Review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The majority of smartphones today are large, and handset manufacturers are attempting to fit in the largest of displays. This is where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 sits, serving as a smartphone with a massive screen that can also be folded to make it portable. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is Samsung’s third-generation foldable device with new bells and whistles, including a brighter and better screen, improved multitasking features, and S Pen support. The first-generation Galaxy Fold was considered Samsung’s attempt to carve a new path in the smartphone space because it was a first-of-its-kind device with the questionable build quality, sturdiness, and usefulness, but a look at the Galaxy Z shows otherwise. Fold 3 and you’ll see how hard Samsung has worked to improve its foldable.

In terms of overall build quality, hinge mechanism, and durability, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold represents a significant upgrade. This was expected of Samsung, but this time there’s also S Pen support, water resistance, and a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. I spent some time with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which was released in India for Rs 1,49,999 for the 256GB storage variant, and here’s what I thought of the foldable smartphone.

Design, Display, Appearance, and Construction of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

When you open Samsung’s third-generation Galaxy Z Fold like a book, you’ll be greeted by a larger, brighter screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a Dynamic AMOLED display rather than the previous-generation Fold device’s super AMOLED screen. There’s also HDR10+ support, which is a joy to use when reading e-books, editing documents, videos, images, and so on. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 clearly has two displays, as the name suggests, with the outer cover display being a 6.2-inch screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a significant upgrade from last year’s 60Hz refresh rate. I was satisfied with the touch response. Typing on a tall and narrow screen was easy for me because I have small fingers, but users with larger hands may find it difficult.

Samsung has also added an IPX8 rating to this premium foldable device, making it the first water-resistant foldable smartphone, as well as the device’s ability to withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to half an hour. This also implies that the device can only withstand fresh water and not saltwater! In terms of water resistance, the IP8X8 rating puts the Galaxy Z Fold 3 on par with any other IP68-rated flagship device on the market. Almost, anyway. There is no dust resistance on the Z Fold 3. The device does attract a lot of dust, as I discovered when I went to a nearby park, and it would be a good idea to invest in a good pouch to keep it free of dust and grit. The amount of dust attracted by the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could also be attributed to the pre-installed screen protector that has been slapped atop the display for safety. It has a sticky plastic-like texture and an oleophobic coating. The screen protector does not interfere with brightness or colour, but it is quite sticky.

When it comes to building quality, Samsung has made no compromises: The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has an armoured aluminium frame and a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus protection for the cover display and the backside to prevent scratches and drops. The thickness of Samsung’s third-generation foldable is nearly 0.8mm thinner than the previous-generation Galaxy Fold 2. This is a significant change in terms of design. This also means that the hinge mechanism on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has been refined, and the gap between the display and the body has been visibly reduced when folded. During my use, the hinge was smooth and did not feel flimsy. Fortunately, Samsung also stated that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 can withstand 2,00,000 fold and unfold cycles.

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has three 12MP cameras on the back (primary, ultra-wide, and telephoto). Imaging was good, if not excellent, and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 produced images that were slightly oversharpened. The under-display 4MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/1.8 is the lowest quality camera in the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Obviously, when it comes to video calling, this selfie snapper is excellent, but when it comes to taking selfies, it falls short of other premium devices. The selfies appeared washed out and lacked detail.

The front-facing 10MP camera on the cover display was adequate for selfies and self-portraits. The colours were vibrant and distinct, as expected from Samsung.

One of the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s USPs, however, is the 4MP under-display camera, which did a great job of ensuring I had an uninterrupted viewing/gaming experience and also almost disappears when the screen is dark, such as when viewing the home screen. The tiny hole display is noticeable, but it is not as distracting as a punch-hole screen or a notch. When it comes to the standard set of rear cameras on the Z Fold 3, the sensors are identical to those found on the previous-generation Galaxy Z Fold 2. The Z Fold 3’s triple rear sensors include a 12MP Dual Pixel main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. The main camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 produced mostly sharp and colourful images. After zooming in a little more, I realised that the contrast of the close-up shots could have been a little better. The main cameras also produced more realistic-looking images in low-light conditions, without a yellow or orange tint.

Battery Life and Performance of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The battery on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is 4400mAh, which is slightly smaller than the battery on the previous-generation Galaxy Fold. The device has the same 25W fast charging capability as the previous fold. There was no charging brick in the box, like Samsung, like many premium smartphone manufacturers, only includes a USB Type-C cable. When it comes to performance, the Z Fold 3 is powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and comes standard with 256GB of onboard storage, but a larger 512GB memory variant is available.

One of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3’s selling points is support for the S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition, which I couldn’t test with the device because I didn’t have any. It should be noted that previous Galaxy Note S Pens will not work with the Z Fold 3. The overall performance was smooth, and there was no unusual overheating. In fact, thanks to Samsung’s optimization, the battery backup was also adequate. The battery life is also heavily influenced by how much the primary display is used.

Final Verdict for the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Z Fold is a device aimed at increasing productivity due to its bright screen and a large amount of real estate. Watching shows and gaming are also enjoyable on the new fold, as Samsung has worked hard to create a device that is no longer a dubious gimmick. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a costly proposition, as spending Rs 1.5 lakh on a foldable device may not be feasible for everyone.

Those who want to buy it should keep in mind that it is not a typical smartphone, and even though it is more durable this time, its form factor is still foldable. It is best suited to those looking to purchase a device that stands out from the crowd while also providing good overall functionality.

Mangools: