Cases And Accessories
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Three vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip gave us a new form factor for the evolving foldable market when it was launched in 2020, and a few months later this phone also had a 5G capable version. But at $ 1,379.99 ($ 1,449.99 for the 5G-enabled device), while this device was intriguing, it wasn’t quite worth the price. However, in 2021, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 not only got a lot cheaper (it costs $ 999), it also introduced significant improvements. Hence, in this article we will see how the compact foldable one compares to its predecessors.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the phone you should get if you want to try out the collapsible form factor without breaking the bank.
Design and display
With the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung has made several changes to the overall design of the smartphone. The main ones are the curved edges of the Z Flip and Z Flip 5G, which have morphed into more square sides, and the enlargement of the external display – which is now a 1.9-inch panel compared to the 1.1-inch display – centimeters compared to previous generations.
The screen on the outside can now access widgets and control more actions on the smartphone; this was previously not possible due to the tiny nature of the screen.
When you unfold either model, you’ll see a 6.7-inch FHD + OLED panel with a similar resolution (2640 x 1080), but the Z Flip 3 has an improved refresh rate of 120 Hz and higher peak brightness. The latter was an important issue with its predecessor.
There’s an improved screen protector on the Z Flip 3 that we didn’t really want to remove from our devices – something we couldn’t say on previous models.
To unlock the phone, both models have fingerprint sensors built into their power buttons – unlike the under-display sensors that have been seen in recent years.
And before we forget, the new design for the Z Flip 3 also allowed Samsung to add IPX8 water resistance – a mainstream feature previously lacking on foldable devices.
power
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 features the Snapdragon 888, while the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 5G had the Snapdragon 855 Plus and 865 Plus, respectively. Unlike Samsung’s other devices, the Z Flip series processor remains the same in all global markets.
Looking at the numbers, the Snapdragon 888 offered 35% faster GPU performance and 20% improved efficiency compared to the 865 Plus. There is also the more powerful Cortex-X1 core. Not strictly necessary, the upgrades here are good to find, although you won’t notice much of a difference in day-to-day use.
camera
Source: Pocketnow
The camera hardware has not changed between the generations, as both devices have a dual camera system on the back and a single shooter on the inner display.
The rear view camera system includes a 12 MP wide angle lens with an aperture of 1.8 and a 12 MP ultra wide angle lens with an aperture of 2.2. The front shooter is a 10 MP sensor (f / 2.4).
While the improvements in the images captured won’t be significant, the better ISP and computational aspects that the Snapdragon 888 brings into play result in better performance.
So if you are thinking about getting a clamshell phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 shows us the maturity that this technology has reached in such a short period of time. We therefore consider it a worthy successor, as it shows improvements around the device and has also come onto the market with a reduced starting price.
If you’re interested in learning more about how the Z Flip 3 works, be sure to check out our three month review for the device. However, if you’re looking for more info on the bigger Z Flip 3, check out our full roundup for that device. And if this phone is better at your speed, check out some of the best deals for it and our collection of cases to buy.
Specifications
Smartphone | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip |
---|---|---|
operating system | A user interface 4.0 based on Android 12 | A user interface 4.0 based on Android 12 |
Dimensions | Folded: 72.2 x 86.4 x 17.1 mm Unfolded: 72.2x166x6.9mm |
Folded: 73.6 x 87.4 x 17.4 mm Unfolded: 73.6 x 167.3 x 7.2 mm |
Weight | 183g | 183g |
display | Internal: 6.7 inches, FHD + (2,640 × 1,080), dynamic AMOLED, 120 Hz External: 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display (260 × 512) |
Internal: 6.7 inches, FHD + (2,640 × 1,080), dynamic AMOLED, 60 Hz External: 1.1-inch Super AMOLED display (112 × 300) |
processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | 4G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ 5G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
reminder | 8 GB RAM with 128 GB storage 8 GB RAM with 256 GB storage |
8 GB RAM with 256 GB storage |
Expandable storage | no | no |
Reversing cameras | – 12MP, ƒ / 1.8 aperture, OIS, dual pixel autofocus – 12MP, ƒ / 2.2 aperture |
– 12MP, ƒ / 1.8 aperture, OIS, dual pixel autofocus – 12MP, ƒ / 2.2 aperture |
Front camera | 10MP, ƒ / 2.4 aperture | 10MP, ƒ / 2.4 aperture |
safety | Fingerprint scanner integrated in the power switch | Fingerprint scanner integrated in the power switch |
Connectivity | 5G (SA, NSA, mmWave), MST, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1 | 4G: Improved 4X4 MIMO, 7CA, LAA, LTE Cat. 20th 5G: NSA, SA (Sub6 / mmWave), Bluetooth 5.0 |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
battery | 3,300 mAh 15W wired charging speed 10W wireless charging speed 4.5 W reverse wireless charging |
3,300 mAh 15W wired charging speed 10W wireless charging speed 4.5 W reverse wireless charging |
Water resistance | IPX8 | no |
Colours | Cream, green, lavender, phantom black | 4G: Purple mirror, black mirror, gold mirror 5G: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Gray, Mystic White |
price | $ 999.99 | 4G: $ 1379.99 5G: $ 1449.99 |