Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3: A Clear Step Forward

It may be small, but this foldable could be just what the Koreans need in order to make their case

The Galaxy Z Flip3 might look like Fold3’s “little brother” but they share many important features despite the cost difference. (Image: Samsung)

During the same Unpacked event the Galaxy Z Fold3 was introduced, Samsung unveiled its other new foldable smartphone for 2021, the Galaxy Z Flip3. This device is more or less seen as Fold's "little brother" - not just because it's smaller either - but, truth be told, the new Flip may be more important between the two under the current circumstances. Why? Because, simply put, it's the one most people are likely to see out there!

It's true: although the cost of €1099/1149 for the 128GB/256GB version of Flip3 respectively is not exactly pocket change, it's still way more affordable than the €1899/€1999 Fold3 models are going for. Yes, there are big differences between the two foldables, including those screens, system memory and battery, but the Flip3 does retain many important features of its "bigger brother", including the powerful main processor (Snapdragon 888), most of the cameras and 5G compatibility. Make no mistake: this is a flagship smartphone through and through, just more... pocketable.

When opened, the Galaxy Z Flip3 can be used as a normal, large, powerful smartphone with no compromises. (Image: Samsung)

Samsung has also made a lot of other improvements to the new Flip compared to its predecessor. The Flip3's cover screen is much bigger (so much more useful), it's IPX8-certified water-resistant, its frame uses the same strong new "Armor Aluminum" material the Fold3 does, as well as Corning's strongest glass (the Victus). It weighs exactly the same as last year's Flip but manages to be a bit smaller. What's not to like?

The user experience can't be the same, of course, because the Flip3 cannot hope to emulate a small tablet as the Fold3 strives to do. Its size also means that in order to be used as a "proper" smartphone - in the way we are now used to handle smartphones with sizable screens - it has to be opened (the Fold3 can do a lot of things with its big cover screen alone). It also can't take advantage of an S-Pen. But the same smaller size means that it can fit literally anywhere and, for such a compact device, the Flip3 really packs a punch: there's hardly anything the Fold3 can do that the Flip3 cannot, regardless of the use case or the app in question.

Although not expressly mentioned, the Galaxy Z Flip3 seems to be targeted mainly at female consumers. (Image: Samsung)

The fashionable size, available colors - Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray and Phantom Black - and even the way Samsung seems to promote it indicate that the Galaxy Z Flip3 is mostly targeted at female consumers demanding a top smartphone regardless of cost. But the Flip3 can also be a foldable phones ambassador more easily than the decidedly larger, pro-looking, much more expensive Fold3… and this may be exactly what Samsung is going for. The Flip3 will be available the same day as the Fold3 (August 27th). Hands-on impressions and verdict, incoming!