With a $999 starting price, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is an "affordable" foldable, with a 6.7-inch FHD+ inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The outer display is four times bigger and more durable than its predecessor, but the 3,300 mAh battery has us worried about the Flip 3’s longevity.

More affordable, Enhanced durability, Bigger cover display, 120Hz refresh rate on inner display, IPX8 water resistance

Terrible battery life, Slow charging, No telephoto lens, Crease is still noticeable

The Galaxy Z Flip3 has a powerful processor and an elegant folding design, but its portability and style come at the cost of battery life.

Flagship-level application performance, Good front-facing camera, Beautifully designed, Waterproof

Shorter battery life than other flagships, Primary cameras are just OK

Less is more with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G ($999.99), a powerful flagship phone that trades battery life for portability and style. Now in its third generation, Samsung's flexible-screen phone is now mature enough for mainstream buyers. The biggest question is whether you're willing to pay a steep price for a phone that subtly discourages you from using it. The Editors' Choice–winning Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra ($1,199.99) remains the best Android flagship if you want a phone you can use intensively all day, but the Flip3 is worth considering if you want to enjoy the world around you and spend less time staring at the screen.Making the Pivot The Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3 make up the third generation of Samsung's folding phones. (There was no Flip2; it was called the Flip 5G.) The redesign is more radical with the Flip than the Fold. The major change is a much larger exterior display, taking up the bottom half of the closed phone. At 1.9 inches and 512 by 260 pixels,...

The Galaxy Z Flip3 has a powerful processor and an elegant folding design, but its portability and style come at the cost of battery life.

Flagship-level application performance; Good front-facing camera; Beautifully designed; Waterproof

Shorter battery life than other flagships; Primary cameras are just OK

I love funky smartphone devices. I was a huge slider fan with the Palm Pre. I still enjoy the feel of an old-school QWERTY from BlackBerry. So, when Samsung started the folding movement I’ve been intrigued from day one. I recently got a chance to review the Galaxy Fold 3 and came away impressed.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a Goldilocks of a smartphone that combines powerful hardware and a smooth foldable 120Hz main display into a fashionably slick and compact form design.

IPX8 water resistance

Battery life could be better

Folding screen is a lot of fun; Attractive design; Accessible price (for folding phone); Powerful specs;

Unexciting camera; Battery could be bigger; Screen is no larger than most smartphones;

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the best clamshell foldable you can buy, with specs and a price comparable with flagship phones. Its relatively small battery holds it back, as does its lack of a telephoto camera lens, and wary consumers may want to wait to see what innovations come in the next iteration – but if you want a phone that folds up to fit in more bags and pockets, while offering the same performance as flagship phones, the Z Flip 3 is a good option to buy today.

Good lower price; Good specs; Refined design and displays;

No telephoto lens; Middling battery; Outer display still not terribly useful

Folds up into a neat package; Smooth 120Hz inner display; Water resistant; Much cheaper (but still not cheap);

The outer display is better but still fairly limited; Mid-range cameras; Average battery life;

Some ideas make sense straight away, and others need a little time to ferment: three generations in, and the Samsung Galaxy Flip 3 is a much more accessible version of foldable phones, and maybe the first time the technology feels something other than a gimmick.

Samsung's most affordable foldable phone yet, No compromise on performance, Cover Display is much more useful now

Battery life isn't great, Cameras are good, but not stand-out, Long-term durability still to be revealed

“The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first folding smartphone most people should consider buying. It's compact, powerful, and durable, and costs about the same as its competitors. Plus, it's really fun to use.”