We’re taking a look at the new White Galaxy S21 FE 5G which was just announced.
Samsung announced their new Galaxy S21FE 5G which brings together the fan essentials for the best experience on a Samsung flagship. Running on the Exynos 2100 or the Snapdragon 888 depending on your region, it’s made to perform. The quad-core processor is complemented by 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage.
It’s retailing at MYR2,899 for the 128GB version and MYR3,099 for the 256GB. Pre-orders start on 6th January 2022.
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We’re going Hands-on with the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G in Olive.
Samsung announced their new Galaxy S21FE 5G which brings together the fan essentials for the best experience on a Samsung flagship. Running on the Exynos 2100 or the Snapdragon 888 depending on your region, it’s made to perform. The quad-core processor is complemented by 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage.
It’s retailing at MYR2,899 for the 128GB version and MYR3,099 for the 256GB. Pre-orders start on 6th January 2022.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more of these kinds of videos. Follow us on other social media www.facebook.com/techenttv www.twitter.com/techenttv www.instagram.com/techenttv www.linkedin.com/company/techenttv
Samsung has been busy over the last year learning from the release of its Neo QLED, Lifestyle and Micro LED screens. They’ve been looking at trends and features that will help augment and enhance the user experience across the board when it comes to their displays. It looks like they’ve also taken some user and review feedback into consideration in the upcoming generation of displays. Also, Samsung has created one of the slimmest soundbars coming to a store near you.
Samsung’s Micro LED TVs Get Better Colour Accuracy, Slimmer Bezels and Better Brightness Control
Samsung’s Micro LED TVs are leading their line up with new enhancements that bolster the viewing experience of the TVs. The TVs come with better colour accuracy and more accurate control of brightness and colour levels. The new generation of Micro LED TVs come with over 1 million steps of brightness and colour levels. This improvement will be crucial in providing an even more true to life experience when viewing HDR content. In addition to this, the lineup covers 100% of the DCI and Adobe RGB colour gamuts. Samsung is also upping the ante when it comes to bezels as the new generation comes with a 99.99% screen-to-body ratio. That’s virtually no bezel!
Source: Samsung
The hardware enhancements are just the tip of the iceberg, the new generation Micro LED TVs will also be coming with Art Mode which we’ve seen exclusively in the company’s lifestyle TVs until now. Users are able to make their TVs blend seamlessly into their decor by turning the screen into stunning art pieces. It will also have an improved Multi View mode which allows users to view content from multiple HDMI slots in 4K resolution at up to 120fps.
The new lineup of Micro LED TVs will be available in three sizes, 89-, 101- and 110-inch.
Neo QLED TVs Get A New Neo Quantum Processor & More Immersive Sound
Samsung’s Neo QLED TV offerings are getting a new processor which allows its Neo QLED TVs to provide an even more immersive experience. The new Neo Quantum Processor brings a few more features that elevate the viewing experience. All the features address issues that were raised in the past by reviewers and customers.
The new Samsung Neo Quatum Processor is introducing advanced contrast mapping with back-light unit (BLU). This allows for finer control of brightness levels; increased from a 12-bit gradation to a 14-bit gradation. This translates to 16,384 steps or quadruple the 4096 of the previous generation. The increased control of the Quantum Mini LEDs will ensure your eyes don’t get blown out by the sudden whiteouts in movies while watching.
Source: Samsung
Together with this, the new processor also enables what Samsung calls “Shape Adaptive Light”. This feature will utilise the Neo Quantum Processor to analyse lines, shapes and surfaces to control the shape of light from the Quantum Mini LEDs. This will, supposedly, increase the brightness and accuracy of shapes on screen enhancing the HDR experience on Neo QLED TVs. The TVs will also feature a Real Depth Enhancer, an multi-intelligence algorithm that will make things appear more realistic on screen.
Samsung is also leveraging AI technology to help reduce eye strain. It’s EyeComfort mode automatically optimises the screen’s brightness using data from the built-in light sensor and sunset-sunrise information. This allows the processor to lower brightness based on ambient light information and decrease blue light emissions accordingly. Samsung has also improved Object Tracking Sound (OTS). OTS Pro incorporates a new set of upfiring speakes to create a more immersive soundscape.
