Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 2: What’s the difference?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the culmination of all the lessons learned by the company from the first generation of Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 2. It is not only equipped with the latest hardware, but also has an exquisite design, a more robust construction, and a cheaper price point. But if you already have its predecessor, is it worth upgrading? Let’s compare the two and find out which one comes out top in the battle between Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 2.

You can also take a look: First impressions of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 2

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The design of Galaxy Z Fold 3 is familiar at first glance, and does not deviate much from the established formula. However, compared with the sturdy but still prototype Z Fold 2, its more refined elements are beginning to stand out. The size of the internal and external displays remained the same, but Samsung managed to reduce it by a millimeter or two in all aspects. This is not a particularly noticeable difference, but it does give Z Fold 3 a better edge-to-edge appearance.

Durability has always been a concern of foldable phones, and Samsung has taken the Z Fold 3 to the next level. The metal frame and Corning Victus glass make the phone stronger, and Samsung claims that the internal display strength has increased by 80%. It is a little lighter than the Z Fold 2, but still feels like a sturdy phone when holding it. Speaking of durability, Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the first product in the series with an IPX8 waterproof rating.

You can also see a significant improvement in the hinge. It is smoother, opening and closing it feels cleaner and smoother, and more importantly, it is durable. It is still foldable, so you should be careful, but this is definitely more important for Z Fold 3 than its predecessor.

The Z Fold 3’s external display is 6.2 inches, making it the same size as its predecessor. However, it does have a 120Hz refresh rate (above 60Hz), which provides a smoother browsing experience.

However, the internal display remains unchanged. Both phones are equipped with 7.6-inch AMOLED displays with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. However, Samsung managed to tuck the internal camera under the screen. The selfie camera under the display provides a seamless viewing experience without having to deal with any gaps. However, we will have to wait for our full review to understand the performance of the camera.

Another difference between the two phones is that the Z Fold 3’s display now supports the use of Samsung’s S Pen stylus. However, it is not in the box, so you must purchase it separately.

Both Z Fold devices are equipped with the best processing package at the time. The Snapdragon 888 powers the Z Fold 3, and the Snapdragon 865 Plus makes everything in the Z Fold 2 run smoothly. Both are equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space, and you can also choose the 512GB storage version of Z Fold 3. Z Fold 2 also has a 512GB version, but this is unique to a few Asian markets.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s battery is slightly smaller than its predecessor-4,400mAh vs. 4,500mAh. We will have to wait for the full review to see if it makes a big difference. The good news is that Z Fold 2 provides an impressive battery life, with a screen on time of 6 to 7 hours. It is expected that things similar to Z Fold 3 will not be too big.

Both are equipped with fast wired charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. However, Samsung will certainly not participate in any race to use these devices for ultra-fast charging. I hope you already have a charger or wireless charger on hand, because there is not one in the Z Fold 3 box.

Samsung inherited most of the camera settings from Z Fold 2 to its successor models. There is a 12MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens and 12MP telephoto lens on the back, and a 10MP selfie lens on the front. In our review, we were impressed with the camera performance of the Z Fold 2, so we will see something similar to the newer foldable products.

However, there is an exciting change here: there is a camera with an insufficient display screen with an internal screen. Samsung has warned that this camera will not be particularly good because it only has 4MP. But I am very happy that they are experimenting. This is a feature that is expected to become mainstream soon. Between this and Mi Mix 4, can we finally complete the gap?

Price and color

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 (256GB): 1,799 USD / 1,799 Euro / 1,599 GBP
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 (512GB): 1,899 USD / 1,899 Euro / 1,699 GBP
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 (256 GB): 1,999 USD / 1,799 Euro / 1,599 GBP

Galaxy Z Fold 3 has two versions, with 256GB or 512GB of storage space. The difference between the two models is $100, and the phone starts at $1,799. Although this is the same price you can buy Z Fold 2 now, it is actually cheaper than the price of $1,999 when Fold 2 was released.

You can pre-order Galaxy Z Fold 3 now and enjoy preferential trade-in prices and other special offers. This phone will be available on August 27th.

Check: The best foldable phone you can get

Speaking of usability, Samsung seems to have discontinued Z Fold 2 in the United States.It is no longer available on the Samsung website, but you can AmazonOf course, if you plan to spend that much money on your phone, you might as well buy a newer model at the same price.

In terms of color matching, Z Fold 2 has Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze. Z Fold 3 is available in Phantom Silver, Phantom Black and Phantom Green.

There is no doubt that Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the better device of the two. The phone is sturdier, looks and feels more refined, and comes with a better handling package. It also has an improved display.

Then there is the IPX8 rating, S Pen support, and the camera under the display. The only advantage of Z Fold 2 compared to its successors is the battery size, which is 100mAh larger than it.

If you are buying a foldable device for the first time, Z Fold 3 is a smart move. Especially because these two phones are now the same price. However, if you already own the Z Fold 2, you’d better stick to it for a while, because the difference between the two phones is not enough to justify the upgrade cost. Samsung provides Z Fold 2 with a trade-in value of up to US$800 for a limited time, but this is still an additional US$1,000 you must take out.