Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 vs. Z Fold3: Which Folding Phone Reigns Supreme?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is the superior choice. Its significantly improved battery life (101h vs 75h) and more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset translate to a smoother, longer-lasting experience. While the Z Fold3 remains a capable device, the Z Fold4’s refinements justify the price premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 |
| 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, 7, 8, 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 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 (7CA) 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 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 11 | 2022, August 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 27 | Available. Released 2022, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), 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: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mmFolded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 271 g (9.56 oz) | 263 g (9.28 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) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1768 x 2208 pixels (~374 ppi density) | 1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.6 inches, 179.9 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~90.9% 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: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratio | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 12L, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+ | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), 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 | 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, 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 | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired 11W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4400 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, Thom Browne Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition | Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy |
| Models | SM-F926B, SM-F926B/DS, SM-F926U, SM-F926U1, SM-F926W, SM-F9260, SM-F926N | SM-F936B, SM-F936B/DS, SM-F936U, SM-F936U1, SM-F936N, SM-F936W, SM-F9360 |
| Price | € 453.57 / $ 367.74 / £ 449.99 | $ 457.00 / € 511.80 / £ 485.00 / ₹ 73,899 |
| SAR | 0.73 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) | 0.96 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) | 1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 75h | Endurance rating 101h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | -28.3 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 635918 (v8), 752218 (v9) GeekBench: 12719 (v4.4), 3239 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 964530 (v9) GeekBench: 3981 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- More affordable price point
- Still a capable foldable experience
- Mature software optimization
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Less powerful processor
- Lower peak display brightness
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
- Superior battery life (101h endurance)
- Faster and more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Brighter display (1000 nits)
- Faster charging speeds
- Higher price tag
- May not represent a massive leap for all users
- Similar camera hardware to Z Fold3
Display Comparison
Both devices feature dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, but the Z Fold4 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1000 nits compared to the Z Fold3’s 922 nits, resulting in improved visibility in direct sunlight. While both offer infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the Z Fold4’s panel benefits from refinements in color calibration and potentially a more durable UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) layer, though specific improvements aren't detailed in the provided data. The Z Fold4’s display is marginally better for outdoor use and potentially longer-term durability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones share a 'Photo / Video' camera configuration, lacking specific sensor details in the provided data. However, Samsung’s image processing algorithms typically improve with each generation. While the core hardware may be similar, the Z Fold4 likely benefits from enhanced software optimizations for noise reduction, dynamic range, and low-light performance. Without detailed sensor specs, it’s difficult to quantify the difference, but the Z Fold4 is expected to deliver slightly better image quality overall.
Performance
The Z Fold4’s Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a substantial leap over the Z Fold3’s SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 4nm process node delivers superior thermal efficiency, meaning the Z Fold4 can sustain peak performance for longer periods without throttling. The CPU architecture also sees an upgrade, with the Cortex-X2 core in the Z Fold4 clocked at 3.19 GHz versus the Z Fold3’s 2.84 GHz Cortex-X1. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The Z Fold4 is demonstrably faster and more efficient.
Battery Life
The Z Fold4’s endurance rating of 101 hours is a significant improvement over the Z Fold3’s 75 hours. This is a direct result of the more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and likely optimizations in power management. While both support 25W wired charging, the Z Fold4 advertises a 50% charge in 30 minutes, suggesting faster charging speeds in practice. The Z Fold4’s 15W wireless charging is also an upgrade over the Z Fold3’s 11W, offering more convenient charging options. The Z Fold4’s battery life is a clear win.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G if you're seeking a more affordable entry point into the world of foldable phones and prioritize a lower initial cost over peak performance and battery endurance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 if you demand the best possible foldable experience, prioritizing all-day battery life, faster processing speeds, and a slightly brighter, more refined display for demanding tasks and extended use.