Plum Ram 9 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we pit a budget-friendly contender, the Plum Ram 9, against the innovative Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your lifestyle and wallet.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the clear winner, offering vastly superior performance, camera capabilities, and a unique foldable design. The Plum Ram 9 provides a budget-friendly option, but sacrifices significantly in key areas. It's a value pick for those on a very tight budget.

PHONES
Phone Names Plum Ram 9 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 401, 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 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2020, February 10. Released 2020, April2021, August 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 27
Body
Build-Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions133.4 x 64.4 x 15.8 mm (5.25 x 2.54 x 0.62 in)Unfolded: 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
Weight109 g (3.84 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) FlashlightIPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Resolution240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density)1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~20.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT LCD, 256K colorsFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 -Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels
Platform
CPUDual-coreOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6572MQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPU-Adreno 660
OSKaiOS 2.5Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHCNo
Internal4GB 512MB 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
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single5 MP10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video480p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flashHDR
Single1.3 MP10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video-4K@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.05.1, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
Sensors-Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube, Google AssistSamsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging-15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 1700 mAh, removableLi-Po 3300 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Black/OrangePhantom 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-€ 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)

Plum Ram 9

  • Extremely affordable
  • Basic smartphone functionality

  • Very low performance
  • Poor camera quality
  • Outdated chipset
  • Likely low-resolution display
  • Limited features

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

  • Foldable design
  • Excellent performance
  • Great camera
  • 5G connectivity
  • Vibrant display
  • Fast charging

  • Expensive
  • Foldable screen durability concerns
  • Battery life could be better (though endurance rating is high)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G boasts a vibrant, foldable AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 935 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. Its infinite contrast ratio delivers stunning visuals. The Plum Ram 9 likely features a standard LCD display with significantly lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The Z Flip3's foldable design is a major differentiator.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G's camera system offers significantly better image quality, features, and video recording capabilities. While specific details for the Ram 9 are scarce, it's safe to assume it will offer basic camera functionality with limited resolution and features. The Z Flip3's camera is a major selling point.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888 5G in the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G provides exceptional performance, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. Its octa-core CPU and 5nm architecture are far superior to the Plum Ram 9's dual-core MT6572M chipset. The Ram 9 will struggle with even moderate tasks, exhibiting noticeable lag and slowdowns.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have an endurance rating of 69h, suggesting comparable battery life. However, the Z Flip3's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely contribute to better real-world battery performance despite potentially having a smaller battery capacity. The Z Flip3 also supports faster charging (15W wired, 10W wireless) compared to the Ram 9's likely slower charging.

Buying Guide

The Plum Ram 9 is for users prioritizing affordability above all else, needing basic smartphone functionality and not demanding high performance or advanced features. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is for those seeking a stylish, compact foldable phone with excellent performance, a great camera, and 5G connectivity, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Plum Ram 9 worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and need a basic phone for calls and texts. Don't expect high performance or advanced features.
❓ What are the main differences between the Z Flip3 and the Ram 9?
The Z Flip3 offers a foldable design, significantly better performance, a superior camera, and 5G connectivity. The Ram 9 is much cheaper but lacks these features and has limited capabilities.