The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is the most luxurious foldable smartphone of the moment. Unfortunately, the foldable smartphones have not yet really appealed to a large audience. You can read whether Samsung succeeds in this Galaxy Z Fold3 review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
MSRP € 1,799
Colors Black
OS Android 11 (OneUI)
Screen 7.6″ amoled (2268 x 832) and 6.2″ amoled (22080 x 1768)
Processor 2.8GHz octa-core (Snapdragon 888)
RAM 12GB
Storage 256GB (non-expandable)
Battery 4,400 mAh
Rear cameras 12, 12 and 12 megapixels
Front cameras 10 megapixel (front), 4 megapixel (open)
Connectivity 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, Qi
Format 15.8 x 6.7 x 1.6 cm (closed) and 15.8 x 12.8 x 0.6
Weight 271 grams
Other E-sim, IPX 8, no adapter
Website www.samsung.com/nl
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Innovative
- Image quality
- Sturdy design
- Negatives
- Price
- Fold line in the screen
- Battery life
Despite their impressive technology, the foldable smartphones from Samsung have a somewhat rough start. The party of the first generation was already overshadowed before the announcement because the unknown Chinese brand Royole appeared to be hitting the market with a copy already before the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold was announced. The technology also had some teething problems, such as vulnerable hinges and screen folding lines. High sales figures were not achieved. The rough start could be appropriate for this, but the recommended retail price well above a thousand euros is also uninviting.
Generation three
The innovation continued with the second generation of the Galaxy Z Fold and the new Galaxy Flip smartphone, which has an old-fashioned folding system like we know from the clamshell phones of yesteryear. This third generation also takes a step forward, allowing the Galaxy Z Fold3 to appeal to an increasingly large audience. Although there are still a few points to note. Like its predecessors, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is a foldable smartphone, which you open like a book to conjure up a large tablet-sized screen. When the device is closed, you can use it by using the elongated screen on the front. The smartphone therefore has two screens, which you can switch to seamlessly by opening and closing the device.
Samsung has made great strides with the Galaxy Z Fold3, which makes the device feel a lot less vulnerable to, for example, bumps, sand and dust. Thanks to the metal frame, the smartphone feels solid. In fact, Samsung has managed to make the Z Fold3 water resistant (IPX 8) and that is quite impressive. The hinge is completely closed for this and the folding seam of the screen is firmly attached to the frame. The screen edges of the frame also close well when closing, so that the screen is not damaged.
When you open the device, you have a square screen at your disposal that is large enough to be called a tablet screen. The disadvantage is that the folding line is still a problem that Samsung is unable to solve for the time being. It doesn’t look pretty and you also feel it when you operate the Galaxy Z Fold3.
Image quality
The large tablet screen has a rectangular (almost square) screen with a diameter of 7.6 inches. The folding AMOLED panel has a boosted refresh rate of 120 hertz and a resolution of 1768 by 2208. The image quality is quite good, as you are used to from Samsung. Still, the image quality cannot match, for example, an iPhone 12 or Samsung Galaxy S21, especially in terms of color reproduction and brightness.
Samsung has not placed a fingerprint scanner under the screen, but has chosen to place a physical scanner in the power button on the side of the Galaxy Z Fold3. That is pleasant to use, because the physical fingerprint scanner works faster and more accurately. But also so practical, since otherwise Samsung would have had to place two scanners under the screens. In the top of the screens you will find the front camera placed in a punchhole. Samsung has tried to camouflage the large screen by placing some luminous screen pixels over it. This has a negative effect on the recording quality of the selfie camera and the punchhole is still clearly visible. It seems to foreshadow technology that is in development to be able to place the front camera completely behind the screen without the need for a notch or camera hole.
The screen on the front, which Samsung calls the Cover Display, is a lot more rectangular and has a resolution of 6.2 inches and has a resolution of 2268 by 832, with also a high refresh rate of 120 hertz. Despite the fact that this is an ordinary AMOLED panel, the image quality and brightness hardly differs from the large folding screen.
