Samsung has just unveiled the latest products in its foldable smartphones – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip – which are sturdier and designed to deliver enhanced productivity and entertainment experiences.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 will go on sale in Australia on September 10 and will be priced from $2,499 and $1,499 respectively.
Announced at the Galaxy Unpacked virtual event, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are both 5G compatible and offer significant improvements and enhancements over the previous models.
Both news devices have an IPX8 rating which means they can be submerged in fresh water at a depth of 1.5m for up to 30 minutes.
These are the first foldable devices that are water and dust resistant.
And both the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have been crafted with the tougher Armor Aluminium on the frame and the hinge cover – the strongest material ever used on a Galaxy smartphone.
And the screens have tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
The foldable screens also include a new protective film made of flexible PET along with optimised display panel layers which make the main screens 80 per cent more durable than the previous iteration.
The durability has also made it possible for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to support the S Pen so you can now write and draw on the large screen.
“Samsung is proud to create innovations that allow people to reimagine what’s possible in their world,” says Garry McGregor, Vice President, mobile division Samsung Electronics Australia.
“That’s why we continue to push the barriers of what’s possible with our technology and to pioneer ground-breaking new mobile devices like our foldable smartphones.
“This new form factor has redefined the mobile category and opened up endless possibilities for more flexibility, functionality and fun.
“More and more people around the world are joining the revolution and unshackling from old, to Fold, recognising the potential for how these devices can deliver incredible experiences.
“I could not be more proud to say that Samsung is leading the foldable smartphone market with the Galaxy Z series.
“In Australia, the number of customers who are continuing to switch to a Samsung foldable from other devices and ecosystems has been very high, further validating that people are embracing this new form factor like never before.
“We truly believe that when it comes to smartphones the future is foldable.”
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 3
The Galaxy Z Fold has a 6.2-inch front display and a 7.6-inch foldable Infinity Flex display – these are the same screen sizes as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 but the dimensions of the new device are thinner in the folded and unfolded positions and also slightly thinner at the widest part of the hinge.
The larger Infinity Flex display also offers an uninterrupted view thanks to the new under-screen camera technology.
That means there’s no more hole punch when the camera is not being used but you can still see the area of the screen where the camera is located with less pixels above the lens.
Under the hood is also new Eco2 display technology which offers up to 29 per cent added brightness while using less power.
The front and inside displays also has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for even smoother scrolling and interaction.
But the biggest new feature is the compatibility with the beloved Note feature – the S Pen.
Now the S Pen can be used on the larger canvas of the foldable display – a feature busy multi-taskers will surely embrace.
The S Pen doesn’t come with Z Fold 3 – it can be purchased separately with a case that can not only protect the foldable smartphone but also store the S Pen.
Unlike the popular Galaxy Note smartphones – there is no slot to store the S Pen inside the phone’s chassis.
There are actually two options for the S Pen that will work with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 – S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro – and both feature a special nib with force limit technology to prevent the foldable screen being damaged.
On the camera side there is a three camera system on the rear panel made up 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide, Wide-Angle and Telephoto cameras with up to 10x optical zoom.
The front screen has a 10-megapixel camera and the main screen has a 4-megapixel under screen camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 has 12GB RAM and available with either 256GB or 512GB internal memory. It can also support dual SIM but it does not have a microSD card slot.
There is a 4,400mAh battery onboard which supports Fast Charging 25W and Fast Wireless Charging 10W.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is available in three colours – Phantom Black, Phantom Green and Phantom Silver and is priced at $2,699 (12GB RAM, 512GB) and $2,499 (12GB, 256GB).
It will go on sale on September 10.
Customers who pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 3 have three bonus optional extras to the value of up to $299.
Option 1 includes the new Galaxy Buds Pro earphones, Option 2 (Productivity Pack) includes the S Pen Pro, a smart keyboard and a universal stand while Option 3 (Power Pack) offers Flip Cover with S Pen and Trio Wireless charger.
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 3
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is designed for the style conscious user who wants to express themselves with bold colours and to enjoy premium features.
With four colours – Cream, Green, Lavender and Phantom Black – the Z Flip 3 has a refreshed design and a larger front screen.
There are additional colour options available when ordered from the Samsung online store.
The main Infinity Flex display is 6.7-inches with a long and thin 22:9 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate.
The front screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is four-times larger than the previous version which makes it easier to view your notifications and widgets.
The hands-free Flex Mode with the device folded open offers a lot more selfie options.
And when its time to put the device in your pocket or your bag you can literally fold it half.
On the camera side there two rear 12-megpixel cameras – ultra-wide and wide-angle and a 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the foldable display.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 can also take two SIMs and has a 3,300mAh battery which has Fast Charging 15W and Fast Wireless Charging 10W.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is priced at $1,499 (8GB RAM, 128GB) and $1,599 (8GB RAM, 256GB).
It will be available on September 10.
GALAXY BUDS 2
The new Galaxy Buds 2 earphones have been revamped to offer both greater comfort and better audio quality
The dynamic two-way speakers offers crisp, clear sound and deep bass along with Active Noise Cancellation so you can block out ambient sound and focus on your music.
And if you need to hear your surroundings there are three Ambient sound levels .
The onboard machine learning can also filter out background noise when you want to make a call.
The Galaxy Buds 2 will be available in graphite, lavender, white and olive and is priced at $219.
