Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 vs Z Flip3 5G: The Ultimate Foldable Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series has revolutionized the smartphone landscape with its compact, foldable design. But with each iteration, improvements are made. We're pitting the Z Flip4 against its predecessor, the Z Flip3 5G, to determine which offers the best experience and value. Is the upgrade worth it?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Z Flip4 offers a noticeable upgrade over the Z Flip3 5G, primarily due to its more powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, improved battery life, and slightly refined design. While the Z Flip3 remains a compelling option, the Z Flip4 delivers a smoother, more future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 78, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 66 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE (6CA), 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, August 102021, August 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 25Available. Released 2021, August 27
Body
BuildPlastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum framePlastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1 mmUnfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight187 g (6.60 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)IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+)Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 660
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 15, One UI 7Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm12 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 flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps4K@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, 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
 Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 3700 mAhLi-Po 3300 mAh
Misc
ColorsBora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue, Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, RedPhantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White
ModelsSM-F721B, SM-F721B/DS, SM-F721N, SM-F721U, SM-F721U1, SM-F721W, SM-F7210SM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110
Price$ 214.99 / C$ 334.00 / £ 219.00 / € 284.00 / ₹ 40,999€ 279.00 / $ 208.04 / £ 215.00
SAR1.02 W/kg (head)     0.94 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.15 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (body)0.86 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 92h Endurance rating 69h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 685754 (v8) | 800001 (v9) GeekBench: 3913 (v5.1) GFXBench: 74fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

  • More powerful processor
  • Improved battery life
  • Refined design
  • Better camera processing
  • Faster charging (wired)

  • Higher price
  • Still a relatively fragile design

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

  • Lower price
  • Vibrant display
  • Compact and stylish
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower performance
  • Shorter battery life
  • Older chipset

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a vibrant, foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The Z Flip3 boasts a slightly higher peak brightness of 935 nits compared to the Z Flip4's 919 nits, but the difference is minimal and unlikely to be noticeable in most real-world scenarios. Both offer excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. The external cover screen is also improved on the Z Flip4 with better responsiveness and functionality.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Z Flip4 features improvements in image processing and low-light performance. The Z Flip4's camera tends to produce more natural-looking images, while the Z Flip3 can sometimes over-saturate colors. Both offer similar video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Z Flip4's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is a significant upgrade over the Z Flip3's Snapdragon 888 5G. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The Z Flip4 handles demanding tasks with ease, while the Z Flip3 can occasionally show signs of strain.

Battery Life

The Z Flip4 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 92h compared to the Z Flip3's 69h. This means the Z Flip4 can comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Z Flip3 may require a top-up before the end of the day.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, battery life, and the latest technology in a compact foldable form factor. It's a great choice for those already invested in the Samsung ecosystem. The Z Flip3 5G is a better buy for budget-conscious consumers who still want the foldable experience and don't need the absolute best performance or longest battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Z Flip4 worth the upgrade from the Z Flip3?
If you prioritize performance, battery life, and the latest features, then yes. The Z Flip4 offers a noticeable improvement in key areas. However, if you're on a budget, the Z Flip3 remains a solid option.
❓ How durable are these foldable phones?
Foldable phones are inherently more delicate than traditional smartphones. While Samsung has made improvements to durability, it's still important to handle them with care and consider a protective case.