Huawei Pocket S 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 Pocket S and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G represent two compelling entries in this burgeoning market. But which one offers the better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G takes the crown thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and faster charging. While the Pocket S boasts a sleek design, the Z Flip3’s overall performance and 5G connectivity make it the more well-rounded choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pocket S 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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
 CDMA2000 1x 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, November 022021, August 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 11Available. Released 2021, August 27
Body
Build-Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mmFolded: 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 (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF12 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
Video4K, 1080p4K@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, 1080p4K@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, 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), NavICGPS, 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), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging40W wired, 52% in 20 min 5W reverse wired15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 3300 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Pink, Gren, Silver, Gold, BlackPhantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White
ModelsBAL-AL60SM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110
PriceAbout 830 EUR€ 279.00 / $ 208.04 / £ 215.00
SAR EU-0.86 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 69h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
OUR TESTS
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 69h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-935 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Pocket S

  • Compact and stylish design
  • Smooth user experience
  • Decent camera

  • Less powerful chipset
  • No 5G connectivity
  • Slower charging

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
  • Brighter and higher contrast display
  • Faster charging (wired, wireless, reverse wireless)
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slightly less compact than Pocket S
  • Can be more expensive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 935 nits peak brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Pocket S's display is respectable, but lacks the same punch. The Z Flip3's contrast ratio is also superior, providing richer colors and deeper blacks. Both offer a satisfying foldable experience, but the Z Flip3 wins on technical merit.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Z Flip3 5G generally produces more detailed and vibrant photos and videos. The Snapdragon 888's image processing capabilities are superior. The Z Flip3 also benefits from Samsung's established camera software and features. The Pocket S's camera is decent, but doesn't quite match the Z Flip3's quality.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888 5G in the Z Flip3 5G provides a substantial performance advantage over the Snapdragon 778G 4G in the Pocket S. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the Z Flip3. The Pocket S is still capable, but the difference is noticeable, especially in demanding games or applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer similar endurance ratings (69h), suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage. However, the Z Flip3 5G's faster 15W wired charging significantly reduces charging times compared to the Pocket S's 40W charging. The Z Flip3 also offers wireless and reverse wireless charging, adding to its versatility.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Pocket S is ideal for users prioritizing a compact, stylish foldable with a focus on aesthetics and a smooth, albeit less powerful, experience. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is best suited for those seeking a more powerful foldable with 5G connectivity, a brighter display, and faster charging, even if it means a slightly less compact form factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Pocket S worth buying if I don't need 5G?
If 5G isn't a priority and you value a very compact and stylish foldable, the Pocket S can be a good option. However, be aware of its performance limitations compared to the Z Flip3.
❓ Which phone has better durability?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G has undergone more rigorous durability testing and generally considered to be more robust, particularly regarding its hinge mechanism.