Samsung Z Fold 3 : A Refreshing Design

  Today, On 24th of August 2021 Samsung has launched a New Beast in its fold series, naming Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 5G. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best folding device till date, bringing all the goodness of a tablet to a phone-like form factor — without the problems of previous convertibles. With improved durability, support for the S Pen stylus and better app compatibility, we’d easily recommend it to early adopters looking. While the pricing remains unchanged, serviceable cameras and battery life, along with the aforementioned upgrades, make it ideal for those waiting for the space to do something more. 

CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB
External display: 6.2 inches (2268 x 832) 120Hz Adaptive
Internal display 7.6 inches (2208 x 1768) 120Hz Adaptive
Rear cameras: 12MP wide (f/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (f.2.2, 123-degree FOV); 12MP telephoto (f/2.4, 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom)
Front camera: 10MP (f/2.2)
Under-display camera: 4MP (f/1.8)
Battery: 4,400 mAh
Charging: 25W (charger not included)
Size: 6.2 x 2.6 x 0.56 to 0.62 inches (closed); 6.2 x 5 x 0.25 inches (open)
Weight: 9.55 ounces

FOR

• More durable, water resistant design
• Dual 120Hz displays
• S Pen support
• Improved multitasking features
• More optimized foldable apps

AGAINST

• Still pricey
• Camera hardware not upgraded
• No S Pen or charger included
• Bulky when closed
• Battery life could be better

• The under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 impresses with its ability to disappear when you're viewing content. However, the 4MP resolution is not great for selfies.
• The main 7.6-inch display is easier to view outdoors, as the panel gets up to 30% brighter. The cover display now has 120Hz refresh rate. 
• I really like the Taskbar feature, which lets you pin your favorite apps to the side of the display and follow you to any app. It's just like Windows. However, you have to dig in the Labs setting to turn this on. 
• There's no getting around the fact that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a thick phone when closed. You will definitely notice this phone-tablet combo when it's in your pocket. 
• It's good to see that more apps have been optimized for the Galaxy Fold 3, including Spotify, Gmail, Chrome and TikTok. 
• S Pen support is a great addition but we wish Samsung didn't charge extra for this accessory. 
• The overall camera quality is very good from the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with it taking sharp and colorful images for the most part. But the iPhone 12 Pro is better.
• The Galaxy Z Fold's 3 battery life could be better. The foldable lasted under 8 hours on our web surfing test, while other flagships last 10 hours or more. 

• There are two schools of thought about its design. As a smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is bulky (folded) and heavy, but a trim in weight and thickness when compared with its predecessors makes it a lot friendlier. For a device with two displays, including a big bendable one, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G seems appropriately sized, with weight evenly distributed for a good in-hand feel, especially when unfolded.

  Complementing the design are the IPX8 rating for water resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the cover screen. While these two make the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G less delicate when compared with its predecessors, the device’s fundamentals – the mechanical hinge and bendable plastic display with a layer of ultra-thin glass on top – remain the same. Therefore, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G will still require proper care for longevity. Important to note that the device is not dust-resistant and most of the caveats of its predecessor apply here too

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  Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a solid foldable device, but not perfect. The imperfections stem from imaging performance and on-battery time. Starting with imaging performance, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G has a total of five camera sensors – three of 12-megapixel each on the rear, a 10MP one on the cover, and a 4MP one under display camera on the inside. The triple-rear-camera module and the one on the cover are sensors that have been borrowed from the predecessor. These are not bad, but they are not flagship grade and do not match the might of this otherwise impressive foldable device. The 4MP under-display camera is an addition, but it is more about novelty than utility.

  As for the on-battery time, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s 4,400 mAh battery leaves you asking for me. The device sails through a day if you use the cover screen for most tasks but the bigger bendable screen hogs the battery power, even if used sporadically, impacting the on-battery time drastically.

  Verdict

  The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G showcases Samsung’s innovation competence. Priced Rs 1,49,999 onwards, this foldable device has more strengths than weaknesses. The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the best foldable device yet, not because it is the only one of its kind available in India but because it delivers polished experience both as a smartphone for communication and a big-screen device for productivity and entertainment.