Galaxy Z Flip3 hands-on: my highs and lows after three weeks

I’ve now been using the Galaxy Z Flip3 as my daily driver for a good three weeks. There are many positive and exciting points, but also a few negative ones that I don’t want to hide. Here are my personal highs and lows. I bought the Z Flip3 myself.

My highs

Feel and design: The aluminum frame is definitely durable. After about a week, the device accidentally slammed onto the tiles in the kitchen, without a case, of course. Apart from very small marks on the frame, nothing happened, which speaks for the materials. I often use the device without a case and haven’t found any scratches on the frame or on the glass outside.

Outer display: It is much larger than on the predecessor. With the main camera, you can take photos while the phone is closed and use the outer display as a preview. I’ve only used that a handful of times, though.

Inner display: It is high-quality and the picture is crisply sharp. Of course, a foldable has a crease in the middle. But after a few days, I don’t notice it at all anymore.

Flex mode: This time it is very stable, and the display holds in any position you want. That is great for selfies or for watching YouTube.

Performance: The device is blazingly fast, and the 120 Hz display is breathtaking and very responsive.

Form factor: Unfolded, you have a super slim, light, modern smartphone. Folded, it fits into any pants pocket and handbag.

Wireless charging: It’s back on board, handy for charging the Galaxy Watch or the Buds and other devices. I think it’s really great that Samsung is keeping it.

Interplay with Samsung devices: Pairing with a Galaxy Watch and the Buds works outstandingly seamlessly. My favorite combination is the Galaxy Watch 4 together with Samsung Health. It offers an unparalleled overview of fitness and health data.

Camera: It is solid, roughly on the level of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but far from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. I like the video function and the audio quality of recordings very much.

My lows

Slippery surface: I like to use the device without a case. But then it is so slippery that it constantly threatens to slip out of my hand.

Can only be opened with two hands: I didn’t expect that at all beforehand. The Flex mode holds very firmly at any angle, but that also means you can’t open the device with one hand, or only with great difficulty. To open it completely, you need two hands. For me, that is an absolute no-go, especially on the go or when you have something else in your hand. The cool flipping open and shut that you actually want turns out to be difficult. And because the device is so slippery, it quickly becomes a projectile.

Battery life: In my view, this is the biggest minus point.

• At the beginning, I had to hook the device up to the charging cable as early as 2 p.m., so after half of a normal workday.
• After about five days, we had gotten used to each other. Since then, it luckily lasts until the evening, but at the latest around 10 p.m. it has to be plugged in.
• On busy workdays with lots of calls and emails, it’s back on the cable by around 4 or 5 p.m. For a device like this, that is an absolute no-go for me.

Verdict

With devices like this, you pay for the coolness and innovation factor. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they are willing to pay that price. I’m not yet sure whether the Z Flip3 will remain my daily driver.