The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable smartphones are now available in the Netherlands. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
With the Galaxy Z Flip 3 on Galaxy Z Fold 3 Samsung Netherlands launches the third generation Galaxy Z smartphones. Foldables are the future if we are to believe the manufacturer. Smartphones have only gotten bigger in size in recent years. By using a flexible display, it is now possible to increase the display area of your smartphone without increasing the size of your device.
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Samsung is not the only brand that produces foldable smartphones. But the folding models of the Korean brand are among the best devices. In our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review we concluded that this folding phone is very solidly built and is also water resistant. Partly thanks to the favorable price, this foldable phone is highly recommended. Our Galaxy Z Fold 3 review will appear later this week, I can now tell you that this smartphone has also been greatly improved compared to its predecessor.
the during Unpacked 2021 The folding telephones introduced have been available in the Netherlands since last Friday. The first sales figures show that both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 if the Z Fold 3 is particularly popular. During the pre-order period, more than 6 times more units of the Z Fold 3 were ordered than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Thanks to the competitive price, the new Flip can count on even higher sales numbers.
Samsung has purchased advertisements on various television channels to introduce the folding phones to a wider audience. The message is clear, the Z-series models are also intended for young people. The new foldable phones from Samsung are therefore a lot cheaper than before.
What are the prices of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3?
Samsung has set the suggested retail price of Galaxy Z Flip 3 with 128GB storage at €1,050. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a higher price tag. The cheapest version with 128GB memory costs €1,800.
The Galaxy Z-Series 2021 models are sold from renowned telecom providers such as T-Mobile, Vodafone, Tele2 and KPN. Due to the high demand for these products, stock is limited and you may have to wait a little longer for the delivery of your mobile device. If you prefer to buy a separate device without a subscription, it is best to go to coolblue, BCC or the MediaMarkt.
Also new is the support for a stylus pen. Only the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers the digital S Pen as an option, which is also offered as an optional accessory. The special S Pen is equipped with a tip that retracts under too much pressure, so that the flexible screen cannot be damaged by the stylus. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 are both IPX8 certified. In practice this means that they are water resistant. Samsung has made the frame of the Z Flip and Z Fold from reinforced aluminum.
High-quality and durable materials have been used for both models. These are phones that will last for years with careful use. Samsung also guarantees 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security updates.
Are there also disadvantages to mention?
The biggest downside to the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 is battery life and charging speed. The speed at which you can charge the phone is far below par. It sometimes seems like an eternity for the battery to be fully charged. Samsung lags far behind competing brands in this area. In addition, the head office decided at the beginning of this year to no longer supply the adapter as standard in the sales box.
Can it be done faster and better? Yes, I take the Chinese brand Xiaomi as an example. They supply a 120 watt fast charger as standard in the sales package. With such a charger you are ready in fifteen minutes and you can make full use of your mobile all day long.
Competitive Brands
Xiaomi is one of the fastest growing smartphone manufacturers in the world. Earlier this month, Xiaomi Netherlands claimed in a press release that it had grown into the European market leader in the sale of smartphones.
Xiaomi smartphones are also significantly cheaper. I take as an example the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold which was released in China in April this year . It is a similar model to the Samsung Z Fold. This smartphone has a remarkably competitive price in China of about €1,300. That is no less than €500 cheaper than the new Z Fold 3.
Xiaomi is also currently working on a similar device to the Galaxy Z Flip. Last summer, two design patents were published showing that the company has two clamshell models in development. To get a first impression of the Xiaomi Mi Mix Flip LetsGoDigital made a series of product images.
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