Together with the new lineup of Soundbars, Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs will provide an immersive soundscape that will immerse viewers in their content. Q Symphony will also be supported wirelessly in 2022. The wireless Dolby Atmos connectivity will allow for a more adaptable setup for any room. The new HW-S800B spearheads the soundbar offerings as the first Ultra Slim soundbar.
Lifestyle TVs Mattified
Samsung’s line up of Lifestyle TVs are all getting matte displays. The new display finish reduces smudges, glare and reflectivity of the screens allowing for a more comfortable experience. In fact, The Sero, The Frame and The Serif are all triple certififed from UL (Underwriter Laboratories) for being ‘Reflection Glare Free’, ‘Discomfort Glare Free’ and ‘Disability Glare Free’. Multi View on The Sero is getting an upgrade. It will now work even in vertical mode. This will allow you to simulataneously view two sources on the top and bottom portions of the screen.
The Serif is getting a larger, 65-inch option in addition to its 43-inch and 55-inch options. The Frame is available in sizes ranging from 32-inches to 85-inches.
SmartHub Brings Game Streaming, NFTs & Emotional Connection
SmartHub is getting a little bit of a redesign this year. The redesign brings the focus back to content curation with content discovery front and center. The sidebar is also more streamlined. Users will be able to seamlessly jump between Media, Gaming Hub and Ambient sections to navigate their content. Together with this, SmartHub is also getting smart calibration which will optimise your settings for the best picture quality. Basic calibration will take 30 seconds while Professional mode will optimise in about 10 minutes.
Source: Samsung
The visual upgrade also brings along a new NFT platform where you’ll be able to display, discover and purchase NFTs. Gaming Hub is also getting a new upgrade with more content coming to the platform. Samsung has partnered with NVIDIA GeForce Now, Google Stadia and Utomik to bring AAA titles and other top tier games to their TVs. You’ll also be able to take advantage of higher refresh rates in Neo QLED TVs. You’ll also be able to watch your favourite shows while on video chat with your loved ones – making the distance between that much closer.
Together with the additions to SmartHub, Samsung’s TV catalogue is getting a new Auto Rotating Wall Mount and Stand. This will bring the viewing experience of The Sero across all the whole TV line up for 2022. The mount will allow you to mirror vertical screens seamlessly. The accessory is also getting a dedicated rotate button on Samsung’s remote control.
When it comes to selecting a sound system, there are various variables to consider. This depends on your goals and demands, how you use your leisure time, whether watching movies or playing video games and even how compatible it is with the rest of your entertainment system. For some, the visual may be the most important factor, while for others, the sound quality is what makes their entertainment come alive.
Curious to know which is most suitable for you? Here are Samsung’s recommendations on which soundbar you should go for based on your needs:
For gamers: If you own a gaming console and have been looking for an immersive sound experience, consider the Q-Series Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. With the ultimate 3D sound coming to you from every direction, you’ll be able to feel like you’ve stepped into your TV and are experiencing the game in the first person. The Q800A Soundbar comes with three channels, one subwoofer channel, and two up-firing channels – which ultimately means that the sound moves around you based on the action on your screen. Not only does it bring your games to life, but you can also experience playing music on a whole other level, as with the ‘Tap Sound’ feature, you can simply tap the soundbar, and it will recognize your device and play the song you’re currently playing on your phone.
Seamless compatibility with other devices: If you’re looking for an all-rounder soundbar that can jive with all of your devices, you can consider the S-Series All-in-One Soundbar with Acoustic Beam and built-in Bixby Voice Assistant. You won’t have to worry about where you’re placing it in your house as it’s designed to fill the room with immersive sound and improved audio quality with its dual-sided horn speakers and Samsung’s Acoustic Beam® technology.
All about the bass: The bass makes a great sound system for music lovers. If blasting music and dancing to your heart’s desire is your thing, you can go for the A-Series Soundbar with the Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Virtual:X feature to give you immersive surround sound simulation. Imagine rewatching one of your favourite live concerts with the Powerful Bass Boost that’s connected to its very own wireless subwoofer – surely nothing could go wrong. The A-Series Soundbar can also connect to two different mobile devices simultaneously, allowing you and your friends to switch between your favourite playlists at any given time.
Samsung’s A series just got a little broader with the company silently announcing two new entries. The new entries seem to be meant for the entry-level segment. The addition of the new Galaxy A03 and Galaxy A03 core seems to bring even more choice when it comes to the lower end of the A series.
