Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 First Impressions
Apart from the Z Fold3, we also got our hands on the Korean giant’s other, more affordable foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. While the review will still take some time to complete, we are going to share our first impressions of the new device in the meantime.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 First Impressions
Unlike its Fold brethren, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 modernizes the old clamshell / flip phone design, letting you have the practicality of your average smartphone with the ability to transform it into a compact device the likes we don’t usually get to see in years. Samsung isn’t skimping out on the specifications either since it has all the hallmarks of a flagship device.
While the box of our review unit doesn’t reflect the actual retail unit, the content found inside the box should be about the same:
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- User guide
- Warranty card
- SIM Ejector tool
- The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 itself
For our review unit, we received the Lavender color variant. It has a blue-ish glossy finish that’s relatively susceptible to fingerprints and smudges. As you can see, it has dual-camera setup for the rear, the sides are metallic, and the cover display has seen a notable upgrade in size compared to its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 uses a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display with 120Hz refresh rate for the main display, and a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display. In case you’re wondering, the selfie camera here isn’t the under-display type like the one found on the Fold3, so it does have a dot notch on the top.
Based on initial usage, it feels very similar to its predecessor. I don’t feel like I’m losing out moving from a traditional form factor smartphone. Having a larger outer display is more useful as you can see more with it. If you’re coming from a flagship-level smartphone, you might miss having a telephoto camera but in all honesty, you can live without it just fine.
As for the UI, it feels about the same to the Samsung Galaxy S21-series of smartphones as it looks and functions exactly the same as you unfold it. Just think of the standard, flagship-level Samsung Galaxy smartphone experience with the added functionality of the outer display.
For additional reference, our review unit of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is running on Android 11 with the One UI 3.1 skin.
Specifications
| CPU: | Snapdragon 888 (1 x Kryo 680 @ 2.84 GHz + 3 x Kryo 680 @ 2.42 GHz + 4 x Kryo 680 @ 1.8 GHz), 5nm |
| GPU: | Adreno 660 |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Display: | Main Screen
6.7″ FHD+ (2640 x 1080), Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display, 425ppi, HDR10+, 120Hz Cover Display 1.9″ (512 x 260) Super AMOLED display, 303ppi |
| Storage: | 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 (not expandable) |
| Camera: | Main Camera(s)
12MP f/1.8 wide angle camera with Dual Pixel AF 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera Super Clear Glass with Gorilla Glass with DX Front Camera 10MP f/2.4 wide-angle camera |
| OS: | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Audio: | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot Bluetooth 5.2 5G Band: SA/NSA/Sub6 LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps |
| SIM: | Hybrid Sim (NanoSIM and eSIM) |
| Battery: | Li-Po 3500 mAh (non-removable) dual battery 25W Fast charging, 11W wireless charging |
| Dimensions: | Unfolded
166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm Folded 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9~17.1 mm |
| Weight: | 183g |
| Ingress protection: | IPX8 |
| Colors: | Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, White, Pink, and Gray. |
For now, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is in the middle of benchmark tests. I’ll be publishing my review of it as soon as I’m done with my testing so stay tuned for that.
Want to go all out and get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 instead? Check out our first impressions of it by clicking right here.
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