Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 — what's different?

Samsung Milky way Z Fold iii vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 — what'due south different?

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

EDIT: Today is the mean solar day of Samsung'southward Galaxy Unpacked event, where we expect the Galaxy Z Fold iii to exist announced. Here's how to lookout man the result , and our Galaxy Unpacked liveblog

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has been revealed to the world today at Samsung'south Galaxy Unpacked event. While many will be comparing it to more recent phones, it's as well worth examining what information technology keeps and changes from its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold ii.

There have been some major exterior changes to the Z Fold 3's design, display and possibly its software. Notwithstanding some things, like the cameras, have non. While some details like an nether-display camera and Southward Pen support are interesting, it doesn't seem as large a generational leap as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was from the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

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Read on for a feature-past-feature breakdown of what the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3 have, and how they compare to one another.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 specs

	Galaxy Z Fold 3	Galaxy Z Fold 2
Screen size	6.2-inch comprehend, seven.6-inch interior	six.2-inch cover, vii.vi-inch interior
Refresh rate	120HZ (both displays)	120HZ (inner display), 60Hz (outer display)
CPU	Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon 865 Plus
RAM	12GB, 16GB	12GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB	256GB
Rear cameras	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x zoom)	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x zoom)
Front cameras	10MP (cover) 4MP (interior, under-display)	10MP (comprehend), 10MP interior)
Battery size	four,400 mAh	4,500 mAh
South Pen support	Yes	Yes

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold two price and availability

Currently, the Milky way Z Fold iii and Z Fold ii are the same price: an middle-watering $1,799. However the Z Fold two started out at $i,999. It shows that while all the same far more than expensive than the standard premium flagship Samsung, the price of foldable phones is slowly coming down.

The Z Fold 2 is on sale at present, merely the Z Fold iii is only upwards for pre-orders for the fourth dimension being. It goes on open up sale on August 27.

Samsung Milky way Z Fold three vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 pattern and display

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review rear camera selfie — (Epitome credit: Future)

Both Z Folds look similar, but Samsung'south been doing a lot of unseen tinkering to make the Z Fold 3 much tougher. It features IPX8 water resistance, something the Z Fold two doesn't offer, and the combination of an "Armor Aluminum" body, Gorilla Glass Victus outer screen and a new PET layer on the inner screen means the Z Fold 2 should be much more resistant to scratches and drops as well. The Z Fold three is even a little slimmer and lighter than the Z Fold 2 equally well.

Both phones apply the same sized displays - 6.2 inches on the outside and 7.six on the inside. The exterior screen on the Z Fold iii has a slightly higher pixel count of 2268 x 832 on the front end (from 2260 x 816 pixels), and it'due south also been upgraded to have a 120Hz refresh rate, instead of the bones 60Hz on the Z Fold two.

Inside, the selfie camera punch-hole on the upper right of the interior display from the Z Fold 3 has gone, replaced with an under-display camera that is but visible when in utilise. The 2 displays are otherwise pretty much the same specs-wise, simply Samsung says the Z Fold iii is as well brighter than the Z Fold 2 with the use of new Eco display engineering science.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 cameras

The phones' rear cameras are maybe the ane area with no obvious changes. Both phones use 12MP principal sensors, 12MP ultrawide sensors and 12MP 2x telephoto sensors. The front cameras are also the same 10MP resolution.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review cameras — (Image credit: Hereafter)

It'southward the interior photographic camera that's inverse notably. Not just has it moved from a punch-hole notch to nether the display, it's decreased from a 10MP resolution to a 4MP resolution. We have yet to exam out the Z Fold 3'south cameras, but it will exist particularly interesting to come across whether the move to an under-display camera has weakened its photography abilities compared to the older phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Milky way Z Fold 2 performance

Unsurprisingly, Samsung has used a Snapdragon 888 in the Z Fold iii, the successor to the Snapdragon 865 Plus used in the Z Fold 2. The newer Z Fold withal offers 12GB RAM and 256GB storage by default, but unlike the Z Fold 2 it also has an option for 512GB storage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 battery and charging

Samsung's been a small step backwards co-ordinate to the specs. The Z Fold 2 offered a 4,500 mAh bombardment chapters beyond its two cells, merely the Z Fold iii offers 4,400 mAh instead. Allow's promise Samsung has some other optimizations in place to reduce bombardment draw, otherwise information technology could end up making the new telephone'due south battery life worse than the old one.

Both phones support Samsung'southward 25W wired fast charging standard. They as well offer up to 10W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging if you need it too.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Milky way Z Fold 2 software and S Pen

You lot go Samsung'south One UI on both phones, except while the Z Fold 2 shipped with Android x, the Z Fold 3 ships with Android 11. This version is optimized for the foldable grade factor, offer special versions of apps that make full upwardly the interior display and offer additional functionality. Both phones offer Flex Fashion, which lets you lot stand the phone up with the hinge at xc degrees for video calls or video watching, and Multi-Active Window, a feature that lets you open up iii apps at once and quickly move betwixt them.

There is ane hidden change to the Z Fold 3's abilities though: the option of a static Taskbar. This is hidden away in the Settings app, but doing then lets you accept permanent access to your most-used apps, similar to a PC or Mac desktop.

The biggest change to the Z Fold iii's user experience actually comes in the form of Due south Pen support, with two versions (Due south Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro) available as optional extras. These offer retractable tips to avoid damaging the fragile flexible screen, with the S Pen Pro offering extra Bluetooth-powered remote features like the bones Southward Pen on the Galaxy Note series.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review Gmail app — (Epitome credit: Hereafter)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 outlook

The bound between the Z Fold 3 and the Z Fold 2 isn't quite equally big as the one betwixt the Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Fold, merely Samsung still has added lots of meaningful changes to the newer foldable. The highlights include the Due south Pen, the increased durability, and the improvements to both displays.

Aside from the inevitable drop in the price of the Z Fold 2 now that it's getting replaced, there are a couple of reasons why it might exist amend for some users compared to the Z Fold 3. The principal cameras haven't been altered at all, and the change to an under-display interior camera on the Z Fold 3 may actually exist a detriment to photo quality overall. The battery life could be slightly better too since the Z Fold 3 has a smaller chapters while offering a college refresh rate on the front display. Also we might assume that excluding the stylus back up, the software experience will be identical on both phones once the Z Fold 2 gets its Android 12 upgrade.

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Richard is a Tom's Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, audio and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Mag Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he'due south also written for WIRED U.Thou., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he'south probable thinking most how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.