The new Samsung Galaxy A03 comes with an unnamed octa-core processor and up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. On the display side of things, the smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch display with an HD+ resolution. The camera setup of the Galaxy A03 is a dual-sensor setup with a 48-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. It also has support for Dolby Atmos.
Together with the A03, Samsung also silently listed the Galaxy A03 Core on its website. As the name suggests, the A03 Core is a stripped-down version of the A03. It looks to be coming with the same processor with a lower 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It also has the bare essentials when it comes to the camera setup with a single 8-megapixel sensor with autofocus on the back and a single 5-megapixel fixed-focus sensor on the front.
It’s more than likely that the phones will be running on OneUI Core – Samsung’s barebones version of their OneUI OS. It will likely ship with no frills and features like other higher-end devices but focus on the bare essentials.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy A03 will be available in blue, red and black. The A03 Core, on the other hand, will be available in Black and Blue only.
Samsung hasn’t announced any pricing or availability just yet.
Samsung’s DeX is one of the most useful additions to the Samsung ecosystem since the S Pen. The platform allows users to multitask seamlessly with their Windows or Mac systems in tandem with their Samsung device. It was first introduced with the Galaxy S8 and continues to be a cornerstone feature in any Samsung device.
Source: Samsung
That said, the feature – which turns a Samsung smartphone or tablet into a portable computer – seems to be making its first cut to keep up with the times. Samsung’s DeX will be halting support for Windows 7 come January 2022. This comes as no surprise as Microsoft themselves has marked Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 for support termination in the near future. If you’re on Windows 10 or later, you won’t have to worry about this change.
In addition to ending support for Windows 7, it looks like MacOS users who have a Samsung device will also be out of luck as Mac OS support will also be dropped come January 2022. Users have been getting a pop up notice from the app stating that support is ending for the app and it will not be available for download starting January 2022. No clarification or explanation has been given for the ending of support for MacOS.
If you haven’t used Samsung DeX, it’s one of the first iterations of screen/device mirroring that made its way to Android. The feature allows users to connect their smartphones and/or tablets to a screen via HDMI or to a PC through WiFi. Once connected users will be able to access a desktop version of OneUI with support drag and drop file transfers.
Other than the whole high-resolution camera fad, there is also the fast-charging fad. While smartphone camera technology has started to reach its peak, manufacturers started finding gains elsewhere. They had to. That other thing is even faster chargers than before.
Manufacturers of modern smartphones understand the value of time. That is why fast charging technology is a big thing. They also understood that smartphone battery capacities will just get bigger as battery technology progresses. Fast charging technology ensures that your smartphone does not need to stay plugged in the entire day before you get going again. All of them wanted to ensure their smartphones are charging faster than before. All of them except for Samsung that is.
While every other manufacturer has started pushing their smartphones to charge at more than 40W, Samsung stuck with charging even their flagship at a maximum of 25W. You still get to charge your Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in about two hours though. Still, even Lenovo allows your devices to charge at 120W speeds. That also means your devices charge to full in less than an hour.
Samsung might be changing their minds for the future of fast charging though. Samsung is planning to bring two new chargers to market. The first is a 65W power adapter they call Samsung Power Adapter Trio (EP-T6530). As per its codename, it charges at up to 65W on a single port, but it also splits its power to three ports if necessary. The second USB Type-C power will charge at 25W, while the third USB Type-A port can charge at up to 15W. Of course, you have to share the 65W if you plan to plug in more than one device.
Then there is the Samsung Type-C Power Adapter (EP-T4510). This one look more like the regular Samsung charger that you get from your Samsung box. It offers only a single USB Type-C port but charges at a maximum of 45W for super quick charges for your smartphone.
Speculations around Samsung’s upcoming release of these chargers’ points to an even faster charging Samsung Galaxy S22 device. The 65W charger also points to a possible Samsung Chromebook or more Windows Laptops coming our way. None of the current Samsung devices charge at 45W, let alone 65W. Currently, everything is just speculations until Samsung reveals them next year though.
There used to be a time when you want to avoid Samsung if you want fast and timely Operating System (OS) upgrades on your Android devices. Android updates in the early days of Samsung’s Android affair was pushed to Samsung devices way later than other manufacturers. At some point, a Samsung device only gets its major update 6 months after the same OS update was made available from Google itself.
