Compare "Galaxy Z Flip3 5G" with the previous model-Here are the evolved points!
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G (left) announced this time and the first Galaxy Z Flip (right) released in 2020. Exploring the evolution of a year and a half
What's the best vertical folding smartphone?
Foldable smartphones, or smartphones with foldable displays, debuted in the second half of 2018, with four to five companies currently offering products. There are market predictions that in the future it will become more familiar as a form of smartphone.
Among them, Samsung is the world's number one smartphone maker, and has the technology to manufacture foldable displays within the group, so it has actively commercialized foldable smartphones. There are two product lines, the horizontal folding type "Galaxy Z Fold" and the vertical folding type "Galaxy Z Flip", and a total of 6 models have been released in the past two years.
The horizontal folding type Galaxy Z Fold series has displays on the outside and inside, and it is a smartphone that can be used while changing the style, such as "a vertically long smartphone when closed, and a large tablet screen when opened". The Z Fold series can be said to be a series that proposes new ways to use it.
On the other hand, what the vertical folding Galaxy Z Flip series can do is almost the same as the conventional “unbreakable” smartphone. At first glance, it may be difficult to tell which is better.
I bought the original Galaxy Z Flip released in 2020 and have been using it for about a year and a half while comparing it with various other smartphones. In that experience, what I felt was an advantage unique to vertical folding smartphones was "compactness".
If you just want a small smartphone, there are options like the iPhone 12 mini. What makes the Galaxy Z Flip stand out is that while it follows the trend of the latest smartphones with large vertical screens, it can be neatly stored away when not in use.
Since the transition to 5G, smartphone displays have become larger. Considering the change in how we use our phones to enjoy videos and games on a large screen, it's not surprising that it can be inconvenient when you carry it around. Sometimes it sticks out when you carry it in your pocket, or it doesn't fit in something like a small pouch.
At such times, it can be said that the advantage of the vertical folding type is that it can fit comfortably without changing to clothes with large pockets or large bags.
The latest model is enhanced here! Five updates
The first generation Galaxy Z Flip, a vertical folding smartphone, was released in February 2020. About half a year later, the 5G compatible version of the Galaxy Z Flip 5G appeared. The successor, the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, is the third generation.
The main enhancements of the Galaxy Z Flip3 are summarized below.
- First compatible waterproof folding smartphone
- First compatible with Osaifu-Keitai (Japanese version only)
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Larger outer sub-display
- A more affordable price
Galaxy Z Flip / Z Flip 5G released in 2020 will fold vertically It was a product with a high degree of perfection as the first model of a type smartphone. Still, compared to general smartphones of the same generation, there were some parts that paled in terms of functionality. The revamped part of this Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is an improvement that fills the gap with the "unbreakable smartphone" and brings out the unique advantages of a folding smartphone.
Waterproof and Osaifu-Keitai support for the first time
Like the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G announced at the same time, the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the first folding smartphone to be waterproof. In addition, Osaifu-Keitai was also installed in the model for Japan.
The good thing about the Galaxy Z Flip series is that it doesn't stand out even if you put it in a small pocket of your clothes, and your clothes won't lose their shape. It's a shame that Suica is not compatible with smartphones that are easy to pick up and carry.
Waterproofing is a typical example of a function that is “definitely convenient to have”. In my case, I look at recipes on my smartphone while cooking, and occasionally watch videos on my waterproof smartphone while taking a bath. However, although the waterproof specification of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is equivalent to IPX8, the waterproof test verifies only the resistance to fresh water at room temperature. Avoid soaking in bath water, soapy water, or showering.
Improved appeal as a fashion item
It can be said that the renewal of the appearance and the enlargement of the sub-display further enhance the appeal of the vertical folding smartphone.
The basic shape of folding like a compact mirror has not changed, but the material has been changed to a more luxurious one. The two outer sides have been replaced with glass instead of the conventional resin coating, and the side frame uses a newly developed aluminum alloy named "Armor Aluminum".
I believe that the Galaxy Z Flip series has a charm that does not appear in the specifications. It's a gimmick-like pleasure to open the precision-made folding mechanism. The new design of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G seemed to enhance the condensed feeling and enhance the appeal of the product.
The thickness when opened is about 6.9mm, and the weight is 184g, almost unchanged from the first model. However, since it has been changed to an angular shape, I got the impression that the thickness has increased a little.
When you open the screen, it becomes a standby screen, and since it has a fingerprint sensor on the right side, unlocking operations can be performed smoothly if you are right-handed.
On the outside, there is a small screen called a "cover display" that can display the clock, notifications, and more. The original model had a small screen for one line of text, but this model has a larger screen of 1.9 inches.
