Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: The best foldable phone just got better
Our Verdict
The Milky way Z Fold three is best foldable phone however, with a more durable design and Southward Pen support, and the multitasking features are even meliorate. You need a instance to store the stylus and the cameras are non upgraded, but overall the Galaxy Z Fold iii is a bang-up choice for power users.
For
- More durable, water resistant design
- Dual 120Hz displays
- Due south Pen support
- Improved multitasking features
- More than optimized foldable apps
Against
- Still pricey
- Photographic camera hardware not upgraded
- No S Pen or charger included
- Bulky when closed
- Battery life could be better
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is all-time foldable phone yet, with a more durable pattern and S Pen support, and the multitasking features are fifty-fifty improve. Y'all demand a example to store the stylus and the cameras are not upgraded, but overall the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a corking option for power users.
Pros
- +
More durable, water resistant design
- +
Dual 120Hz displays
- +
Southward Pen support
- +
Improved multitasking features
- +
More optimized foldable apps
Cons
- -
Still pricey
- -
Photographic camera hardware not upgraded
- -
No Southward Pen or charger included
- -
Bulky when closed
- -
Battery life could be better
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Specs
Price: $1,799 (256GB), $1,899 (512GB)
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB
External display: vi.2 inches (2268 10 832) 120Hz Adaptive
Internal brandish 7.half dozen inches (2208 x 1768) 120Hz Adaptive
Rear cameras: 12MP broad (f/one.8); 12MP ultrawide (f.2.two, 123-caste FOV); 12MP telephoto (f/2.4, 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom)
Front camera: 10MP (f/2.2)
Under-brandish photographic camera: 4MP (f/one.8)
Bombardment: 4,400 mAh
Charging: 25W (charger non included)
Size: half dozen.2 x 2.six ten 0.56 to 0.62 inches (closed); 6.2 x 5 x 0.25 inches (open)
Weight: 9.55 ounces
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 might only win over foldable phone skeptics. Samsung addressed some of the immovability concerns. The display, for example, is up to fourscore% tougher, and the whole telephone is water resistant. Desire to do more than with a massive 7.six-inch screen? There's South Pen support, plus an under-display photographic camera to make for a more immersive display.
Think foldable phones cost too much? Well, nosotros can't help you much there. This sequel is nevertheless pricey at $1,799, only at least information technology'due south $200 cheaper than its predecessor at launch. If y'all're looking for a truly affordable foldable, the new $999 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a ameliorate bet. (For a deeper comparison, meet our Galaxy Z Fold three vs. Galaxy Z Flip 3 face up-off.)
Other notable Milky way Z Fold 3 upgrades include a brighter display and enhanced multitasking features, consummate with a Windows-like taskbar. Nevertheless, the battery life could be better, the design is notwithstanding quite bulky, and Samsung should have included the S 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 selection for power users who want a telephone and tablet in i gadget.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Quick pros and cons
- The under-display photographic camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 impresses with its ability to disappear when you're viewing content. However, the 4MP resolution is not nifty for selfies.
- The principal vii.6-inch brandish is easier to view outdoors, as the panel gets up to 30% brighter. The cover display now has 120Hz refresh charge per unit.
- I actually like the Taskbar feature, which lets y'all pin your favorite apps to the side of the brandish and follow you to any app. Information technology's merely similar Windows. Withal, you take to dig in the Labs setting to turn this on.
- There's no getting around the fact that the Milky way Z Fold iii is a thick phone when closed. You will definitely notice this phone-tablet combo when it'south in your pocket.
- It's good to see that more than apps have been optimized for the Milky way Fold iii, including Spotify, Gmail, Chrome and TikTok.
- S Pen back up is a slap-up addition but we wish Samsung didn't charge extra for this accessory.
- The overall camera quality is very proficient from the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with it taking sharp and colorful images for the most role. But the iPhone 12 Pro is ameliorate.
- The Galaxy Z Fold's 3 battery life could be ameliorate. The foldable lasted nether eight hours on our web surfing test, while other flagships last 10 hours or more.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Release date and price
The Galaxy Z Fold iii was released on August 27. The Galaxy Z Fold three has a starting price of $1,799 for the 256GB model, and the 512GB version costs $ane,899.
