While several smartphone brands are still developing their first generation of foldable smartphones, Samsung is already out with its third generation fold as well as flip. The South Korean smartphone manufacturer is trying to make its foldable technology available to the masses, especially its latest addition of the flip dubbed the Galaxy Z Flip 3. We have been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 for a couple of days now and here is our first impression.
The Design. With straight glass and metal slabs that we call smartphones these days, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and all the other foldable smartphones manage to stand out. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the second generation of Samsung’s Flip and this new model brings foldable a step closer to delivering the ultimate flagship experience in our opinion.
Samsung’s focus on durability also makes itself known immediately. The stronger aluminum sides have a great feel while the IPX8 rating gives me added reassurance that I’m not going to ruin the phone with an accidental drop in the bath. It weighs the same as the older model and is actually a tad thicker when unfolded. The cameras are said to be better, which we will be testing in the full review.
One of the major improvements in this generation is the larger outer display, which can now be used for checking notifications, clicking selfies, and much more. On top of the display, the company has used Gorilla Glass Victus to protect it against scratches and drops. The back panel feels similar to a Pixel, with frosted and glossy glass. The hinge consists of the Samsung branding, but when the phone is unfolded, you will not be able to find the company’s branding being shown anywhere.
The left edge of the device consists of the SIM Card tray. The right edge consists of the volume rocker and the power button. The fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button is pretty responsive
The Screen. The outer screen, for example, is much larger (1.9-inches compared to 1.1-inches and resolution of 260 x 512 pixels) and is actually now useful. Instead of being able to see the time and a few lines of a notification, you can now scroll through your latest messages, play or pause music or even quickly set a timer.
Flipping the phone up you will get to see the gorgeous foldable display. The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex Display is simply gorgeous with a 2600×1080 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display comes with a new protective layer on top, which secures the screen from getting dented by accidental hard presses. The foldable display looks great, colors are punchy, and yes, the crease is still visible but only if you view it off-axis.
The Camera. Right next to the outer display, there are two camera modules; 12MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle dual rear camera setup, which can be used to take normal photos and selfies. There is no major camera bump and the sensors have a protective ring on top to ensure that the lenses are not scratched.
There is also a 10MP camera on the front for clicking selfies. The rear camera setup is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass protection and it offers up to 10x digital zoom, HDR10+ recording and auto-focus tracking feature.
Storage and Performance. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is powered by one of Qualcomm’s most powerful chipsets, the Snapdragon 888. Along with the high-end processor, the device comes with 8GB of RAM (either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage). Both of which when combined, easily handle all of the tasks thrown at the device on the first use.
The Speaker. The foldable smartphone has stereo speakers, and surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology, which includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus. For connectivity, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth v5.1, USB Type-C, NFC, GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou and 5G technologies.
The Battery. The battery pack onboard is a 3,300mAh pack with support for 15W fast charging which is a bit small according to us. While we were using the device sparingly, it managed to give us a full day’s worth of battery life. However, once I started using the device heavily you might want to consider bringing the adapter or power bank with you.
What’s In The Box
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is equipped with a Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, Regional Lock Guide, an Ejection Pin, and a Charging Cable.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is for a completely different set of people, who want an even more compact smartphone. When folded, Z Flip 3 is a joy. It slips into a back pocket or a small handbag with ease and by not having a screen on the show we find it easier to ignore when I am trying to stay away from my phone.
A quick tip on the outer display to check any notifications and not be distracted by anything else.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with two color options Phantom Black and Cream. For more information check out Samsung’s official website at https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-z-flip/
Interested to know more about our in-depth review on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3? Stay tuned to our website. We will be delving into more in-depth details on this Samsung Galaxy Flip 3 in our upcoming article soon.
