Phones Samsung Z Fold 3

[Lobwedgephil]

Early reports are that the Fold 3 preorders are 10x that of the Fold 2 and 2x that of the S21 line. Looks like this is the first foldable that will be semi mainstream.

There is no chance they are 2x the S21 line, though I think sales will be very good. They have been advertising it heavily.

 

[Awesomesince86]

There is no chance they are 2x the S21 line, though I think sales will be very good. They have been advertising it heavily.

Reliable leaker that's always spot in with Samsung. This is only on South Korea but that's still a significant sample size.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1429276337181704194

 

[mjschabow]

Then you probably won't be getting a foldable device from anyone anytime soon. There's always tradeoffs with new form factors.

That’s correct. But with trade-offs like that, the price should be lower. Probably around the same as the S21 Ultra.

 

[Ludatyk]

That’s correct. But with trade-offs like that, the price should be lower. Probably around the same as the S21 Ultra.

I don’t know… that screen technology is too expensive for it to be the same price as S21 Ultra. Don’t get me wrong.. I’ll love it to be priced around $1200, but there’s a lot of factors that got it to that price point. It originally went from 2100 to 1800.. in the span of 3 years.

I think eventually.. it will get to that $1200 price point. But there’s always the option of buying refurbished or used if someone doesn’t wanna pay the original price. However, Samsung is the best in offering incentives to make the price reasonable.

Reliable leaker that's always spot in with Samsung. This is only on South Korea but that's still a significant sample size.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1429276337181704194

Yessir… all aboard!!

 

[mjschabow]

I don’t know… that screen technology is too expensive for it to be the same price as S21 Ultra. Don’t get me wrong.. I’ll love it to be priced around $1200, but there’s a lot of factors that got it to that price point. It originally went from 2100 to 1800.. in the span of 3 years.

I think eventually.. it will get to that $1200 price point. But there’s always the option of buying refurbished or used if someone doesn’t wanna pay the original price. However, Samsung is the best in offering incentives to make the price reasonable.


Yessir… all aboard!!

Oh I know. And this isme as the consumer talking. Camera is my #1 need on a smartphone, which is why the S21 Ultra almost killed iOS for me. So it would just be impossible for me to leave apple for a device that costs $500 more and doesn’t have a good or better camera performance.

 

[Jetcat3]

That's the one plus I've had on the closed screen Fold, that it's actually usable one handed, and I have fairly large hands. The typing does stink, there is no way to get around that unless they can improve predictability of the keyboard. Sliding letter to letter works perfectly, but hunt and peck I get some errors that are annoying. But keep in mind we are comparing this largely to the Max iPhones, the screen size on the Fold's is pretty much the same width as the non Max iPhones. I'm holding my Fold 2 next to my wife's non Max iPhone and don't think there is more than a mm or 2 difference. I make just as many mistakes on her phone that I do on the Fold's outer screen.

But for swiping all the way across, one handed typing, and reaching all the way across the screen with my finger I would have to say the Fold when closed is a dream to use. No more balancing the phone just to get my thumb across the screen, especially with Apple's horrible and disjointed system of navigating back.

The iPhone 12’s display is quite a bit wider. The aspect ratio on the cover display isn’t ideal with the Fold 3 but that’s a sacrifice one must make to enjoy the 7.6” inner display.

 

[spinedoc77]

The iPhone 12’s display is quite a bit wider. The aspect ratio on the cover display isn’t ideal with the Fold 3 but that’s a sacrifice one must make to enjoy the 7.6” inner display.

Interesting. Subjectively they look pretty close, but that's just holding them next to each other, not sure if the bezels play any factor. I do find I'm just as bad at text typing on the iPhone as on my Fold 2, both are narrow enough to give my fat fingers problems. But in all other aspects I see it as more of an advantage than a disadvantage for it's purpose, to act as a go between for when you can't unfold it, not as the main phone screen.

 

[Awesomesince86]

That’s correct. But with trade-offs like that, the price should be lower. Probably around the same as the S21 Ultra.

That's kinda crazy. The engineering and display tech in the fold is way higher than that of the S21 Ultra. You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[mjschabow]

That's kinda crazy. The engineering and display tech in the fold is way higher than that of the S21 Ultra. You're comparing apples to oranges.

