Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip 3 during its Galaxy Unpacked event on 11 August, succeeding the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 5G that went before it.
Though the main design remains similar, there are a couple of upgrades in the new model, as you would expect.
Here is how the Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G compares to the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G (Black)
Design
- Z Flip 3: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1mm folded, 166 x 72.2 x 6.9mm unfolded, 183g, IPX8
- Z Flip 5G: 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.4mm folded, 167.3 x 73.6 x 6.9-7.2mm unfolded, 183g, no water resistance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G retains a similar clamshell design to the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the original Z Flip, with a horizontal fold, but it makes more of the front display.
The dual cameras on the outside of the device are more prominent, and there is a larger cover display, with a more seamless design overall. The Z Flip 3 is also IPX8 water resistant and has a tougher aluminium frame.
There are seven colour options for the Z Flip 3, including Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, Gray, White and Pink. It also has a glass back, like the previous models, though the Z Flip 3 has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
The Galaxy Z Flip comes in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Gray colour options, while the LTE model has pretty much identical measurement to the Z Flip 5G but comes in Mirror Purple, Mirror Black and Mirror Gold. The Z Flip 3 is slightly shorter and narrower than its predecessors, but weighs the same.
Neither the LTE or 5G model are water resistant, and they both have a small cover display that is positioned alongside the dual camera.
Display
- Z Flip 3: 6.7-inch main, Full HD+, 120Hz refresh rate, 1.9-inch cover (260 x 512)
- Z Flip 5G: 6.7-inch main, Full HD+, 1.1-inch cover
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 come with a 6.7-inch main display - which is the same as the Z Flip 5G and original Z Flip. The Z Flip 3 offers a 120Hz refresh rate, however.
Resolution is Full HD+ (2640 x 1080), which the Z Flip 5G and Z Flip also offer, delivering a 425ppi.
It's the cover display where things change more substantially between the new and old models though. The Z Flip 3 comes with a 1.9-inch cover display, while the Z Flip 5G and original Z Flip have a 1.1-inch display.
Resolution for the Z Flip 3's 1.9-inch screen is 512 x 260, delivering a pixel density of 302ppi, while the 1.1-inch display on the Z Flip 5G and Z Flip is an AMOLED panel with a 300 x 112 resolution, resulting in the same pixel density of 302ppi. The increase in size is very welcomed though.
Hardware and specs
- Z Flip 3: Qualcomm SD888, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, 3300mAh battery
- Z Flip 5G. Qualcomm SD865 Plus, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, 3300mAh battery
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 sports the Snapdragon 888 under its hood, coupled with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB storage. It offers 5G connectivity and the battery capacity is 3300mAh.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, supported by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has a 3300mAh battery. The original Z Flip runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, again supported by 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It too has a 3300mAh battery.
The Z Flip 5G is of course 5G compatible, while the original Z Flip is LTE.
Cameras
- Z Flip 3: Dual rear camera (12MP main + 12MP ultra wide), 10MP selfie
- Z Flip 5G: Dual rear camera (12MP main + 12MP ultra wide), 10MP selfie
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G comes with a dual camera on the outside with two 12-megapixel sensors, comprised of a wide angle lens with f/1.8 aperture and an ultra wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture.
A 10-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture is also present on the inside and it's a punch hole camera, like the Z Flip 5G, rather than an under-display camera like the Z Fold 3.
Both the Z Flip 5G and the original Z Flip come with a dual camera on the outside, with a 12-megapixel main sensor offering an aperture of f/1.8, and a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 - the same as the Z Flip 3.
They also both have a 10-megapixel selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.4, so there isn't much change in the camera department in terms of hardware.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 sees some design improvements compared to its predecessors, mainly in terms of the larger cover display and water resistance, and it also sees a more advanced processor.
The battery capacity stays the same, and the cameras remain the same too, though the main display does have a faster refresh rate and there are more colour options in the new model.