Huawei P50 Pocket vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones are no longer a futuristic fantasy; they're a tangible reality. The Huawei P50 Pocket and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G represent two distinct approaches to this innovative form factor. But which one offers the better overall experience?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G edges out the P50 Pocket thanks to its brighter display, 5G connectivity, faster charging, and more polished software. While the P50 Pocket boasts a unique design and impressive battery life, the Z Flip3 offers a more well-rounded package.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50 Pocket Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 78, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 66 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, December 232021, August 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 23Available. Released 2021, August 27
Body
Build-Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mm Folded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mmUnfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Resolution1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 Cover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppiCover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Triple40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF 32 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm, AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 UV illuminatorSamsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 3300 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, SilverPhantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White
ModelsBAL-AL00, BAL-L49SM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110
PriceAbout 870 EUR€ 279.00 / $ 208.04 / £ 215.00
SAR EU-0.86 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 66h Endurance rating 69h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -30.1 LUFS (Below average) -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 768513 (v9) GeekBench: 3077 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P50 Pocket

  • Unique and luxurious design
  • Excellent battery life (66h)
  • Impressive camera hardware

  • No 5G connectivity
  • Slower charging (40W)
  • Software experience may lack polish compared to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

  • Brighter display (935 nits)
  • 5G connectivity
  • Faster charging (15W wired, 10W wireless)
  • More polished software experience

  • Design less distinctive than P50 Pocket
  • Battery life slightly less than P50 Pocket
  • Camera performance can be inconsistent

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 935 nits, significantly brighter than the P50 Pocket's 803 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Z Flip3's superior brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The cover screen on the Z Flip3 is also more functional, allowing for quick notifications and actions.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a complex area. Both offer versatile camera systems, but the Z Flip3 generally produces more consistent and reliable results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The P50 Pocket's camera hardware is impressive, but software optimization is key, and Samsung often has an edge here. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both phones share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, albeit with a 5G variant in the Z Flip3. Performance will be largely comparable for everyday tasks and gaming. The Z Flip3's 5G connectivity provides a distinct advantage for faster data speeds where available.

Battery Life

The Huawei P50 Pocket and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G trade blows in battery life. The P50 Pocket achieves an endurance rating of 66 hours, while the Z Flip3 manages 69 hours. In real-world usage, both offer all-day battery life, but the P50 Pocket might have a slight edge.

Buying Guide

The Huawei P50 Pocket is ideal for users prioritizing a luxurious design, long battery life, and a unique aesthetic. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is best suited for those seeking a more versatile foldable with 5G connectivity, faster charging, and a more mainstream software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P50 Pocket worth buying if I don't need 5G?
If you prioritize design and battery life over 5G connectivity, the P50 Pocket is a compelling option. However, consider the software limitations and slower charging.
❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?
Both phones utilize durable hinge mechanisms, but Samsung has a longer track record with foldable phones and generally offers more robust build quality. The Z Flip3 is considered slightly more durable overall.