Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3: A Compact Foldable Revolution

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3

Definition

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is a clamshell-style foldable smartphone developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics, unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Fold3 on August 11, 2021, and released on August 27, 2021. As the third generation of the Galaxy Z Flip series, it marked a major accessibility push for Samsung’s foldable lineup—offering a compact, pocketable form factor at a more affordable price point than its predecessors. Targeting style-conscious users, casual photographers, and consumers seeking a unique alternative to traditional smartphones, the Z Flip3 introduced key upgrades including water resistance, a larger external display, and a more durable hinge design, cementing its position as a mainstream foldable option.

Core Hardware & Design

1. Design & Displays

The Z Flip3 retains the iconic vertical clamshell foldable form factor, folding in half to fit into small pockets or purses, and unfolding into a standard-sized smartphone.

Aspect	Detailed Specifications
Build Material	Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the cover screen and rear panel; IPX8 water resistance (a first for Samsung’s Z Flip series—survives 1.5m depth for 30 minutes). No dust resistance rating.
Cover Screen (External)	1.9-inch Super AMOLED display with 260×512 resolution, 302 ppi, and 60 Hz refresh rate. Larger than the Z Flip2’s 1.1-inch cover screen, supporting basic functions like notifications, time, weather, music controls, and quick selfie previews.
Main Screen (Internal)	6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 2640×1080 resolution, 425 ppi, 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate (10–120 Hz), and HDR10+ support. Peak brightness reaches 1200 nits (typical brightness: 800 nits). Features a ultra-thin glass (UTG) panel for fold durability, with a small punch-hole cutout for the front camera (no under-display camera).
Hinge Design	Enhanced “Flex Mode” hinge that locks the phone at multiple angles (30°–150°), enabling hands-free use cases like video calls, cooking tutorials, and tripod-free photography. The hinge uses a new dust-resistant structure to reduce debris accumulation.
Dimensions & Weight	Folded: 84.9 × 72.2 × 15.9 mm; Unfolded: 166.0 × 72.2 × 6.9 mm; Weight: 183 g (lightweight for a foldable, making it comfortable for one-handed use).
Color Options	Bold, fashion-forward colors including Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Lavender, Green, and limited-edition hues like Bespoke Edition (customizable front/back color combinations).

2. Processor & Performance

Chipset: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (octa-core: 1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 + 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55), built on a 5 nm process. Paired with an Adreno 660 GPU for gaming and graphics tasks.
RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5 (unexpandable), sufficient for multitasking, social media, and casual gaming.
Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage (no microSD card slot for expansion).
Software: Launched with One UI 3.1 based on Android 11, optimized for foldable-specific features like Flex Mode, App Continuity (seamlessly transitions apps between cover and main screen), and Multi-Active Window (supports split-screen multitasking on the main display). Samsung promised 3 major Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches, extending the device’s usable lifespan.

3. Camera System

The Z Flip3’s camera setup focuses on casual photography and Flex Mode creativity, with no major upgrades to flagship-level specs but practical features for everyday use.

Camera Type	Specifications	Key Features
Rear Dual Camera	1. 12 MP wide-angle camera: f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.76″ sensor size, optical image stabilization (OIS), 77° field of view (FOV)2. 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera: f/2.2 aperture, 123° FOV, no OIS	Supports 4K video recording at 30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60/120 fps, and 720p at 240 fps (slow-motion). Flex Mode enables “hands-free” shooting—using the folded phone as a tripod without extra accessories.
Front Camera (Internal)	10 MP punch-hole camera: f/2.4 aperture, 80° FOV	4K video recording at 30 fps; supports Portrait Mode with depth control. Can also use rear cameras for selfies via the cover screen preview.
Camera Software Features	Single Take (captures photos/videos/boomerangs with one tap), Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and AR Emoji. The cover screen allows quick selfie capture without unfolding the phone.

4. Connectivity & Power

Aspect	Details
Cellular Connectivity	5G support (sub-6 GHz globally; mmWave in select U.S. carriers), 4G LTE, GSM/CDMA, dual-SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) support in most regions.
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC (for Samsung Pay), and GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou). No Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip.
Port & Charging	USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port (supports data transfer and charging). Charging specs: 15 W wired fast charging (USB Power Delivery), 10 W wireless charging (Qi-certified), and 4.5 W reverse wireless charging (to top up earbuds or smartwatches).
Battery	3300 mAh dual-cell lithium-ion battery (non-removable). Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback, 11 hours of web browsing, or 37 hours of talk time. The dual-cell design is optimized for the foldable form factor, avoiding battery bulging risks.

Key Software & User Experience Features

Flex Mode Optimization: Unlocks unique use cases when the phone is folded at an angle—e.g., video calls (upper screen for display, lower for controls), video recording (upper for viewfinder, lower for settings), and gaming (split-screen for controls and gameplay).
Cover Screen Customization: Users can personalize the external display with widgets, clock faces, and app shortcuts for quick access without unfolding the phone.
App Continuity: Apps seamlessly switch between the cover screen and main display when folding/unfolding—e.g., continuing a YouTube video or chat conversation without interruption.
Water Resistance: A landmark feature for the Z Flip series, allowing the phone to withstand accidental spills or rain exposure (though not recommended for swimming or dust-prone environments).

Key Differentiators vs. Predecessors (Z Flip & Z Flip2)

IPX8 Water Resistance: The first Z Flip model with water protection, addressing a major durability complaint of earlier generations.
Larger Cover Screen: The 1.9-inch external display is nearly double the size of the Z Flip2’s, enabling more practical functionality beyond basic notifications.
Affordable Pricing: Positioned at a lower price point than the Z Flip and Z Flip2, making foldable technology accessible to mainstream consumers.
Enhanced Hinge Durability: The improved hinge design reduces dust buildup and supports more stable Flex Mode angles.

Target Audience & Legacy

Discontinuation: Samsung officially discontinued the Z Flip3 in August 2022, replacing it with the Galaxy Z Flip4.

Target Users: Style-focused consumers, young adults, casual smartphone users who prioritize portability and uniqueness over flagship camera/performance specs, and those seeking a compact alternative to large traditional smartphones.

Legacy: The Galaxy Z Flip3 was a commercial breakthrough for Samsung’s foldable lineup, becoming one of the best-selling foldable phones of 2021–2022. It proved that foldable devices could appeal to mainstream audiences when priced competitively and equipped with key durability features like water resistance. It paved the way for subsequent generations (Z Flip4, Z Flip5) to refine the clamshell form factor further.