The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
Samsung's latest phone release offers a modern take on the flip phone experience. It's addressed most of the shortcomings of previous releases, but the battery and camera life left reviewers wanting. Overall, the price is likely to be the biggest factor for many buyers.What's good
- A modern flip phone
- Water-resistant
- Same price as other high-end smartphones
- Bigger cover display
What's bad
- Disappointing camera
- Slow charging
- Poor battery life
Samsung’s working hard to sell us all on the future of phones with their latest phone designs, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. A mix between a smartphone and a flip phone design, the Z Flip 3 has a lot going for it. So what do reviewers think?
Design
Maybe the most pleasing thing about the Galaxy Z Flip 3, aside from the folding, of course, is the wide range of colors available. In a world where it’s usually a choice between black or grey, the Z Flip 3 is available in green, lavender, cream and phantom black, grey, white and pink.
It goes without saying that the ability to flip a smartphone open and closed is pretty cool -- and for some of us that brings a certain level of nostalgia as well. With Gorilla Glass Victus as well as an aluminum frame for extra durability, it seems that Samsung has really thought this one out.
Display
The inside display is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display while the outside holds a smaller 1.9-inch display for controlling media playback, checking the time, or use it as a viewfinder for selfies.
However, reviewers mentioned the crease in the middle of the screen is still noticeable -- especially in direct sunlight as well as apps that run on light mode. But there has been zero mention of screen cracking, peeling, or distortion.
Performance
Reviewers were pleased with the performance. The new chipset allowed high-performance gaming apps to play without dropping frames or stuttering. The phone also includes plenty of RAM, so hopping between multiple apps to keep up with friends or manage work communications is fluid and snappy.
Software & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 ships with Android 11. Samsung guarantees three years of platform updates and four years of security updates.
One of the more notable features is Flex mode, which allows you to split an app between the two sides of the screen. However, the app you’re using needs to support the feature.
You have the option of 128GB or 256GB of storage and there isn’t a memory card slot for easy expansion.
Cameras
The limited camera options and quality disappointed reviewers as it matched the previous Flip from Samsung exactly. In essence, the 12MP regular lens and 10MP front-facing selfie camera with no telephoto lens mean that the new phone ships with a dated camera forcing you to choose between photo quality or innovative design.
Battery Life
Just like the camera set up, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 borrows its 3,300 mAh battery from the Z Flip 2. This also means it’s borrowed the reviewer’s disappointment of a slow charging phone with so-so battery life.
Audio
The Galaxy Flip Z 3 features stereo speakers, instead of the typical single speaker that is blocked by your hand. However, it does not have a headphone jack so if you don’t like the sound you’ll need to grab some Bluetooth headphones instead.
Specs at a Glance
- Aluminum and plastic chassis
- 6.7-inch Super AMOLED inner display
- Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G processor
- 8GB of RAM
- Android 11
- 128GB/256GB of storage, no expansion slot
- 12MP main lens, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP selfie camera
- 3,300mAh battery
- Exterior 1.9-inch notification display
Bottom Line
Samsung has definitely improved upon the last Z Flip phone, but it has also kept some aspects that aren’t so great. As a whole, most reviewers were reasonably pleased without many complaints other than the outdated battery
Tom’s Guide says, “The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is all about style and having fun, and its [price] is very tempting for those who have been sitting out the foldable phone revolution. You have to make some trade-offs versus other flagship phones in terms of the cameras and battery size, but it could be worth it for you.”
The Verge comments, “The Z Flip 3 is Samsung applying its relentless iteration to that idea and making it something that is a normal phone, right down to the price it charges for it. Samsung has systematically checked off the boxes that made earlier Flip models purely curiosities: performance, features, price, and durability.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- David Snelling, Aaron Brown, Daily ExpressThe new Flip 3 is a brilliant little phone that's made me eat my words and change my mind on the future of foldable phones. It's the first folding Galaxy that I'd recommend you buy, although be warned that there are still some compromises when you're on the cutting edge.
- Sabina Weston, IT ProThe Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a great smartphone that offers a fun experience alongside impressive capabilities if you choose to carry around a charger to top up its weak battery. However, many of its best features, such as its vibrant display or wireless charging, are also available on devices that don't...
- GSMArenaWe'd say it's a great and novel phone with atrocious battery life and a camera system that, while decent, simply can't compete with the best of the best in any way. And then there's the foldable elephant in the room. Sure, folding your phone still feels new and cool, but the fact that the Flip3 fold...
- Ryan Haines, Android AuthoritySamsung kept a few of the most limiting features from the original Galaxy Z Flip models, but the key upgrades to 2021’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 keep it ahead of the pack. The external display offers more use cases than ever, while the flagship processor gives the device enough punch to keep up. It even offe...
- Samuel Huang, G Style MagazineWe’re not getting too in-depth here mainly because this phone, like the Galaxy Z Fold 3, has been out for a hot minute already. A lot of it is also comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S21 so there isn’t much new in terms of specs to speak about. The only head-turning features here in my opinion are the...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Samsung's suggested retail price is $999.99. You can compare Galaxy Z Flip3 prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy Z Flip3 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy Z Flip3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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