The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has become the first foldable smartphone that you can buy from Google Fi in the US. You can purchase the phone by paying $999.99 outright or $41.67 per month for 24 months. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available in four colors: Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. Google Fi also offers trade-in deals, promotions, and other bonuses when you port your number from other networks.
Google Fi is an MVNO carrier in the US, which means it works in the back of other carrier networks (T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular). The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is designed to work with Google Fi, so it works seamlessly over multiple networks.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s newest clamshell-style foldable smartphone that succeeds the Galaxy Z Flip 5G. The device features a stronger body, an IPX8-rated design, and a bigger cover display. It has a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover display and a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O foldable display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is equipped with the Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB internal storage.
The foldable phone has a 10MP selfie camera and a 12MP+12MP dual-camera setup on the outside. It can record 4K 60fps videos through all its cameras. It has stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint reader, GPS, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is powered by a 3,300mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging and Qi wireless charging.
The Galaxy Watch 3 brought back something that Samsung smartwatch fans had been missing for a couple of years: the physical rotating bezel. It was otherwise quite similar to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with almost the same specs and features. The device did come with some new health-related features such as fall detection and blood oxygen saturation measurement.
With the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung has made some of the biggest improvements to its smartwatches in years. The Galaxy Watch 4 is also a fundamentally different watch in that it runs Android, not Tizen.
Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 3
Samsung is offering its new smartwatch in two models – the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The specs and features are exactly the same. The only difference is the physical rotating bezel that’s only present on the Classic.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes with a 1.19-inch and 1.36-inch display respectively, negligibly smaller than the 1.2-inch and 1.4-inch displays on the 41mm and 45mm Galaxy Watch 3. Both new models are slimmer than the Galaxy Watch 3, though.
An interesting point to note in this Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 3 comparison is that the new models have much higher resolution displays. They also come with the first 5nm processor on a Galaxy Watch, the Exynos W920.
The CPU is 1.25x faster and boasts up to 10x smoother graphics performance. The new smartwatches also have 1.5x the amount of RAM, 1.5GB compared to 1GB on the Galaxy Watch 3. They also boast double the storage at 16GB compared to 8GB on the outgoing model.
Samsung’s new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor allows for enhanced health and fitness features that were not present in earlier models. This includes detailed body composition analysis, enhanced fitness tracking, advanced sleep management with snoring detection and continuous blood oxygen tracking. This is in addition to all of the features found on the Galaxy Watch 3 such as ECG.
Since the Galaxy Watch 4 runs on the new Wear OS platform co-developed with Google, it’s also capable of running Android apps. This gives it a major advantage over the Galaxy Watch 3 which runs on Tizen and is therefore on the outside of Google’s app ecosystem. The Galaxy Watch 4 is clearly the new champion among all of Samsung’s watches.
Check out the full Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 3 specs comparison below to get all of the details. We’ll have a detailed review of the Galaxy Watch 4 up soon, so do stay tuned for that.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 bring numerous upgrades that make them worthy sequels to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip. However, if you look at their spec sheets and feature set, it’s clear that the Z Fold 3 gets the majority of big changes. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, other than having water resistance and a larger cover display, is mostly just catching up with other high-end Galaxy phones when it comes to features, like a 120Hz refresh rate and stereo speakers.
Galaxy Z Flip 3’s charging speed tops out at 15W
Plenty of things have remained the same as before, like the cameras, battery capacity, and, well, battery charging speed. Yes, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 supports the old 15W fast charging instead of 25W. We’re not sure 15W is even worthy of being considered ‘fast’ anymore, but Samsung still thinks so, and the company believes it’s more than enough for the 3,300 mAh battery powering the Z Flip 3.
If you’ve used the Galaxy Z Flip, you’ll know that even its small battery takes a fairly long time to charge with a 15W charger and doesn’t last very long, so it’s certainly disappointing that Samsung has made any changes on that front. What’s more, Samsung is not giving you a charger with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (or the Z Fold 3), though there’s a good chance most customers will probably have a 15W charger lying at home already.
And hey, Samsung has also reduced the price of its clamshell foldables by a whopping $450 (compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, which retailed for $1,449) to make up for it. The Galaxy Z Flip 3’s pricing starts at $999, which makes it a lot more affordable than its predecessor.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are finally official, and Samsung is letting fans pre-order. The latest two foldable phones bring a handful of new technologies and improvements over the previous generations, and as expected, they have fully entered the 5G era.
Samsung began offering 5G versions of its flagship phones alongside LTE variants a couple of years ago, and its premium range is now entirely dedicated to this new standard. In other words, Samsung is only selling 5G versions of the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, with no LTE-only options available anywhere.