Today, it is a different story though. Samsung is consistently topping charts when it comes to device updates. In the world of Android as well, apart from Google, Samsung has the best track record of timely software upgrades on their devices. They also keep their devices updated and supported longer than any Android manufacturer other than Google themselves currently. There is a reason why Samsung remained at the top spot when it comes to the smartphone market.
Android 12 was just released to the wild less than two months ago. Of course, it appears first on Google’s own range of devices. Of course, the new Google Pixel 6 series launched with Android 12 as part of its package. There was also a tonne of devices that had official Android 12 Beta support, if you wanted to try them. Strangely, Samsung was not too much in a hurry to release their own Beta version of the new OS even when others made theirs available near immediately after Google’s announcement of Android 12. There is a good reason, we think.
Samsung was late to the Beta party because they were busy making sure that they can push out the full version of One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 to market as soon as possible. At least we theorised that this is the case. Prove? One UI 4.0 with Android 12 is now rolling out on Samsung Galaxy S21 devices.
Of course, the update starts in the United States (U.S.) first. That also means we, living in Malaysia, will not be getting our Android 12 updates for the Samsung Galaxy S21 devices just yet. It should not take too long for Samsung to start rolling out updates for devices in Malaysia though, so we are expecting something to happen to your Samsung Galaxy S21 devices within the coming two weeks.
If you are not on a Samsung Galaxy S21 device though, you still should not worry too much. We are a little surprised too to find out that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 will only be getting their Android 12 update in December 2021 though, after the Galaxy S21 devices. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series will be getting their Android 12 update in the same month as the foldables. Even the Note 20 series gets their Android 12 treatment in December 2021.
If you are on anything newer than the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Note9 series, you are in luck to get your Android 12 update in January 2022, at least according to the leaked roadmap. That includes your Galaxy S10 and Note10 devices. Unfortunately, the Galaxy S9 and Note9 will not be getting anymore OS upgrades in the coming future.
A few months ago, Samsung launched this behemoth of a thing. It was made for gamers, and it was a gaming peripheral that the ultimate gamer would need. If anyone would own one, it is the ultimate statement piece. That was July 2021.
They call it the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor and it looked glorious. While it was more expensive than the older Odyssey G9 that it replaced, the improvements perhaps more than justifies its price tag. Not that you get a bigger display or anything, you just get a much better package than before.
The headline figures say it all. Mini LED, dual QHD 1440p resolution at 49 inches (32:9) with 12-bit colours, HDR2000 at 2000nits and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 240Hz. No matter how you look at it, it just sounds majestic. It also sounds like an awfully expensive television set, not a gaming monitor.
We assure you that we are talking about a gaming monitor though. The 49-inch stretches to an ultrawide aspect ratio of 32:9. It is also compatible with NVIDIA’s G-Sync, and AMD’s FreeSync Premium to take advantage of anything you already have. Unfortunately, your PlayStation and Xbox will not be able to fill up the display, this is a PC only territory. It also has something Samsung calls ‘CoreSync’ lighting. The RGB lighting at the back lights up according to the dominant colour of your display to further transport and immerse you in your games.
Of course, to look the part, it has to work the part. That is why the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9’s 49-inch Mini LED panel’s feed is fed by HDMI 2.1. At 2,048 dimming zones, you are getting a gaming and viewing experience like no other; you might as well live in the game world. It reacts quickly too at 1ms GtG response time. When Samsung says this is the ultimate gaming display, we believe it.
Unfortunately, at the time of launch, Malaysia did not get to see the Odyssey Neo G9. The hope that it would arrive sooner was bleak due to the major stock shortage Samsung faced. Halted and delayed productions of course played a part in the whole thing too.
Now though, you do not need to just dream of the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, you can officially own it in Malaysia. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is now available in Samsung Official Stores and showrooms across the nation. Of course, you can get them from Samsung’s official retailers and resellers as well. How much? It will set you back MYR 9,499. We predicted that this would set you back a little over MYR 1,000 above its official asking price though. in that case, all in all, that is not a bad asking price, if you have the money.
Foldables – that’s what seems to be driving a new wave that is set to change how our phones look and feel in the near future. Samsung seems to be banking hard on foldable with a shift in their release schedule and strategy. Their once cornerstone Note series has seemingly given way to their new Galaxy Z series while its parts and features make it to other devices.
