Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review

Samsung’s new folding phone, $1,799 Galaxy Z Fold 3, launches on Friday. I was unimpressed with the first two models, but after testing this one for two weeks, I kind of love it. There are still too many compromises for most people — particularly battery life and the thickness of the phone when it’s shut — and it’s expensive. But I am increasingly convinced Samsung is on to something.

Samsung’s foldables had a rocky start. The first model was delayed after units sent to reviewers broke. The second version was much better. This year’s Z Fold 3 adds more refinements: It is more durable, water-resistant (but still not dust resistant), and supports a stylus for the first time. It also costs $200 less than last year’s model.

Samsung seems to be making a serious bet that foldable phones find a market. It’s launching two sizes, including this one and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 model, which is more like a regular phone that folds in half.

Like it did with the large-screened Galaxy Note, which was one of the first large-screened phones with a stylus, it’s establishing a foothold in a new market long before Apple. By improving its screens year to year, it can have them ready to sell to other phone makers. As prices continue to drop, Samsung will be ready if consumers decide this is the next big trend in phones.

Here’s what you need to know about the new Galaxy Z Fold 3.

I enjoyed being able to just sit on the couch at night and pull a small tablet out of my pocket, instead of searching for my iPad and hoping it had a charge. The software is getting a lot better, too. The Google Chrome browser, for example, lets you tap through tabs like you would on a traditional tablet or computer.

You can force apps such as Instagram to resize and use the full screen, which you couldn’t do last year. And I liked that I could run several apps side by side or in multiple windows. It’s convenient to chat with friends in one app, having Twitter open next to it, and watching a movie floating on top of everything.

Samsung also improved the phone’s durability. With new changes to the screen and the protector on top of it, the combined display durability is now 80% stronger than before. There’s still some flex when you push down on the screen, but it’s a lot better than the first version, which felt too weak. Samsung also made the phone IPX8 water-resistant, which means you won’t have to worry about damage in the rain but should still avoid taking it anywhere where dirt or dust could get into the hinge and behind the screen. So far, I haven’t had any problems.

I also like that you can start doing something on the front screen and then continue doing that on the larger inside display. So, if you search for a coffee shop in Google Maps on the outer display, for example, and then open it, you’ll see a huge Google Map waiting for you. It works well for movies, if you want to start one with the phone propped open on your desk and then continue watching it on the bigger inner display.

This is the first folding phone from Samsung with support for its S Pen. The company didn’t introduce a new Galaxy Note phone this year, instead opting to add support for its stylus to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. But, you need to buy a $49.99 special version of the S Pen with a tip that retracts so you don’t push too hard on the screen. Also, there’s nowhere to store the pen, so you just have to keep it in your pocket or buy a $79.99 case with storage for the pen.

It works well, despite the crease in the middle. I wish it worked as previous S Pens did, though, with the option to control media or the camera shutter with the S Pen’s button. Instead, it’s best for just navigating on the screen, drawing or writing notes. I found it most useful for signing the occasional document.

Ultimately, I just really like that this phone is so different from anything else out there, and I haven’t (yet) had to worry so much about it getting damaged. It’s just fun. But it’s definitely not for everyone, and there are still a lot of compromises for the price.

Most people are still better off buying one of Samsung’s other high-end phones, like the Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S21 Ultra, which are even more durable, have better cameras, longer battery life and more. They just don’t double as a tablet.