Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip: What’s new?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Galaxy Z Flip: What's new?

(Image credit: Future)

At present that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has been officially revealed, yous may be wondering if it'southward the next Android flagship phone for you. And if you have the original Galaxy Z Flip (or its 5G variant) then you lot might be weighing up if it's worth upgrading.

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the bigger foldable phone star for the Due south Korean company, the Milky way Z Flip 3 isn't to exist dismissed. On the whole it's non massively different to its predecessor, but there are changes that certainly heave its appeal.

Samsung Milky way Z Flip 3 hands-on review: Kickoff foldable telephone under $1,000
Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold two: What's changing in the new model
Plus: How to pre-society Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

So read this Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs. Galaxy Z Flip comparison for a complete wait at what Samsung's inverse from version to version.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs. Milky way Z Flip: Specs

	Galaxy Z Flip 3	Galaxy Z Flip
Price	From $999	From $1,199
CPU	Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon 855 Plus
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	128, 256GB	128, 256GB
Cover brandish	one.9 inches (260 x 512)	one.one-inch (300 x 112)
Main display	half dozen.7 inches (2640 x 1080); 120Hz adaptive	half-dozen.vii-inch (2636 10 1080); 60Hz
Rear cameras	12MP (f/ane.8) main, 12MP (f/ii.ii) ultra-wide ultrawide	12MP (f/1.eight) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide ultrawide
Forepart camera	10MP (f/two.4)	10MP (f/2.0)
Battery	3,300 mAh	three,300 mAh
Charging	15W wired, 10W wireless (not included)	15W wired, 10W wireless
Size	3.4 x 2.8 10 0.63-0.67 inches (airtight); 6.5 x two.8 10 0.27 inches (open)	iii.four 10 2.9 x 0.61-0.68 inches (closed); six.vi x two.ix x 0.28 inches (open up)
Weight	half-dozen.5 ounces	6.v ounces

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs. Milky way Z Flip: Price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip debuted at $1,380 in early 2020, only saw its toll drop over the subsequent xviii months to $1,199 for the 5G version. That price tag is a lot more palatable than the original sticker price, but it still made the foldable telephone as expensive as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The Milky way Z Flip 3 sports a more aggressive toll tag from the ge- get with the entry-level model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage starting at $999. Double the storage sees the cost jump to $1,049, which gives the Galaxy Z Flip 3 a flagship price tag, but one that hands beats its predecessor'southward at launch.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs. Galaxy Z Flip: Blueprint and display

At first glance not a lot has changed betwixt the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip. Both retain the same vertical folding flip phone pattern.

Merely the Galaxy Z Flip iii at present has a larger rear photographic camera section, and a bigger cover display that measures in at 1.ix inches equally opposed to the slender 1.1-inch display of the first Flip. This makes reading notifications at a glance a lot easier on the new foldable phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 — (Prototype credit: Hereafter)

The main display measures the aforementioned for both phones at 6.7 inches, with both the original Galaxy Z Fold and the newcomer offer a full-Hd+ resolution. But the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate on its main brandish, giving it a much snapper response fourth dimension to the Milky way Z Flip's 60Hz panel.

There's still a distinct crease in the Galaxy Z Flip 3'due south display, and until we compare it side-by-side with the original Flip, information technology'southward tricky to tell if the folding expanse of the brandish is less noticeable.

The Galaxy Z Flip has a solid range of colors — Mirror Purple, Mirror Blackness and Mirror Gilt. The Milky way Z Flip three drops the fingerprint-attracting mirror finish just has a wider range of colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Lavander, Green, Greyness, White and Light Pink. The Lavender end is especially striking and offers a glossier take on the bonny Phantom Violet seen on the Samsung Milky way S21.

In that location's an additional fundamental deviation between the two phones but it's non visible to the naked eye. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with IPX8 water resistance, which means it should survive a dunk in water more readily than the Galaxy Z Flip, which had no water resistance rating to speak of. The new Flip as well comes with Armour Aluminium, which is "the strongest aluminum ever used on a smartphone," according to Samsung. In that location's Gorilla Glass Victus on the new phone's chassis, too.

