The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Is Built To Be A Durable Foldable
October 14, 2021Folding phone technology is still in its infancy. Debuting last year, it showed us what the next evolutionary step would be for smartphones. A flexible screen, one that can fold over itself, introduces a number of benefits chief among them being convenience. I adored phones like the original Motorola because of what they represented.
At the time, it was the coolest gadget in town because it was as good of a phone as any other on the market but because it could fold, slipped into just about any pocket. Mind, this was a time when phones resembled and weighed as much as brick. The same is true of the Galaxy Flip3. Whenever I pick it up, I’m immediately hit with a sense of nostalgia harkening back to a time teeming with possibility.
The Fold3 may be Samsung’s halo device at the moment, but to me, the Flip3 is the real hero because it solves a fundamental problem that plagues current smartphones – size. They are simply too big to carry on one’s person. This isn’t so with the Flip3, despite sporting flagship hardware, when folded, it fits comfortably in a pair of khakis or slim fit jeans.
In addition to being extremely portable, Samsung says it happens to be one tough cookie to crack. Apparently, the frame is made from armor aluminum, which is the toughest material the company has ever used to construct its phones. It serves as protection for the “hideaway” mechanical hinge, hindering dust and undue stress from compromising structural integrity.
Speaking of the hinge, though Samsung remains tightlipped about what it changed, from a user’s perspective, the movement feels more deliberate and purposeful. Significant amount of force is needed to unfold the device, and when you do decide to fold it again, the two halves come together with a reassuring “thud”, which is a little more reassuring than what was exhibited by the original Flip.
Check out the in-depth review of the Galaxy Flip3 5G here.
The phone has an IPX8 rating, which means it can withstand being dropped into a pool of water till a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. As such, accidentally spilling a drink over it or getting caught in the rain while it’s on your person – are non issues. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that it’s hinge is impervious to dust and other small debris.
A layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus lines the phone’s shell. It is said to be the toughest Gorilla glass ever made, which speaks volumes of its durability. This is because Corning has made good progress with glass durability. Current gen smartphones are able to withstand quite a lot of abuse without showing scratches or shattering when dropped onto a hardfloor.
As someone who has given up on screen protectors, I can attest to the toughness of modern smartphone screens. My Galaxy M31 has dealt with all kinds of abuse from being dropped repeatedly onto a concrete floor to constantly being grazed by car keys while in my pocket. It’s only after a year did I notice light scratches on my screen. Only a handful of them were noticeable.
Samsung has given the Flip3 a folding screen that is made from ultra thin glass. Together with the panel layer and protective film, the entire unit is supposed to be 80% more durable than the original Flip. This is a significant step forward in terms of durability because it can now withstand about 200,000 folds without damage.
Take a look at what we thought of the original Galaxy Z Flip here.
That figure is equivalent to unfolding the phone 100 times everyday for a period of 5 years. However, this doesn’t mean that after said period, the Flip3 will fall apart. Instead, it serves as a ballpark figure to reassure users of its resilience based on the tests that were conducted. The company says that the test reflects actual user patterns in real-world scenarios.
Both the Fold3 and Flip3 have been built to withstand the elements in a variety of climate conditions too. To prove this, Samsung conducted several tests on them using an environmental chamber. It’s where water resistance, S Pen usability and folding tests were said to have been conducted.
Here, its engineers were able to see how the phones’ features, video playback and hardware work under varying conditions from dry to humid, and hot to cold. This is also where the Flip3 was dunked into a body of water to prove its IPX8 water resistance rating. In theory, you could take the phone with you on adventures without having to worry about damaging it.
Samsung seems to be going out of its way to prove how durable its foldable phones are. It has to do with the public’s perception of said technology. We’re used to a rigid display and no hinge. It’s what we know and trust.
Unlike the original Fold, the Flip wasn’t marred by durability issues. It felt robust when unfolding and folding. The screen, though quite malleable compared to traditional phone displays, didn’t feel fragile. It did what it was designed to do, and did it quite well. So far, we haven’t heard about premature failures or design flaws affecting the original Flip.
Early adopters who bought the phone last year, seem to still be using them without incident. Though this is hardly a worthy testimonial, it does provide some reassurance to consumers who have reservations about folding phone technology.
Now, the Flip3 is supposed to be far more durable than its predecessor, which speaks volumes of how well the phone will cope for the next few years. That said, one mustn’t forget that extra care must be given for phones of this type of folding technology. As strong as Samsung claims it to be, reason and commonsense must be applied to ensure the mechanism’s longevity.
