[Galaxy Z Flip3 Review] Visuals That Stimulate Purchase Desire... Taking Selfies and Making Payments While Folded

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Samsung Electronics' new foldable smartphone, the ‘Galaxy Z Flip3,’ is a product that showcases the power of design. In an era dominated by bar-shaped smartphones, it stimulates desire with its unique appearance. It’s not just flashy on the outside. The usability has been enhanced by allowing selfies to be taken using the external display, and the internal screen can be split to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, maximizing the advantages of its form factor.

The elegant design is the simplest yet most powerful weapon. While evoking nostalgia for past flip phones, its sophisticated visuals seem sufficient to captivate consumers’ hearts. In terms of materials, a balanced mix of glossy and matte finishes prevents the image from leaning too much in either direction.

The external display, which was only 1.1 inches (2.79 cm) on the previous ‘Galaxy Z Flip,’ has grown fourfold to 1.9 inches (4.83 cm), increasing its usability. Without opening the flip, users can check text messages and use functions such as music, weather, voice recording, and Samsung Pay.

The selfie function using the rear camera is also impressive. When the camera is turned on and the square-shaped icon at the top right is pressed, the ‘Cover Screen Preview’ function activates. Normally, taking a selfie with the rear camera required pressing the shutter by feel, but this feature allows users to preview themselves and take accurate shots.

In terms of durability, the first impression deserves a passing grade. When opening and closing the phone, the hinge’s tightness is neither loose nor too tight, set with appropriate tension, giving a sturdy feel. Although it is a bit disappointing that it cannot be easily opened and closed with just one thumb, considering long-term use, this could actually be an advantage. The clean finish of the main body and hinge parts also stood out.

The display crease is still noticeable when the screen is off. However, when reading text or watching videos, it is not particularly distracting unless consciously noticed. While this is an area that still needs improvement, it is not at a level to be considered a problem.

Features that leverage the characteristics of foldable phones are also attractive. The Z Flip3 supports ‘Multi Active Window,’ which divides the screen into two parts vertically for simultaneous use. Users open the ‘Multi Window Tray’ tab at the top right of the screen’s right side, drag the applications they want to use, and place them vertically in the desired positions. The screen can switch between top and bottom, and the size can be freely adjusted. It is possible to watch YouTube videos while chatting on KakaoTalk or browsing the internet. This is likely a feature that Z Flip3 users will use tirelessly.

The ‘Flex Mode,’ which allows the phone to stand at various angles, is also a highly satisfying feature. Since the screen can stand at the desired angle without any auxiliary device, it was convenient to place it on a table to watch videos or read. Flex Mode includes quick panel, screen capture, brightness, and volume control buttons.

However, the relatively small 3300mAh battery capacity is a downside. In environments where charging is difficult, it may be hard to fully enjoy the 120Hz refresh rate screen. Users can lower the screen refresh rate to 60Hz in the settings to extend usage.

The price of the Z Flip3 is 1,254,000 KRW, about 400,000 KRW lower than its predecessor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.