Samsung has unveiled their newest foldable smartphones and one of them is the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. As the name suggests, it’s the successor to the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G from last year. But what has changed? Is the new hardware enough to convince you to upgrade or are you better off with the older model? Find out below.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G |
|---|---|
| Cover Screen: | Cover Screen: |
| 6.2-inch HD+ (2268 x 832) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (24.5:9), 387PPI | 6.23-inch HD+ (2260 x 816) Super AMOLED DIsplay (25:9), 386PPI |
| 120Hz Adaptive refresh rate | |
| Main Screen: | Main Screen: |
| 7.6-inch QXGA+ (2208 x 1768) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display (22.5:18), 374PPI | 7.6-inch QXGA+ (2208 x 1768) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display (22.5:18), 374PPI |
| 120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 120Hz adaptive refresh rate |
| Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G+ SoC |
| 12GB RAM | 12GB RAM |
| 256GB, 512GB UFS 3.1 | 256GB, 512GB UFS 3.1 |
| Triple-rear cameras: | Triple-rear cameras: |
| • 12MP F1.8 Dual Pixel main, OIS | • 12MP F1.8 Dual Pixel main, OIS |
| • 12MP F2.2 Ultra-wide | • 12MP F2.2 Ultra-wide |
| • 12MP F2.4 Telephoto, Dual OIS | • 12MP F2.4 Telephoto, Dual OIS |
| • Gorilla Glass DX coating | |
| 10MP F2.2 cover camera | 10MP F2.2 Cover camera |
| 4MP F1.8 Under display camera | 10MP F2.2 Front camera |
| Nano SIM w/ e-SIM | Nano SIM w/ e-SIM |
| 5G, 4G LTE | 5G, 4G LTE |
| WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo |
| NFC | NFC |
| USB-C | USB-C |
| Fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint scanner |
| Face Unlock | Face Unlock |
| Dual Speakers | Dual Speakers |
| IPX8 water-resistance | |
| Armor Aluminum body | |
| One UI 3.5 (Android 11) | One UI 3.1 (Android 11) |
| 4,000mAh dual battery | 4,500mAh battery w/ 25W fast charge, 11W Fast wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging |
| S Pen Fold Edition, S Pen Pro (supports S Pen) | |
| 158.2 x 67.1 x 16-14.4mm (Folded) | 159.2 x 68 x 13.8-16.8mm (Folded) |
| 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4mm (Unfolded) | 159.2 x 128.2 x 6.9mm (Unfolded) |
| 271g | 282g |
| Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver | Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black, Thom Browne Edition, Aston Martin Racing Edition |
Table of Contents
Display
The design of the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is pretty much the same. It still sports two screens: a cover screen and a much larger main screen. When it comes to the cover screen, it’s pretty much identical in screen size and resolution with a negligible difference.
There’s a difference, though, which is the panel used, as the new Z Fold3 5G has Dynamic AMOLED 2X, which is Super AMOLED but with HDR10+ support. It also has a 120Hz Adaptive refresh rate, which the Z Fold2 5G is lacking.
For the main screen, it’s pretty much the same, with its 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display with 120Hz Adaptive refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus. There’s a hidden difference here, though, which we will discuss later.
Processor
Both devices are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC, so we can expect the same level of performance from both.
RAM and Storage
When it comes to memory, the two models are still identical. Both are offered with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of 512GB of UFS 3.1.
Cameras
The cameras are also almost identical. For the rear cameras, we still have three shooters of 12MP resolution and the same configuration. However, the lenses on the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G have Gorilla Glass DX coating for extra scratch resistance.
For the cover camera, both are the same at 10MP, but the front-facing camera in the main screen has a much lower 4MP resolution compared to the predecessor’s 10MP. However, that 4MP shooter uses an under-display tech, meaning you won’t see any hole-punch on it for a display with a more seamless look.
Connectivity and Features
For connectivity, we still get Nano-SIM with e-SIM, WiFi 6, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and USB-C. Biometric features are also retained.
What’s new though is the IPX8 water resistance, armor aluminum body, and the introduction of the S Pen Fold Edition, which is exclusive for the Galaxy Z Fold3, and the S Pen Pro, which is a larger S Pen with Bluetooth, LED indicator, USB Socket, and compatibility with other devices that support the S Pen. This is a great feature considering the large screen.
Battery
In terms of battery, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G gets a lower capacity at 4,000mAh compared to the 4,500mAh of the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. Both support fast charging and wireless charging capabilities.
Price
The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is priced at PHP 87,990 for the 256GB model and PHP 95,990 for the 512GB. That’s more affordable than the PHP 109,990 Galaxy Z Fold2 5G 256GB when it launched last year.
Summary of improvements of the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G:
• Dynamic AMOLED 2X Cover Screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate
• Gorilla Glass DX coating on the triple-rear cameras
• Newer and more powerful CPU
• 4MP under-display front camera
• S-Pen
• IPX8 water resistance
• Armor aluminum body
Is it worth the upgrade?
If you still have the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, I don’t think there’s a compelling reason to upgrade. It’s still a powerful device and will have most of the software features, except for the S Pen. However, if you’re buying your first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a great start. It has notable refinements and new features over its predecessor. But if you can still find a Galaxy Z Fold2 5G in the market, that’s also a good choice if you have a lower budget.
READ: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G specs, price in the Philippines
READ: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G First Impressions
READ: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G First Impressions
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