Galaxy Z Fold3 in practice
In practice, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is very pleasant to use. The foldable smartphone seems to have outgrown the gimmick content and is really ready to appeal to a large audience. For example, it is wonderful to browse the large tablet screen while traveling by train and then answer an app on the cover display when you transfer. You can notice that the foldable smartphone has come of age in the seamless switch from the small to the large screen and vice versa. Your apps will remain open and jump to the correct aspect ratios. It is also possible to have apps open next to each other.
To make this possible, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is equipped with more than enough computing power via a Snapdragon 888 chipset that also supports 5G. Although the computing power is sufficient, the chipset does require quite a bit of energy on the move (especially with 5G). Even if you frequently use the large screen with the high refresh rate on the road, you will notice that a charged battery is not enough to get through the day. For a tablet-like format, a battery capacity of 4,400 mAh is a bit sparse. A larger battery would have been practical and good for the lifespan (batteries wear out after all). But that would have made the smartphone a bit thicker. There is also something to be said for Samsung’s choice, since the Z Fold3 is quite thick when folded.
The Galaxy Z Fold3 also supports Samsung’s stylus. Probably to appeal to Galaxy Note users, as the Note series has cleared the field. Personally, I see the added value of that stylus. In addition, please note that the stylus cannot be inserted into the device. It is therefore not quite a Galaxy Note replacement for the stylus enthusiast.
Software
Samsung has finely tuned the software of the Galaxy Z Fold3 to use applications that switch from small to large screen. As you are used to from Samsung, the company has tinkered a lot with Android to give everything its own face and many useful functions. That’s positive. Less positive is the amount of bloatware. Of course, Samsung apps and unfortunately the unnecessary Bixby assistant are still abound. More worrisome is the presence of Microsoft and Facebook bloatware. That especially does not fit on a smartphone in this price range.
Anyone who likes to unlock the bootloader of the smartphone to root the device or install a custom rom, for example, should take into account that Samsung then disables the camera functionality. Unnecessarily annoying for advanced users.
Samsung is investing to improve software support. With the Galaxy Z Fold3 you can expect at least three version updates and security support for the next four years. Samsung is going in the right direction with this, but it is still far from in line with the major competitor Apple, which supports its smartphones and tablets for years longer and rolls out updates faster.
Where Samsung has again imitated Apple are the small, also mainly unnecessary, disadvantages that have not yet been discussed. A memory card slot, audio port and adapter are missing. As well as any valid reason for the consumer why. A USB-C to USB-C cable is included in the box.
Camera
You would almost forget that on the back of the smartphone there are cameras, which shoot excellent photos in line with other Samsung smartphones. It is important to know that the camera of the Galaxy S21 line is a bit better and more versatile. Nevertheless, you can trust the Samsung smartphone to take excellent photos in all lighting conditions, regardless of the lens you use.
At the back you will find three 12 megapixel cameras: a regular lens, a zoom lens and a wide-angle lens. All three cameras guarantee excellent photos, with the mutual quality differences not being particularly large, as is often the case with smartphones with multiple lenses on the back. When the lighting conditions are difficult, as in the example, the regular camera is able to capture most colors and details.
From left to right: wide angle lens, regular lens, zoom lens.
Alternatives to the Galaxy Z Fold3
If you’re really looking for a smartphone with a foldable screen, it’s best to go to Samsung, which has developed the technology best. But keep in mind that you still have to dig too deep into your pocket for such a device. During testing I also had the same feeling all the time: ‘this is fantastic, but not nearly-2000-euro-fantastic’. Patience may therefore be a virtue. Hopefully Samsung can make the technology more affordable with upcoming devices. It is also expected that the price of this Galaxy Z Fold3 will fall quickly, as is often the case with Samsung’s mobile equipment.
Another alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold3 with foldable screen is the Galaxy Z Flip3, the clamshell smartphone. This one is slightly less inaccessible due to a price tag of 1049. But still steeply priced.
Another option is of course to buy a tablet and a good smartphone until the foldable smartphones have evolved far enough.
Conclusion: buy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3?
The foldable smartphone has made a big step with the arrival of the Galaxy Z Fold3: the smartphones are almost ready for a large user group. The device is compact and switching works seamlessly. The only pain points are the folding line in the large screen and the excessive price.
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