New Samsung foldables bring 5G to everyone
The company’s flagships completed their transition to 5G last year with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The Galaxy S21 series that followed in January 2021 was also released only in 5G flavor, so of course, the state-of-the-art Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are following the same strategy.
All in all, this means buyers of Samsung’s 3rd-gen foldable phones don’t have to worry about buying a flagship device in 2021 that lacks 5G. Regardless of where you might be buying the Z Fold 3 or Flip 3, Samsung makes it possible for you to take advantage of 5G connectivity from day one without worrying whether the 5G model is even available in your region.
It has often been difficult to keep track of the newest Samsung phone given that the company releases so many throughout the year. Samsung has dozens of models across different series which cater to all price ranges. This page will be updated on a monthly basis to ensure that you can always know what is the newest Samsung phone in each series.
The latest Galaxy Phone in every series
Galaxy Z Fold
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 finally has a successor. That doesn’t mean it’s still not one of the best Samsung phones, but its successor is in a league of its own. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 was officially unveiled on August 11 and pre-orders started the same day with the release set for August 27.
Samsung has made some major improvements to the device. The 6.3-inch cover display is 29% brighter and so is the 7.6-inch foldable display. Both panels have a 120Hz refresh rate. The internal display also has a 4-megapixel Under Display Camera. It’s also the first foldable smartphone from Samsung to support the S Pen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It also happens to be the first foldable smartphone that has an IPX8 water resistance rating. Check out the detailed specs of this device on our Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs page.
The camera setup includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor paired with a 12-megapixel ultra wide and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. Starting at $1,799, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is cheaper than its predecessor. It’s offered in a variety of colors including Phantom Black, Green and Silver.
Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung has followed up on the success of the Galaxy Z Flip with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The device was unveiled on August 11 with the release slated for August 27. At its price tag, the clamshell foldable will quickly become one of the most sought after devices on the market.
The larger 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover display is a welcome upgrade as it’s capable of displaying more content now. This enables users to interact with apps without having to unfold the device. The 6.7-inch foldable display is also brighter than its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has the distinction of being water-resistant as well.
Samsung has given it flagship-level performance with the Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The 3,300mAh battery supports 15W fast charging. The camera setup consists of a 12-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera in addition to a 10-megapixel f/2.4 selfie camera.
Starting at $999, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the cheapest foldable smartphone yet from Samsung. It’s available in a range of colors including Phantom Black, Green and Lavender.
Galaxy Note
August is Galaxy Note month and right on cue, Samsung has unveiled two new handsets this time around as well. The Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are now official and available for pre-order. They’ll go on sale come August 21.
There are some major differences between the two models. The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra feature a 6.7-inch flat FHD+ display and a 6.9-inch Quad HD+ curved display with dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The former doesn’t have a microSD card slot while the latter does. Both don’t support 45W super fast charging, maxing out at 25W instead.
While the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra retains the signature metal and glass build that Samsung flagships have become familiar far, the Galaxy Note 20 only gets a plastic back. That’s a surprising decision Samsung has made this year, in addition to not offering 120Hz refresh rate on the smaller handset.
They also use the same Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865+ chipsets with the Note 20 only getting 8GB RAM while the Ultra gets a 12GB RAM configuration as well with up to 512GB of storage. Check out our hands-on to learn more about these phones and visit our devices page for the full Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs.
Prices start at $999 and $1,299 for the 5G Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra respectively.
Galaxy S
Samsung unveiled its highly anticipated flagship lineup for 2021. The newest Samsung phones in the Galaxy S lineup are now the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. All three handsets are powered by the Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888 chipset depending on the region. Samsung is offering different RAM and storage options on the variants.
The display supports adaptive refresh rate and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. Samsung has also revamped the design with a new Contour Cut camera housing that adds a touch of class to the device. It has taken away expandable storage, though, so there’s no microSD card slot on the entire lineup.
The Galaxy S21 is the entry-level device and also the smallest of them all. It features a 6.2-inch FHD+ flat display. Samsung has opted for a plastic back on this device instead of glass. Its camera setup includes a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide, 12-megapixel f/1.8 wide with OIS and 64-megapixel telephoto f/2.0 camera with OIS and 3x zoom. There’s also a 10-megapixel front camera. A 4,000mAh battery keeps the lights on with support for 25W fast charging. The Galaxy S21 is available in 128/256GB storage with 8GB of RAM.
