Any flip phone fans here? Surely you'd know by now about Samsung's foldable devices - the Galaxy Z series. And just a month ago, we were able to get our hands on a shiny Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. Having experienced using this phone for a while now, we can acknowledge the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 meets our expectations.
We have to clarify that we didn't expect the Galaxy Z Flip3 to blow us all out of the water.
In fact, we were not surprised that in our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 review, the phone delivers a performance that satisfies our expectations, but not as a flagship-level device. Instead, the Galaxy Z Flip3 does everything just satisfactory at the minimum. So why get a Galaxy Z Flip3? Well, its clear main selling point is the novelty in owning an aesthetic device. And boy, were we attracted by this smartphone.
We were pleasantly amused and surprised at several things that this flip phone could do. And so, here's a list of what we think the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 can do, and your regular smartphones definitely can't.
1. No tripod needed
Thanks to the nature of a foldable phone, you can literally prop up the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 upright, and it'll be steady as a rock. So prop that phone onto a chair, table, car (or an actual rock), set a timer on your camera and take a photo as you wish. Alternatively, you take shots like a true Samsung user would by using hand gestures.
And hey, this works well for videos too. Got a dance video or a video greeting to do? The Z Flip3 will do it easy-peasy!
2. Have a standing flashlight
Another thing that you can do with your upright, folded phone is to have it as a standing light source. Gotta go to the basement or storeroom to look for something? The Galaxy Z Flip3 will shine the way for you!
3. Get an extra viewfinder
This is a very cool party trick that doesn't seem obvious to most non-Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 users. The AMOLED cover screen can actually act as a viewfinder for your camera/video shooting!
So whenever you are taking a photo or a video of your friends, you can activate that nifty screen for them to easily view and adjust themselves accordingly. How convenient!
4. Access additional apps quickly (including camera and video)
Speaking of that viewfinder, you are right that it can be bothersome to open the phone entirely just to activate some apps. Well, I am glad to say that the 1.9-inch viewfinder is designed to counter that!
All I need to do is double-tap on that screen, then swipe left, right up or down to activate the likes of widgets like timer and camera, audio control, check notifications and even use Samsung Pay!
5. Using it just like a laptop - fun for multitasking
Since the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 in Flex Mode (sitting upright, halfway folded) is pretty stable, I can have it opened up like a laptop, and literally, type or edit documents and messages easily.
Plus, since I can activate Flex Mode, apps do get sorted automatically to allow me to multitask like a pro. After all, who wants to keep watching between apps when I can use both at the same time???
6. Browse the internet without holding the phone
There's another reason why Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 in Flex Mode is definitely my favourite positioning of the smartphone. This is because I do not need to hold the phone to enjoy content especially the likes of Youtube or Netflix.
Just have it open and I can enjoy my shows without needing to look for my handphone stand.
7. Enjoy exclusive jokes with the folding feature
A dark joke among many on the internet; a small pleasure to having a foldable phone is so I can set and customise my phone to the fullest.
I mean, if you're going to get a phone due to its novelty, you best use it to your advantage (and to the fullest!)
While I am taking advantage of my time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 to the fullest, I do realise that not everything is a rainbow. There are some things that not only I, but other users, had similar problems with. Here are some things I wish could've been better.
It's difficult to use with just one hand:
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is blessed with a beautiful 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X 120Hz screen, which has an aspect ratio of 21:9. If you don't know, the usual ratio is 16:9, so you can imagine how long this phone looks. While I appreciate the extra viewing space as it's useful for me - a content editor - to view documents, it can be tiring on small hands.
The only way I negate this is to have the phone in Flex Mode as it somehow puts less pressure on the hands in terms of weight. I do think that its foldable screen is a double-edged sword; I get a longer screen, but I also "get" a longer screen.
The durability of this phone:
For those that did not know; the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is considered the most durable generation of its line, and we truly don't doubt that. In fact, we are assured that Samsung has put the phone to test thousands of times for years before releasing this phone to the public. Not to mention, the phone is IPX8 rated.
In essence, I am not worried about the screen at all. What I am worried about though, is that debris like sand can damage the hinge. I am appreciative that though the phone screen stays protected when closed, debris can still harm my phone's hinge.
I guess we can do nothing but trust Samsung's tests and its fan base which have seen several years of use from the older Galaxy Z Flip generations.
It's on the pricier side for "just an above-average" smartphone:
Every rose has its thorns, and for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3, it's definitely its price. The phone has a recommended retail price of RM3,999. While that doesn't sound too bad, we (and many other reviewers on the net) have found the phone to perform just satisfactory; not too great but obviously not bad either. In short, you won't get ultimate flagship capabilities from this phone.
Don't be saddened though; I am still very attracted to this phone due to its innovative design and the fact that it's just a pretty phone to have and hold. In fact, design is one of the main reasons why the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series has such a strong cult following.
So for us (especially me as a non-demanding phone user), we are fine with the price point. I do think power users will need to look elsewhere for a workhorse, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 (review) which has a more cutthroat price from RM7,000.