The Galaxy Z Flip3 is one of the latest devices in the Galaxy Z series and takes a sharp focus on self-expression and style. This is most evident with the announcement of the Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition. However, unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip3 comes with flagship specifications and features to complement them.
That said, we still have big questions that need to be answered – Is it worth your time and money? Does it belong in your pocket or should you pass and wait for another? Is the Z Flip 3 a worthy successor to the Galaxy Note series?
Design
The focus of the Galaxy Z Flip3 is its style and design – there’s no hiding that. The changes Samsung made from the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 5G clearly show the direction that the smartphone is taking moving forward. To be very frank, it’s a direction that makes sense for the Z Flip lineup. We’ve all seen and experienced the twin technological flagships, in fact, we see that with most other companies in the mobile industry. The change in focus is a refreshing approach to a smartphone and one that seems to benefit the foldable – benefits we explore later in the review.
The first change you’ll notice on the Z Flip3 is that Samsung has done away with the rounded form factor of the original. It no longer tries to mimic a lady’s compact but instead looks more akin to a Galaxy flagship folded over. Its frame acts as a design accent which makes it look sleek, thin and stylish. It also highlights the design accents of the smartphone’s body.
The Galaxy Z Flip3 also makes one literal big change – the cover display. It changes the small, rather useless display of the original for a larger, more functional 1.9-inch display. This display is expertly blended into a large, black accent which also hides the dual camera setup on the new foldable. We will explore the functionality later in the review.
On the back, Samsung is using the same, but improved hinge we first saw in the Flip. It no longer occupies a prominent band on the back when the phone is unfolded. Instead, the hinge disappears seamlessly into the body of the phone when unfolded. The two halves meet in the middle leaving only a slimline where the hinge once was. The two halves are beautifully finished glass/glasstic with a glossy finish. When held the weight of the metal frame, glass panels and internals gives the Flip3 good weight while still remaining relatively light.
Where the design takes a departure from the run of the mill smartphone is when it’s neatly folded in half. The small, square form factor makes the phone easily pocketable. Samsung works to keep some functionality in the smartphone even in this form. That said, the smartphone seems like it’s only touching the tip of the iceberg when it’s in this form and, to be honest, those who are used to carrying a compact – will welcome the design and form factor.
Hardware
The hardware of the Galaxy Z Flip3 is a welcomed upgrade from the original. Instead of being a very public beta test, the new Flip3 feels well thought out and worthy of being a flagship. In fact, the hardware in the smartphone emphasizes the form over specifications approach that Samsung is taking with the line-up.
When it comes to the user interface, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is your run of the mill One UI interface. It does, however, have a big difference – its length. The foldable is slenderer and longer than your regular Samsung candy bar phones. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Samsung’s One UI has been adapted to the unique form factor as well as the many different modes that the unique fold form factor brings along with it.
The 9:22 aspect ratio is a unique form for Android. What Samsung has done is just scaled the UI to facilitate the added height. Unlike a regular smartphone, the grids that Android uses to align the widgets and icons are slightly elongated and rectangular on the Flip3. This gives One UI a more consistent feel even on the foldable. In fact, it behaves pretty much like a standard Android smartphone in this respect.
Where the UI shines on the Galaxy Z Flip3 is when you use apps that are compatible with the multiple angles the phone can fold. This includes the camera app, YouTube and a handful of other apps which have been developed together with Samsung. However, we expect that to change soon with Google releasing Android 12L. The optimised apps immediately scale or rearrange to maximise productivity. For instance, in the YouTube app, when you place the Flip3 at an angle, the video plays on the top half of the phone while chat and/or comments run in the lower half. Similarly, the camera app will optimise to have the viewfinder on the top half while the trigger is on the bottom.
Samsung has also made the front display a lot more actionable with the addition of widgets made specifically for the front display. At the time of review, there weren’t many third-party widgets for this. However, with widgets like calendar, voice recorder, stopwatch and more, you could get essential functionality literally at the touch of the small screen.
Aside from this, some hallmark features of One UI make it to the Z Flip3 including the sidebar and gesture navigation. The sidebar feels a little bit unnatural and awkward on the Flip3 due to the raised bezel that protects the screen. However, it doesn’t take away from the functionality that it brings such as quick access to apps and app pairs. Gesture navigation allows you to have even more screen real estate. It gives back the space which would otherwise be used to house the navigation buttons. However, since the active area for navigation is slightly larger than the sidebar, it actually felt pretty natural and ergonomic.