You can customize it to your liking, such as setting a colorful clock widget or setting your favorite standby image. The cover display also supports touch operation, and it is also practical, such as being able to scroll and display longer notifications such as LINE messages.
In addition, the types of genuine cases sold in Japan are increasing this time (sold separately). There are colorful leather covers and cases with clear rings, so it seems fun to arrange them in your own way.
The display drives smoothly at 120Hz
The foldable main display is a 6.7-inch organic EL display with full HD+ resolution. The aspect ratio when opened is 22:9, which is even longer than the Xperia 1 series, which is known as a vertically long smartphone.
The display size and other specifications are the same as the previous generation, but the edges are slightly narrower for a cleaner look. Also, I got the impression that the color development of the display was improved compared to the original Galaxy Z Flip.
The major evolution of the display is that it supports double speed display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. When you scroll the screen, you can reduce the afterimage and display it with a smooth appearance. Thanks to smooth scrolling, you can comfortably browse content that keeps scrolling, such as Twitter, Instagram, LINE, and websites. The combination with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G's vertically long display can be said to further enhance its comfort.
The display is covered with a thin glass, and the touch is the same as a general smartphone. There is a slight dent in the center crease, but it is hardly noticeable when viewed from the front. If you display a bright color and look at it from an angle, you can see that light is reflected in the concave part.
Convenient to use without a stand!
Usage of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is almost the same as that of a general smartphone. However, there are also ways to use it that make use of its foldability.
If you fold it and fix it at an angle, some apps such as YouTube, Netflix, and Zoom will be displayed on the screen exclusively for vertical folding smartphones. You can watch videos and hold online meetings without a smartphone stand.
When taking pictures with the camera, folding it is very convenient. With this smartphone, you can fix it horizontally on the window without a tripod or shoot at a low angle.
The previous generation model also had the ability to use without a stand, but the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G can be fixed stably even at a shallower angle.
I use the Galaxy Z Flip at an angle when watching a short video while eating. In such situations, I often see the smartphone on the table from an angle close to the top, so I thought it would be convenient to use it if it could be fixed at a shallower angle. The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G seems to have improved even in such details.
Sufficient ability as a smartphone. Wireless charging is also supported
This article will not go into details about the processing performance of a smartphone, but as of the fall of 2021, we have the best class. The chipset is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, and the memory (RAM) is equipped with 8GB. The internal storage is 128GB. In addition, the microSD slot is "not installed".
5G supports new frequency bands excluding the millimeter wave band. The battery capacity is a standard 3,300mAh, but unless you're a heavy gamer, it should last you a day. It also supports wireless charging.
On the other hand, there are some parts that have hardly changed from the previous model. it's a camera. It has the exact same thing, except for the rear camera with a tougher protective glass covering the lens.
The rear camera is an ultra-wide-angle and wide-angle twin-lens camera, both of which have about 12 million pixels. The in-camera is about 10 million pixels. It is an almighty configuration that allows you to change the angle of view and shoot to some extent, but it does not have the impression that zoom shooting is strong compared to smartphones in the same class.
Sold by two carriers, au and docomo. The price is also reduced
It's closer to a "normal smartphone" in terms of ease of picking up. The previous two models were exclusively sold by au, but this time they are handled by two carriers, NTT Docomo and au.
In the case of Galaxy smartphones, the frequency band for mobile communication is often tuned according to the carrier that handles it, so when the au version is SIM unlocked and used on the NTT Docomo network, radio waves may enter indoors etc. It was difficult at times. If you use it on the docomo network, you will be able to use it more comfortably if you choose the NTT docomo version.
In addition, it is expected that the sales price will also decrease. When the first-generation Galaxy Z Flip appeared, the price was just under 190,000 yen including tax (au version), which was nearly double the price of a non-folding smartphone with the same specifications.
The price of the au version of the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G has not been announced at the time of booking, but the price of the NTT Docomo version has been announced as 148,896 yen including tax (docomo online shop price). There is no big difference compared to the high end of the same class.
Perfect personality and practicality. The perfect device for those who are particular about it
Galaxy Z Flip3 is waterproof, compatible with Osaifu-Keitai, and has a more affordable price. I get the impression that it has shrunk. It's only been a year and a half since the launch of the first model, but the vertical foldable smartphone is rapidly catching up in terms of functionality, and it seems that the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is already entering the maturity stage.
The charm of a vertical foldable smartphone is its eye-catching gimmick. Improvements in the texture of the exterior and the expansion of the scope for customization, such as the cover display and case, can be said to be improvements that further enhance the attractiveness of the product.
If you want to carry around a large screen smartphone in style, or if you want to be picky about what you use every day, this is a unit that you should consider.
