Samsung Galaxy Flip3 5G Review: Foldables Are The Future
September 29, 2021
A foldable fashion accessory that claims to be the future of smartphones
Performance: Snapdragon 888 5G, 8GB RAM
Main Display: 6.7-inch FHD + Dynamic AMOLED
Cover Screen : 1.9” Super AMOLED
Weight: 183g
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 3300 mAh
Features: 4K UHD / 1080p FHD / 720p HD video recording
Rear Camera: 12 MP Ultra wide, 12 MP Wide-angle
Front Camera: 10 MP
Rating: 9/10
Price:RM3,999.00
Samsung’s Flip3 is a classic case of something that we didn’t know we wanted but really needed. Over the years, smartphones have become unbearably large due in part to their screens being between 6.4 to 6.9-inches tall (measured diagonally). This is a problem of our own doing. See, the larger the screen size the more tasks that we can accomplish with them.
The sweet spot is about 6.5-6.7-inches. Phones with such screens are usable for reading pdf documents, streaming videos and editing short videos or photos. They live up to the role of a pocket computer. Despite having narrower bezels than previous iterations, these phones are still too large to fit in most pants pockets, causing users to resort to clutching them in hand.
It appears that we’ve hit a brick wall with regard to technological advancements of rigid displays. There’s little else that can be done to differentiate them from their predecessors. This is where flexible or foldable screens come into play. Their role is to pick up the mantle held by traditional screens, and usher users into a new age.
The Galaxy Flip3 I believe, is the phone for said job. As good as the original Flip may have been, a cloud of uncertainty loomed over its unproven hinge mechanism and foldable screen. This came off the back of dismal quality issues that plagued the original Galaxy Fold. Samsung has done the Android camp proud here, because the Flip3 addresses most of our concerns.
Its hinge seems to be a little more robust, which is a nod to improved construction or choice of materials. Folding and unfolding it requires considerable effort to pull off. It isn’t as easy to accomplish as that of the flip phones from the late 1990s. But that’s a good thing, because unintentional activation of the main screen can be avoided resulting in improved battery life.
Design
When folded, the Flip3 is considerably thicker than most smartphones, but it’s a trade off we can accept due to the compact size. The frame is built from armor aluminum, which Samsung says is the toughest material it’s used on a phone. Aesthetically, the device is a spitting image of its predecessor save for the Cover Screen and adjacently mounted dual camera system.
Samsung adopted a dual-tone colour scheme similar to that seen on Google’s Pixel 3 smartphone. This lends the phone a cheerful, youthful vibe. It’s in stark contrast to what’s available on traditional smartphones. There are four primary colours: Lavender, Black, Mint and Cream. Three additional colours are available to those who buy the phone on samsung.com.
Irrespective of the primary colour, every phone gets a glossy black portion at the top housing the 1.9-inch, touch sensitive AMOLED panel. Unlike its predecessor, the content is clearly legible and devoid of pixelated lettering.
The screen can be used to read notifications, check on the time and other information defined by the 7 available widgets. It also doubles as a viewfinder for selfies. It lets you select between photo and video recording as well as toggle between the wide and ultra wide cameras. This saves you the trouble of having to faff about with the actual selfie camera on the main screen.
Let’s talk about the main screen. It’s a 6.7-inch plastic, flexible AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2640 x 1080. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides a buttery smooth user experience for scrolling or navigating through the various menus. You have the choice of limiting it to 60Hz to save battery or keep it in adaptive mode, which allows the phone to decide the refresh rate.
It’s best to keep it in adaptive mode. This way, you get the best of both worlds without feeling like you’ve been deprived of something. At 166mm tall, the Flip3 is taller than most traditional phones but with a narrower body (72.2mm). The aspect ratio is perfect for sifting through the endless supply of Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Like the original Flip, the crease in the middle is still here but you’ll get used to it,. However, the tall and narrow nature of the display isn’t optimized for most videos which results in black borders being placed on either side of the content. You could zoom in to fill in the entire screen but in doing so, you’ll lose some detail of the edges.
Mind, you aren’t losing out on much and in time, you’ll get used to the wider aspect ratio. Like other Samsung phones, one handed gestures and UI support allows you to access the quick panel and important apps without having to reach for the top section of the screen. This is a godsend for those of us with smaller hands.
One qualm I do have with it pertains to the fingerprint sensor. It’s located on the power button due to the absence of an under screen one. Though more accurate, the presence of a physical fingerprint sensor doesn’t bode well for a device that claims to be the genesis of foldable smartphones of tomorrow.
