Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G MORE PICTURES

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

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  • K
  • Khader
  • vGM
  • 23 Aug 2021

Best fold 2

    Long time GSMArena’er here (since the start); has been awhile since I logged in - the system had forgotten I existed (which is odd, and weird at the same time, given previously I had to have an alt account (same name DifFeReNt CaSe) due to a server error with my login.

    -=long time smart phone user=-
    Still have a few 9000 series Nokia communicators lying around (symbian OS, perfect phones), and have had many premium/flagship productivity phones over the years (the best was the HTC TouchPro2)..
    Having a Fold 2 in hand; and no loyalty to big corporations/‘fanboyism’- I can vouch for the Fold experience. In some ways it is a terrific tool/device I wouldn’t want to be without, but then I could NEVER make it my daily driver either due to anti consumer Samsung practices, sadly.

    The Fold is a great ‘mini tablet’ that is easy to fit in pockets that a regular tablet might not.
    Using Samsungs’/Googles’ “call and text on other devices” feature, I might even do more than just consumption on this ‘toy’ as well. (Actually for gaming and even remote play (eg Playstation gaming) the Folds large 120Hz screen is a true joy to have access to.

    Quite simply the phone is too big and pretty to use ‘in field’; this is a desktop /briefcase class phone. The old Nokia versions (fold open business tool) were built in a chassis that felt right sliding into pockets. The same way a palm organiser should. The Fold is more like a Psion 5mx - something that you are willing to carry in a hand as writing emails from the top of a mountain is cool (or was in the late nineties).

    -=Fold 3=-
    Samsung have added s-pen and ingress protection which are the big ‘yay’ features no doubt.
    Having owned mostly every second Note phone Samsung made, and being an s-pen lover, this would have been a big win for me. Forcing the s-pen to live outside the phone isn’t ‘so bad’, as users need a case, and the case can hold the stylus. (we have a few iPad Pros in the house, and buying a certain case to ‘hold the pencil’ is just ‘apart of the purchase’.

    -=Camera hole in ‘main screen’=-
    Would have been better if Samsung had simply moved the hole out from the middle of the screen.. would allow widescreen netflix/media to show themselves and the black cutout could be placed more towards a corner... (my ideal solution- being I’m never going to use the phone cameras)

    Why not buy it?
    Samsung Sillyness!
    Being anticonsumer to force upgrades is something Samsung really skate a thin line on...
    When the Note 7 had to be recalled (I had three), Samsung finally gave another update to the Note4 phone (security etc), simply in an act to hold off the existing Samsung user base from going elsewhere.
    My Note 7 had features like APTXHD but Samsung has removed APTX (HD & LL) from the android operating system (and HWA / LHDC as well)
    None of my Samsung devices can give hi resolution sound via bluetooth.
    Sure they can connect to LDAC, and in time I might just have a house filled with LDAC capable kit. But presently I have a lot of stuff that supports APTX HD or APTX LL or HWA/LHDC etc, and Samsung want me to get rid of truly high end bluetooth products (an oxymoronic proposition mostly) to use Samsung buds and Samsung ‘scaleable codec’.

    Now for mid tier and typical consumer hi end, this decision might net them a sale or three of the earbuds (ie generate profit due to accessory sales), but from a flagship tech toy, it will simply cost Samsung ‘lost unit sales’ on the high end phone.

    I still use my Note 10+ as a media store due to expandable storage, so it has 768GB and 300GB of 5G data before it shapes to 10mbps speed.
    I run my phone into a USB DAC (mostly) for music.
    Cannot use any of my high end IEMs with the phone directly due to the removed 3.5mm jack, no problem, USB DAC ‘helps’. But we are starting to get into some zany sized pockets when we factor additional kit for audio playback, and likely a high quality camera (I never shoot with phone cameras, and often leave the house with an ACTUAL camera hanging from my body)..
    If Samsung think that paying software teams money to remove base android features (eg HWA support from android 11)(apt x hd/ll => apt x), for their flagship technology showcases to be crippled: NOT SMART PEOPLE!

