Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: The best foldable phone just got better
Our Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is best foldable phone yet, with a more durable pattern and South Pen support, and the multitasking features are even improve. You demand a case to shop the stylus and the cameras are non upgraded, but overall the Milky way Z Fold iii is a great choice for power users.
For
- More than durable, water resistant design
- Dual 120Hz displays
- S Pen back up
- Improved multitasking features
- More optimized foldable apps
Against
- Nonetheless pricey
- Camera hardware non upgraded
- No S Pen or charger included
- Beefy when closed
- Battery life could be improve
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is best foldable phone yet, with a more durable design and S Pen support, and the multitasking features are even better. You need a case to store the stylus and the cameras are not upgraded, but overall the Galaxy Z Fold three is a great selection for ability users.
Pros
- +
More than durable, h2o resistant pattern
- +
Dual 120Hz displays
- +
Southward Pen support
- +
Improved multitasking features
- +
More optimized foldable apps
Cons
- -
Still pricey
- -
Photographic camera hardware non upgraded
- -
No Due south Pen or charger included
- -
Bulky when closed
- -
Battery life could be meliorate
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Specs
Cost: $1,799 (256GB), $1,899 (512GB)
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB
External display: half-dozen.2 inches (2268 x 832) 120Hz Adaptive
Internal display seven.6 inches (2208 ten 1768) 120Hz Adaptive
Rear cameras: 12MP wide (f/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (f.2.ii, 123-degree FOV); 12MP telephoto (f/2.4, 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom)
Forepart photographic camera: 10MP (f/two.two)
Under-display photographic camera: 4MP (f/1.8)
Battery: 4,400 mAh
Charging: 25W (charger not included)
Size: 6.2 ten ii.half-dozen x 0.56 to 0.62 inches (closed); 6.2 x five x 0.25 inches (open)
Weight: nine.55 ounces
The Samsung Milky way Z Fold iii might simply win over foldable phone skeptics. Samsung addressed some of the durability concerns. The display, for example, is up to 80% tougher, and the whole phone is water resistant. Want to practice more with a massive seven.six-inch screen? There's S Pen support, plus an under-display camera to make for a more immersive display.
Remember foldable phones cost too much? Well, we can't help you much there. This sequel is still pricey at $1,799, but at least information technology'southward $200 cheaper than its predecessor at launch. If you're looking for a truly affordable foldable, the new $999 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a better bet. (For a deeper comparison, see our Milky way Z Fold iii vs. Galaxy Z Flip three face-off.)
Other notable Galaxy Z Fold three upgrades include a brighter display and enhanced multitasking features, complete with a Windows-like taskbar. However, the battery life could be better, the blueprint is still quite bulky, and Samsung should have included the South Pen.
While this foldable remains a niche device, our Galaxy Z Fold 3 review shows that Samsung has refined the best foldable phone you can buy, making it an first-class choice for power users who desire a phone and tablet in 1 gadget.
Milky way Z Fold 3 review: Quick pros and cons
- The nether-brandish photographic camera on the Milky way Z Fold 3 impresses with its ability to disappear when you're viewing content. However, the 4MP resolution is non cracking for selfies.
- The chief 7.six-inch brandish is easier to view outdoors, as the panel gets up to 30% brighter. The cover display at present has 120Hz refresh charge per unit.
- I really like the Taskbar characteristic, which lets you pivot your favorite apps to the side of the brandish and follow you to any app. Information technology's only like Windows. However, you have to dig in the Labs setting to turn this on.
- There's no getting effectually the fact that the Milky way Z Fold 3 is a thick phone when airtight. You lot will definitely notice this phone-tablet combo when it's in your pocket.
- It'southward good to meet that more apps take been optimized for the Galaxy Fold 3, including Spotify, Gmail, Chrome and TikTok.
- Southward Pen support is a slap-up addition but we wish Samsung didn't charge actress for this accompaniment.
- The overall camera quality is very practiced from the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with information technology taking sharp and colorful images for the most part. But the iPhone 12 Pro is better.
- The Galaxy Z Fold'due south 3 battery life could be better. The foldable lasted under eight hours on our web surfing test, while other flagships last 10 hours or more than.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Release appointment and price
The Milky way Z Fold iii was released on August 27. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a starting price of $ane,799 for the 256GB model, and the 512GB version costs $1,899.
Bank check out our all-time Galaxy Z Fold iii deals folio for all the biggest discounts, and y'all might also observe our guide to the best Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3 cases helpful. If yous do pick up a Milky way Z Fold 3, make sure to check out what nosotros think is the offset app yous should install on your Samsung Galaxy telephone.