Different screen technology, lesser camera technology. Evens out.

 

[svish]

I agree, but the camera is good enough and hasn't disappointed me at all (Fold 2). View attachment 1821876 View attachment 1821877 View attachment 1821878 View attachment 1821879 View attachment 1821880 View attachment 1821883 View attachment 1821885 View attachment 1821886

Insanely good. Camera seems fantastic ?

 

[Shanghaichica]

That's the one plus I've had on the closed screen Fold, that it's actually usable one handed, and I have fairly large hands. The typing does stink, there is no way to get around that unless they can improve predictability of the keyboard. Sliding letter to letter works perfectly, but hunt and peck I get some errors that are annoying. But keep in mind we are comparing this largely to the Max iPhones, the screen size on the Fold's is pretty much the same width as the non Max iPhones. I'm holding my Fold 2 next to my wife's non Max iPhone and don't think there is more than a mm or 2 difference. I make just as many mistakes on her phone that I do on the Fold's outer screen.

But for swiping all the way across, one handed typing, and reaching all the way across the screen with my finger I would have to say the Fold when closed is a dream to use. No more balancing the phone just to get my thumb across the screen, especially with Apple's horrible and disjointed system of navigating back.

I personally wouldn’t get a non max iPhone because it’s too narrow. However there are phones out there like the non max iPhones and other Samsung phones with narrow displays like the outer display on the fold. Why do they never get criticised in reviews for being too narrow? I’m currently typing on my SE whilst my 12 pro max is charging. It’s typos galore but I don’t think that was mentioned in any of the reviews.

 

[spinedoc77]

I personally wouldn’t get a non max iPhone because it’s too narrow. However there are phones out there like the non max iPhones and other Samsung phones with narrow displays like the outer display on the fold. Why do they never get criticised in reviews for being too narrow? I’m currently typing on my SE whilst my 12 pro max is charging. It’s typos galore but I don’t think that was mentioned in any of the reviews.

That's exactly what I'm saying. We forget that it wasn't so long ago, only a few years back, when we had displays that were actually much smaller than the outer Fold displays as the norm. But, as you say, even today many phones are about the same width or even smaller.

The thing is, the Fold series had to take usability into the equation. If the outer screen were as large as say a pro max iPhone, then when opened it would be huge and difficult to hold with one hand (yes I do that on occasion if I don't need to navigate much), or even 2 hands as it would be that much heavier as well as wider. I'm curious to actually hold and use the Mate 2 as it is wider and they have that narrowing design to accommodate for the weight distribution, but at the end of the day I suspect it's still heavier and side heavy when used unfolded.

 

[LFC2020]

I personally wouldn’t get a non max iPhone because it’s too narrow. However there are phones out there like the non max iPhones and other Samsung phones with narrow displays like the outer display on the fold. Why do they never get criticised in reviews for being too narrow? I’m currently typing on my SE whilst my 12 pro max is charging. It’s typos galore but I don’t think that was mentioned in any of the reviews.

Spot on, returned the iPhone 12 after 1 day of owning it, the screen wasn’t wide enough. Typing is 100 times better on the pro max, that extra width screen real estate makes a massive difference.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Spot on, returned the iPhone 12 after 1 day of owning it, the screen wasn’t wide enough. Typing is 100 times better on the pro max, that extra width screen real estate makes a massive difference.

I learned the hard way with the iPhone X. Went from the 7 plus to the X and hated it for the whole year. I was so happy to upgrade to the XS max when it came out. The 12 pro max is even nicer than the 11 pro max. It’s nice and wide lol

 

[Awesomesince86]

Different screen technology, lesser camera technology. Evens out.

Ugh, I don't think that's how it works. The cost of engineering and manufacturing the camera tech for the S21 line is much cheaper than the engineering and manufacturing cost for what goes into the folding display, hinge, etc.

 

[mjschabow]

Ugh, I don't think that's how it works. The cost of engineering and manufacturing the camera tech for the S21 line is much cheaper than the engineering and manufacturing cost for what goes into the folding display, hinge, etc.

