The day is fast approaching where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 will be available for everyone. You’ll be able to walk into a store and (hopefully) walk out with one or the other with little issue. However, before making that decision, keep in mind that there are some pretty spectacular deals in place for those who join the pre-order parade.
But before you hit that “order now” button, you might want to figure out which of Samsung’s latest foldable phones is right for you. And considering that there are some stark differences between the two, it’s not your average head-to-head comparison.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Design & Display
Let’s get the big change out of the way first. For the first time with a foldable smartphone (or two) Samsung has introduced an official water resistance rating. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 sport an IPX8 water resistance rating, meaning that they can be submerged in up to three feet of water for about 30 minutes. After that, let’s just say you’re not going to have a good time.
Samsung went to great lengths to increase the durability of its folding phones, as that was one of the biggest complaints with last year’s models. To keep building on that, Samsung is also now using a new PET film atop the ultra-thin glass (UTG). The company claims this will provide up to 80% better durability when compared to previous folding phones, but only time will tell.
Both phones are made from a combination of glass and aluminum, following the same trend as every other flagship phone out there. Starting off with the Z Flip 3, we have a larger cover display on the top-outer half. The screen has been increased to 1.9-inches and has become much more useful with a handful of pre-installed widgets along with doubling as a viewfinder for the dual-camera setup.
Flip open the phone, and you’re greeted with a 6.7-inch display, complete with a faster 120Hz refresh rate. This is a huge improvement over the Z Flip 5G, as that was limited to just a 60Hz refresh rate.
Moving over to the Z Fold 3, Samsung managed to slim things down a bit, as the Fold 3 comes in thinner and lighter than its predecessor. We still have the tall and slim 6.2-inch Cover Screen, but it now offers a 120Hz refresh rate to match the main screen. Speaking of which, the primary display also remains the same size, coming in with a 7.6-inch AMOLED panel with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.
All-in-all, it’s going to come down to personal preference, as each phone offers a unique design and different displays meant for different purposes. However, we would definitely say that the Z Flip 3 looks like a bigger upgrade over its direct predecessor, at least so far.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Performance
There’s really not too much to write home in this department. Both the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. The former is only offered with 8GB of RAM, while the latter is “limited” to 12GB just like the Z Fold 2.
On the storage front, both devices have two configurations—128GB and 256GB or 256GB and 512GB, respectively. Neither device includes expandable storage, so that trend continues.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Software and Features
While both of these are running Samsung’s One UI, you’re not getting the exact same interface across the board. Both the Fold and Flip 3 are jam-packed with plenty of unique features, but the biggest advantage to getting the larger Fold is the S Pen support. This has been the obvious staple of the Galaxy Note line for years, but Samsung expanded its compatibility back with the S21 Ultra, and now it’s here on the Z Fold 3.
But you can’t use just any run-of-the-mill S Pen with the Fold 3. Instead, Samsung has introduced two new options with the S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro. Both have retractable tips that have been engineered to work flawlessly with the unique display of the Z Fold 3. Unfortunately, Samsung did not integrate its Wacom digitizer into the Z Flip 3, meaning you still won’t be able to use a stylus with the smaller device.
Another feature limited to the Fold 3 comes courtesy of the “Labs” section found within the Settings app. Samsung is trying to make it easier for you to access the apps you use the most, regardless of whether you’re already in another app or not. When enabled, you’ll be greeted with a dock-like section on the screen that is always visible and can be customized with your favorite apps.
Something that Samsung is bringing to both devices is the ability to “force” pretty much any installed app into using Flex Mode. This is when you essentially prop your folding phone up and want to be able to do something like watch YouTube on the top half while having access to all of the controls on the bottom half.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Cameras
Unfortunately, Samsung had to cut costs for its folding devices and it appears that part of this was done through the camera hardware. The Z Fold 3 is equipped with three 12MP sensors—wide (main), ultra-wide, and telephoto (2x optical zoom). On paper, this is the exact same trio of cameras used on last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 2, although there are rumblings that the glass being used is actually slightly different.
The same story applies for the Z Flip 3 compared to last year’s Z Flip 5G. You’ll find a dual-12MP camera system with wide-angle and ultra-wide sensors. But one change here is that Samsung moved to a vertical orientation, falling in line with what you see on the Z Fold 3.
While these cameras are serviceable, they certainly aren’t going to “wow” you, and definitely can’t keep up with something like the Galaxy S21 Ultra. It’s a bit disappointing, but we’ll have to hope for a major camera upgrade with next year’s release.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Battery Life
The battery is another area where Samsung seemed to have cut costs. The Z Fold 3 has a larger 4,400mAh cell compared to the 3,300mAh cell on the Z Flip 3. However, the Fold 3’s battery is actually smaller (by 100mAh) compared to its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Z Flip 3 and Flip 5G offer the same sized battery.
While there may be an argument for a smaller battery to make way for a slimmer profile, we were hoping to see faster charging, even just wired, compared to last year, but that’s not the case. The Z Fold 3 is capable of reaching speeds up to 25W, and the Z Flip 3 maxes out at 15W when using a wired charger. Neither device includes a charger in the box, but this doesn’t come as a surprise given the recent releases of the iPhone and other Galaxy devices.
Both handsets are, however, equipped with both 10W Qi wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. There’s really not too much to gripe about here, although you probably won’t really want to use up your battery by charging something else.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Price & Availability
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Samsung dropped the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to $1,800, offering a $200 difference compared to last year’s model. This is a modest price decrease, but if you factor in getting the S Pen and any other accessories, you’l find yourself pushing up against the $2,000 mark pretty quickly. And you won’t really find much “fun” in the colors, as Samsung is offering Phantom Black, Phantom Green, or Phantom Silver.
After seeing the $1,449 price tag from the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, we knew that Samsung had to drop the price a bit with the Flip 3. But we surely didn’t expect to see it come in at just $999. Throw in some of the carrier deals that are going around, and you can get this for around the same price as the OnePlus 9.
Plus, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available in a total of SEVEN different colors — Cream, Green, White, Pink, Lavender, Phantom Black, and Gray. Three of those colors (White, Gray, and Pink) are Samsung.com exclusives, meaning you won’t be able to find them anywhere else.
But it’s clear that Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Z Flip 3 as the phone for anyone who’s even remotely interested in folding phones. With the lower price tag and incredible spec list, who wouldn’t want to give it a shot?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip 3: Which Is For You?
Trying to determine which is the best folding phone for you is rather tough. It all comes down to personal preference, budget, and what you need to use your phone for. If you want a big and vibrant display that folds up into something smaller, but has the added benefit of S Pen support, then the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the way to go.
Putting this one frankly, if you don’t need a folding tablet or S Pen support, the Z Flip 3 is the right choice. In fact, this is going to be the right choice for about 90% of users out there. The Z Flip 3 gets your foot in the door with a folding form-factor, while providing the durability we have been waiting for, all while coming in some fun and unique colors. Plus, there’s really no difference in terms of raw power, as both devices make use of the same Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Samsung’s 2021 foldable smartphones are the best we’ve ever seen, even with the caveats found in the camera and battery departments. But the ultimate truth is that, overall, you won’t be disappointed either way.