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 deal: AT&T merchandise-in - New and existing customers go the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G for up to $1,000 off with eligible trade-in
Milky way Z Fold 3 review: Pattern and durability
The Galaxy Z Fold iii adds a lot of in the mode of durability, fifty-fifty if it's notwithstanding on the bulky side.
Right off the bat, y'all'll be glad to know that the new Galaxy Z Fold is IPX8 water resistant, which means it tin withstand being in up to 1.5 meters of h2o for up to 30 minutes. I doubtfulness well-nigh people volition dunk this foldable, just it's good to know it tin handle everything from splashes to rain.
Unfortunately, nosotros are not able to exam water resistance on our review sample, only we have purchased a Galaxy Z Fold 3 and will put that unit to the test and update this review. Just note that the Z Fold 3 is not dust resistant, and then I wouldn't experience comfortable bringing this foldable to the beach.
To further fortify the Galaxy Z Fold 3, its stronger Armor Aluminum body and Gorilla Glass Victus display are designed to resist scratches and drops. Last but not to the lowest degree, Samsung claims that the Z Fold iii employs a new protective PET pic that when combined with "optimized" master screen layers results in a 80% more than durable screen.
If that isn't plenty to convince you that the Z Fold 3 you're thinking of ownership will be safe, take a await at the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 cases yous can become for additional peace of heed.
The Galaxy Z Fold iii measures half dozen.2 10 2.6 x 0.56 to 0.62 inches when closed and 6.2 x 5 x 0.25 when open. And information technology weighs 9.v ounces. Compare that to half dozen.ii x ii.6 x 0.66 inches (closed), 6.2 x 5 x 0.27 inches (open) and nine.9 ounces for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Nonetheless, this is style thicker and heavier when airtight then most phones, then you lot'll feel it in your pocket.
The Galaxy Z Fold three comes in three main colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green and Phantom Silver. I'thousand a fan of the silver because it pops nearly.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii review: Displays and sound
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 one time once more features two displays: a 6.2-inch OLED cover display and a 7.6-inch principal screen that's revealed once y'all unfold the device.
Both panels offering a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and I experienced smooth scrolling and overall performance during my easily-on time with the phone.
The resolution for the interior screen is the same every bit before at 2208 x 1768 pixels, only the skillful news is that the new display is rated to be 29% brighter than before, thanks to new Eco display technology.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3's main display looks pretty stunning, and a big reason for that is a new under-display camera. Instead of having to stare at a notch or dial hole, the UDC on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is nearly invisible, especially when y'all become full screen on content like photos and videos. When the display is dark, say on the dwelling screen, you tin can brand out the tiny hole, only it'due south not that noticeable.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 3's brandish averaged 422 nits of brightness in our lab testing. That's okay merely nearly half what the Samsung Milky way S21 Ultra turned in (821 nits), and the iPhone 12 Pro Max also hit a relatively high 654 nits.
The Galaxy Z Fold iii's speakers are quite powerful and delivered clear and loud sound while listening to Spotify and when making calls. The audio can get a bit muffled when you stand up the Z Fold 3 on a desk-bound (one of the speakers is on the bottom) but overall the audio is solid from this foldable phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Softwares and special features
The Milky way Z Fold 3 Is a multitasking powerhouse. Thanks to the Multi-Active Window feature, y'all tin run two apps side by side (dragging and dropping content between them) or run up to three apps at once. And now the enhanced App Pair feature lets you lot create shortcuts for two apps later in the aforementioned way yous had them open.
Don't feel like constantly swiping in from the right side to open the Border Console to see these and other apps? Samsung added a new Taskbar feature that lets yous switch between apps on the fly; it just sits at that place on the right side of the display, like to the Windows taskbar. To go the Taskbar to piece of work, I had to dig into the Settings menu and actuate Samsung Labs, which most people won't know how to do.
Once activated, the Taskbar is a cracking addition. I love that I can speedily glance at how many notifications I might have in Slack, for instance, then apace switch to that app. Or I can rapidly open my favorite App Pair: Gallery and Messages.
Samsung Labs can as well forcefulness apps that are not optimized for foldable displays to piece of work in Multi-Active Windows fashion. For instance, I could park Netflix on the left side of the brandish and keep watching Outer Banks while keeping an eye on messages on the right side of the screen.
Some other cool characteristic is drag and split. For example, if you're in the Samsung browser and you're looking at items on Amazon, you lot can simply drag one over to the right to open a new window. That way you tin expect at the details on one product while comparison other products on the left. Other apps that support this feature including Samsung Message, MS Office, One Note and more.
