Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G Review | Samsung Galaxy | Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is downright weird, and it's not bad. The pricey $1,800 is still a $200 drop from the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It is lighter than the previous Fold but still heavier than the Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It has a beautiful fit and finishes, even more so than a folding phone, but disappointingly has a smudge and fingerprint magnet (at least with the black version I'm testing). And like the entire Fold line, it's a fun tablet when unfolded, but an oddly shaped phone when closed.
The early Galaxy Fold never quite overcome questions about its durability. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was largely about earning our trust and proving that a $2,000 folding phone could work in the real world. With all those things now behind us, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 lives on a different floor of questions. It oscillates between being a potentially wonderful S Pen tablet and being a bulky, cumbersome phone.
Compare this to the Galaxy Z Flip 3, which has a form factor that works very well either open or closed. As I enter my fourth day of testing the Z Fold 3, philosophical questions about the fold's form factor keep coming to me left and right. I am still amazed by the amazing technological improvements Samsung has made. There is a slew of subtle upgrades and features that will never make it into a title, but it's worth it. I'm working towards one final, in-depth review, but for now, here's an ongoing diary of my life with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 3 with 256GB of storage costs $1,800 (£1,599, AU$2,499).
- The Galaxy Z Fold 3 with 512GB of storage costs $1,900 (£1,699, AU$2,649).
- You can preorder the Z Fold 3 now.
- The Z Fold 3 launches on Aug. 27.
- Here's what you get in the box of the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a big update that includes many small improvements
Like the Z Flip 3, the Z Fold 3 feels more cohesive. The folding screen, hinges, and body feel like a single, identical piece. As with previous Fold phones, I was always aware of the different parts of the phone, especially the way the screen interacted with the hinge. But it's largely gone, and I believe Samsung Armor uses aluminum because of this new material. It is metal that is reinforced with an internal structure made of a different metal. Think of it as using rebar in concrete for buildings. This makes the phone lightweight, but you can feel the strength of that material throughout the phone. It gives me the confidence to use a regular phone.
Samsung also made minor notches and tucks in the body and hinge, which make the device more comfortable to hold. The hinged head doesn't protrude as much and the camera bump is less bulbous and dominolike.
The screen still has a crease, which doesn't bother me at all. I know the crease is a moot point for many people, including some of my colleagues at CNET. But the screen has a new protective layer, which looks good but collects finger spots like a spy on Law & Order: SVU.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 looks slick with its new design
Galaxy Z Fold 3 reclaims its screen real estate
When I first picked up the Z Fold 3 and held its main screen open for a while, there was a subtle effect. I felt really immersed in the screen. After thinking about it, I realized that there was no notch or hole-punch cutout that drew my eye. The screen is devoid of any visual distraction, which is good.
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