Surface Duo vs. Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: A Deep Dive into Folding Phone Philosophies
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing portability and a modern smartphone experience, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the better choice. Its newer Snapdragon 888 chipset, brighter display, and more compact form factor outweigh the Surface Duo’s unique dual-screen functionality for most.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Microsoft Surface Duo | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 12. Released 2020, September 10 | 2021, August 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 27 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) | Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 186.9 x 145.2 x 4.8 mm Folded: 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9 mm | Unfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 250 g (8.82 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Stylus support | IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1800 x 2700 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.1 inches, 195.4 cm2 (~144.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Folded position display: 5.6 inches, AMOLED, 1350 x 1800 pixels (4:3) | Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | 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 |
| Features | HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 11 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | Uses main camera | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, proximity, dual compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3577 mAh | Li-Po 3300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White | Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White |
| Models | - | SM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110 |
| Price | About 650 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) |
Microsoft Surface Duo
- Unique dual-screen multitasking experience
- Larger overall screen real estate
- Potentially better for reading and document editing
- Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Limited charging options (no wireless)
- Bulky and less pocketable design
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Compact and stylish clamshell design
- Smaller screen size when unfolded
- Foldable display may be more prone to damage
- Limited multitasking compared to the Surface Duo
Display Comparison
The Z Flip3 boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 935 nits, which translates to superior outdoor visibility compared to the Surface Duo’s unspecified brightness. While the Duo offers two screens, effectively doubling the display real estate, the Z Flip3’s single, foldable panel offers a more seamless experience. The Z Flip3’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks, while the Duo’s display technology is not specified, suggesting it may lack the advanced features found in modern smartphone panels.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but the context data lacks specifics for a detailed comparison. However, given Samsung’s history, the Z Flip3 likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. The Surface Duo, launched earlier in the foldable era, likely features a less refined camera system. The absence of sensor details for both devices makes a definitive assessment impossible, but Samsung typically prioritizes camera performance in its flagship devices.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the Surface Duo’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core and improved Adreno GPU deliver faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The 5nm fabrication process also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones share a similar peak CPU clock speed (2.84 GHz), the architectural improvements in the 888 provide a clear advantage.
Battery Life
Both the Surface Duo and Z Flip3 achieve an endurance rating of 69 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing charging capabilities. The Z Flip3 offers 15W wired charging, 10W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, providing greater flexibility. The Surface Duo is limited to 18W wired charging. The Z Flip3’s wireless charging capabilities are a significant convenience feature absent on the Surface Duo, and the reverse wireless charging allows it to top up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Surface Duo if you are a power user who frequently multitasks, reads extensively on a mobile device, or desires a phone that can effectively replace a small tablet. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G if you prioritize a stylish, pocketable design, a more conventional smartphone experience with a strong camera, and the benefits of 5G connectivity.