New Delhi: Most smartphones today are big and handset makers are trying to fit in the biggest displays, and that’s where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 works as a smartphone with a huge screen that can also be folded to make a difference. could. this is easy. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is Samsung’s third-gen foldable device with new bells and whistles, and by that I mean a brighter and better screen, better multi-tasking features and even S Pen support. The first-generation Galaxy Fold was considered Samsung’s attempt to forge a new path in the smartphone arena as it was the first device of its kind with a questionable build quality, sturdiness and usability, but a look at the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and more You’ll realize that Samsung has worked hard to improve its foldables.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold brings a significant upgrade in terms of overall build quality, hinge mechanism and durability. Samsung was expected to do the same, but, this time there’s also support for the S Pen, water-resistance, and a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. I spent some time with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 which was launched in India at a starting price of Rs 1,49,999 for the 256GB storage variant and here is what I think of the foldable smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Design, Display, Looks and Build
Samsung’s third-gen Galaxy Z Fold will open like a book when you open it to unveil a bigger screen that’s better and brighter this time around. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 features a Dynamic AMOLED display instead of the Super AMOLED screen on the previous generation Fold device. There is also support for HDR10+ which translates into an immense pleasure while reading e-books, editing documents or videos and images, etc. As the name suggests, apparently, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has two displays with the outer cover display being a 6.2-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a great upgrade from last year’s 60Hz refresh rate . I was happy with the tactile response as my fingers are short and typing on a long and narrow screen wasn’t much work, but users with larger hands may find it a bit difficult to type.
Samsung has also included an IPX8 rating on this premium foldable device which makes it the first water-resistant foldable smartphone and also that the device can withstand 1.5 meters of water for up to half an hour. This also means that the device can only handle fresh water, not salt water! Talking about water resistance, the IP8X8 rating makes the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as good as any other IP68 rated flagship device in the market. well almost. The Z Fold 3 has no dust resistance and that became apparent when I went to a nearby park – the device attracts a lot of dust and it was wise to invest in a good pouch to keep it free of dust and grit Will think. , The amount of dust on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could also be due to the pre-installed screen protector that has been slapped on top of the display for protection. It has a sticky plastic-like feel and also has an oleophobic coating. The screen protector doesn’t hinder brightness and colors, but it does feel quite sticky.
When it comes to build quality, Samsung hasn’t compromised here: the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has an armored aluminum frame and a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus protection for the cover display and the back to protect against scratches and drops . A significant change in terms of the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that Samsung’s third-gen foldable is about 0.8mm thinner in thickness than the previous-gen Galaxy Fold 2. This also means that the hinge mechanism on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has been refined this time around and the gap between the displays when folded has also noticeably reduced. The hinge was smooth and didn’t feel shimmery during my use. Thankfully, Samsung had also mentioned that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 can withstand folding and unfolding 2,00,000 times.
samsung galaxy z fold 3 camera
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 packs three 12MP (primary, ultra-wide and telephoto) cameras on the back. Imaging was great, if not excellent, and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 produced photos that are a little more sharp. The lowest quality camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is an under-display 4MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/1.8. Obviously, when it comes to video calling, this selfie snapper was good, but when it comes to taking selfies, it was not up to par with other premium devices. The selfie looked washed out and had very few details. The 10MP front camera placed on the cover display was good enough for taking selfie self-portraits. Colors were bright and clear as expected by Samsung.
One of the USPs, however, is the 4MP under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which did a decent job of ensuring that I had a seamless viewing/gaming experience, which almost disappeared even when the screen was dark. Turns out, for example, you’re viewing the Home screen. The display with the smaller hole is a bit noticeable, but it’s not as bulky as a punch-hole screen or notch. Talking about the standard set of rear cameras on the Z Fold 3, the sensor is exactly the same as what we have seen on the rear camera of the previous-gen Galaxy Z Fold 2. The triple sensors on the rear of the Z Fold 3 include a 12MP Dual Pixel main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. The main camera of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 took mostly sharp and colorful photos. After zooming in a bit, I realized that the contrast of closeup shots could have been a bit better. The main cameras also produced more realistic-looking images in the dark without the yellow or orange hue.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Battery and Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 packs a 4400mAh battery which makes it slightly smaller than the previous generation Galaxy Fold. The device supports 25W fast charging, just like the previous fold. There was no charging brick in the box because, like many premium smartphone makers, Samsung is also providing just a USB Type-C cable in the box. When it comes to performance, the Z Fold 3 is powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 256GB of onboard storage, but you can also opt for the larger 512GB memory variant.
One of the USPs of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is support for the S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition and because I didn’t have one, I couldn’t test its performance with the device. It should be noted that the S Pen that came with the previous Galaxy Notes will not work with the Z Fold 3. The overall performance was smooth and I didn’t experience any unusual overheating. In fact, the battery backup was good too, thanks to Samsung’s optimizations. Battery life also largely depends on the amount of usage of the primary display.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Z Fold is a device that aims to increase one’s productivity, thanks to the bright screen and the amount of real estate it offers. Watching shows and gaming is also a joy in the new fold as Samsung has worked hard to build a device that is no longer a questionable gimmick. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is an expensive proposition, though spending Rs 1.5 lakh for a foldable device may not make sense to everyone.
Those looking to buy it should remember that this is not a traditional smartphone and even though it might be strong this time around, its form factor is still foldable. This would be best suited for those who want to buy a device that stands out from the crowd and also offers good overall functionality.
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