Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Review

Samsung's original foldable design is back, but will there be luck for a quirky smartphone for the third time, or is it three hits and it's over?

What we love — Durable design, strong performance, and a great screen

The first Galaxy Fold got off to a rocky start due to its fragility, but this version sees a more rugged design than ever before, with an inner screen that now appears to be "80% more rugged" than previous iterations, along with an IPX8 water resistance rating. a strong aluminum body and scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus on the external screen.

Content is a pleasure to watch on the screens, as both boast super-smooth 120Hz refresh rates, impressive contrast levels and HDR that really makes the colors pop. Equipped with a Snapdragon 888 chipset, it handles even the most demanding tasks with aplomb, offers 5G connectivity and packs 12 GB of RAM on top of that.

What we don't like — Apps aren't well optimized and it's still extremely expensive

While the device's unique form factor is certainly its biggest draw for potential buyers, as it offers a smartphone-like screen on the front and a tablet-like screen on the inside, there are still some downsides to its implementation. The external screen is very narrow and therefore takes some getting used to, while the internal is square unlike a typical tablet, so apps still aren't particularly well optimized for this pioneering design. Another downside is that the under-screen cameras and the crease in the middle of the screen are both visible, which spoils the effect a bit.

Battery life is just about enough for a day of moderate use and the cameras are below average compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 - but you'll have to pay significantly more for the Fold, which starts at a prestige price of £1,599.

verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the company's most successful foldable device yet, thanks to significant improvements in build quality and upgrades to the internal parts and display. However, the atypical aspect ratio and off-putting price mean that most customers would probably prefer to buy a phone and separate tablet rather than this idiosyncratic hybrid.

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By: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Review