Check out our best Galaxy Z Fold three deals page for all the biggest discounts, and you might also discover our guide to the all-time Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3 cases helpful. If you practise choice up a Milky way Z Fold 3, brand sure to check out what we think is the offset app y'all should install on your Samsung Galaxy telephone.
- Galaxy Z Fold iii deal: AT&T trade-in - New and existing customers get the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G for up to $i,000 off with eligible merchandise-in
Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Blueprint and durability
The Galaxy Z Fold three adds a lot of in the way of durability, fifty-fifty if it'south still on the bulky side.
Right off the bat, you'll be glad to know that the new Galaxy Z Fold is IPX8 water resistant, which ways it can withstand being in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to xxx minutes. I doubt nigh people will dunk this foldable, but it's good to know it can handle everything from splashes to rain.
Unfortunately, we are non able to exam h2o resistance on our review sample, but 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 three is not dust resistant, so I wouldn't experience comfy bringing this foldable to the beach.
To further fortify the Galaxy Z Fold three, its stronger Armor Aluminum body and Gorilla Glass Victus display are designed to resist scratches and drops. Last but not least, Samsung claims that the Z Fold iii employs a new protective PET film that when combined with "optimized" main screen layers results in a 80% more than durable screen.
If that isn't enough to convince you that the Z Fold 3 you lot're thinking of buying will be safe, take a look at the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii cases y'all can go for additional peace of mind.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 measures 6.ii x 2.6 x 0.56 to 0.62 inches when airtight and vi.2 x 5 x 0.25 when open. And it weighs 9.v ounces. Compare that to 6.2 x 2.6 10 0.66 inches (closed), vi.2 ten v x 0.27 inches (open up) and ix.9 ounces for the Milky way Z Fold ii. Even so, this is fashion thicker and heavier when closed then nigh phones, so you'll feel it in your pocket.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes in three chief colors: Phantom Blackness, Phantom Light-green and Phantom Silver. I'm a fan of the silver because it pops almost.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold three review: Displays and sound
The Milky way Z Fold iii once over again features two displays: a 6.2-inch OLED cover brandish and a seven.6-inch main screen that's revealed once yous unfold the device.
Both panels offer a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and I experienced smooth scrolling and overall performance during my hands-on time with the phone.
The resolution for the interior screen is the same as before at 2208 x 1768 pixels, but the good news is that the new display is rated to be 29% brighter than before, cheers to new Eco display technology.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3'southward 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 pigsty, the UDC on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is nearly invisible, specially when yous get full screen on content like photos and videos. When the display is dark, say on the abode screen, y'all can make out the tiny hole, but information technology's not that noticeable.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 3's display averaged 422 nits of effulgence in our lab testing. That's okay but virtually 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 Milky way Z Fold 3's speakers are quite powerful and delivered clear and loud audio while listening to Spotify and when making calls. The sound can get a bit muffled when yous stand the Z Fold iii on a desk (one of the speakers is on the bottom) but overall the sound is solid from this foldable phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Softwares and special features
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 Is a multitasking powerhouse. Thanks to the Multi-Active Window characteristic, you lot can run ii apps side by side (dragging and dropping content between them) or stitch to three apps at once. And at present the enhanced App Pair characteristic lets you create shortcuts for two apps later in the aforementioned way you had them open.
Don't feel like constantly swiping in from the right side to open the Edge Panel to see these and other apps? Samsung added a new Taskbar characteristic that lets you switch between apps on the wing; it just sits at that place on the right side of the display, similar to the Windows taskbar. To become the Taskbar to piece of work, I had to dig into the Settings menu and activate Samsung Labs, which almost people won't know how to exercise.
Once activated, the Taskbar is a neat addition. I love that I can quickly glance at how many notifications I might have in Slack, for example, then quickly switch to that app. Or I can quickly open my favorite App Pair: Gallery and Messages.
Samsung Labs tin also forcefulness apps that are not optimized for foldable displays to work in Multi-Active Windows mode. For instance, I could park Netflix on the left side of the brandish and continue watching Outer Banks while keeping an eye on messages on the right side of the screen.
Another absurd feature is drag and carve up. For example, if you're in the Samsung browser and you're looking at items on Amazon, you can just drag ane over to the correct to open a new window. That style yous can expect at the details on one production while comparing other products on the left. Other apps that support this feature including Samsung Message, MS Office, One Notation and more.