Thankfully, it’s placed at an ideal position, which negates the need for finger gymnastics when attempting to unlock the screen. It’s placed below the volume rocker. This is a flat button that lies flush with the aluminum frame. It’s also quick to respond to touch input, unlocking the phone in under a second – accurate and reliable.
Performance
The phone is powered by a flagship Snapdragon 888 5G chip and a healthy 8GB of RAM. It’s capable of handling the most demanding tasks with relative ease. Keep in mind that these are the same internals that power the S21 Series and Galaxy Fold3 (12GB RAM). As such, the phone doesn’t lag or stutter when juggling multiple apps or watching videos.
Though the aspect ratio isn’t ideal for gaming, it can handle demanding titles well. Under strenuous load, the rear case does become warm to the touch. But the intensity doesn’t escalate beyond this point, regardless of how hard the CPU is made to work. In my time with the phone, there was never a point where it became unbearably hot to hold.
Like its predecessor, it has a dual battery configuration. Half of its 3,300mAh capacity is stored in each section of its chassis. They work together to supply the phone with adequate juice to last the entire day. It’s a testament to the efficiency of the Snapdragon 888 chipset. With moderate to heavy usage you should be able to reach the end of the day with about 15% left.
Unlike other flagship devices, the Flip3 only supports a maximum of 15W fast charging. But this isn’t much of a concern because of its diminutive battery capacity. The phone doesn’t come with a power brick, so you’ll either have to buy a new one or use an existing unit that came with a previous phone.
I’d discourage you from picking up a new unit due to the presence of affordable wireless chargers. Granted, the Flip3’s wireless charging capability is slower (10W) than the wired option but the convenience it introduces far outweighs the drawbacks. You won’t have to worry about untangling wires or replacing damaged ones. Just drop the phone on the charger when needed.
Cameras Features
Another advantage to foldable phones like the Flip3 is the ability to use the main rear cameras for selfies. By double tapping the power button, the Cover Screen turns into a preview screen for selfie shots. You can then choose whether you want to take a picture with either the 12MP wide or 12MP ultra wide camera. The results are far better than what can be achieved with the 10MP selfie camera.
The rear sensors take great pictures. There is a decent amount of brightness and contrast. However, the software seems to be overly aggressive with smoothening the details. This is far more apparent with selfies than scenic shots. The results remain crisp even in low lighting conditions, not as good as those taken with good lighting, but not far off either.
With the help of image stabilization, the Flip3 captures good quality videos. The saturation is on par with that of the photos it captures. It supports up to 4K resolution video recording which is almost as good as those taken with the S21+. I have very little to complain about here because the S21+ is the benchmark for capturing higher than average video quality footage.
Subjects are faithfully kept in focus throughout shots, which is something you can’t say about mid-range to budget devices. Clever software works behind the scenes to make optimal use of the camera hardware and deliver the best results possible.
This is also true of close up and portrait shots, the details of the subjects are retained quite well and supported by somewhat vivid contrast. These results are good but are no match for the S21 Ultra. That phone is the undisputed king of camera phones.
All said and done, the Flip3 cameras are up to the job at capturing photos and videos that are intended to wow followers on Instagram and Facebook. But as good as it may be, users have to accept the aforementioned limitations.
Should You Buy One?
Let me preface my answer with one statement: I haven’t been this excited for a phone in years. The Flip3 has flagship-like hardware but doesn’t conform to the same bulky aesthetics exhibited by actual flagship devices. In addition to this, the two-tone colour scheme makes the phone a shockingly good fashion accessory.
I often found myself matching my outfits with the outlook of the Flip3, though said act is often frowned upon by fashion snobs. The rationale I want to convey here is that the phone doesn’t feel like a ‘nerdy’ gadget but an extension of one’s personality. People don’t seem to mind when it’s used as a talking point, because they too are intrigued by what it offers.
If you’re looking for a futuristic device that can fit easily into just about any pocket, then this is the device for you. Though the battery may be a little small and the taller aspect ratio isn’t ideal for watching videos, it can still accomplish most tasks extremely well. It’s difficult to fault this phone when you consider the list of things it can do.
The S21+ and S21 Ultra are far better performers than the Flip3. But I’d argue that the comparison is irrelevant. The Flip3 is meant for a different market. And the convenience and stylish exuberance that this foldable device brings to the table cannot be ignored. For RM3,999 you are getting quite a lot of phone for your money.