Samsung has given the Galaxy S21+ a larger 6.7-inch FHD+ display. It also gets a flat panel but has glass on the back instead of plastic. This device has the same camera setup as the Galaxy S21. It’s also offered in 128/256GB storage capacities with 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S21+ has a slightly larger 4,800mAh battery compared to its predecessor.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung’s ultimate flagship. It comes with a 6.8-inch WQHD+ curved display that supports 120Hz refresh rate at the highest resolution. The camera setup puts the device in a league of its own. There’s Samsung’s latest 108-megapixel primary sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide and two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x optical zoom.
The handset offers an impressive 100x Space Zoom. A laser autofocus module is present as well. There’s a 40-megapixel camera up front for selfies. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery and is available in 128/256/512GB storage with up to 16GB of RAM.
Samsung has slightly reduced the prices for its 2021 flagship lineup. The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra start at $799, $999 and $1,199 respectively.The devices went on sale January 29. Check out Galaxy S21/Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra hands-on for our thoughts on the new devices.
Galaxy Fan Edition
Samsung has brought back the Fan Edition moniker and has also confirmed that it will release new Fan Edition models of its flagships every year. It’s kicking things off with the Galaxy S20 FE which is being marketed as a flagship in its own right.
Unveiled in September 2020, the Galaxy S20 FE brings many of the best features that were introduced with the Galaxy S20 lineup earlier this year. It gets a 6.5-inch FHD+ flat 120Hz refresh rate display, the same Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865 chipset, stereo speakers, a large 4,500mAh battery and three years of Android OS upgrades.
The Galaxy S20 FE also comes with a triple-camera system at the back which includes a 12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel sensor in addition to an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom. A 32-megapixel camera is present up front.
Samsung is now selling the Galaxy S20 FE. Prices start at $699 for the 5G variant in the United States.
Galaxy A
Samsung has significantly expanded its Galaxy A series over the past couple of years. It now offers over a dozen smartphones across all price ranges. You can get a entry level device like the Galaxy A10 and a 5G-capable device like the Galaxy A90 5G.
The Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A72 are the latest Galaxy devices in this series. Samsung has launched its revamped mid-rangers recently. It has made substantial upgrades under the hood in addition to a more refined design.
Featuring a 6.5-inch 90Hz refresh rate display, the Galaxy A52 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. The handset comes with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. The 5G variant gets a 120Hz refresh rate display and the Snapdragon 750G chipset.
The camera setup includes a 64-megapixel optically stabilized main sensor paired with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 5-megapixel depth and 5-megapixel macro camera. A 32-megapixel front camera is present as well. Prices for the Galaxy A52 start at €349.
The Galaxy A72 comes with a 6.7-inch 90Hz refresh rate display, a Snapdragon 720G processor with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The lights are kept on by a 5,000mAh battery that has support for 25W fast charging.
In the camera department, you get a 64-megapixel primary sensor with OIS, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical and up to 30x digital zoom, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide as well as a 5-megapixel macro camera. There’s also a 32-megapixel selfie camera upfront. Prices start at €449.
Galaxy M
Samsung introduced its Galaxy M lineup earlier this year. It’s a new budget lineup aimed primarily at India with features that were previously never seen on devices in this price range from Samsung. The series is also unique in that Samsung only sells the Galaxy M devices online.
The Galaxy M42 5G is now the latest handset in this series. It’s the first Galaxy M-branded smartphone to feature 5G connectivity. The handset is now available in India. It features a 6.6-inch Infinity-U display with HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 750G resides under the hood with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. It runs full-fledged One UI with version 3.1 onboard. Previous Galaxy M handsets have used the lightweight One UI Core. A 5,000mAh battery keeps the lights on with support for 15W charging.
The quad-camera setup of this device includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 5-megapixel macro and 5-megapixel depth camera. There’s also a 20-megapixel selfie camera.
Bear in mind that this list only tells you about the newest Samsung phone in every series, not what’s the best in a given price range. It’s to show you what the latest phone is so that you know what to look out for when buying a new Samsung smartphone.
We know bits about what the Galaxy A52s could have in store for us thanks to its FCC listing, some leaked renders, and benchmark listings. Its approximate price is out there, too, along with some features that it could (or could not) bring to the table. A new report from renowned leaker Ronald Quandt now tells us pretty much everything we need to know about the Galaxy A52s.
A faster and more efficient Snapdragon chip is the key upgrade
For starters, the Galaxy A52s will reuse its predecessor’s 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen, complete with a hole-punch cutout for the phone’s 32MP selfie camera and an under-display fingerprint sensor. Its rear camera array will consist of a 64MP primary sensor, 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 5MP macro lens and 5MP depth sensor. The lack of a telephoto lens is disappointing, but an earlier leak already prophesized it. Both the rear and front-facing cameras can record 4K video at 30 fps.
