Samsung’s New Z Flip 3, Can It Compete with Conventional Flagship Phones?

Samsung’s new foldable smartphone Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first to challenge conventionally designed phones. In terms of processing power, it is identical to the Galaxy S21, which was introduced earlier this year. Reminiscent to Samsung’s previous flagships, the screen operates at a flawless refresh rate of 120Hz. According to reports, it’s built with a new, more robust material and is IPX8 water-proof, just as expected from a modern smartphone manufacturer. The last benefit is that the Z Flip 5G starts at USD 1,000, USD 450 cheaper than the Z Flip 5G it succeeds. Those prices bring the Flip 3 on par with several high-end non-folding smartphones. Nonetheless, there are a few areas where it falls short of conventional phones.

The notion of a foldable phone is unique.  For the first time, a folding smartphone that is not exclusively for initial enthusiasts can attract even mainstream users. Unlike the original Galaxy Flip as well as the Flip 5G, which were released last year, the Flip 3’s appearance is essentially unchanged. Unlike the Galaxy Fold line, the objective of this foldable smartphone is not to transform a regular phone into a tablet instead to do the contrary: turn a huge smartphone into something which fits easily in a user’s pocket. The Flip 3 has a 6.7-inch display, but when folded, it is about the size of a wallet.

The Flip 3 model functions at a 120hz refresh rate and has an aspect ratio of 1080 pixels per inch only when unfolded. It has the same quick touch response, vivid colors, deep blacks, and seamless scrolling as Samsung’s previous OLED displays. As a result, it’s easier to see in the sunlight and looks excellent when watching a video. In terms of speed and quality, it is on pace with other flagship devices. However, besides the Flip 3’s larger 9:22 aspect ratio, it operates like every contemporary smartphone. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU, as well as 8GB of RAM power, the Galaxy Flip 3’s performance is equal to any other new smartphone introduced this year, including the Galaxy S21. The Flip 3’s lens setup is possibly the place where Samsung has made a minimal improvement. This year’s Flip 5G has the same 12-megapixel regular, wide, and ultra-wide back cameras as last year’s Flip 5G, as well as a 10-megapixel front-facing camera. The Z flip is expected to disrupt the conventional smartphone market to a certain extent. Info about the smartphone market is publically available on a wide range of analytical forums.