Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G in review: High-tech foldable smartphone
In our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, we had to criticize the mediocre feel of the display, the inferior call quality, and the lack of storage expansion. While the latter is still present in the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, our review will reveal whether the remaining points of criticism have been addressed.
Our review sample of the Samsung folding phone is equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage, and it's available for approximately 1,050 Euros (~$1,232). This means that it has to face the similarly equipped competition that is priced at a similar level even in the absence of a foldable display.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86.3 % v7 (old) | 09 / 2021 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G SD 888 5G, Adreno 660 | 183 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2640x1080 | |
| 88.6 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2022 | OnePlus 9 Pro SD 888 5G, Adreno 660 | 197 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 3216x1440 | |
| 87.2 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2021 | Sony Xperia 1 III SD 888 5G, Adreno 660 | 186 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.50" | 3840x1644 | |
| 88.9 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2021 | Oppo Find X3 Pro SD 888 5G, Adreno 660 | 193 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 3216x1440 | |
| 82.5 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip SD 855+, Adreno 640 | 183 g | 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.70" | 2636x1080 | |
| 76.1 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2020 | Motorola Razr 2019 SD 710, Adreno 616 | 205 g | 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.20" | 2142x876 |
Case - The Galaxy Z Flip3 is now water-resistant
Samsung uses metal for the frame of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. The exterior is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and the display is once again covered with a protective film. In contrast to the predecessor, the folding phone is now protected against water ingress according to the IPX8 standard, but it's not dust-proof.
The hinge itself makes a very robust impression and allows the screen to be adjusted to almost any angle. The smartphone remains stable up to an angle of approximately 135°, and it only tilts backwards at even flatter angles. There is no latching mechanism for the display to be locked in place.
When opened, the Flip3 5G is the slimmest smartphone in our test field and also the lightest device with a weight of 138 grams (~4.9 oz). A maximum thickness of around 1.5 centimeters (~0.6 in) is reached when folded.
Connectivity - Folding Samsung phone without SD card reader
Alongside an up-to-date SoC, Samsung installs 8 GB of RAM in the Z Flip3 5G. The base version comes with 128 GB of internal storage. For an additional charge of approximately 50 Euros (~$59), a 256 GB capacity is also available.
A microSD card can't be inserted. Furthermore, only one nano SIM slot is available, but an additional eSIM can be set up as well. VoWLAN and VoLTE are supported too.
The USB-C port transfers data according to the 2.0 standard; the Camera2 API supports Level 3, and DRM Widevine L1 is also available.
Software - Several third-party apps
The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is running the Android 11 OS with Samsung's One UI 3.1 interface on top. The experience provided is a bit different from that of pure Android, but users will get used to it after a short familiarization period. The manufacturer uses many of its own applications like in the case of the gallery app, for example.
Furthermore, the appropriate applications for controlling Samsung's wearables and smart home products are already available. With the Galaxy Store, Samsung also offers its own app store. In addition, there are apps from Microsoft as well, but they can be uninstalled easily, just like all the previously mentioned applications.
Communication and GNSS - 5G smartphone with fast Wi-Fi
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G can establish mobile connections by using GSM, 3G, LTE, and 5G networks. Download speeds of up to 2 Gb/s and upload rates of up to 300 Mb/s can be achieved with LTE Cat. 20. However, mmWave 5G is not supported.
In close ranges, data can be transmitted via NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi 6. In conjunction with our reference Netgear Nighthawk AX12 router, Samsung's flip phone achieves Wi-Fi speeds of 816 Mb/s on average for transmitting data and 800 Mb/s for receiving data.
The Z Flip3 5G can determine its location via GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and GLONASS. QZSS and SBAS are also available. Using the "GPS Test" app, we achieved an accuracy of up to four meters (~13 feet) outdoors.
On our usual bike ride, the Samsung smartphone only showed minor deviations in curves compared with our reference device, the Garmin Edge 500.
Telephone and call quality - Clear connection
The Z Flip3 5G's phone app allows users to easily access a numeric keypad as well as to view saved contacts and recent calls. A high volume level is available during calls, and both parties can be understood well. Ambient noise suppression also works reliably.
Cameras - The Z Flip3 5G takes good photos
Samsung equips the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G with a 10 MP camera sensor for selfies. In contrast to the Fold3 5G, this isn't an under-display camera, but rather a punch-hole one. The image quality of portrait shots taken with it is very good. They show many details and good colors, but they exhibit a slight graininess when zoomed in. There are various color filters available for adjusting the image quality. The Pro mode is restricted to the main camera.
The Z Flip3's main camera is equipped with two 12 MP sensors. They both deliver very good pictures with a lot of details and vivid colors. While one sensor takes normal wide-angle and widescreen photos, the second sensor is fitted with an ultra wide-angle lens. There is no optical zoom, which means that only software can be used to zoom in on the subject. The resulting quality is correspondingly moderate, causing images to look blurry and with washed out details. The Flip3's camera can capture our test subject clearly in low-light conditions. Nevertheless, colors look too dark and details a bit blurry. The Pro mode can be used for manual adjustments, allowing customized settings for the ISO, shutter speed, lighting, focus, white balance, and contrast.
