Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G vs. Z Flip3 5G: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Foldable Ecosystem
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the power user and productivity enthusiast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is the clear winner. Its larger display and longer 75-hour endurance rating outweigh the Z Flip3’s compact form factor. However, for those prioritizing style, portability, and a lower price point, the Z Flip3 remains a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - Europe | 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, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 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 (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 11 | 2021, August 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 27 | Available. Released 2021, August 27 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame | Plastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mmFolded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 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 | 271 g (9.56 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) Stylus support | IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1768 x 2208 pixels (~374 ppi density) | 1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.6 inches, 179.9 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 6.2 inches, 832 x 2268 pixels, 25:9 ratio | Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+ | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 4 MP, f/1.8, 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired 11W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless | 15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 3300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, Thom Browne Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition | Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White |
| Models | SM-F926B, SM-F926B/DS, SM-F926U, SM-F926U1, SM-F926W, SM-F9260, SM-F926N | SM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110 |
| Price | € 453.57 / $ 367.74 / £ 449.99 | € 279.00 / $ 208.04 / £ 215.00 |
| SAR | 0.73 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) | 0.86 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 75h | Endurance rating 69h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 635918 (v8), 752218 (v9) GeekBench: 12719 (v4.4), 3239 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- Larger, more versatile display for multitasking
- Longer battery life (75h endurance)
- Faster 25W wired charging
- Potentially better thermal management
- Bulkier and heavier design
- Higher price point
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- More compact and pocketable design
- Slightly brighter display (935 nits)
- More affordable price
- Stylish and unique form factor
- Shorter battery life (69h endurance)
- Slower 15W wired charging
Display Comparison
The most striking difference lies in the displays. The Z Fold3 boasts a 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the Z Flip3 features a 6.7-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X. Both achieve excellent color accuracy, but the Z Flip3 edges out the Z Fold3 in peak brightness at 935 nits versus 922 nits, making it slightly more visible in direct sunlight. The Z Fold3’s larger canvas is ideal for split-screen multitasking and viewing content, while the Z Flip3’s cover screen offers quick access to notifications and widgets without unfolding the device. Both utilize adaptive refresh rates, but the Z Fold3’s larger panel demands more power.
Camera Comparison
Both devices share the same core camera capabilities – Photo and Video – but details on sensor size and specific features are absent. Given the Z Fold3’s positioning as a premium device, it likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a slightly larger main sensor, though this is speculative. The Z Flip3’s camera system is geared towards convenience and social media sharing, while the Z Fold3 aims for a more versatile photography experience. Without specific sensor details, a definitive camera comparison is difficult, but the Z Fold3’s larger size allows for more complex camera modules.
Performance
Both the Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring an octa-core CPU configuration identical in both devices. This means raw processing power is virtually the same for tasks like app launching and general navigation. However, the Z Fold3’s larger size allows for slightly better thermal dissipation, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained, demanding tasks. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the Z Fold3’s larger form factor could accommodate more RAM configurations, though this isn’t explicitly stated in the provided data. The real-world performance difference will be minimal for most users.
Battery Life
Battery life is a key differentiator. The Z Fold3 achieves an endurance rating of 75 hours, while the Z Flip3 manages 69 hours. This 6-hour difference is significant, reflecting the Z Fold3’s larger battery capacity. The Z Fold3 supports 25W wired charging, compared to the Z Flip3’s 15W, resulting in faster charging times. Both offer 11W/10W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Z Fold3’s faster charging and longer endurance make it the better choice for heavy users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G if you need a device for multitasking, content creation, and immersive media consumption, and value a larger screen real estate for productivity. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G if you prefer a compact, stylish phone that easily fits in your pocket, and prioritize portability and a more affordable entry point into the foldable world.