When yous fold the Milky way Z Fold 3 like a laptop, a number of apps support Flex mode, which puts the content up acme and controls on the bottom portion on the display. This works in YouTube and the Camera app, and I likewise used it during a hands-free Google Encounter video telephone call. You tin can even force Flex mode to appear in apps, but I'd rather run across more developers just encompass the characteristic.
Samsung is also working closely with third-political party developers to roll out more than apps that piece of work natively with the Galaxy Z Fold three. These include Snapchat, TikTok, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube. For example, when you're using Spotify, you'll see the Now Playing window on the bottom left side and the remainder of the observe menu on the correct side, making it easier to multitask.
But my favorite optimized app for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is Chrome. I like existence able to run across all my tabs at the top and move them effectually, but as I would on the desktop.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Due south Pen
Given that I've e'er establish using a stylus on even the biggest phablets cramped, it's refreshing to see Samsung add S Pen support to a 7.6-inch foldable phone. There's simply more than room to accept notes, sketch or marking up documents without needing to constantly zoom in.
Only right away, there's an issue with the Milky way Z Fold 3'south Due south Pen support. While the stylus will work with the foldable telephone, it's non included, nor is in that location a congenital-in slot for the stylus similar there is with Milky way Note models. Instead, the S Pen is an accessory that you buy separately on top of the $i,799 you lot're already spending on your phone. If you want a mode to store the pen, y'all'll need a particularly designed instance, which is some other purchase.
You've got two 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 Due south Pen Fold Edition is simply a writing instrument, albeit one that'southward been specially designed with a collapsible tip to piece of work with the Galaxy Z Fold 3's screen.
Nosotros tested the S Pen Fold Edition, and it'southward a good sturdy stylus in a uniform blackness. We struggled to discover the S Pen'south button at times, and that'southward unfortunate since yous'll need to printing that button to activate features like off-screen memo or quick annotation. Just hovering the pen over the Milky way Z Fold iii's agile screen summons upwardly the S Pen menu, though, giving you access to various tasks you can perform with the stylus.
The Galaxy Z Fold three'southward expansive vii.6-inch canvas offers aplenty space to jot downwardly a quick note — just hold that button on the S Pen and tap the screen to showtime writing things down. If the screen is turned off, all you have to practice is press and hold the S 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 interpret (where you tin tap words to find out what they mean in dissimilar languages). Other features like Live Message — where yous tin capture an prototype and add text and doodles — or AR Doodle for superimposing your drawings over real-world objects are less about productivity and more nigh fun.
Note that you can but use the S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold iii'south chief screen. The encompass display doesn't back up input from the stylus. This seems like an oversight, as if you lot want to jot down a quick note, maybe yous don't want to bother with unfolding the device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Cameras
At that place's really not much new to written report on the camera hardware front with the Milky way Z Fold three, with the exception of the under-brandish camera. But Samsung has brought some of the all-time camera features over from the Galaxy S21 Ultra, including Single Take (Dynamic Video) and Director'southward View (for using the forepart and back cameras at once). Other highlights include rear camera selfie and a Capture View Mode that lets you see your photos on the left and your alive preview on the correct.
The rear cameras one time once again include a trio of 12MP lenses: an f/i.viii broad-angle shooter, an ultra-wide f/2.2 camera with a 123-degree field of view, and a 12MP telephoto photographic camera. Based on our photograph comparisons, the Milky way Z Fold iii takes colorful and mostly sharp photos. Merely it's a stride behind the iPhone 12 Pro in terms of details and more than realistic hues. And you miss out on the zooming power of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
You can see in this shot of portulaca flowers that the Galaxy Z Fold three is capable of delivering vibrant colors, though the details could be a bit better in the petals when I zoomed in. I slightly prefer the dissimilarity offered by the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
In this portrait, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 does a by and large fine job with the bokeh effect, blurring out most of the groundwork, though the leaves on the correct side are fairly pronounced. My blue shirt really pops, and there's a good amount of item in my pilus, but my skin tone is a bit done out, with the iPhone 12 Pro offering a warmer and more realistic take.
In one case once again the Galaxy Z Fold 3 produces a colorful shot here of diverse peppers, offering saturated hues of green, orangish, yellow and red. And this time the detail remained adequately strong as I zoomed in on the sign and fifty-fifty the stickers on some of the produce. It'due south nearly a draw with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, though one time again the added contrast gives Apple's phone a slight border, and the oranges are a bit richer.