Videos are similar in quality to our sample photos. The available resolutions are UHD and Full HD at 30 or 60 fps, respectively, as well as HD at 30 fps. Just like with photos, there's also a professional mode with the same settings plus the option to choose the sound source. The latter can be switched between the phone's microphones, USB, and Bluetooth.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Close-upPanoramaUltra wide-angleZoom (5x)Low-light
Accessories and warranty - No power adapter included
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G only comes with a USB-C cable and a SIM tool in the box. A compatible power adapter and other accessories can be purchased separately from the manufacturer.
Samsung grants buyers of the Z Flip3 5G a 24-month warranty period. The Care+ insurance package is included for free for a year.
Input devices and handling - Responsive despite the crease in the display
The main display of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G can be used like any conventional touchscreen, but it exhibits somewhat inferior gliding properties compared to a model with a fixed glass surface. Taps are reliably picked up at every point, even where the display creases. On the other hand, the small external display responds a bit sluggishly to touch.
Google's GBoard is available for text input, and it can be customized in a variety of ways. The external buttons for volume control and the power button with the integrated fingerprint sensor have a firm pressure point and are also triggered reliably. Unlocking the device with a stored fingerprint usually required several attempts in everyday testing. Face recognition works much better in this regard.
Display - Bright AMOLED panel
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is equipped with a 6.7-inch foldable AMOLED panel. In addition, there's a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display on the outside. The inner display also supports adaptive refresh rates between 10 and 120 Hz. HDR10+ is supported as well.
According to our measurements, the main display achieves a maximum brightness of 430 cd/m² with the ambient light sensor disabled. A very good 1,127 cd/m² is achieved in the APL 50 test. The minimum brightness is 1.99 cd/m². With an average maximum brightness of 820 cd/m², the folding smartphone is able to lead our test field.
PWM is used for brightness control, operating at brightness levels below 2% at a frequency of 120Hz. Above that, the frequency range is between 235.8 and 242.7 Hz.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 97 %
Center on Battery: 832 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 1.4 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
95.3% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.1
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G AMOLED, 2640x1080, 6.7" | OnePlus 9 Pro AMOLED, 3216x1440, 6.7" | Sony Xperia 1 III OLED, 3840x1644, 6.5" | Oppo Find X3 Pro AMOLED, 3216x1440, 6.7" | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Dynamic AMOLED, 2636x1080, 6.7" | Motorola Razr 2019 P-OLED, 2142x876, 6.2" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 8% | -113% | 12% | -42% | -138% | |
| Brightness middle | 832 | 733 -12% | 537 -35% | 759 -9% | 705 -15% | 428 -49% |
| Brightness | 842 | 746 -11% | 539 -36% | 776 -8% | 709 -16% | 428 -49% |
| Brightness Distribution | 97 | 97 0% | 95 -2% | 94 -3% | 97 0% | 89 -8% |
| Black Level * | ||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.9 | 0.95 50% | 4.78 -152% | 0.8 58% | 3.1 -63% | 6.39 -236% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.3 | 2.01 39% | 7.83 -137% | 1.8 45% | 5.4 -64% | 10.83 -228% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.4 | 1.7 -21% | 5.8 -314% | 1.6 -14% | 2.7 -93% | 5 -257% |
| Gamma | 2.1 105% | 2.21 100% | 2.363 93% | 2.23 99% | 2.11 104% | 2.25 98% |
| CCT | 6453 101% | 6591 99% | 7982 81% | 6512 100% | 6264 104% | 7649 85% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 242.7 Hz | ≤ 100 % brightness setting |   |
The display backlight flickers at 242.7 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 242.7 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8437 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
As typical for AMOLEDs, the panel's color reproduction as well as its contrast ratio and black level are excellent. The display can also be customized using the "Vivid" and "Natural" color profiles.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 11 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.7 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 10.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 4.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 22 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.3 ms). | ||
Thanks to the high display brightness, the Z Flip3 5G can be used easily outdoors. Only very flat viewing angles can lead to annoying reflections and glare.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G's panel is very viewing-angle stable. This allows content to be viewed even from flat angles, without colors becoming distorted as a result.
Performance - High-performance smartphone from Samsung
Samsung equips the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G that provides for smooth system operation. In combination with the 8 GB of RAM, benchmark results that are significantly below the average of other smartphones with this SoC are achieved in some cases, depending on the discipline.
| Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (636471 - 824694, n=17) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (99654 - 2056989, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro | |
| Oppo Find X3 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip | |
| Motorola Razr 2019 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (569595 - 740847, n=12) | |
The Z Flip3 5G achieves very good rates in the browser benchmarks, which place it at the top of our test field. As a result, websites can be scrolled through very smoothly, and media content is available quickly.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (77 - 223, n=19) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Pro (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80) | |
| Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (103 - 182, n=18) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Pro (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 4689) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80) | |
| Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=207, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (Chrome 93) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (23491 - 47543, n=20) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Pro (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80) | |
| Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Motorola Razr 2019 (Chrome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (Chrome 80) | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46) | |
| Oppo Find X3 Pro (Chrome 89) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=166, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (891 - 1841, n=20) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (Chrome 93) | |
* ... smaller is better
Our test configuration of the Samsung phone comes with 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The latter achieves good read and write speeds that are only slightly below the average of other devices tested by us.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G | OnePlus 9 Pro | Sony Xperia 1 III | Oppo Find X3 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip | Motorola Razr 2019 | Average 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 5% | 11% | 4% | -22% | -70% | -6% | 45% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1620 | 1995 23% | 1948 20% | 1779 10% | 1443 -11% | 510 -69% | 1577 ? -3% | 2043 ? 26% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 750 | 769 3% | 742 -1% | 759 1% | 523 -30% | 186.4 -75% | 732 ? -2% | 1659 ? 121% |
| Random Read 4KB | 276.6 | 258.7 -6% | 267.8 -3% | 273.3 -1% | 184.5 -33% | 88.6 -68% | 243 ? -12% | 285 ? 3% |
| Random Write 4KB | 250.6 | 254.3 1% | 316.8 26% | 267.1 7% | 212.9 -15% | 80.1 -68% | 239 ? -5% | 327 ? 30% |
Games - Smooth gaming without problems
A Qualcomm Adreno 660 is responsible for displaying image content in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. This internal graphics unit is also suitable for demanding games, and it can run them smoothly at all times.
The titles that we tested, Armajet and PUBG Mobile, didn't exhibit any stutters or the like, even at high graphics settings. Using the touchscreen to control games was possible without issues as well.
Emissions - Stable performance under load
Temperature
The surface temperatures of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G increase up to 35.9 °C (~97 °F) under load. As a result, the Samsung smartphone only warms up moderately and can be held in the hand without problems at all times. Performance is also maintained stable over a prolonged period of time in the Wild Life endurance stress tests.
3DMark Wild Life stress test
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 35.4 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.9 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.7 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The speakers in the Galaxy Z Flip3 provide relatively high volume and a sound spectrum dominated by higher tones. This makes them well suited for voice reproduction. However, external speakers or headphones should be favored when it comes to complex media content, such as music.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 16% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 75% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 38% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
OnePlus 9 Pro audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 64.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 64.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 64.7% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (119% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 87% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 4% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - 9 hours on Wi-Fi
Energy consumption
With a maximum power consumption of 5.89 watts under load and an average of 0.74 watts in our idle scenario, the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a very frugal smartphone.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.26 Watt |
| Idle |  0.46 / 0.74 / 0.78 Watt |
| Load |
4.73 / 5.89 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G 3300 mAh | OnePlus 9 Pro 4500 mAh | Oppo Find X3 Pro 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3300 mAh | Motorola Razr 2019 2510 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -149% | -85% | -23% | -40% | -90% | -82% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.46 | 1.6 -248% | 0.93 -102% | 0.59 -28% | 0.7 -52% | 1.066 ? -132% | 0.872 ? -90% |
| Idle Average * | 0.74 | 2 -170% | 1.54 -108% | 0.88 -19% | 1.2 -62% | 1.58 ? -114% | 1.415 ? -91% |
| Idle Maximum * | 0.78 | 2.4 -208% | 1.69 -117% | 0.95 -22% | 1.8 -131% | 1.733 ? -122% | 1.556 ? -99% |
| Load Average * | 4.73 | 6.2 -31% | 6.38 -35% | 4.97 -5% | 3.2 32% | 5.46 ? -15% | 7.04 ? -49% |
| Load Maximum * | 5.89 | 11 -87% | 9.58 -63% | 8.37 -42% | 5.2 12% | 9.79 ? -66% | 10.6 ? -80% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
The folding smartphone from Samsung achieves a runtime of approximately 9 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. This means that it makes good use of its 3,300 mAh battery, but it doesn't manage to last as long as its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip.
The Z Flip3 5G supports fast charging, which requires a separate power adapter with a 15-watt capacity. Wireless charging with up to 10 watts is possible using the appropriate charging stations.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G 3300 mAh | OnePlus 9 Pro 4500 mAh | Oppo Find X3 Pro 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3300 mAh | Motorola Razr 2019 2510 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 III 4500 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | ||||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 541 | 1002 85% | 757 40% | 647 20% | 469 -13% | 534 -1% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Perfected foldable from Samsung
Like the larger Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, the Z Flip3 5G proves to be an all-around improved version of its predecessor. The bright display, the extremely smooth system, and the good quality of the cameras almost make this phone's distinctive feature fade into oblivion.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a technically mature smartphone that can be stored in a particularly compact way thanks to its foldable screen.
But the foldable screen makes a good impression as well. Although you have to live with a slight ripple at the crease point, this doesn't compromise content reproduction or the touchscreen's responsiveness.
As a result, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a thoroughly accomplished smartphone that only left us wishing for longer battery life and perhaps a memory card reader. Even if you're not interested in the folding feature, the Samsung phone can easily hold its own against rivals like the OnePlus 9 Pro or the Oppo Find X3 Pro.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is widely available from sellers like Amazon (~$925) or Best Buy (~$999), for example.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- 08/31/2022 v7 (old)
Mike Wobker
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