Moving on to the Galaxy S52s’ innards, we get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset with 6GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Quandt adds that the European Galaxy A52s variant will limit the internal storage capacity to 128GB. Further expansion via a micro SD card is possible, though. Lastly, the smartphone will draw power from a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging, which is par-for-the-course for any Samsung mid-ranger.
Other Galaxy A52s features include Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n/ Wi-Fi, two nano-SIM card slots, and IP67 water and dust resistance. It will run Android 11 with One UI 3.1 out of the box. Although it is not official yet, Samsung will sell the Galaxy A52s sometime at the end of August 2021 for €449 a pop. Looking at the spec sheet, the Galaxy A52s is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. However, its objectively faster SoC should turn some heads and incentivize people to buy it, especially for its relatively cheap asking price.
How many Galaxy Z Fold 3s does Samsung intend to sell this year? That might sound like confidential info, but the company’s own C-suite executives disagree. Or at least those in its marketing department do, as they’ve decided to openly discuss this fact as part of the promotional activities following yesterday’s launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3.
It should come as no surprise that Samsung itself is behind many of the recent market surveys gauging the demand for foldable mobile devices. And even third-party ones are mostly in unity with its own predictions, which stand at 6.5 million devices for 2021.
Global foldable smartphone demand is still nearly synonymous with Samsung’s sales targets
That’s 6.5 million in total sales, mind you. But it’s not like anyone is hot on Samsung’s heels as far as meeting that market demand is concerned. Things might have turned out differently had Trump not taken out the only potential threat to Samsung’s foldable ambitions while those were still materializing last year. But he did, so right now, the company is pretty much guaranteed to dominate the niche in the interim.
Bryan Choi, Samsung Mobile Communications EVP, confirmed as much in today’s promotional interview. Stating that the company intends to push the volume of commercially available foldables “beyond the market demand” for the year. Thus continuing its ridiculous growth in the segment. And based on what we know about Galaxy Z Fold 2 sales and existing industry trends, it’s safe to assume that well over half of the aforementioned figure will be directly attributable to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Now that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are officially here, we’ll get to see some interesting offers by mobile carriers incentivizing people to buy the newly-announced foldables. AT&T already revealed theirs, and so did Verizon, so now it’s T-Mobile’s turn.
The offers aim to make the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 significantly more affordable. As expected, there are many caveats that one needs to keep in mind before committing to a purchase.
T-Mobile will give you a Galaxy Z Flip 3 for free with certain plans
Similar to what we saw with AT&T, potential Galaxy Z Flip 3 buyers can get the phone for free, if they opt for T-Mobile’s interest-free Equipment Installation Plan (EIP). You’ll be reimbursed via monthly credits to your bill across a span of 24-36 months, depending on your tenure. Additionally, one can also avail of the offer by trading in an eligible smartphone. If you’re in the market for a Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead, the aforementioned plan will get you a $1,000 discount on it.
Alternatively, T-Mobile will knock off $500 off the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3’s asking price with other plans. You’ll still have to stick around with T-Mobile for up to two years, though. T-Mobile is also throwing in a free Galaxy Watch 4 40mm if you choose to add a new DIGITS line on a qualifying plan. If you want to buy one at full price, you can get the second one for free via in-store credits. Lastly, you can also get a Galaxy Tab S7 FE for 50% off.
You can find the terms and conditions, qualifying plans, and more on T-Mobile’s dedicated product pages for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. All the aforementioned devices are available for pre-order now and will be available for purchase starting August 27th.
The August 2021 security update is now reaching select variants of the Galaxy A90 5G, bundled as part of the A908NKSU3DUG3 software version. The rollout started earlier today with the South Korean models, but several others should be eligible for the patch as well. It’s all country-dependent, because this particular device has been on a quarterly release cycle ever since first hitting the market two years ago.
For example, Galaxy A90 5G owners in the United Kingdom and Australia are part of the crowd that can expect the August 1st security patch level to land on their smartphones in the near future. Seeing how they’re all still running the May 2021 update. The exact timing of the next patch will depend on their networks, however.
Is this update on its way to your Galaxy A90 5G? That depends
Samsung’s software update policies gained a lot of momentum since the Galaxy A90 5G released back in 2019. To the point that some of its smartphones now come with up to half a decade’s worth of guaranteed security updates. Not this one, unfortunately, though the number of those that are placed on quarterly release schedules from day one continues to drop every year.
