Samsung has finally announced the Galaxy Fold 3 and the company is understandably touting improved durability as a key upgrade over the predecessors.
The original Galaxy Fold launch was blighted by a myriad of build issues that forced an initial recall. The sequel corrected course, but still fell short of the standards we expect from top flagship phones at this price point.
So what has Samsung done to ensure the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is up to the task? Let’s take a closer look at the device launched at Unpacked alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Watch 4.
Water resistance
A big upgrade for those perhaps nervous about embracing Samsung’s foldable is the presence of IPX8 water resistance. That means if can be submerged in 1.5m for up to 30 minutes. Samsung doesn’t recommend swimming in a pool or the ocean, but it should be fine if you drop it in the sink for instance. Samsung still isn’t promising dust resistance this time around, so you’re not going to want to get sand or grit in that hinge.
“The world’s first water resistant foldable smartphone. An IPX8 rating means you can unfold freely, even if you’re caught in the rain,” Samsung says.
Stronger display
The outer display is now protected by the latest Coring Gorilla Glass Invictus technology, which is an upgrade on the Gorilla Glass 6 protecting the Z Fold 2 device. The internal display, which is the main tablet display, is now 80% stronger than the second-generation model because, of a new protective film. The new layer improves the structural integrity of the display with Samsung saying it’s less breakable and more scratch resistant than previous generations. Remember the original phone had issues with early adopters and reviewers peeling off the film believing it to be a removable film? That’s unlikely to be the case this time around.
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Build and hinge
Samsung is promising a new aluminium frame and metallic hinge that’ll give the internals more protection than previous models. It’s called Armor Aluminum (or Armour Aluminium in proper English) and Samsung says it provides the “backbone” for the new phone. It’s 10% stronger overall.
“A super-strong, yet lightweight Armor Aluminum frame is the backbone of this incredible phone, protecting the interior parts of the hinge like a suit of armour,” the company says.
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