    My Note 7 and Note 4 both serve me better.
    The Note 4 (edge variant) has the wider screen ratio (the curved edge also renders the main screen so that web browswers are ‘wider’ etc), and certainly for ‘couch consumption’ the InfraRed blaster (eg phone can be a remote control for the full hifi/tv etc) is very handy.
    Both the Note 4 and the Note 7 have expandable storage.
    I have replaced the battery in the Note4edge a year or so ago (took 30 seconds).

    Is it more comfortable viewing webpages on the Fold series?
    Not really. not vs the Note Edge. (small/lightweight with a good screen ratio/width for reading)
    The 12.9” apple tablet I use for desktop duties (like typing this) is in a cast iron frame. It resides permanently on the desk. I could leave the smaller iPad Pro at home now, and use the Fold as an infield tool for proofing photos etc, but the iPad Pro in a UAG case (with Pencil holder naturally) is a more feature full package, bigger screen, 10 hour battery life, and isn’t going to catch me out like the Samsung phone does, simply by being different to EVERY OTHER ANDROID handset.

    I like KNOX security, but sadly most methods to reenable the operating system features that Samsung have disabled and ripped out, require circumventing KNOX.
    At which point I wouldn’t use the Fold as a secure web portal, in the same way that I trust Apple products with my banking details and internet payments etc.
    Having been a PC technician for decades, Apple products are a little too locked down for ME personally, but they have major advantages to them which has me recommend every house have at least one iPad for online payments/security and colour proofing internet purchases etc

    I thought the Fold would be a full multimedia solution, and have hit so many walls in ‘day to day use’ that I couldn’t in good faith recommend this product to many people.
    Sadly I don’t know many office workers who use a briefcase and listen to Samsung buds.

    The cheapest media player that the local music shop sells being 1/10th the cost of the Fold, makes music sound vastly better. A tablet for 1/2 the cost + a media player + a high end phone (with stylus) would cost less; give more reliable use scenarios, more Operating system ecosystems to utilise and would allow a user to detach from it all and walk around the block with a tiny dedicated music player allowing their music to remain uninterrupted whilst social media pings the user like crazy to interact with their google device.

    I use one daily, but only cause I have all the other toys/tools I need to survive.
    The Fold is a luxury item pure and simply.
    It would even be a really good one if Samsung didn’t screw consumers of basic android functionality in an attempt to sell entry level audio kit that most Fold users wouldn’t want/need.

      Samuel Mwangi, 21 Aug 2021This phone deserves a bigger battery, we are talking about ... moreWhile this may be true, you have to consider that the phone has two screens, a hinge and five cameras. They can't put a giant battery somewhere in the middle like other phones.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • y$6
        • 23 Aug 2021

        Anonymous, 22 Aug 2021i have to wait until 10th of september to get mine in australia.how much does it cost in australia?

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • wgT
          • 22 Aug 2021

          ZeusKitty, 18 Aug 2021I just got done pre-ordering 2 of these. 1 for me and 1 for... morei have to wait until 10th of september to get mine in australia.

            1- The purpose of the camera under the display is to get rid of the appendage and punch hole.

            2- Buyers of phones with a selfie camera under the screen are looking for a solid screen without protrusions and holes. And the quality of the selfie camera is a very low priority for them.

            But Samsung not only did not eliminate the selfie hole and did not introduce a uniform screen, but also introduced exactly the same appendage (the selfie hole) as a pixel hole that can be displayed on the top of the phone.

            The camera under the Samsung display is a disaster. We expect a uniform screen

              This phone deserves a bigger battery, we are talking about 10,000 mA not less. Samsung is cutting down on cost for this to be fitted with a 4,400 mA battery 🔋. Proportionality is key. Otherwise it won't properly serve its intended purpose.

                • S
                • Samuel
                • fnE
                • 21 Aug 2021

                This phone ought to have a 10,000 mA, battery. Super thin phones will have smaller batteries. Its a compromise. Small size, small battery, small screen. Big screen should be fitted with a big battery. Samsung is cutting on cost to maximise profits.

                  • K
                  • Khakwani
                  • uZa
                  • 20 Aug 2021

                  To be honest i was looking for the features same like S 21 Ultra, so big screen and battery is very small even then S 21 ultra. Same is the case with the cameras.. Snapdragon 888 is only for US not for us..... There should be one processor for all regions... Ppi density is very low as compare to S 21 Ultra don't know the strategy of samsung???