But as for the Galaxy A90 5G, you can check to see whether a new firmware is already available in your country by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Failing that, you could also flash a compatible system image to your device manually. Where would you get one of those? No worries, our firmware archives have you covered.
Samsung’s smartwatches have always worked with iPhones, although with limited capabilities in some cases. Starting with the Galaxy Gear that was released in 2013 to the Galaxy Watch 3 that was launched last year, they have all been compatible with iPhones.
Sorry iPhone owners, you’re not invited to the party
The answer is no. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic don’t work with the iPhone. It means that those who prefer the iPhone but are attracted to Samsung’s smartwatches won’t be able to choose both at the same time. If you are an iPhone user, you should keep this in your mind.
Although you may think that Samsung’s latest move is to create some exclusivity like the Apple Watch’s exclusive compatibility with iPhones, that is not actually the case. Wear OS 3, which is co-developed by Google and Samsung, is tightly integrated with Android smartphones. And some Wear OS 3 features require the connected smartphone to feature (GMS) Google Mobile Services. Since GMS is not available on iPhones (and Huawei’s new smartphones), the Galaxy Watch 4 series and other Wear OS 3 smartwatches won’t work with the iPhone.
Older Galaxy Watch models such as the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active 2, and the Galaxy Watch 3 will continue to work with iPhones, though.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch Active 2 merely six months after its predecessor had hit the market. The company introduced some changes with the new model. It had a digital rotating bezel, improved specs and new health and fitness features. It was also available in a larger size. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 was the first to get the ECG feature.
However, it pales in comparison to the Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung’s newest smartwatch stands in a league of its own compared to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. For starters, the company is offering two separate variants of the Galaxy Watch 4.
Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch Active 2
The Galaxy Watch 4 doesn’t have a physical rotating bezel much like the Galaxy Watch Active 2. It’s available in 44mm and 40mm sizes with a 1.36-inch and 1.19-inch display. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 was offered in 40mm and 44mm sizes with 1.2-inch and 1.4-inch displays respectively. Samsung has fitted higher resolution displays on its new smartwatches that also happen to be slimmer than the Galaxy Watch Active 2.
Samsung has made a major change for its smartwatches with the Galaxy Watch 4 that make them fundamentally different from previous models. The Galaxy Watch 4 runs on Wear OS, the Android-based platform Samsung has co-developed with Google. So while the Galaxy Watch Active 2 runs on Tizen, the latest model is able to run Android apps.
The Galaxy Watch 4 also comes with significant improvements under the hood. Its Exynos W920 processor is 1.25x faster than the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with the graphics performance up by an impressive 8.8x. There’s also four times the internal storage at 16GB and higher 1.5GB RAM.
With the new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, the Galaxy Watch 4 is able to provide far more health and fitness-related features. There’s body composition analysis, continuous blood oxygen saturation monitoring, improved fitness tracking, advanced sleep tracking with snoring detection, and more.
You can find the full Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch Active 2 specs comparison below. It’s impressive to see just how far Samsung’s smartwatches have come in a few years. Don’t forget to check back in for our detailed Galaxy Watch 4 review which will be up in due course.
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Samsung’s got an incredible product in the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Just two years after the company’s first foldable phone, we’re getting features like water resistance and S Pen support, with the latter an especially important one considering Samsung isn’t launching a new Note flagship this year.
It’s also worth remembering that you need the S Pen Fold Edition or the S Pen Pro (which is priced at $99.99) if you wish to use the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with a stylus. Regular S Pens, including the ones you get with the Galaxy Note series phones or the ones you get with Samsung’s tablets, will not workand could possibly damage the foldable display. Furthermore, the cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn’t support S Pen input.
As for how good of an experience the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and S Pen combo provides, it’s something we will be able to answer in our full review of the phone, which will be up sometime in the next few days. In the meantime, check out our Galaxy Z Fold 3 hands-on in the video above for our early impressions.
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Samsung gave up on the Galaxy Note 21 and the colored Z Fold hinges to focus on building the best-possible foldable device and bring us the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at this year’s Unpacked event. And boy, does the new foldable show tons of improvements! There’s a lot to unpack here — pun intended — so let’s stop wasting time. Here are the very best Galaxy Z Fold 3 features.
Water resistance and 10% stronger ‘Armor Aluminum’
The Galaxy Z fold 3 is the first — but not the only — foldable phone to boast an IP rating — IPX8, to be exact. This code represents that Samsung hasn’t tested the foldable phone for dust ingress but determined that it’s water-resistant.
Samsung didn’t stop here. The company’s using 10% stronger “Armor Aluminum” in the phone’s construction this year, and of course, the cover display has Gorilla Glass Victus protection. And, as you’re about to find out, the foldable screen is also better protected.