When yous fold the Milky way Z Fold 3 like a laptop, a number of apps back up Flex fashion, which puts the content upwards top and controls on the bottom portion on the brandish. This works in YouTube and the Camera app, and I also used information technology during a hands-costless Google Meet video telephone call. You can even force Flex way to appear in apps, but I'd rather meet more developers just embrace the characteristic.
Samsung is also working closely with third-party developers to curlicue out more than apps that piece of work natively with the Milky way Z Fold 3. These include Snapchat, TikTok, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube. For example, when you're using Spotify, you'll see the At present Playing window on the bottom left side and the residuum of the discover menu on the correct side, making it easier to multitask.
Merely my favorite optimized app for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is Chrome. I like beingness able to come across all my tabs at the top and motility them around, just every bit I would on the desktop.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii review: S Pen
Given that I've ever institute using a stylus on even the biggest phablets cramped, it'south refreshing to see Samsung add South Pen support to a 7.half-dozen-inch foldable phone. There'due south simply more than room to take notes, sketch or mark upward documents without needing to constantly zoom in.
Simply right away, there'southward an effect with the Milky way Z Fold iii's S Pen support. While the stylus will work with the foldable phone, information technology's non included, nor is at that place a congenital-in slot for the stylus like there is with Galaxy Note models. Instead, the Southward Pen is an accessory that you buy separately on summit of the $i,799 you're already spending on your phone. If you want a way to shop the pen, you'll need a peculiarly designed example, which is some other purchase.
Y'all've got ii S Pen options — the $49 S Pen Fold Edition and the $99 S Pen Pro. The latter offers Bluetooth connectivity for supporting features like Air Gestures and other remote control capabilities. The S Pen Fold Edition is only a writing instrument, albeit one that's been peculiarly designed with a collapsible tip to piece of work with the Galaxy Z Fold 3's screen.
We tested the S Pen Fold Edition, and it's a adept sturdy stylus in a uniform blackness. We struggled to find the S Pen'south button at times, and that'due south unfortunate since you'll need to press that button to actuate features similar off-screen memo or quick note. Just hovering the pen over the Galaxy Z Fold 3's active screen summons up the South Pen menu, though, giving you access to diverse tasks you can perform with the stylus.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3'due south expansive 7.half dozen-inch canvas offers ample space to jot downward a quick note — just hold that button on the S Pen and tap the screen to start writing things down. If the screen is turned off, all you take to do is press and hold the Due south Pen button and tap the screen to create an off-screen memo.
Other S Pen-powered features include productivity boosters such as Screen Write (a markup feature), Smart Select (pull text and pictures out of other apps) and translate (where you lot can tap words to find out what they mean in unlike languages). Other features like Live Message — where you tin can capture an image and add text and doodles — or AR Putter for superimposing your drawings over existent-globe objects are less about productivity and more well-nigh fun.
Notation that you can simply use the South Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3's main screen. The embrace display doesn't support input from the stylus. This seems like an oversight, as if you lot want to jot down a quick note, maybe you don't want to carp with unfolding the device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii review: Cameras
In that location's really not much new to report on the camera hardware front with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with the exception of the under-display camera. Merely Samsung has brought some of the best camera features over from the Galaxy S21 Ultra, including Single Have (Dynamic Video) and Director'south View (for using the front and back cameras at in one case). Other highlights include rear camera selfie and a Capture View Mode that lets you lot see your photos on the left and your live preview on the right.
The rear cameras once again include a trio of 12MP lenses: an f/1.8 wide-bending shooter, an ultra-wide f/2.2 camera with a 123-degree field of view, and a 12MP telephoto camera. Based on our photo comparisons, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 takes colorful and more often than not sharp photos. But it'due south a stride behind the iPhone 12 Pro in terms of details and more realistic hues. And you miss out on the zooming power of the Milky way S21 Ultra.
You tin see in this shot of portulaca flowers that the Galaxy Z Fold iii is capable of delivering vibrant colors, though the details could be a flake better in the petals when I zoomed in. I slightly prefer the contrast offered by the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
In this portrait, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 does a mostly fine job with the bokeh result, blurring out most of the groundwork, though the leaves on the right side are fairly pronounced. My blue shirt actually pops, and there'south a good amount of detail in my hair, just my skin tone is a flake washed out, with the iPhone 12 Pro offering a warmer and more than realistic accept.
One time again the Milky way Z Fold 3 produces a colorful shot here of various peppers, offer saturated hues of dark-green, orangish, yellowish and red. And this time the detail remained fairly stiff as I zoomed in on the sign and even the stickers on some of the produce. It's most a depict with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, though once again the added contrast gives Apple's phone a slight edge, and the oranges are a bit richer.
In this beach scene you can see that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 struggles to deliver the same amount of detail and subtlety as the iPhone, particularly when it comes to the translucence of the h2o, the variations in sunlight and the bawl in the tree on the correct side.
