FOLD IT AGAIN

Samsung’s new Fold3 now has S Pen functionality and better pricing

- SHAWN CHUNG

With the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Samsung is the first brand to release its fourth generation of foldable devices, and while both premium devices now boast better durability and functionality, they also mark a shift down in prices, bringing them close to Samsung’s mainstream Galaxy S, especially as it is possible that the Galaxy Note series has now been discontinued, and replaced by the Galaxy Z Fold.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G come with Samsung’s new Armor Aluminium frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus to protect these devices from accidental drops and scratches, while IPX8 water resistance means they’ll easily handle an accidental drop into a 1.5m pool. Screen durability has also been upgraded with the use of a new stretchable PET protective film. Both new Galaxy Z devices are 5G enabled as they use Qualcomm’s 5nm Snapdragon 888 SoC.

With the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Samsung has updated this foldable with a new 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that now comes with an under-display selfie camera, so that when the camera is not in use, it’s ‘hidden’ under a ‘pixel patch’ to make it less obtrusive. S Pen functionality has also been added, though you need to use a specific S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro that have specifically engineered retractable Pro tips for use on the Galaxy Z Fold3’s main screen. The main UI has also been improved for multitasking, with a new Taskbar to quickly switch between apps.

The Galaxy Z Fold3’s Cover Screen retains its 6.2-inch size, but now comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus, which also protects the camera module, which uses the same sensors as the Galaxy Z Fold2.