Galaxy Z Fold 3 unboxing: unpacking, setting up and first impressions

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 won me over right away, mainly because of the tablet mode and the S Pen. I bought it used myself, because in the weeks before the video I was still waiting for my replacement device for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Here I unpack it and set it up. This is a first impression, and a detailed long-term review will follow later.

Color and what’s in the box

I ordered the Z Fold 3 in Phantom Green. I had the same color on the Z Flip 3, but there the back was glass and very prone to fingerprints. On the Fold 3, it is matte. That looks very classy and high-quality. The green is so subtle that in normal light you can barely tell whether it isn’t a very dark black after all. I like it a lot.

There are only a few things in the box:

• some paperwork
• a SIM tool
• a USB-C charging cable

A charger is missing, which I find almost outrageous for such an expensive device. Not everyone has a suitable charging adapter, and good ones aren’t cheap.

I bought my device used myself, so there are no protective films on it anymore.

Specs

	Galaxy Z Fold 3
Outer display	Dynamic AMOLED with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, 120 Hz
Inner display	7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 120 Hz
Weight	271 g
Battery	4,400 mAh
RAM	12 GB
Rear cameras	12 MP wide-angle, 12 MP ultrawide, 12 MP telephoto
Outer display camera	10 MP
Inner display camera	4 MP, built in under the display
Water protection	IPX8, 15 meters for 30 minutes in clear water

The S Pen only works with the Z Fold 3 as the S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro. The under-display camera is hidden so well that you only spot it if you look closely.

Setup

Setup works like on any Samsung device:

1. Choose a language and agree to the license agreement. Diagnostic data is optional.
2. Set up Wi-Fi.
3. Decide whether to copy apps and data. I skipped that so the device is completely new.
4. Sign in to your Google account and choose the options for backup and location.
5. Set up a Samsung account.

Even while typing in the Wi-Fi details, the large display is fun. I find the size very well done. Although I don’t have big hands, I can just about still hold the device in one hand. In tablet mode, the keyboard is split so that both thumbs can reach it. I find that very well thought out.

After that come notes about the device:

• Only operate the inner display with the S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro, and don’t press on it with pointed objects or your fingernail.
• When closing it, nothing should be inside the device, otherwise it can scratch the display.
• It is water-protected, but not protected against dust and sand. Otherwise it grinds inside the device, and you can hardly get it out again. Salt water and alcohol are also not suitable.
• Don’t peel off the protective film applied at the factory on the main screen, and don’t apply other films or stickers.
• The device contains magnets that you should keep away from credit cards and implants.

Tips and features I’m excited about

On first start, the device shows tips about its features:

• An app running on the outer display stays open when you unfold it. Whether it should keep running on the outer display when you fold it shut can be set.
• Multi View splits the display across several apps. I’m especially looking forward to that.
• The panel with pinned favorite apps is something I already know from the Galaxy Tab S7. I always had it enabled there.
• The layout for the split view can be saved, and files can open in a new window.
• With the S Pen, you can write by hand into any text field. The handwriting is recognized and inserted as text. For me, that is one of the top features of the S Pen.

In tablet mode, everything is displayed nice and big, and you can hold the device well. On the outer display, I can quickly type messages with one hand. The keyboard there is very small, though. I still have to see how I get along with it.

If I open an app like the Play Store and fold the device shut, nothing happens at first. I like that, because when I put the phone down, I don’t want the app to keep running on the front.

Case with S Pen

I added the original Samsung case with S Pen right away, because I’m a huge fan of the S Pen. My impression of the case is mixed:

• Fortunately, it doesn’t add much bulk, but it doesn’t feel particularly high-quality.
• It isn’t magnetic, and the device sits a bit loosely in it. I don’t like that.
• The S Pen has a holder on the back. That is handy and compact, because the Fold 3 is not a Note, and the pen can’t be stowed inside the device.

The big problem: because the holder on the back is not recessed, the unfolded device wobbles back and forth on the table. I call that a gross design flaw. You can take off the S Pen holder. At home, I can remove it and lay the device down properly. On the go, I put it back on.

The S Pen works without pairing. In the Notes app, writing is very smooth. The crease in the display is slightly visible on a white background, but you hardly feel it, and you don’t notice it when writing. In the dark, it isn’t noticeable at all. I had imagined that to be worse, and this is a masterpiece.

Verdict

I’m already looking forward to using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as a daily driver. How I get along with the weight and thickness remains to be seen. A charger is missing, and the case with S Pen didn’t convince me. On the other side are the classy matte back, the tablet mode and the barely noticeable crease. A detailed long-term review will follow later.