The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the third generation of Samsung’s flagship foldable smartphones. We compare and contrast the Z Fold 2 with this year’s upgrade.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the third generation of Samsung’s flagship foldable smartphones, and it continues to pioneer the form, without real rival. Each iteration of the Z Fold refines the hardware for greater durability, performance, battery life, and comfort. Once again, with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the company has revised the hinge, screen tech, and chassis. With the Z Fold 3, foldable phones are a product people can take seriously, representing the advance of a new market that Samsung has single-handedly created, featuring new waterproofing, S Pen support, and a lighter, slimmer case. We have a look at design, performance, batteries, cameras, software, and price to see how far this new model has come in comparison with last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 2. The two most recent generations of Galaxy Z Folds look similar from the outside, but there are plenty of structural features that improve the newer device, both under and over the hood. The Z Fold 3 is a wee bit slimmer and lighter than the Z Fold 2, and the hinge is updated for a less bulky look, and it protrudes less than the older phone. The new model also features IPX8 water resistance, which can tolerate submersion in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, something missing from the Z Fold 2. A combination of Armor Aluminum body, Gorilla Glass Victus outer screen, and a PET film layer on the inner screen is designed to better protect the Z Fold 3 against scratches and drops. The aluminum is a lighter, more durable metal compared to the previous foldables. The weight of the new model is 271g, noticeably lighter than the 282g on the Fold 2. Both models sport the same display size — 6.2 inches outside and 7.6 inside. However, the outside screen of the new Z Fold 3 has a higher pixel count of 2,268 x 832, as opposed to 2,260 x 816 pixels, and has a 120Hz refresh rate, doubling the 60Hz of the Z Fold 2.
