Almost mainstream

71-Galaxy-Z-Fold-3 Galaxy Z Fold 3

There was a time when clamshell models ruled the mobile phone market. The trend hit its peak with Motorola’s iconic Razr. Then came the touchscreen revolution, which pushed folding phones into oblivion. Soon every phone started looking more or less the same—a slab with a screen. They have also been getting bigger to accommodate bigger screens. People like big screens, but they do not want their phones to be unhandy. They want to keep them in their pockets or purses, which makes a strong case for foldable screens.

Samsung unveiled its first phone with a foldable screen, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019. It had two displays—a 4.5” on the cover and a 7.3” that folded like a book. Its successor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, came in 2020 with a better screen and some software and camera tweaks. In between, Samsung had launched the Galaxy Z Flip, which has a 6.7” screen that folds horizontally (like a clamshell) and a postage-stamp-sized display on the cover.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 Galaxy Z Flip 3

While these models received mixed reviews and were often called statement objects rather than mainstream phones, there was no denying that Samsung was on the right path to make a practical phone that was foldable.

Samsung usually releases its newest model of the popular Galaxy Note series in August. This year, however, it unveiled two folding phones: The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The Fold 3 is thinner than its predecessor and has a bigger display on the cover (6.2”) and a better hinge. The main display is 7.6” and there is no camera punch hole (it is under the screen). The biggest change, however, is the compatibility with S Pen (sold separately), which makes the device a potential workhorse.

The Flip 3, on the other hand, is more of a fashion statement, but makes a stronger case for buying it compared with its predecessor. The small screen on the cover is four times larger than the one on the first Flip, making itself useful for many small tasks like controlling music or checking notifications. It has a better hinge, a better main screen and, of course, a faster processor.

Both Fold 3 and Flip 3 have flagship specifications, buttery smooth screens (Super AMOLED with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate) and excellent cameras. They are both water resistant (IPX8) and ready for 5G. Above all, they are a lot more mainstream than their predecessors. It seems folding phones are here to stay.

The Fold 3 starts at Rs1,49,999 and the Flip 3 at Rs84,999.

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