S Pen Fold Edition felt very responsive when I used it to write some notes. You almost forget that you’re writing on a display. It’s just too bad there’s nowhere to store the pen on the phone, unless you spring for a case with a holster. The S Pen Fold Edition with case costs $79, which I think is a must if you plan using the pen often.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 multitasking and app support
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 Is a multitasking powerhouse. Thanks to the Multi-Active Window feature, you can run two apps side by side (dragging and dropping content between them) or run up to three apps at once. And now the enhanced App Pair feature lets you create shortcuts for two apps later in the same way you had them open.
Don’t feel like constantly swiping in from the right side to open the Edge Panel to see these and other apps? Samsung added a new Taskbar feature that lets you switch between apps on the fly; it just sits there on the right side of the display, similar to the Windows taskbar. To get the Taskbar to work, I had to dig into the Settings menu and activate Samsung Labs, which most people won’t know how to do.
Once activated, the Taskbar is a great addition. I love that I can quickly glance at how many notifications I might have in Slack, for example, then quickly switch to that app. Or I can quickly open my favorite App Pair: Gallery and Messages.
Samsung Labs can also force apps that are not optimized for foldable displays to work in Multi-Active Windows mode. For example, I could park Netflix on the left side of the display and continue watching Outer Banks while keeping an I on messages on the right side of the screen.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 cameras
There’s really not much new to report on the camera hardware front with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with the exception of the under-display camera. But Samsung has brought some of the best camera features over from the Galaxy S21 Ultra, including Single Take (Dynamic Video) and Director's View (for using the front and back cameras at once). Other highlights include Rear camera selfie and a Capture View Mode that lets you see your photos on the left and your live preview on the right.
The rear cameras once again include a trio of 12MP lenses: a f/1.8 wide-angle shooter, an ultra-wide f/2.2 camera with a 123-degree field of view and a 12MP telephoto camera. Based on our photo comparisons, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 takes colorful and mostly sharp photos, but it's a step behind the iPhone 12 Pro in terms of details and more realistic hues. And you miss out on the zooming power of the S21 Ultra.
Credit: Tom's Guide