I’m always a fan of good gadgets. That was true when I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, and it remains true with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. Any phone that can do something to stand out in a sea of other smartphones is worth celebrating. Sometimes these features aren’t so obvious at first glance, but obviously a phone that folds out into a small tablet is a little more in your face.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a foldable smartphone running Android 10 with an external 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (24.5:9) Infinity-O display and an Infinity Flex QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (22.5 :18) of 7.6 inches. Folded the phone measures 158.2 x 67.1 x 16.0mm and unfolded it measures 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4mm.
Available in three colors, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black (the device we tested), the Z Fold3 looks sleek and professional, if a bit bulky. It’s not a small device that you can just slip into your pocket and forget about. It weighs 271 grams and, without a case, it’s surprisingly easy to drop. The good news? It is very durable, although I do not recommend risking it. After weeks of testing, there is barely a smudge on the smartphone. It held up surprisingly well in a world where a toddler regularly stole it.
The front screen is narrower than most smartphones, and I find apps like TikTok often cut out. I like the choice of which screen to use, which even works with games like fortnite, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G will adjust quickly and easily if you choose to switch screens when an app is open. The cover display supports “Always on Display” and there are no limits to what you can do with it, making it more versatile than the front display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3, but the quality image will not be what you would get. from a classic smartphone screen, like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The main display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the device’s fame, and rightly so. The color and image quality are vibrant and clear, making videos, games and photos really stand out. The line down the center of the screen is still there, but unless you’re looking at the Z Fold3 from an angle or when the screen is black, you’ll rarely notice it.
Although the keyboard in this mode takes a bit of getting used to, having the ultrawide screen for reading, typing or viewing any type of media is very useful, and the Z Fold3 takes full advantage of the space. that he offers. Almost any app will fill the screen, with only a few centered in the middle.
“The main screen of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the device’s claim to fame, and rightly so.”
Whether you charge your phone overnight or while sitting at your desk, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G will keep you going all day. By bedtime, the device is usually out of breath. After a day of Facebook, emails, other social media, and texting, the battery isn’t holding up well. I usually needed to give the phone a little boost during the day with a USB-C charger, and it charges on average about two minutes per percent. It also works well with wireless charging devices and doesn’t sacrifice charging speed to do so.
With 12 GB of RAM and 512 or 256 GB of internal storage, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is fast and can store thousands of photos. If you want to store more, unfortunately, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The Z Fold3 does not have an SD card slot.
At a time in history where people are constantly capturing moments and content creation is at its peak, I think not being able to upgrade phone storage is an oversight. The phone can handle some light gaming, but the quality isn’t the best. fortnite worked well on both screens and the game ran reasonably well, but the graphics aren’t the best out there.
The sound of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is quite decent with Dolby Atmos technology and very high quality sound with support for 32-bit and DSD64/128 playback. Although it’s not as rich as a good pair of headphones or speakers (which connect seamlessly via Bluetooth), the sound can absolutely fill a room and calls are crisp and clear. The High AOP microphone picks up voices and other sounds well during phone and video calls.
But, in a world where phones are used more for videos, content creation, and social media than for actual phone calls, let’s get to what really matters. Cameras. So many cameras. The front-facing cover camera is a 10MP camera with a pixel size of 1.22μm and an 80-degree field of view. The front camera, the one on the large inner screen, is a 4MP camera with a 2.0μm pixel size and an 80-degree field of view as well. They are not the best cameras on the market. Images are pale and blurry even at their best, but will be fine for everyday photos and basic social media.
The main camera of the device, the rear camera, offers three camera options. It has a 12MP ultra-wide lens with 1.2μm pixel size and 123 degree field of view, 12MP wide-angle lens with dual AP pixel, 1.8μm pixel size and 123 degree field of view. 83 degree vision and a 12MP telephoto lens, with a pixel size of 1.0μm and a 45 degree field of view. The device has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which means it will help you keep your photos clear, even with shaky hands or subject movement. For the most part, it turned out to be functional.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3’s rear camera is by far the best of the three. While not the highest quality, especially compared to the S22 Ultra’s 40MP selfie camera, images can be vibrant and crisp, so your family photos will always stand out. However, I wouldn’t recommend this phone to someone who wants to take professional photos.
Another weird thing to note is that for anyone who loves apps like TikTok, for some reason the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is not compatible with its filters. This is also a known issue with the Samsung S22 line. On any camera, you cannot test the latest app trends. Something I liked, however, is that when taking a selfie on the front screen, you can actually unfold the phone and use the 12MP rear camera for selfies instead of the 10MP cover camera. This is a good idea, although holding the phone in this position is tricky due to its size.
It’s important to choose a smartphone that meets your needs, but I’m still not sure who the Fold series of devices are intended for. At a jaw-dropping price north of CAD$2,000, it’s probably not aimed at students or young adults, but the performance isn’t exceptional for professionals either.
Sending emails and text messages is a little trickier than on standard phones, with the keyboard being either widely spaced or tiny depending on what screen you’re using, so its functionality doesn’t lend itself to being effective. The phone works well, the cameras are only good, (although I like the quality of the close-ups) and the learning curve is high. Besides being a fun device to show off and watch videos on, it doesn’t seem to have a specific niche in mind,
I don’t demand much from my smartphone. I am neither a photographer nor a content creator. I check my e-mails, browse social networks and take pictures of my children. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is great fun to play. I love watching videos on it, and the large interior screen is perfect for all media. For anyone who needs more than that, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G probably isn’t the phone for you. While it does what it should and meets minimum expectations, it’s bulky and doesn’t master a feature enough to outweigh its flaws or price.