A brighter foldable display with a more durable protective film
This year, the 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOED 2X Infinity Flex Display has a new protective layer on top, and it might even be the reason why the addition of an S Pen was possible. More on the S Pen later, but as far as general durability is concerned, Samsung claims that the new protective film provides a massive 80% boost in durability over the film used in the previous generation.
The foldable display’s 29% increased brightness compared to last year shouldn’t be overlooked either. Samsung’s foldable display always had poorer brightness than the non-foldable AMOLED screens, so a 29% improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will make using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in direct sunlight more comfortable. The cherry on top is that the cover screen is also 25% brighter.
UDC (Under-Display Camera) technology is finally here
It’s been almost three years since Samsung introduced the first smartphone equipped with Infinity-O display technology, i.e., the Galaxy A8s. Infinity-O was Samsung’s response to the off-putting display notch widely adopted by the mobile industry. It was — and arguably still is — a more elegant alternative to the notch, and it paved the way for a massive improvement a few years down the line.
Enter UDC (Under-Display Camera) technology: A long-awaited evolutionary step in the Infinity-O timeline. In layman’s terms, UDC technology comprises a new 4MP camera with large 2-micron pixels capable of taking in more light, and the Infinity-O display cutout with active pixels covering the 4MP sensor. This combination allows the selfie camera to stay hidden, letting the 7.6-inch foldable display shine uninterrupted, without a visible cutout or a notch. Well, almost, but to an impressive level nonetheless.
Both displays support a 120Hz high refresh rate
Samsung’s foldable phones have fully entered the era of 120Hz high refresh rate displays. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was the first to adopt this technology. However, it was limited to the inner foldable display, which led to a noticeable decrease in UI animation smoothness whenever switching to the 60Hz cover screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 marks a new milestone, as it introduces 120Hz across the board, with both the cover screen and the inner foldable panel offering high refresh rate capabilities.
When dreams come true, foldable phones get S Pen support
Adding S Pen support to the book-like Galaxy Fold form factor seemed like the natural thing to do ever since the first model was introduced in 2019. The technology just wasn’t there yet, but two years later, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has become the first foldable device to support the S Pen.
Samsung created a unique digitizer for the foldable display, and two new S Pen models called the S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro. The S Pen Fold Edition is sold along with a case for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and provides basic functionalities. It doesn’t have Bluetooth and Air Actions. The S Pen Pro has Bluetooth LE, Air Actions, and Find My S Pen via SmartThings Find, but it doesn’t come with a case for the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It’s more of a general-purpose S Pen that’s deeply integrated with the new foldable, though it’s carried separately.
The S Pen Fold Edition is compatible only with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and no other Samsung device. However, the S Pen Pro works with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and other Galaxy devices that offer S Pen support.
One last thing of note is that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 cover display does not offer S Pen support, and there arguably are a couple of good reasons for that.
Samsung Notes meets Flex Mode and with Two-Page templates
Included with the S Pen is the S Pen to text feature and a bunch of new software goodies like Samsung Notes. The popular note-taking app got updated for the occasion, with a few unique additions designed for the large, foldable display. The most fundamental characteristic of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that it unfolds like a book. So, why not allow the software to take advantage of this form factor more? Well, Samsung did just that.
Samsung Notes now has a new Two-Page feature, complete with various templates such as calendars, journals, and travel logs. People can use the Notes app as they usually would on one half of the screen, while the other half can extend to include said templates. It’s a neat addition for productivity-oriented users.
Another one is the integration of the S Pen and Samsung Notes with Flex Mode. Users can now double-tap the S Pen on the lower half of the screen in Flex Mode to bring up Samsung Notes instantly. This can be very useful, for example, when watching a video in Flex Mode and quickly wanting to jot down some notes without pausing the video.
And in case you’re wondering, the S Pen is integrated with other non-Samsung apps, including Microsoft’s. The input device is fully supported by Microsoft Teams, where it can be used for handwriting and sketching in conference calls.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 brings a handful of UI improvements developed with input from the Framework R&D Group. Samsung describes “Framework” as “the task of optimizing Android OS for [its] foldable smartphones.”
The main focus of the Framework division was to improve Multi-Active Window — the feature that allows two or three apps to run simultaneously on the foldable display.
