Folding smartphones have a reputation, and it’s one of fragility, compromise, and expense, leaving many people to dismiss them as pricey playthings for the most eager early adopters. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 banishes that reputation thanks to a tougher body, a smaller design, and, most crucially, a lower price. Samsung considers both the Z Flip 3 and its larger sister phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, to be mainstream devices. But is this actually true? Yes, it really is. Take your regular mainstream smartphone, something like the Galaxy S21+ or OnePlus 9 Pro, and imagine folding it in half when you’re finished with it. That’s the Galaxy Z Flip 3. It’s not the first phone of its type, but it’s the first that will gain, and deserve, mainstream attention, all due to various enhancements made over the previous models. Therefore, it’s important to understand what benefits it brings to everyday life and the difference between using it and the Z Fold 3. They may both fold up, but Samsung’s two ...

Truly compact; Water resistance increases durability; Beautiful screen; Cutting-edge, eye-catching design;

One-day battery life; Cover Screen lacks features;

Some ideas make sense straight away, and others need a little time to ferment: three generations in, and the Samsung Galaxy Flip 3 is a much more accessible version of foldable phones, and maybe the first time the technology feels something other than a gimmick.

Samsung's most affordable foldable phone yet, No compromise on performance, Cover Display is much more useful now

Battery life isn't great, Cameras are good, but not stand-out, Long-term durability still to be revealed

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the best clamshell foldable you can buy, with specs and a price comparable with flagship phones. Its relatively small battery holds it back, as does its lack of a telephoto camera lens, and wary consumers may want to wait to see what innovations come in the next iteration – but if you want a phone that folds up to fit in more bags and pockets, while offering the same performance as flagship phones, the Z Flip 3 is a good option to buy today.

Good lower price; Good specs; Refined design and displays;

No telephoto lens; Middling battery; Outer display still not terribly useful

If you have been with us for a bit, you may know we typically do a couple of videos for new phones. We’ll do a First 10 Things To Do and then a Tips and Tricks video. For the Galaxy Z Flip 3, we’ve condensed those two concepts into a single video, allowing me to get straight to my full review...

The question that remains for many is: Are foldable smartphones really ready for the prime time. Are these devices ready to become users' primary device and the next major form factor, moving beyond experimental tag? The answer to this is a Big Yes when it comes to Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Improved design, Solid performance, Unique form factor

We haven’t reached the point where there are no sacrifices when opting for the foldable form factor, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 gets very close. If you are willing to work around the short battery life, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 delivers a flagship phone experience unlike any other.

Unique and stunning design, Bright, vivid 120Hz display, Excellent camera performance, IPX8 water resistance, Affordably priced

Terrible battery life, Lacks telephoto

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s best shot at making a foldable phone mainstream in a meaningful way. It’s not outrageously priced – in fact, the phone costs less than the iPhone 12 Pro.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 benefits from a series of small but meaningful improvements to Samsung’s first folding-screen flip phone that make it almost ready for the mainstream. Open it, and it behaves just like a regular, large-screen premium Android smartphone, but one you can close with a satisfying...

Pros: a great large screen that folds in half, good cover screen, screen protected when closed, IPX8 water resistant, good cameras, exciting and different, One UI 3 (Android 11) with four years of updates.

Cons: screen softer and less scratch resistant than a regular phone, no dust resistance, no telephoto camera, only a day’s battery life, expensive.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G for the Philippines is undoubtedly better than ever. They’ve made several key improvements to make the form factor even better this year and the fact that they were able to lower the price definitely makes the compelling foldable from the brand.

Larger, More Useful Cover Screen, Improved Build Quality, Cheaper Price Compared to Last Iteration

Poor Battery Life, Noticeable Dip in the Crease

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a flagship smartphone, and while it’s definitely not the most affordable phone on the market, its price tag is comparable to other high-end devices out there

It flips and that's cool, IPX8 waterproof, Larger useful Cover Screen

The crease, Not-so-great battery, Unclear how durable this phone will be in the long run