Performance
The Z Flip3 has graduated to one of Samsung’s main flagships this year. It comes as no surprise that they chose to go with the Snapdragon 888 5G processor, unlike the more experimental Z Flip. The SoC puts an octa-core processor with a capable GPU at the disposal of the Flip3. We all know by now, that it’s not about the hardware but how optimised it is to extract every ounce of performance. It’s also paired with 8GB of RAM and, in our review unit, 128GB of storage.
Multitasking & Productivity
It comes as no surprise to us that Samsung has vastly optimised the experience. Overall, the foldable is even more powerful than the original Flip. It’s able to handle multitasking better. The one thing that we loved in the original Flip was the ability to get things done – whether it be by disconnecting from the world or with the multitasking features of the smartphone.
The Flip3 continues this legacy by adding more features to the cover screen. The new widgets allow us to get more things done without opening the phone. This includes adding appointments to calendars, replying to messages and even taking pictures if the need arises. However, the more capable processor also allowed us to multitask more efficiently with split-screen multitasking. There was little to no slow down when using apps like Microsoft Excel and Samsung Email in split-screen. Even using Google Keep and Chrome in the same multitasking mode was a breeze.
Call Quality & Connectivity
It should come as no surprise that call quality and connectivity on the Flip3 is good. The smartphone comes with pretty much all the connectivity options you could need including the added futureproofing of 5G. Unfortunately, Malaysia hasn’t rolled out 5G, so we couldn’t really put that to the test.
However, aside from 5G, it comes with Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi 6 (AX) and 4G LTE. The connectivity options were robust enough that there were hardly any instances where we were offline. Bluetooth connectivity was stable on the Galaxy Buds Pro and even on the Sony WF-1000MX4. In fact, it seemed to be more stable and reliable than a few of the other review devices we had in-house and even my personal Galaxy Note10+. I could leave the smartphone in my room and walk a good 10 to 20 meters outside to the hall – mind you this also meant that the signal had to pass through a concrete wall. Even walking to the second floor of my house didn’t have the regular signal degradation. That said, once I was outside about 25 meters, connectivity started becoming spotty and weak.
Over WiFi and 4G, the Flip3 performed admirably. It had no issues when it came to connectivity. In fact, similar to the Bluetooth experience, the foldable seemed to have better connectivity than a few other smartphones. It was able to connect to 4G where other devices dropped to 3G. Even speeds over 4G networks was a little faster on the Flip3. When it came to WiFi, the Flip’s WiFi6 support allowed it to have better, faster connectivity.
Gaming
The only area where I would say the Flip3 has a few issues was with gaming – but it’s not for lack of performance capabilities. The elongated, hinged form factor was the main reason we had issues with the smartphone. The atypical aspect ratio meant that games were ill optimised to the screen. This was exacerbated by touch controls which took up more screen real estate than usual. In addition, the fact that you typically play in landscape made me even more aware of the hinge as there was always a lurking fear that being too engrossed in the game would make me accidentally overstrain the hinge – but that’s something that faded away the more I used the smartphone.
Performance-wise, gaming was a breeze on the Flip3. Games like Genshin Impact had little to no issue running on the phone. In fact, even Pokémon UNITE played smoothly on the smartphone. There weren’t many instances where screen tearing occurring and load times in Pokémon UNITE were quicker than the Switch. Touch controls were responsive and the sound experience from the smartphone was surprisingly good. However, with prolonged gaming sessions, the phone does tend to get a little warm.
The only thing we thought could have made the gaming experience more a little better would have been the optimisation of games to make use of the folded form factor. A few emulators were able to do this but mainstream games haven’t yet cooked up the feature. Hopefully, that changes with Android 12L coming soon.
Battery Life
Samsung has steadily been improving on their battery life when it comes to devices in general. That rings true for the Galaxy Flip3. It is one of the smartphones from Samsung with the longest battery life yet. The main contributor to this would be the fact that during my time with it, I hardly found myself opening the smartphone to use the screen. The cover display was where I was interacting most with the smartphone.
However, even with that, the longest active time I got with the smartphone was about 6 hours; This was with a little bit of word processing, social media and some light reading on Google Chrome. When gaming, this was significantly shorter, coming in at only about 3 to 4 hours; at the absolute maximum, it lasted about 5 hours.