In this beach scene you tin meet that the Milky way Z Fold 3 struggles to deliver the aforementioned amount of detail and subtlety as the iPhone, peculiarly when it comes to the translucence of the water, the variations in sunlight and the bawl in the tree on the right side.
With Night style engaged, I compared the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Milky way 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 three's selfie capabilities I used both the 4MP under-display camera and 10MP front end camera, and information technology's no competition. My face up looks blurrier and washed out with the UDC photograph, and my hair, shirt and the surrounding grass just look better with the 10MP camera. For more on this UDC come across my Galaxy Z Fold 3 under-display camera examination results.
It's besides bad that y'all become simply a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, for example, packs dual telephoto lenses with 3x and 10x optical zoom, and that phone'south Space Zoom (digital) goes up to 100x.
In the above photo the Z Fold three delivers a shot that'southward near as good as the S21 Ultra at 10x, fifty-fifty if the motion-picture show is a chip too bright. But the Milky way Z Fold 3 pushes much further, as you tin can come across 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's because it has some pretty beefy hardware under the hood. A Snapdragon 888 bit runs the show, and information technology's backed by 12GB of RAM. There'southward also 256GB of internal storage standard, though you tin opt for 512GB.
In everyday apply the Galaxy Z Fold 3 provided swift operation, whether I was running three apps at one time or racing effectually the track in Asphalt 9. However, I did notice some glitches at times, such as when going from the cover display to the main brandish.
On Geekbench five, which measures overall performance, the Milky way Z Fold 3 notched iii,418 on the multi-core portion of the test and 1,107 on unmarried core. That'due south on par with the the Galaxy S21 Ultra (3,400/ane,123) but well behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max (iv,100/i,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 2d, compared to 39 fps on the iPhone.
On our video editing test using the Adobe Premiere Rush app, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 took 50 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. That's faster than the Galaxy S21 Ultra's one minute and two seconds merely withal slower than the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 28 seconds.
Samsung Milky way Z Fold three review: Bombardment life and charging
The Milky way Z Fold 3 packs a 4,400 mAh dual battery, which is a bit smaller than the Z Fold 2's 4,500 mAh pack. And we were disappointed in the results of our spider web surfing bombardment test, which involves surfing the spider web over 5G on 150 nits of screen brightness.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 lasted only 7 hours and 52 seconds in 60Hz display style, and even less on adaptive mode (upwards to 120Hz) at 6:35. The Galaxy Z Fold ii lasted a much longer ten:10 and 9:05, respectively, on the same screen modes. Last yr we used T-Mobile's network so that may business relationship for some of the difference. We will report dorsum with more than examination results.
Equally expected, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn't include a charger, then nosotros used a 25W Samsung charger to test the accuse time. After 30 minutes, the phone reached 47%, which isn't bad.
The Milky way Z Fold iii also supports up to 10W wireless charging. You can besides utilise the back of the Z Fold 3 to contrary wireless charge other devices up to 4.5W.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: What about the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Foldables are a category of their own and Samsung is substantially the only thespian right now. While Apple allegedly prepares its own foldable, nosotros can simply draw comparisons to what'due south available correct at present, and that's the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It'south 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 three. And when compared to the new iPhone, the Fold 3 falls far short in several areas. Key among these are battery life and camera quality. In fact, the iPhone thirteen Pro Max has earned a spot on our best phone battery life and all-time camera phones lists.
Foldables are still in their infancy, but when you get an arguably better phone for several hundred dollars less, the Galaxy Z Fold three is a tough sell in some respects. It's nevertheless a neat and novel phone/tablet and it's by no ways bad, simply Apple knocked it out of the park this year. The Fold 3 has trouble keeping up in some places.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Verdict
With the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung retains the title of all-time foldable phone, and that's not just because there's actually no competition correct now. You lot get a more durable design, improved multitasking and better displays for a little less money than last time around.
The nether-brandish camera is a step frontwards in terms of design, letting you see more of the screen when non in use. But you'll need to merchandise off some image quality from this 4MP shooter.
Samsung also deserves credit for working with developers to optimize more than apps for foldables. However, while I capeesh the S Pen back up, Samsung should have included the stylus for $one,799. Plus, the battery life could exist better and the overall design 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 phone that can double as a tablet.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3
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