Transitions when rotating apps in Multi-Active Window are now smoother thanks to the addition of what the Framework R&D Group calls “Natural Switching.” And now, launching apps in Multi-Active Window is more natural, as apps that are already open adapt better to size and aspect ratio changes.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 UI also introduces a new and quite useful Drag & Split feature that ties in with the Multi-Active Window improvements. Applying Drag & Split when browsing the web or shopping online, for example, users can open links in split-screen seamlessly without leaving the webpage. It used to be that opening a link in a new tab would transition the entire screen, but Drag & Split brings a more PC-like experience to the foldable device. It’s somewhat reminiscent of window snapping in Windows 10, except it works with opening new web links in split-screen.
A more PC-like experience in partnership with Google and Microsoft
Samsung said it wanted to offer Galaxy Z Fold 3 users a more PC-like browsing experience on Chrome. And in partnership with Google, Samsung fully integrated the Drag & Split feature detailed above with the Chrome mobile browser for the new foldable flagship.
But here’s a lot more that went into creating a productivity-oriented experience closer to what personal computers offer. Samsung developed a new Taskbar for the large foldable screen, which sounds and acts like the type of taskbar you’d find in a PC-grade OS like Windows 10. The taskbar hosts app shortcuts, complete with notification badges, and it’s a much faster alternative to switching apps via the Recents screen.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft brings us deeper integration with the Office suite of apps. Microsoft apps like Word now support Two-Page mode — similar to Samsung Notes. And even more in line with the PC-like experience for productivity, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 can launch two different Office files (of the same type) in Two-Page mode, allowing users to keep open and cross-edit two documents simultaneously.
One UI 3.1.1 Live app widgets
Live app widgets — the nomenclature is fuzzy — are another brand-new addition to One UI 3.1.1, and they’re debuting with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
An example of Live app widgets in action is setting a timer via the Clock app and switching tasks. The Clock app turns into a live floating widget, which then morphs into a pill-shaped live timer widget that stays on top of other apps and can be moved around the screen. Now you’ll always have an eye on the timer, regardless of what apps are active in the foreground.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 best features overview
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is packed with new useful software features and UI changes that play together very nicely. It’s IPX8-rated, and Samsung took extra steps to increase the phone’s — and the foldable display’s — durability. The company also made the Galaxy Z Fold 3 capable of a more PC-like experience, with both Google and Microsoft contributing to the outcome.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is, as expected, the best foldable device so far, but it’s not just because it has a new chipset. It’s a great evolutionary step over the Galaxy Z Fold 2, boasting meaningful additions, changes, upgrades, and of course, the S Pen. It’s a perfect match for the 7.6-inch foldable display, and so are many productivity apps that support the accessory.
Interested in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3? Don’t forget to support SamMobile by visiting this link and purchasing the phone directly from Samsung!
Samsung had introduced the Galaxy A12 in January 2021, and the smartphone was launched in India in February. The device was available in two storage variants: 64GB and 128GB. The South Korean firm has relaunched the Galaxy A12 in India, and the new variant of the phone comes with a different processor compared to the original version.
The new version of the Galaxy A12 features the Exynos 850 processor. In comparison, the original Galaxy A12 came equipped with the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. The Exynos 850 is slightly more powerful and power-efficient (thanks to its 8nm manufacturing process) than the MediaTek Helio P35. The new version of the phone also comes with Android 11 (with One UI Core 3) out of the box, which should make it eligible for the Android 13 update.
The Exynos 850-equipped Galaxy A12 bears model number SM-A127F, while the Helio P35-equipped version has model number SM-A125F. The new variant of the phone was launched as the Galaxy A12 Nacho in Mexico.
The rest of its specifications remain similar to the original Galaxy A12. It means that the phone features a 6.5-inch PLS IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution, an 8MP selfie camera with Full HD video recording, and a 48MP+5MP+2MP+2MP quad-camera setup at the rear with Full HD video recording. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint reader.
The Galaxy A12 has 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage. It has a microSD card slot, too. Connectivity features of the device include a dual-SIM card slot, 4G LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is powered by the same 5,000mAh battery that is used by the original Galaxy A12. It also features 15W fast charging.
The 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant of the Galaxy A12 is priced at INR 13,999 (around $189), while the variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage costs INR 16,499 (around $222).
The rumors always start early, but the wait for this latest iteration of the Galaxy Unpacked seemed particularly long-winded. It finally happened, though. And while this year might be a bit unconventional for Samsung (no Galaxy Note, yes Google Wear), the tech giant certainly delivered on the premium end. Between the Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Watch 4, and two shiny foldable smartphones to boot, anyone with an affinity for tech and money to burn will have plenty of decisions to make just a couple of weeks from now.
But in the meantime, it’s time to see what the most dedicated Samsung fans in the world — you — thought of this week’s Galaxy Unpacked.