Display
The Flip3 comes with a foldable AMOLED 2X display panel with an FHD+ resolution. As mentioned earlier in the review, the display comes with a rather odd 22:9 aspect ratio. That said, the display continues Samsung’s legacy of having pretty decent displays with good colour reproduction. While the Galaxy Z Flip3 does share the tendency of oversaturating reds, using it in natural settings does dial back the saturation. That said if you want more control over the colour reproduction on the phone the advanced mode under the “Vivid” option allows you to get into the nitty-gritty of the colour calibration. The added HDR10+ compatibility gives the screen a better colour range and accuracy with deeper blacks and more vibrant colours with compatible content.
That aside, the display’s odd aspect ratio does mean that you will have to contend with black bars in most cases. Even with the more cinematic 16:10 aspect ratio, the phone will compensate with two black bars flanking on either side of the content. While it’s not as jarring, it can be disruptive when watching older 4:3 format shows.
The display’s 120Hz refresh rate is noticeable when using the phone for games and scrolling through documents. The high refresh rate also lends itself to a more fluid experience with the phone’s UI overall. By default, the screen is set to an adaptive mode where the screen will dynamically adapt to the content on the screen. Samsung’s implementation of this is one of the better ones in the market. You hardly see the stutter when the refresh rate is increased or decreased as it adapts to content.
Cameras
Unlike its other flagships, Samsung has opted to not equip the Galaxy Z Flip3 with triple or quadruple-camera sensors. Instead, the Flip3 comes with 2 sensors and, in all honesty, you’re not really missing out when it comes to camera performance. The company still manages to make the setup one that’s feature-packed and pretty complete. In fact, it might just disprove the convention that more sensors make a better camera experience.
Up in the front, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is equipped with a 10-megapixel sensor. The sensor makes the most sense for the Flip given that I found myself defaulting to the main sensors. The selfie sensor was only my go-to when it came to video calls. This was mostly because of the convenience the folding allowed me when using it. It allowed the phone itself to become like a tripod and freed up my hands to do other things. That said, the images from the selfie camera were still pretty sharp and detailed.
The main camera setup is an unusual combination of two 12-megapixel sensors – a wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and an ultrawide one with an f/2.2 aperture. Samsung didn’t even include its variable aperture technology. However, the combination gave relatively good photos. The colours were bright and popped. It wasn’t too overly saturated either. In fact, it felt a little bit more tuned than the S21 and S21 Ultra.
That aside, the camera combination allowed the Flip to be a little more versatile than other dual-camera smartphones. While the lack of a telephoto meant that there’s no optical zoom, the limited digital zoom allowed for good zoomed-in photos. However, don’t expect the quality to be anything like other smartphones with optical zoom. In fact, pictures beyond 2x or 3x zoom become grainy and unusable. Zoom aside, the phone was still able to adapt with portrait mode and was even able to take close up shots. The versatility proved to be quite useful during our review period, but it still is no replacement for a DSLR.
The main camera paired with the cover screen is also a winning combination. The fact that you’re getting stunning selfies thanks to the main sensors is a win in our books. What’s more, you don’t even need to flip the phone open to use them. However, the size does limit the versatility of the cameras. Although, that’s not really a deal-breaker considering you technically can just flip the phone open to use the cameras fully.
A New way to Think of Flagships – a Trend Setter making way for more possibilities
When it comes down to it, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is an iterative update – a finetuning of a formula that we know Samsung is going to be iterating on. However, the improvements made the phone a lot more useful and utilitarian than its predecessor. In fact, it would be my go-to for a phone if it weren’t for the lack of an S-Pen. Samsung has made the Z Flip3 a contender for phone of the year by focusing on what matters with any smartphone – its user experience.
To date, we haven’t seen any other smartphone which brings the optimisations and thoughtful iteration that the Z Flip3 brings. Each update and upgrade of the design and software was done with purpose and enhances the overall experience of the smartphone. It’s both stunning visually and conveniently utilitarian.
Of course, if Samsung’s focus was simply on style, it’s done quite a bit when it comes down to it. The Z Flip3 is gorgeous. The sleek exterior belies its true capabilities and performance. In fact, it’s impressed us so much we’re giving it an editor’s choice award. The Galaxy Z Flip3 strikes a unique balance between function and form that makes it an undeniable trend setter.
