Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Should you upgrade?
So, whether you should upgrade to the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a matter of choice more than anything else. However, the question is two-fold: should you buy this foldable phone as the first foldable or upgrade if you already own the Galaxy Z Fold 2? Through the article below, we will try to provide references to these contexts, read on.
The clear advantages: Unveiled earlier this month at the Galaxy Unpacked event, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is now available for pre-order, the price is competitive and the phone is compatible with the S Pen. Compared to its predecessor, the new foldable phone is thinner, lighter and has a tougher protective film over the foldable screen.
For the careless, who did not consider a foldable device because of its fragility; the Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes with IPX8 water resistance rating. This is a guarantee against accidental spills and sweat, while its rugged body and sturdy hinge have the phone covered for other occasions.
Motives: The Galaxy Z Fold 3 does not deviate much from its predecessor in terms of looks. It comes with a similarly sized 6.2-inch display. The phone continues the book-style design of the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but its thickness and weight have been trimmed slightly. The difference is not easily decipherable, but the HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, now with an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate, is quite identifiable.
The difference is also revealed when unfolding the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Here is the 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED display. Samsung calls it Infinity Flex Display and it has a resolution of 2208 x 1768 pixels and features the same 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate as on the inside display of the previous foldable.
However, the most striking difference is a PET protective coating on the foldable panel, which is tougher and, for the record, 80 percent more durable than that of the predecessor, Samsung notes. While the cover screen misses out on S Pen compatibility, the internal foldable display opens up a great canvas for your creativity to unleash using Samsung's stylus.
Durable folding, enhanced experience: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has come a long way since the first Fold device. The phone has eliminated the hinge issues - it folds with minimal gap and is also water resistant - has a sturdier foldable display and an aluminum body that can withstand the threats posed by daily use.
Foldable smartphones have been the white elephants of the industry, which is saturated with thin, lightweight and more user-friendly form factors. Many users have refrained from adopting the new technology just because of this fragility factor. Now, with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which incorporates Gorilla Glass Victus on the cover panel and Aluminum Armor body, we find ourselves with a smartphone that is stronger than its predecessor by almost 10 percent.
A solid foldable phone like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is nothing without decent hardware. It's no surprise, then, that the new foldable features a Snapdragon 888 SoC under the grip. An improvement over the Snapdragon 865 Plus in the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Combining improved processing with immaculate memory, the smartphone comes in a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage option. There is also a 16GB + 512GB option.
While the rest of the OEMs are trying hard to cram in higher capacity batteries to make a difference, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has lost its pulse. The phone has launched with a 4,400mAh battery - with 25W wired fast charging support - which is a slight compromise from the 4,500mAh battery set in the Galaxy Z Fold 3. This Samsung foldable still offers 10W fast charging and 4.5W backup wireless charging.
Shallow chambers: The biggest change in optics is inside, on the flip-out panel, where there is an under-screen camera, which Samsung calls the Under Panel Camera (UPC). This camera technology makes the entire 7.6-inch screen usable and provides the user with a 4 MP lens with an f/1.8 aperture and 80-degree field of view. The phone also features a camera hole in the front display that houses a 10 MP lens.
On the back of the phone, nothing has really changed visually. However, the triple camera module is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. It features the same 12MP lens options on all three cameras and also has an LED flash on the side. The effectively identical cameras to the Z Fold 2, on this device, have been improved on the software side. Exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for now, the software-based features will come to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 over time.
Final thoughts: Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 have already begun with shipping starting August 27. The starting price of the new foldable is quite a far cry from the $200 that the second-generation foldable cost, but at $1799.99, it's still too much for bulky pocket-sized tech.
However, with what the new smartphone displays, it's an undeniable bargain for anyone willing to start with the phone with a book-style folding mechanism. For a foldable phone user, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is exciting only in parts - it's not a complete leap from the Galaxy Z Fold 2 - but for someone who has been waiting on the sidelines for foldable smartphones to reach a particular stability.