Samsung has announced its latest attempts to make foldable phones a thing – the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G.
Now in its third generation, Samsung’s latest foldable phones are more durable than ever. They both feature IPX8 water resistance (you can submerge in water 1.5m deep for up to 30 minutes), which is a first on a foldable smartphone, and are made with what Samsung calls Armor Aluminium, the strongest aluminium ever used on a Galaxy smartphone.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus has been employed to protect against scratches and accidental drops and will come with a new stretchable PET protective film. Samsung says the new optimised display panels are 80 per cent more durable than the previous devices. Meanwhile, the signature Hideaway Hinge can now withstand folding 200,000 times and also features an improved sweeper with shorter bristles.
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
The Fold phone has always been Samsung’s flagship in pushing boundaries, and the Fold3 is no different. It’s sleeker, thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and is available in three colours: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, and Phantom Silver.
You’d expect the main screen to be a blockbuster, and it doesn’t disappoint. The Fold3 features a 7.6″ Infinity Flex Display (Dynamic AMOLED 2X) with no visible camera – the camera is hidden underneath. The new Eco display is 29 per cent brighter than the display on Fold2 and consumes less energy as well. Both main and cover screens feature 120Hz adaptive refresh rate panels.
The new Fold3 also has a larger 6.2″ Cover Screen (Dynamic AMOLED 2X) so you can do more – like browsing notifications or taking a selfie – without having to open the device.
And for the first time in the folding series, the Fold3 supports the use of the S Pen, which has to be bought separately. Specifically, you can only get the S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro, because they have retractable tips that limit the force on the display. Samsung also says that this is their best S Pen experience, thanks in part to improved latency for a more natural feel. One downside; there isn’t a slot built into the phone to hold the stylus, though you can get a flip case with a storage slot for the stylus.
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Available in four colours – Cream, Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black – the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the hip and trendy cousin, which also features new stylish ring grips and strap cases. Three more exclusive colours – Grey, Pink, and White – will be available only at the Samsung Online Store.
Like the Fold3 the 1.9″ Cover Screen (Super AMOLED) on the Flip3 is larger than its predecessor’s (it’s four times bigger). Apart from checking the widgets onscreen for information like step count, Samsung Pay is built directly into the Cover Screen to make purchases easier.
The 6.7″ (Dynamic AMOLED 2X) main screen on the Flip3 gets the 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate treatment as well, and that’s paired with upgraded stereo speakers certified for Dolby Atmos.
The new Flex Mode Panel opens up possibilities; you can watch videos on the top half while controlling the playback with the bottom half, or take hands-free selfies. Even when completely folded, you can snap pictures or videos via the Cover Screen by double-pressing the power button.
Pricing
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G (Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver)
- 512GB: $2,548
- 256GB: $2,398
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, and Online Exclusives: Grey, Pink, White)
- 256GB: $1,498
- 128GB: $1,398
Galaxy X Fold3 5G Accessories
- Note Package: $128
- Leather Flip Cover (Black, Brown, Green): $128
- Flip Cover with S Pen (Black): $118
- Leather Cover (Black, Brown, Green): $118
- Aramid Cover (Black): $108
- Silicon Cover (Black, Green, White): $68
- S Pen Pro: $168
- S Pen Fold Edition: $78
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Accessories
- Leather Cover (Black, Green, Yellow): $118
- Aramid Cover (Black): $108
- Silicon Cover with Strap (Dark Blue, White): $68
- Silicon Cover with Ring (Dark Blue, Green, Mint, Pink, Violet): $68
- Clear Cover with Ring (Clear): $58
Availability and pre-order
The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G will officially go on sale in Singapore on 10 September 2021 at 10 am. But you can pre-order of course, and here’s how.
From now, you can pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G from Samsung Online Store or Samsung Official Store in Lazada and Shopee .
From 12 August, Thursday, 10 am, you can pre-order at Singtel and StarHub , Samsung Experience Stores and selected Consumer Electronics and IT Stores (Best Denki , Challenger-Hachi , Courts , Gain City and Harvey Norman ).
From 12 August, Thursday, 10 am, you can also register interest for both phones with M1 (pre-order starts 26 August, 10 am) .
Alternatively, you can also pre-order in person at the Samsung Experience Stores during opening hours.
Consumers who pre-order their devices can collect their devices from 2 September 2021.
Pre-order Goodies
Pre-order customers will receive pre-order exclusives while stocks last:
- Galaxy Z Fold3 5G: Samsung e-voucher worth $250 and 1-year Samsung Care+ worth $199
- Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: Samsung e-voucher worth $200 and 1-year Samsung Care+ worth $199
If you order through the Samsung Online Store, you will immediately receive an e-voucher as instant credits for any additional purchases during check-out. For online pre-order purchases via Samsung Official Store in Lazada and Shopee, you can redeem the exclusives via the Samsung Member App or at the Samsung Redemption Portal .
