Introduction
Samsung received an incredible response for the Galaxy Z Flip, its first clamshell foldable smartphone. A lot of fans were waiting for the Galaxy Z Flip 3, which takes the baton from the first clamshell and pushes the envelope further on what's possible with this form factor.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 does that exceptionally well. It brings improvements that significantly elevate the user experience while also enhancing the durability of the device. There's much to love about this clamshell foldable.
Design
The Galaxy Z Flip 3's design won't seem foreign to anyone who has seen the Galaxy Z Flip. It's the same clamshell form factor with an improved fit and finish. Samsung has made the device out of Armor Aluminum which is the company's toughest and strongest aluminum yet. The camera cutouts have been redesigned as well for consistency with Samsung's other models.
The dual-tone design adds a touch of class to the device as the top frame is now blacked out on all color options. This is also the first clamshell foldable smartphone from Samsung that's water-resistant.
When folded, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 measures 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9~17.1 mm. It weighs 183g.
Specifications
Flagship-level performance is guaranteed by the Snapdragon 888 processor paired with 8GB of RAM. The handset is available in 128GB and 256GB storage options but without the option to expand externally.
The battery size is the same as its predecessor at 3,300mAh with the charging speed maxing out at 15W. Additional specs include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 5G support, NFC, GPS, USB-C port and Bluetooth 5.1.
Display
The cover display of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has received a major upgrade. It's now 1.9-inch in size which makes it a lot more useful as it's able to show more content. The Super AMOLED cover display has a 512×260 pixel resolution.
There's a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2640×1080 pixel resolution display on the inside. It finally has a 120hz refresh rate for a smoother viewing experience. The panel also happens to be 29% brighter than that of the Galaxy Z Flip. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 3, there's no Under Display Camera on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. S Pen input is also not supported.
Camera
The camera setup isn't all that different from the Galaxy Z Flip. The Galaxy Z Flip 3's display has a punch hole 10-megapixel f/2.4 camera.
There's also a rear dual camera setup that consists of a 12-megapixel primary and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera protected by Gorilla Glass DX.
Software and Features
Samsung is shipping the Galaxy Z Flip 3 with Android 11 onboard in addition to One UI 3.1.1. There's not much in the way of new features included with this iteration of One UI. Samsung has made some minor enhancements to the software such to elevate the foldable experience.
The company will be providing three Android OS upgrades for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 like its recent flagship smartphones. The device is also going to be covered for four years of security maintenance updates. Samsung released the Android 12 One UI 4.0 update for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in December 2021.
Availability and Price
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 was unveiled on August 11, 2021 and was available on pre-order that exact same day. Prices start at $999, making it much more affordable than its predecessor. The handset hit shelves on August 27 in a variety of colors including Phantom Black, Green and Lavendar.