The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 marks a big shift in strategy for Samsung’s foldable phone ambitions. The company promised it would make its foldable devices available to more people and it’s made good on its word.
One way to do that is by dropping prices. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 shaves a significant ~$400 off the cost of the outgoing Z Flip 5G and is a whopping $800 cheaper than Samsung’s other new foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 3. With its new price tag, the Z Flip 3 is a foldable phone that sits in the same price range as many of today’s standard flagships. That makes it attainable to a larger number of consumers.
Now in its (sort of) third generation, the Z Flip 3 takes everything that we liked about the original and applies tasteful, thoughtful upgrades that wholly improve the experience of using the phone day in and day out — without sacrificing the character of the original.
Has Samsung dialed in the right combination of form and functionality to convince you that foldables are worth a try? Find out for yourself in Android Authority‘s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (8GB/128GB): $999 / €999 / £949
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (8GB/256GB): $1,049 / €1,049 / £999
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s smaller, more approachable, and more affordable folding phone. Where the Z Fold 3 is a normal-sized device that opens up to reveal a tablet-sized screen, the Z Flip 3 is a normal-sized phone that bends in half and reduces the footprint to something more pocketable. I wouldn’t call it a poor man’s foldable, because it is still expensive, but it absolutely could act as a gateway into the world of folding devices, thanks in no small part to its reduced price and the simpler clamshell form factor.
The original Z Flip and the Z Flip 5G were priced at around $1,400 at launch, though the cost later dropped to $1,299. The base model Z Flip 3 is available for just $999, a hefty plunge from the previous generations. The 256GB model is just $50 more, making it a no-brainer for those who need the extra storage. These prices line the Z Flip 3 up with the likes of the Galaxy S21 series, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, and other flagship phones in the $1,000 space.As with the Z Fold 3, Samsung is offering aggressive trade-in deals and discounts on the Z Flip 3 to those who preorder the phone. It would be easy to drop the price of the Z Flip 3 to something under $500 with the right trade-in. Samsung’s US carrier partners are also selling the phone with attractive deals and discounts on accessories. The phone is up for pre-order now and it goes on sale August 27, 2021. Preordering is the way to score the best deal, as Samsung often changes its promotions once retail sales commence.
The phone is available in two storage configurations and multiple colors. If you order the base model you can select between Cream, Phantom Black, Lavender, Gray, White, and Pink. These last three are exclusive to Samsung’s website. The 256GB model is available in Phantom Black, Gray, White, and Pink. Black is the only finish that’s matte — all the rest are glossy. The box includes just a cable and a SIM tool; there’s no charger.