                    Anonymous, 20 Aug 2021ever try running simulation software on apple?If a specialised App, like a simulation software is built for a platform, it will run on that platform.

                    Microsoft has an obvious edge with the corporate world BUT most corporations are looking the way of Apple for simplicity and security now.

                    If developers build for Apple and Microsoft, it usually turns out better on Apple than on Microsoft. Microsoft owns LinkedIn, but LinkedIn App on iOS is way more robust than what you have on Microsoft's "mobile partner", Google's Android.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • tA$
                      • 20 Aug 2021

                      Mack, 18 Aug 2021I was interested in this phone until I saw the tiny Battery... moreWhy? Did you ever see the how big when This phone is folded? 7000 mAh? You just created a book with it, there are always some drawbacks when you buy phone, when this phone is intended for luxury, M series is intended for development country with low middle income, big battery but really not have much features

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • y$e
                        • 20 Aug 2021

                        NeoGul, 18 Aug 2021As a business user I find the Apple ecosystem better for a ... moreever try running simulation software on apple?

                          If only samsung could hve a good optimizer for it's future phone

                            • J
                            • JimZE
                            • BiP
                            • 19 Aug 2021

                            Looks like a cool device. I've always wanted to try a foldable but wasn't keen on notch/hole punch, no waterproofing and no pen support but now that they've sorted those issues I pre ordered one last week. I got an email earlier to say mine is coming tomorrow, a week early! They seem to have moved the release up a week, in the UK at least.

                              Anonymous, 19 Aug 2021samsung and microsoft are getting there with their partners... moreSome professionals require those Microsoft Apps for their work; their specialised work Apps would only interface with those Microsoft Apps. Google needed to open up their Android platform for that acceptability.

                              The real irony is that those Microsoft Apps work even better on Apple's platform.

                              And from your comment; it actually would take two or more OEMs to TRY and achieve what Apple has been known to be excellent at for years - Consistency and Focus.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • TLP
                                • 19 Aug 2021

                                NeoGul, 18 Aug 2021Maybe you can suggest another computing Ecosystem by ANY ot... moresamsung and microsoft are getting there with their partnership.
                                and I'll take it over Apple because they're using more open operating systems at least so I can use android apps alongside proprietary samsung-microsoft apps.
                                still baffles my mind ,however, on how garbage and barebones Microsoft apps still are on Android, ironic.

                                  Anonymous, 18 Aug 2021and why is that important? some people need more control o... moreAlso, you should try the Spark email software on iOS and Mac OS, it renders the Android version a simple notification interface for a user; the difference is just mind-blowing.

                                    Anonymous, 18 Aug 2021and why is that important? some people need more control o... moreAs a business user I find the Apple ecosystem better for a seamless flow of handling documents; quotations, proposals, reports, messages and emails.

                                    I personally use the Android as an alternative but with more of Chat Apps, since most folks have Androids and also on Android, there is (generally) Multiple Apps and cloning inbuilt - chat Apps have become part of business communication and that's where Android shines - Telegram on Android allows up to 6 or even more users per account while on iOS it's 3 maximum, WhatsApp has a general cloning on Android inbuilt (but not WhatsApp Business). Also since Google owns YouTube, it's only right to have an Android device - downloading videos on it also takes less data than on iOS.

                                    But for serious business communications and use - Apple reigns - for instance, I don't need some paid third party Adobe anytime I need to sign a document, also it's easy to duplicate these documents and change just few details.
                                    There are more business apps on the Apple platform also, ready to use Apps that enhance productivity and efficiency.
                                    Also for some reason, even Google Apps like Google My Business work better and better optimised on iOS and Mac OS than on Google's Android; better options and flexibility.
                                    It's not always about "specs", practicality matters for certain use cases. Apple platform simply works for owners - tweaking and "customising" gets tiring for serious users.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • y$e
                                      • 18 Aug 2021

                                      NeoGul, 18 Aug 2021Maybe you can suggest another computing Ecosystem by ANY ot... moreand why is that important?
                                      some people need more control of their system, not being dictate by the company on how to use the system because you know some people actually use their system to do bunch of things not just some browsing and social networking

                                        Mack, 18 Aug 2021I was interested in this phone until I saw the tiny Battery... moreAnother Note 8 battery life (or even worse)

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