Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review: The World’s First Foldable Phone Less than $1,000

amsuThe Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is now available for $999, making it the “cheapest” foldable phone to date. While $1,000 is not a little sum, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 pushes foldable phone technology to a more affordable price point. And today, more people than ever may experience the foldable lifestyle.

Will the lower price convince people to make the leap to foldable phones? Additionally, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is more resistant to water than its predecessor, with an IPX8 rating.

The phone’s external display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, and the phone’s new Armor Aluminum shell strengthens the screen by 80 percent. In short, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is more sturdy than the Galaxy Z Flip, but we would not recommend dropping it.

According to our tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s battery life is one of its major failings. It is not a pleasant sight. The Flip 3 is a decent foldable phone for the most part, but not great. Continue reading for our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 are now open, with an August 27 delivery date. The standard 8GB/128GB configuration costs $999, but there is also a $1,049 256GB configuration available. Pre-orders of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 on a three-year plan will receive a $150 Samsung.com credit and 12 months of Samsung Care+ for free.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Design and durability

Samsung placed a premium on durability with the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The screen is now 80 percent more durable than the one found on the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G, thanks to a new film. Outside, the 1.9-inch display is covered by Gorilla Glass Victus, while the phone’s frame is constructed using Samsung’s Armor Aluminum technology. All of this helps to the scratch resistance of the cover display, in particular.

Additionally, the Flip 3 is water-resistant to IPX8 requirements. This means you won’t have to worry about submerging it, though neither Samsung nor I recommend it. We were unable to test the phone’s water resistance during our hands-on time with it.

The cover display is the most visible change to the appearance of the Galaxy Z Flip 3. That’s four times the size of the Galaxy Z Flip’s 1.1-inch outer strip, which means you’ll be able to see a lot more information than before.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available in four colors: cream, green, lavender, and phantom black. Lavender particularly jumped out in our hands-on, catching the eye and exemplifying the Flip 3’s emphasis on beauty.

Samsung will sell the Gray, Pink, and White colors solely through its website. I’m currently experimenting with the Cream model, and it’s rather exquisite in its delicacy. Given the original Galaxy Z Flip’s slippery nature, the smooth finish is also quite enticing.

Apart from its decreased price, the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s primary selling feature is how compact and portable it is when folded. When closed, the phone measures 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.63-0.67 inches, fitting into virtually any pocket.

When opened, the phone measures 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches, although it fits easily in the hand. Additionally, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is lightweight, weighing only 6.5 ounces (just like its predecessor).

In general, Samsung reduced the size of the Flip 3 by a smidgeon. The original Flip measured 6.6 x 2.9 x 0.28 inches when open and 3.4 x 2.9 x 0.61-0.68 inches when closed.

The new phone is the same in weight as the previous model but is slightly slimmer and taller. When you consider the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s increased durability, it’s a modern engineering marvel.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Display

When fully opened, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display. The 2640 x 1080 resolution combined with the 120Hz refresh rate resulted in an absolutely spectacular viewing experience. Scrolling on the Flip 3 was silky smooth, displaying Samsung’s true display prowess.

When closed, the 1.9-inch touchscreen may be used to listen to music, monitor the weather, and even take selfies.

(The touchscreen can also function as a viewfinder.) To start the camera, simply double-click the power button. This is a huge upgrade over the Flip 3’s tiny external display, which makes it more usable while closed (and thus saving battery life, theoretically).

When compared to the original Flip, I was immediately taken with the Flip 3’s redesigned cover display. It’s quite versatile and convenient, as it enables you to interact with a range of phone functions without opening the device. Apart from the folding, this is without a doubt my favorite Flip 3 feature.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Camera

They are identical to the original Flip in terms of camera. On the rear, there is a 12MP (f/1.8) wide-angle camera and a 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera. The front-facing camera is a 10MP sensor with an f/2.4 aperture.

And, unlike comparable $999 phones such as the iPhone 12 Pro — which I used for subsequent photo comparisons — the Galaxy Z Flip 3 retains the absence of a telephoto lens.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Performance

With a Snapdragon 888 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a monster. It did not stutter once when I navigated between apps in Flex mode. In summary, the Flip 3 runs in the same manner as any other smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 888.

On Flip 3, demanding games such as Genhin Impact and Asphalt 9 operate without a hitch. I noticed no frame drops. On this phone, games that require a higher refresh rate, such as Dead Cells, run nicely. Of course, the primary disadvantage is battery life, which I’ll explain shortly.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Battery and charging

The battery capacity of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is 3,300 mAh, which is identical to that of the original Flip. This is alarming, given the Flip’s lackluster battery life. Additionally, the 3,300 mAh battery is smaller than that of other Samsung phones, such as the regular Galaxy S21, which features a 4,000 mAh battery.

We put the battery of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 to the test in both refresh rate modes, and neither gave a satisfactory result.

In adaptive mode, the Flip 3 lasted barely 5 hours and 43 minutes. It lasted substantially longer, at 6 hours, at 60Hz mode. I’ve also heard from other reviewers who complained about the device’s battery life. The Flip 3’s limited battery life significantly reduces the phone’s overall worth.