[Review] Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 performance and durability in everyday use – Wired PR Lifestyle Story

The durability of Samsung’s folding phones has had a bad reputation in the past. Users have reported dust enters the hinge and damages the screen, inadvertently removing a thin layer of screen that looked like a flexible screen slot and a screen protector.

Samsung has moved away from these initial mishaps, and has returned with new and improved versions of the folders with the Galaxy. With folding3 and With Flip3 It was launched in 2021. However, they remain polarizing devices, which many explicitly love or hate. I’m in the first camp.

As a clumsy person, I will admit that 3 months ago when I got the Z Flip3 my initial response was fear, but together, we experienced growth. (By the way, I named him Fillipé and gave him pronouns.)

Here’s how we’ve been together so far.

1. His hinges have endured my dramatic phone shutdowns

You might think that the surprise of using a folding phone disappears over time. Maybe Fillipé and I are on our honeymoon, but I’m not really old.

It is gratifying to close immediately or send an angry text immediately after a call. It’s like shutting down a laptop after a stressful day at work.

Beyond feeling like I’m the protagonist of a drama, Fillipper’s folding skills come in handy for other, more practical purposes.

Its narrow hinges allow it to “sit” at a certain angle, which means I can read articles and watch videos in the dining room without having to place my phone against another object. And before I ask, no, I don’t care about that middle ground.

Do you know that what I think will never get old? Being able to fit folded Fillipé into my ladies-sized small pockets.

2. It can be independent, but with few catches

Speaking of his “sitting” ability earlier, another situation that comes in handy is taking pictures. Despite the limitations of framing an image (which depends on the angle of the fold), it allowed me to take group photos farther away without the need for a tripod.

It takes a bit of maneuvering to make sure it doesn’t flip over when opening at a wider angle, but so far I haven’t had any mishaps or even scratched the cameras.

Fillipé’s flexible screen has its own protective layer, but I’ve heard people accidentally draw with too long nails.

However, Samsung recommends that you do not add screen protectors, as they may interfere with the folding screen. Even if you’re obsessed with getting one, phone accessory stores won’t dare put an extra screen saver on your Z Flip3. Personally, I was advised by a Ninjaz employee not to do it.

To that end, Phillipe’s front is left bare, and with more care than usual, I’ve kept his screen unscathed so far. The more I use it, the less I get scared, but it doesn’t alleviate all my worries.

4. But I still don’t have complete peace of mind when using it

Phillip has held up well to my 3-month use, and since I’ve learned that it’s not as fragile as I initially thought, I’ve also been taught to be more careful.

However, it is still the phone that worries me the most. I can’t throw it away like I did with my old, foldable phones, or open Fillipé (folded) without worrying about the screen being cut off.

In short, I’m much more aware of how and where to put it, which means I don’t dare leave a folder unattended with someone who has never handled it.

Whenever someone wants to hold me back, I act like a protective mother, giving her advice on how to handle it properly, especially with the screen.

Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent with Fillipé, but if you plan to make it your own, I feel responsible to say that there are certain things you need to realize.

1. Its weak battery can’t handle even its best features

Although the 120 Hz screen is a nice advantage, I hardly use it because it quickly depletes Fillipé’s 3,300 mAh battery.

The only way for Fillipé to last a full day (in addition to having a power bank available) is to keep it in power-saving mode, which is common with a 60Hz refresh rate.

Also, even though my phone was able to charge quickly and wirelessly, I didn’t have the ability to take advantage of it at first, and I had to wait 2.5 hours for the juice to rise from 30% to 85%.

This was perhaps by taking Apple’s inspiration by not inserting charging bricks, because Samsung did the same thing by supplying only one USB-C USB-C charging cable to the Z Flip3 box.

Dissatisfied with the slow charging time, I had to spend more money to buy a 40 W charger, and charging my phone was not a problem.

2. The screen is a magnet and needs to be cleaned frequently

With the IPX8 rating, where the X means “untested for dust,” Samsung has paid little attention to the Z Flip3’s dust resistance.

While it may not interfere with the use of the phone in any way, it is worrying because the screen is just a magnet for dust. It’s annoying to see dust scattered on the screen, which adds to the stress that is already sensitive to scratches. So if I want to clear the screen, I have to be careful how I do it.

But with regard to the fact that the previous generation Galaxy Fold has been dusting its head and damaging the screen, this has not been the case so far with Fillipé.

It may be that my obsession with cleaning my phone frequently can prevent this problem, but it would be much better if the next screen didn’t tend to stick to dust.

– // –

The last time I felt in love with a phone was in 2014, when the iPhone 6 was just released and I had to call mine.

However, have I returned to regular, foldable phones? It’s probably still okay, but I doubt I’d go back to small-sized phones like my Galaxy S10e.

Whether it’s worth it or not RM3,999 price, though, I can’t say for sure. I haven’t had enough time with Fillipé to really get to know her inside and out, and now that the times are pretty enjoyable, I can’t predict what they will be like in 6 months or a year.

Also, it was only improved by spending it on my extra experience, such as a 40W charger and a power bank. I personally spent about 200 RM on them, so if you no longer have the same gadgets, you should also consider these costs.

Fillipé’s real test will come when Samsung releases newer and improved folds, probably soon, so it would be interesting to see how it holds up to its successors.

• Read our first impressions on your phone here, and our full review here.
• Read more VP Judgments here.

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