Totally get that. My point though is that this phone has the exact same camera technology of a $700 phone, but costs $1,100 more. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m sure it does cost more to make. Hopefully future costs will decrease and Folds will drop in price but also be able to maintain top of line cameras.

 

[Ludatyk]

Hopefully future costs will decrease and Folds will drop in price but also be able to maintain top of line cameras.

The price has been dropping, but I highly doubt that you’ll find top of the line cameras in the foldable series. Samsung will continue to make S series and those will have top camera tech, but foldables won’t be apart of it.. imo.

I understand you feel price should reflect superior camera tech, but as @Awesomesince86 mention that engineering plays a huge part in the foldable cost compared to the S series.

I learned the hard way with the iPhone X. Went from the 7 plus to the X and hated it for the whole year. I was so happy to upgrade to the XS max when it came out. The 12 pro max is even nicer than the 11 pro max. It’s nice and wide lol

When I first bought the X.. it was one those feelings, of “wow.” I came from the plus size phones for 3 straight year and we finally gotten a redesign. Hate never crossed my mind when holding the X… I was fascinated by the fact it was somewhat a one handed device (back to the days of the iPhone 4/5)

And tbh, I never upgraded from the X when I had the iPhone… I disagree with you and @LFC2020 saying the X was too narrow. I owned the X for almost two years and have owned the Fold2 for nearly a year. I’m not sure if that’s valid comparing the narrowness of the Fold to the X. The Fold is drastically narrow in comparison to the X.

 

[Awesomesince86]

Totally get that. My point though is that this phone has the exact same camera technology of a $700 phone, but costs $1,100 more. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m sure it does cost more to make. Hopefully future costs will decrease and Folds will drop in price but also be able to maintain top of line cameras.

I'm sure Samsung will keep dropping the price until they hit the adoption numbers they are targeting. But that could all change as soon as Apple or Google enter the market.

 

[tbayrgs]

Totally get that. My point though is that this phone has the exact same camera technology of a $700 phone, but costs $1,100 more. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m sure it does cost more to make. Hopefully future costs will decrease and Folds will drop in price but also be able to maintain top of line cameras.

At this point is all comes to what compromise one is willing to make. Like you, for me, right now the quality of the cameras outweighs the ability to have a larger screen in a smaller form factor, especially given the price and fragility of the display. I can still do the same tasks on a smaller screen but can’t make a camera better than it is.

For others, the cameras are sufficient for their needs and having a small tablet in your pocket is worth the trade off.

I still find the Fold intriguing and if I was an Android first guy, I’d seriously consider it.

 

[Awesomesince86]

Well, my Fold 3 and accessories have been picked up and should be here Thursday. Usually I get pre-orders the Wednesday before but it looks like theres a note from Samsung to FedEx saying to withhold delivery until the 26th.

 

[rhinosrcool]

Well, my Fold 3 and accessories have been picked up and should be here Thursday. Usually I get pre-orders the Wednesday before but it looks like theres a note from Samsung to FedEx saying to withhold delivery until the 26th.

Yeah, mine is the same (except for the s pen pro).

 

[Awesomesince86]

Yeah, mine is the same (except for the s pen pro).

I find it weird they delivered to Europe a week early but they are holding the US to a certain date.

 

[The Game 161]

Totally get that. My point though is that this phone has the exact same camera technology of a $700 phone, but costs $1,100 more. That’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m sure it does cost more to make. Hopefully future costs will decrease and Folds will drop in price but also be able to maintain top of line cameras.

For me how things how makes me question if foldables will really be the go to main flagship if they don’t put the best cameras in their foldable. I get it cost a lot but to make it the best they need to add it in there

 

[Awesomesince86]

For me how things how makes me question if foldables will really be the go to main flagship if they don’t put the best cameras in their foldable. I get it cost a lot but to make it the best they need to add it in there

They will eventually. It'll take time to manufacture smaller, cheaper camera modules that don't compromise the size of the foldable. This is a new form factor, it will gradually improve each year.

 

[Shanghaichica]

For me how things how makes me question if foldables will really be the go to main flagship if they don’t put the best cameras in their foldable. I get it cost a lot but to make it the best they need to add it in there

It might not be technologically possible to have a periscope lens on a foldable display right now.