The Best Foldable Phone Just Got Better
Samsung faced a lot of backlash after releasing the Galaxy Z Fold in 2019. It was the company’s first folding phone, and it received a lot of flak. The Fold2 appeared to be more mature last year, and with the new Fold3, Samsung appears to be aiming for a wider audience, which is reflected not only in the build quality, but also in the price, since this latest addition is now even more reasonable, starting at 1,799 Euros ($1,799).
The idea has remained the same. In terms of design, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is fairly similar to its predecessor, although it comes in more color options and is somewhat lighter and smaller. The lower-cost variant comes with 256 GB of storage in addition to a current high-end SoC. If you want to double that, you’ll have to spend an extra $100.
Because Huawei’s smartphone division has been politically removed for the time being, the Galaxy Z Fold3 no longer has any serious competition in its device class. Similar devices have yet to be released by other manufacturers.
For the Fold3, a more durable panel and IPX8 are required
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor. It measures 158.2 x 67.1 x 16 mm (6.2 x 2.6 x 0.63 in) when folded, making it relatively thick but also quite narrow and comfortable to hold. When it comes to height, Samsung says that the tallest point is on the hinge side, while the opposite side is 14.1 millimeters (0.56 in) shorter. The camera hump, which protrudes 2.1 millimeters (0.08 in) from the case and is the thickest portion of the foldable (16.75 mm/0.66 in), is also positioned here.
Connectivity – The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G comes with UWB but lacks microSD support
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G boasts a good range of connectivity options, including NFC and UWB, as well as Bluetooth 5.2. The only thing missing is the ability to add additional storage through a microSD card.
Not only does the USB 3.2 connector (Gen 1) provide faster data rates, but it also allows for connected image output to HDMI and DisplayPort-enabled devices. The Samsung DeX desktop mode has returned, and it can now be projected on external screens via a connection or wirelessly via Miracast. The latter option, on the other hand, is more slower and causes lag.
Software – Android 11 with long-term updates
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G comes preloaded with Android 11 and One UI 3.1, and the security patches were up to date as of August 1, 2021 at the time of testing. Monthly updates are expected to arrive and will be available for three to four years.
Third-party programs such as Microsoft, Facebook, Netflix, and Spotify are included with Samsung’s in-house apps, but they may now be totally deleted if they aren’t needed, as with other Samsung products.
Communication and GNSS – Galaxy smartphone with accurate positioning and 5G Sub6
The Samsung smartphone has cutting-edge communication features. With mmWave, the only thing you have to do without is 5G. Because of the wide frequency range, the smartphone can connect to data networks all around the world. During the test, the reception quality was flawless.
When it comes to Wi-Fi networks, the Galaxy Z Fold3 accelerates, now supporting Wi-Fi 6E with VHT160. High transfer rates are achieved when using our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (Wi-Fi 6) reference router, especially when sending data, and they are also very stable.
Cameras – Under-Display Camera included for the first time in a Samsung phone
Samsung has hidden a UD camera (UDC: Under-Display Camera) beneath the main display for the first time, which is intended to provide an uninterrupted view of the entire panel. Samsung follows the same idea as the ZTE Axon 20 (32 MP), but it hides the camera inside the subpixels a little better. In exchange, it has only 4 MP at its disposal. For video chats, the image quality is acceptable, but for selfies, it’s advisable to use the external display’s 10 MP lens. It not only has a greater resolution, but it also allows for far more detailed images, especially in low-light situations.
Display – Brighter, faster, better-looking
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is distinguished by its 7.6-inch (19.3 cm) folding Dynamic AMOLED display. This doesn’t appear to be a vast area at first, but it’s actually 181.8 cm2 (28.2 in2) in size. In comparison, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has only 111.6 cm2 (17.3 in2) of surface area. Furthermore, the form factor offers all S Pen users a pleasing writing surface. The Galaxy smartphone’s panel aims to be even more frugal thanks to further AMOLED technology optimizations, and under the microscope, a structure with round rather than angular subpixels can be seen.