Samsung is the one that usually kicks off the top mobiles of the second half of the year and, traditionally, at its Unpacked event in August we see new watches, some tablets and, above all, the Galaxy Note.
But nevertheless, this year it looks like the Note family is going to take a break, since everything is focused on the new folding.
And, although they have just been presented, a few days ago we were able to have our phones in our hands and We tell you everything that we have found both the Galaxy Fold 3 and the Z Flip 3 in these impressions.
You can see the maturity of the Z Flip family
I’m going to start with the one that most caught my attention. And it is that, I think that the Z Flip 3 has taken a giant step in terms of quality and feel in the hand.
We have a slightly smaller mobile than the previous generation, but that in the hand it feels more comfortable and, above all, premium. And what’s more, it’s IPX8, so it has more protection than the previous generation.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 | |
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External display | 1.9 “panel | SuperAMOLED | 260 x 512 pixel resolution | 302 pixels per inch |
Internal display | 6.7 “| 2X Dynamic AMOLED | 2,640 x 1,080 pixel resolution | 425 pixels per inch | 120 Hz |
Processor | Snapdragon 888 |
RAM | 8 GB |
Storage | 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
Main chambers | 12 Mpx f / 1.8 OIS main | 12MP f / 2.2 wide angle |
Front camera internal screen | 10 Mpx f / 2.4 |
Battery | 3,300 mAh |
Operating system | Android 11 + OneUI |
Folded dimensions | 86.4 x 72.2 x 17.1 mm |
Unfolded dimensions | 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm |
Weight | 183 grams |
Price | 1,059 euros |
Screen frames are thinner and they are built in textured aluminum that has a very nice silky touch. The previous one was also metallic, but with a glossy finish that did not give the feeling of being premium, really.
The external display is now useful as it has grown to 1.9 “ and we will be able to place different widgets on it. In the previous one we could see some notifications, the time and control the music, but now we have a screen that will be useful on a day-to-day basis and that contributes to a more top design.
In fact, I really like this concept because it will save us on many occasions opening the mobile for simple actions such as changing songs, seeing a notification that is not urgent, the weather app, the calendar, for example.
In this folded format, it is a mobile that I love because it fits anywhere and, as I say, I think it has taken a step forward both in quality of materials and in refined design when compared to last year’s model.
When we open it we find a 6.7 “screen. It has a FullHD + resolution, it is a 2x Dynamic AMOLED panel and it has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, so it falls short of the high-end when it comes to
specifications are concerned.
It looks pretty good and Samsung promises that it is an 80% stronger panel, something that will have to do with the passage of time. Nor did they specify resistant as to what, if to bumps or scratches, something that is quite easy to do in this type of panel.
Inside we have the Snapdragon 888 with 8 GB of storage and 128 or 256 GB of UFS 3.1 memory and the battery is 3,300 mAh. Obviously, it goes very fast, but we will talk more about this when we can test it thoroughly.
What we could see is that Flex mode is maintained that adapts certain apps to the screen when we bend it a little.
What it does is split the interface of some compatible apps to show certain main information on the upper screen and another type of interface on the lower screen, which is supported on a table, for example.
And in the cameras we have two cameras on the back of 12 megapixels each one both main and wide angle and in the lower part, in a small circle in the central part, is the selfie camera. Obviously, we could not test the cameras, but for that is the analysis of the X Flip 3 that we will do in a few weeks.
As I say, I think it has improved a lot compared to the previous generation both in terms of features and design and Samsung is clear that it is its most youthful mobile and it will be accompanied by several covers that are very cool.
The price will start at 1,059 euros, being cheaper than the previous generation when it was launched, so we are seeing an attempt to democratize, in a way, the technology of folding.
Improving what was already quite TOP, this is the Galaxy Fold 3
And on the other hand we have what we can qualify as the top of the range, the Fold 3. Here the evolution in materials is somewhat less noticeable because the previous generation was already very top, but we still noticed improvements.
In your hand it is a mobile that feels like a top of the range and the truth is that you have to wait for the analysis to see how it goes on a day-to-day basis, but follows the lines of the Fold 2 with an external display that is fully functional and an internal display that is an absolute blast for colors and brightness.
Galaxy Fold 3 | |
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External display | 6.2 “panel | 2X Dynamic AMOLED | 24.5: 9 aspect ratio | HD + resolution of 2,268 x 832 pixels | 387 pixels per inch | 120 Hz |
Internal display | 7.6 “panel | 2X Dynamic AMOLED | 22.5: 18 aspect ratio | 2,208 x 1,768 pixel resolution | 374 pixels per inch | 120 Hz |
Processor | Snapdragon 888 |
RAM | 12 GB |
Storage | 256 or 512 GB UFS 3.1 |
Main chambers | 12 Mpx f / 1.8 OIS main | 12 Mpx f / 2.2 wide angle | 12 Mpx telephoto f / 2.4 OIS 2x |
Front camera external screen | 10 Mpx f / 2.2 |
Front camera internal screen | 4 Mpx f / 1.8 | Under the screen |
Battery | 4,400 mAh |
Operating system | Android 11 + OneUI |
Folded dimensions | 158.2 x 67.1 x 16 mm |
Unfolded dimensions | 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm |
Weight | 271 grams |
Price | 1,809 euros |
Speaking of the panel, we also have that internal screen 80% more resistant and IPX8 protection, as in the Z Flip 3, but as you know, the format changes radically.