With Night fashion engaged, I compared the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the Fold has an edge with more realistic colors. The S21 Ultra's shot is brighter but has an orange tinge to information technology.
To test out the Galaxy Z Fold 3'southward selfie capabilities I used both the 4MP under-display camera and 10MP front camera, and it'southward no competition. My face looks blurrier and washed out with the UDC photo, and my hair, shirt and the surrounding grass just look better with the 10MP camera. For more on this UDC see my Galaxy Z Fold iii under-display camera exam results.
It's too bad that you get just a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, for instance, packs dual telephoto lenses with 3x and 10x optical zoom, and that phone'southward Infinite Zoom (digital) goes up to 100x.
In the above photograph the Z Fold iii delivers a shot that's nearly as good every bit the S21 Ultra at 10x, even if the moving-picture show is a bit too bright. But the Galaxy Z Fold three pushes much further, as you can see in the above shot taken with the 50x zoom setting.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Performance
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 proved more often than not snappy in our easily-on fourth dimension, and that'south because it has some pretty beefy hardware under the hood. A Snapdragon 888 flake runs the show, and it's backed by 12GB of RAM. There'south likewise 256GB of internal storage standard, though y'all can opt for 512GB.
In everyday use the Galaxy Z Fold 3 provided swift performance, whether I was running three apps at once or racing around the track in Asphalt 9. Notwithstanding, I did observe some glitches at times, such as when going from the cover brandish to the master display.
On Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance, the Milky way Z Fold 3 notched 3,418 on the multi-core portion of the test and 1,107 on single core. That'south on par with the the Galaxy S21 Ultra (iii,400/1,123) but well behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max (four,100/1,600).
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 wasn't as far behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max on the 3DMark Wild Life graphics test. The Samsung mustered 33 frames per 2nd, compared to 39 fps on the iPhone.
On our video editing test using the Adobe Premiere Blitz app, the Galaxy Z Fold iii took 50 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. That'south faster than the Galaxy S21 Ultra's 1 minute and 2 seconds but notwithstanding slower than the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 28 seconds.
Samsung Milky way Z Fold iii review: Battery life and charging
The Milky way Z Fold 3 packs a iv,400 mAh dual battery, which is a bit smaller than the Z Fold 2'due south 4,500 mAh pack. And we were disappointed in the results of our spider web surfing battery test, which involves surfing the web over 5G on 150 nits of screen brightness.
The Galaxy Z Fold three lasted just 7 hours and 52 seconds in 60Hz brandish manner, and fifty-fifty less on adaptive mode (up to 120Hz) at 6:35. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 lasted a much longer ten:10 and 9:05, respectively, on the same screen modes. Last year nosotros used T-Mobile'south network so that may account for some of the difference. We will report back with more than examination results.
As expected, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn't include a charger, so we used a 25W Samsung charger to test the accuse time. After 30 minutes, the telephone reached 47%, which isn't bad.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 also supports up to 10W wireless charging. You tin also use the dorsum of the Z Fold 3 to contrary wireless charge other devices up to iv.5W.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: What about the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Foldables are a category of their ain and Samsung is essentially the just player right now. While Apple allegedly prepares its own foldable, we can but describe comparisons to what's bachelor correct at present, and that'south the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It's a bit unfair to compare these phones in some regards due to the differing form factors, but Samsung has to convince people to buy the Fold 3. And when compared to the new iPhone, the Fold iii falls far short in several areas. Cardinal amidst these are battery life and camera quality. In fact, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has earned a spot on our best telephone battery life and best camera phones lists.
Foldables are still in their infancy, but when you become an arguably better phone for several hundred dollars less, the Milky way Z Fold iii is a tough sell in some respects. It'southward all the same a neat and novel telephone/tablet and information technology'southward by no means bad, but Apple knocked information technology out of the park this year. The Fold 3 has trouble keeping up in some places.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii review: Verdict
With the Galaxy Z Fold iii, Samsung retains the title of best foldable telephone, and that's non just because there's actually no competition right now. Y'all get a more durable pattern, improved multitasking and better displays for a little less money than last time around.
The under-display camera is a step forward in terms of design, letting you see more of the screen when non in use. But you'll need to trade off some paradigm quality from this 4MP shooter.
Samsung too deserves credit for working with developers to optimize more than apps for foldables. However, while I capeesh the South Pen support, Samsung should have included the stylus for $1,799. Plus, the battery life could be better and the overall blueprint slimmer.
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold iii is a winner, but it's only for those users who are willing to pay a premium for a telephone that can double as a tablet.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-leak-just-revealed-release-date
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