Samsung’s folding phones keep getting better
For a while it seemed like phones were changing designs with every new model, but for the most part, phone makers have now settled on a design. Most phones look like a big screen with no buttons on the front, and from 10 feet, it’s hard to differentiate between them.
One of the benefits of settling on a design is the opportunity to have several years to improve “under the hood” features.
That’s one reason I’m impressed that Samsung has committed to the folding phone.
Samsung recently introduced the newest versions of the Galaxy Flip 3 5G and the Galaxy Fold 3
5G.
Outwardly, they look similar to last year’s models, but inside they are very much improved.
The Flip 3 and Fold 3 (as you might guess) are the third generation of Samsung’s folding phones.
The first generation had issues with debris getting into the screen fold, and the hinge mechanism wasn’t fully enclosed – you could see the inner workings under the screen.
Samsung improved the design and now the third-generation folding phones are IPX8 waterresistant.
They can survive a 30-minute dunk in five feet of water, although Samsung still warns users about dust getting inside the hinge.
Most people want to know if the fold is visible on the screen.
The answer is yes, but depending on the view angle and what is on the screen, it does disappear.
You can feel the fold if you swipe your finger on the screen, but if the screen is on, the fold really does visually disappear.
The folding screens are very thin glass covered with a thin plastic screen protector (and please don’t try to remove it).
FLIP 3
The Flip 3 is the closest to a regular phone, except that it folds in half like a man’s wallet.
In my mind, the key to making a successful folding phone is to find uses for it when it is folded.
The Flip 3 surprised me by being able to answer a call with the phone folded up.
There is an always-on small screen on the back of the phone next to the cameras. When the phone is closed, you can choose what appears on that screen.
Most of the time that screen will show the time and date, but you can also choose to have it show incoming texts, music playback controls or even have it act as a preview screen for the rear cameras.
The Flip 3 5G’s 3,300 milliamphour battery powers the phone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor running Android 11 with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 128 or 265gb of internal storage.
The Flip 3 can capture 4K ultrahigh-definition video at 30 and 60 frames per second and super slow motion at up to 960 fps.
The cameras have video digital image stabilization.
The Flip 3 has fast charging for both wired (USB-C) and wireless charging, and it can also share its charge with other devices with wireless charging.
Networking includes 5G and 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Biometric unlocking includes a side-button fingerprint sensor and face recognition.
FOLD 3
The Fold 3 has a full-sized front screen you can use, but the star of the show is the big screen inside.
I love the concept of a phone that folds out to reveal a huge screen, but I’m not sure how many times per day I’d use the front screen because it is convenient versus opening the big screen.
When you choose to only use the front screen, the phone is twice as thick as a normal phone, which is awkward to hold.
The front screen lets you do everything, unlike the Flip 3’s front screen, which is limited in what it can do. The front screen also has a 10MP selfie camera.
But the Fold 3’s magic begins when you open it up to reveal a glorious 7.6-inch AMOLED Infinity Flex display with a resolution of 2,208 by 1,768 pixels.
Inside, the Fold 3 is running Android 11 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 with 12GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of internal storage.
Networking includes 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.2.
Samsung has added stylus compatibility to
the
Fold 3. There are two stylus models available, the S Pen Fold Edition ($49.99) and the S Pen Pro ($99.99), which uses Bluetooth and is compatible with Galaxy Note phones as well as other Samsung tablets and Chromebooks that are S Pen compatible.
COLORS AND COSTS
The Galaxy Flip 3 5G is available in black, white, pink, green, lavender, gray and cream.
The 128 GB and 256 GB models are both available for $999. Samsung is offering
$150 in Samsung accessory credit if you preorder at Samsung.com, and $50 of that credit can be used to lower the price of the 256 GB model to $999.
The Galaxy Fold 3 5G is available in black, green or silver starting at $1,799 for 256 GB. If you preorder, you can apply $100 of the credit to bring the 512 GB model down to $1,799 as well.
There are also pretty good trade-in offers for both models.
The phones are also available from major wireless carriers.
I applaud Samsung for improving the folding screen technology. But to buy one of these phones, you must be in love with the folding screens.
If I had to pick one, it would be the Flip 3. It reminds me of the flip phones of my youth.
I’m quite happy with traditionally shaped phones, but I’m sure being able to fold in in half would make life a bit more interesting.