Here the idea is to have a tablet and a phone, a two in one and, for this, we have 6.2 ”external screen with long format, 120 Hz and HD + resolution and an internal 7.6 ”squarer with FullHD + resolution and 120 Hz.
The two screens look really good with very Samsung colors that are vibrant and a bit saturated, but do not take us by surprise.
The truth is that, as I say, the experience with the two screens is great and Samsung wants to give a little more importance to the Fold as a mobile to create content thanks to a new S-PEN that will be compatible with these new folding.
There will be two S-PEN models, the Fold Edition that will only be compatible with the Fold and one more ‘Pro’ that will have a button that will allow us to switch between compatibility with the latest Samsung terminals and the folding ones.
And of course, do not think that the Fold has a little hole to put the pen in, since that would be very intrusive for the battery, for example, and the solution is a case with a kind of backpack like the one we already saw for the S21 Ultra – analysis-.
Inside we have what we can expect from a mobile like this: Snapdragon 888, 12 GB of memory and 256 or 512 GB UFS 3.1 and 4.4.00 mAh memories.
Now, as for the cameras, we have three external 12 megapixels for angular, main and tele 2x, as well as a selfie camera on the external screen of 10 megapixels and another camera on the internal screen.
Samsung bets on cameras under the screen and is a 4 megapixel sensor, but with a huge pixel that allows you to see through the pixels that are just above.
We already saw this in the ZTE Axon 20 -analysis- and yes, if you look you see the camera, even if you don’t put much effort. It is true that when you are playing or watching a video you forget, but it is also evident that in that area there are missing pixels on the screen.
In terms of software, we have the same Flex mode as in the Z Flip, but enhanced thanks to the possibilities of the screen.
We will be able to force applications to be displayed in windows, we can put a sidebar of applications that remains fixed and, in general, we are trying to enhance all that multi-window section that is optimal in this terminal.
It is a format in which it is very convenient to put different applications both fixed and floating and, as I say, it is a fairly square screen that lends itself great to this type of multi-application use.
The price, as in the Z Flip 3, will be somewhat lower than that of the previous generation and the 12 GB RAM model with 256 GB storage will start at 1,809 euros.
A universe of wearables with the new Buds 2 and the Galaxy Watch 4
Of course, in addition to new phones, we were also able to spend a little time with the new generation of wearables.
On the one hand we have the Galaxy Buds 2, which are headphones that maintain that small box format and promise an autonomy of 5 hours with noise cancellation on and up to 20 hours with charges from the box.
Each headset has three microphones that are responsible for capturing external sound to calculate the three-level noise cancellation both for when we play content and when we call.
What’s more, according to Samsung, they are capable of suppressing 98% of external noise in the frequency of 110.36 Hz. It is something very specific and we will see how it works on a day-to-day basis.
Music is handled by a double speaker in each earpiece and they can be easily paired with both the watch and Samsung tablets and mobiles, as well as quickly switch between them.
They will arrive on August 27 at 149 euros And here we leave you all the details of the new Buds 2.
The watches, for their part, are the Galaxy Watch 4 and Samsung is going to unify the family, since the Watch 4 Classic is the one with the physical rotating bezel while the Watch 4 is the one that, until now, was the Watch Active. This one has a flat screen and maintains the digital bezel.
Both have a new BioActive pulse sensor, oxygen and electrocardiogram capable, but alsos has a bioimpedance sensor capable of telling us our body mass index.
5 nanometer processor and the most interesting thing is that they forget about Tizen to bet on WearOS from Google And, in addition, there is a function called Autoapps that automatically installs watch-compatible apps between the mobile and the Watch itself.
The screens, from what we have been able to test, are spectacular, but there is a change that I do not know how users will receive.
And it is that, the Watch 4 model, which replaces the Active ones, abandons the curved sides and bet on a flat screen. It looks different, yes, but the control, the passage of the finger on the digital bezel, is not as comfortable as in previous models. Of course, it will have to be tested more thoroughly.
The Watch 4 Classic will arrive with 42 and 46 mm screens for 369 euros while the Watch 4 will have screens of 40 and 44 millimeters from 269 euros.
The session gave what it did and we focused on mobile phones, but over the next few days we will bring you the analysis of everything, including the Buds and the two Galaxy Watch.
And if, we will see what happens with the Samsung S21 FE that so many voices are asking for, since last year’s model caught on wonderfully.