In curt, it'south a case of evolution non revolution in terms of design betwixt Flip generations. But the larger notification display and the 120Hz refresh charge per unit certainly make the Galaxy Z Flip 3 more appealing than its predecessor.

Samsung Milky way Z Flip iii vs. Milky way Z Flip: Cameras

Both Flip phones have a pair of rear cameras. And both come up with 12MP sensors, with 1 chief camera and a secondary snapper designed for ultra-wide angle photography.

As such, don't expect a massive boost in smartphone photography chops from the Galaxy Z Flip to the Galaxy Z Flip three. But Samsung has been refining its camera software, with enhancements to portrait mode and indoor photography.

We'd need to compare the two phones side-past-side before nosotros come to any concrete conclusions, But information technology would announced that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will have a slight edge.

Samsung Milky way Z Flip 3 vs. Galaxy Z Flip: Performance and software

With the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, the Galaxy Z Flip iii beats the Galaxy Z Flip's older Snapdragon 855 Plus flake. The latter is by no means a slouch, only if you lot want the most powerful flip telephone, so the latest Flip is the phone to get.

From some early hands-on apply, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 feels snappy and responsive, though how much of a functioning difference yous'll detect between it and its predecessor volition likely depend on what apps and games you're running. The 120Hz display of the Galaxy Z Flip iii will likely be the biggest correspondent to how smooth the new foldable feels over its predecessor.

With both phones sporting 8GB of RAM, either Galaxy Z Flip model tin can handle multiple apps open at once. Nosotros'd possibly have liked Samsung to have put12GB in the Galaxy Z Flip 3 given its flagship price tag, but 8GB is still plenty.

Samsung came out with split LTE and 5G versions of the original Galaxy Z Flip. A 5G modem comes included with the Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip so the Galaxy Z Flip 3 can work with the new networking standard.

With Android 11 and One UI 3.ane out of the box, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with more than advanced software than the Galaxy Z Flip did, though that phone will however get the latest Android and Samsung updates.

However, Samsung claims information technology'due south fabricated improvements to the nifty Flex mode. That mode allows users to view content in the superlative half of the screen while the lower half is used to prop up the Flip and control information technology; not unlike a very small laptop. Samsung said that the Flex mode Panel option now provides more than user-friendly controls and noted there'll be more apps that back up it than there were with the original Flip. Once again, we'll need more time to endeavor this out earlier we come to any major conclusions.

Samsung Milky way Z Flip 3 vs. Galaxy Z Flip: Bombardment and charging

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 uses a 3,300 mAh battery and charging remains at 15W. The original Flip didn't exactly impress us in terms of longevity, lasting 8 hours and xvi minutes before information technology gave up the ghost in our battery test (continuous spider web surfing over cellular).

No battery boost or faster charging is a scrap disappointing in the Galaxy Z Flip 3, though hopefully, the Snapdragon 888 proves to be more power efficient. But nosotros'd not concur out as well much promise that this foldable volition have the endurance to find a spot on our best telephone bombardment life listing.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip three vs. Galaxy Z Flip: Outlook

From our first impressions and hands on, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 offers a decent upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip — only non enough of ane to rush out and buy it if you have the original Flip.

However, if you're looking to motility abroad from standard smartphones into foldables in a flip form factor, and then the Galaxy Z Flip 3 looks like the one to go, especially given the substantial drop in price.

We're a little disappointed that there's no major camera upgrade or battery heave over the older Flip. But the 120Hz brandish, larger comprehend brandish and lower cost aid go some way to making the Milky way Z Flip 3 a rather appealing foldable telephone. Brand sure to cheque back with Tom's Guide for our full review in one case we stop testing our Galaxy Z Flip three.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is U.Thou. Editor at Tom'southward Guide with a focus on news, features and stance articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he'due south also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk-bound Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his confront.