Samsung launches flagship-grade Galaxy Z Flip3, making flip phones cool again
Samsung launches flagship-grade Galaxy Z Flip3, making flip phones cool again
Joining the book-style foldable Galaxy Z Fold3 this year is Samsung’s other foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. If you believe that foldability should confer better portability without denying flagship features, the Z Flip3 is here to show us what Samsung managed to do with its flip-style phone.
IPX8 water resistance, other durability upgrades
Like the Z Fold3, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is also IPX8 water-resistant. That means it can withstand freshwater of 1.5m depth for up to 30 minutes, but has no rated dust resistance. Armor Aluminum also comes to the frame and hinge of the flip-style foldable, making the body 10% stronger than its predecessor.
The Z Flip3 also receives the new protective film layer on its Main Screen (the folded display), which is 80% more durable to scratches when compared to its predecessor. Z Flip3 also uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, just like the Z Fold3.
4x bigger Cover Screen, 120Hz Main Screen
The little display on the outside of the Z Flip3 isn’t so little anymore. According to Samsung, the Cover Screen is now four times bigger than the one on its predecessor (Z Flip), sitting at 1.9-inch (Super AMOLED, 260 x 512 pixels resolution). It supports notifications from e-mail and messaging apps, has eight Widgets (music, weather, schedule, alarm, Samsung Health, Buds controller, voice recorder, timer), Samsung Pay support, and Quick Setting controls - all without having the user unfold their Z Flip3.
The 6.7-inch Main Screen is an FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display (2,640 x 1,080 pixels resolution) with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. At the top of the Main Screen is a pinhole front camera (10MP, f/2.4), virtually unchanged from its predecessor.
Cameras same, but better glass protection
While the dual rear cameras pack the same specs - at 12MP main (f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS) and 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), the camera windows are now protected with Gorilla Glass with DX. The new glass for the lenses is also extended to the Z Fold3.
Galaxy Z Flip3 also has Snapdragon 888
As a flagship Samsung phone, the Z Flip3 also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. The chipset makes the Flip3 compatible with 5G networks, on top of providing one of 2021’s fastest and most powerful mobile processing performance money can buy.
Thinner without sacrifice
The Flip3 retains its 3,000mAh battery and side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Samsung somehow still managed to make the Flip3 even thinner than before; it’s now 17.1mm (folded, thickest point), 6.9mm (unfolded), and 183g. The predecessor was 0.2mm and 0.3mm thicker, respectively, while weighing the same.
More colours with online-only exclusive options
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3’s signature colour is Cream, and it’s further flanked by three other options - Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black. These colours are available from authorised Samsung smartphone distributors.
Samsung also offers three online-exclusive, two-tone colours for the Z Flip3 - Gray, White, and Pink. These are only available via Samsung’s online store.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 pricing and availability in SG
The Galaxy Z Flip3 officially retails at S$1,398 (128GB) and S$1,498 (256GB). Not only are they on par with the starting prices seen on the Galaxy S21 series flagship phones, but the Z Flip3 also has the lowest official starting price in its history (the older models launched at S$1,998).
Pre-orders begin on 11 August 2021, 10.30 PM, and the phones are officially launched on 10 September 2021. Consumers who pre-order the Z Flip3 can start receiving the device as early as 2 September 2021.
Accessory | Colour | RRP |
---|---|---|
Leather Cover | Black, Green, Yellow | S$118 |
Aramid Cover | Black | S$108 |
Silicon Cover with Strap | Dark Blue, White | S$68 |
Silicon Cover with Ring | Dark Blue, Green, Mint, Pink, Violet | S$68 |
Clear Cover with Ring | N/A | S$58 |