So it's been a weekend of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 now, thought I'd post some early thoughts.
It's not as new and exciting for me as others who maybe haven't tried a Samsung flippie yet, as I had the OG Flip when that came out, and whilst I liked it, I didn't last too long with it.
My biggest complaints if I can recall correctly, were more to do with that outside display being useless, and the main display having that god awful protector on which just wasn't very good. I also managed to damage my internal screen with a thumbnail when I tried to close the phone and it just put me off how much more babying a device like that needed.
Alas, the Flip 3 seems to have addressed both those areas, and I can now say that those 2 bothersome issues are (almost) no more in this years phone.
The outside display, whilst useful, is still too small for me though - as you can't really do much with it and whilst you can get a fair view of notifications, you can't do anything with them. I'd sooner flip the phone open to see what notifications I have, although I do think the outer display will be really useful if walking with bags, or in work and you need a quick glance.
For me, this outer display is essentially a smart watch display. I still think Samsung need to take note from Motorola and their outer Razr display, which looks much more useable.
View attachment 1821746
View attachment 1821747
One thing that is cool though, is being able to add your own widgets. Although at the moment it's only a select few Samsung have chosen, but one thing I did see online is that if you pair a set of Samsung buds with the Flip, a widget automatically appears for noise cancel controls, and battery life info for your buds on the outer display - which I think is great!
The inside screen - so much better. This new protector actually does feel like glass, as other reviewers had noted and it no longer feels like you are sliding your thumb over cheap rubbery plastic. The whole fit and finish of the Flip 3 is quite something actually. They seem to have really crafted something solid and premium feeling.
The best thing about this screen protector is no smudge marks as soon as you interact with it. It still gets smudged, sure, but no where near how the last gen did.
Also, having 120hz is just lovely. I really do miss having it with iPhones as everything just feels so silky smooth with it on. Big plus for this year!
View attachment 1821751
Camera - well, I haven't had loads of time to play with it. But from what I have seen it's standard fare for Samsung. Bright, punchy colours and social media ready photographs.
I quite like some of the snaps I have taken of my dog, actually. Even the portrait mode looks pretty good.
View attachment 1821759
View attachment 1821760
I am concerned about the phone being scuffed up and scratched easily (more so on the outside) due to the high gloss nature of the phone. I can see surface marks appearing easily, so bought myself a cheap Amazon skin to go on the front and back. The front one looks garbage, the back is pretty decent so have left that on. It'll just help stop the back being scuffed up from being placed onto hard surfaces if there's any dust or lint or whatever also on there.
I do intend to pick up a case, IF I decide to keep the phone.
Speaker quality is pretty good. An upgrade I believe on the last gen due to dual firing ones now?
I don't recall it being an issue for me with the OG Flip, but then again I don't really listen to music or anything through my phones speakers.
The 'flex' mode thing... personally I think it's really useful for those people who do a lot of google Duo, or any sort of Video call. TBH, I may download the WebEX app and see how dialling into work video calls treats me using the phone half open, as I can see a lot of benefits for that.
The other things, like watching YT etc, I find a bit gimmicky. On the Fold, I think there's 100% room for it, as it's a gigantic display so losing half of the screen to do something else is a great benefit. On this device... not so much. But be good to see some apps adopt it and try to find interesting and useful use cases for it!
View attachment 1821752
View attachment 1821750
Battery life - well. It's not great. I averaged just over 4 hours screen on time with the Flip yesterday, and that was the first day of being charged fully overnight. I know, it needs time to 'bed in', so I will see how it goes the rest of this week. But I haven't had a phone with that poor SoT since a Pixel.
Even my 12 Mini, has better battery life than and will get me over 5 hours SoT no problem. And I am doing the same things with both. Perhaps the outer display and 120hz has something to answer for?!
All in all, these are only early thoughts, but battery aside I am struggling to find reasons to not like using this phone. The clamshell design is great, I love how it folds down and becomes really easy to hold in your hand or to slip into a pocket, shirt pocket etc. Sure, it's thick, but my AirPods Pro's are thicker in their carry case!
View attachment 1821766
View attachment 1821765
I do agree with all the YT'ers who say that this device is ready for mainstream now. I could sit here and type away at how disappointed I am that there's no telephoto, or that they didn't upgrade the cameras due to the flagship pricing of the phone... but, I completely agree with everything Samsung has done here.
It's well rounded, it's cool, it's a conversation starter, it looks amazing and it's built amazingly well. The camera is going to impress anyone coming from an iPhone iMO, as Samsung have this way of making photos just pop which a lot of the social media generation will gravitate towards.
I do stand by the fact that the outer display is still not useful - and I feel the same way about the FOLD which is why I didn't plump for the Fold 3 this year. That narrow display is not ok, and people can defend it all they want but in my use case, you have to open the phone to be able to comfortably do 'anything' and that defeats the purpose for me as I don't want to use the inside display to reply to a quick WhatsApp. But that's another topic, and one I won't share in the Fold section or I'll be burned at the stake like last year.
Although I am saying the same about the Flip, the Flip's outer display isn't there to be used as a full traditional phone experience. It literally is as I say - a glorified smart watch, and I think most people are going to be fine with that. I'd just like it a little bigger to be able to use Google Maps, or scroll through webpage whilst stood waiting for the coffee queue to go down etc - but if they never added it, I wouldn't be too bothered.
It's a great device and I am really enjoying my time with it so far.
View attachment 1821754
www.gsmarena.com