Foldables vs wearables: What did you like better?
Especially if you can point to any individual announcement from the event as your decisive favorite. Which is easier said than done; doubly so if you’re still salty about the lack of a new Galaxy Note generation this year like I might be. But Samsung definitely kept the flagship-focused tradition of its summer Unpackeds alive.
And if you’re really adamant to get a new mobile powerhouse with stylus support this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 certainly seems like it can fit that bill. Assuming you have enough bills, that is. Alternatively, up to $1,000 off of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 doesn’t sound like too shabby of a deal, either. And both of the newly unveiled wearables seem like they’ll be offering decent bang for buck.
What was your favorite announcement from this Galaxy Unpacked?
Interested in Samsung’s new Galaxy devices? Don’t forget to support SamMobile by visiting this link and purchasing them directly from Samsung!
Although the new Galaxy Z Flip 3 isn’t as feature-packed as its larger sibling unveiled at Unpacked, it’s arguably a more exciting release. At least in the sense that there was no Galaxy Z Flip 2 between it and the old model, so it’s been a long time coming.
Samsung took all this time to improve the compact foldable phone in ways that matter, and although the form factor is virtually the same, the new clamshell foldable certainly exudes an air of refinement. So, without further ado, here are the best features that define the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
A more refined and durable design with water resistance
Samsung has spent a lot of energy refining the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s build quality and design, giving the latest model a 10% stronger frame made from what the company calls “Armor Aluminum,” and a foldable protective film providing 80% more durability. It’s also water-resistant, with Samsung claiming an IPX8 ingress protection rating.
As for the overall design, Samsung went on to refining the smallest of details. The company’s designers even looked at how the light reflects off the phone’s edges to find the most attractive shapes. The final touch is a softer finish that should attract fewer fingerprints than the mirror-like paint job of the previous generations.
The larger, more useful cover screen that supports Samsung Pay
The enlarged cover screen is one of the most meaningful improvements introduced with the new Galaxy Z Fold 3. It’s a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED panel — up from the barely usable 1.1-inch screen of the previous models — with a resolution of 512 by 260 pixels and 303ppi.
This addition improves the user experience massively. The cover screen supports four swiping gestures and can be used for reading notifications and interacting with Samsung apps such as Music, Weather, Samsung Health, Alarm, Timer, Voice Recorder, Buds controller, and Schedule.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 owners can also make mobile payments without having to unfold the phone. They can use the cover screen to select a Samsung Pay account before securing the transaction using the phone’s side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
A more durable 120Hz foldable screen that’s 29% brighter
The original Galaxy Flip and the 5G model that followed had 60Hz displays. However, since even low-cost Galaxy phones now support a higher refresh rate, it was only natural for the Galaxy Z Flip series to eventually start using this technology.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first in the foldable clamshell lineup to have a 120Hz foldable screen. In essence, a 120Hz display can render more frames per second — twice as many as a 60Hz screen. It results in smoother animations throughout the UI and mobile games performing better, as long as they support 120Hz.
Samsung also claims that the foldable display is covered by a new protective film boasting 80% higher durability.
Stereo speakers are finally here to provide better entertainment
Another “first” for the series is the addition of stereo speakers. Neither the original Flip nor the Flip 5G had this feature, as they were limited to a single down-firing speaker and an earpiece at the top.
Samsung’s making a change with the release of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, giving customers a more pleasant experience when watching videos or listening to music.
Cover screen personalization and Watch 4 watch face synchronization
The 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover screen not only offers better usability, but Samsung also treated it as a window through which Galaxy Z Flip 3 users can express themselves.
The cover screen offers various customization options and lets users change the clock and background color. More importantly, it can display galleries of up to 15 user photos. GIF files are supported, leaving a lot of room for fun customizations.
Perhaps even better is the cover screen’s ability to sync with the Galaxy Watch 4 series of smartwatches and match the wearable’s watch faces.
Four protective case models with tons of color options
The first is a conventional two-piece leather case available in three colors. It’s accompanied by another case that has the same shape but features a carbon fiber finish. Then there are two other sporty-looking case models with nylon straps and keyrings. Needless to say, this is the boldest Samsung’s ever gone with designing accessories for the Galaxy Z Flip series.
As for the phone itself, it’s available in a total of seven color options: cream, green, lavender, black, gray, white, and pink, the latter three of which have black metal frames and are available exclusively online. And for prospective buyers who might want a bit more exclusivity, there’s always the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Thom Browne Edition.
Interested in Samsung’s new Galaxy devices? Don’t forget to support SamMobile by visiting this link and purchasing them directly from Samsung!
