Clamshells are the best foldables, fight me

The future is foldable – at least if Samsung has something to say about it. I’ve spent a lot of time with the company’s Galaxy Z range, and I tend to agree. They haven’t reached their final form yet, but the Fold and Flip series is the most fun I’ve had with a few devices in a long time. A year later, I still reach for Samsung’s pocket-friendly foldable Samsung whenever I switch phones, and it hasn’t lost any of its charm. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 may not be perfect, but it’s enough to convince me that clamshells are the best foldable phones on the market.

How does it hold up? Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 six months later

The friendliest form factor

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a large phone, as most 6.7-inch devices are. However, it’s a big phone that rarely feels that way, thanks to its unique foldability. You never feel like you’re putting a phablet-sized monster in your pocket, nor do you have to worry about how much space it will take up when you add a case. Instead, it is friendly enough for most users, even those who are concerned about the limited amount of women’s trouser pockets.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is, as I see it, the perfect form factor for foldable phones. The internal and external screens serve different purposes and provide access to notifications and widgets without requiring you to open your phone every time. It’s easier to use your phone less and check notifications when you need to, rather than getting distracted when you just want to check the weather. The different applications form a clear contrast with the Galaxy Z Fold 3where you could easily get by with just the external display – beating the larger internal folding display.

And if you’ve ever tried to prop up a Galaxy Z Fold device to take a photo, you know it feels like a house of cards about to collapse. You rely on a slim, folded-over edge and a healthy dose of balance. On the other hand, the Flip sits comfortably on a wide, flat platform ready for TikTok dances or carefully posed family photos.

I admit I don’t have the biggest hands so being able to open the Flip with one hand and reach everything I need is essential. Sure, I can’t reach the top edge of the screen, but that’s what one-handed mode is for. The Fold series, on the other hand, is impossible to use with one hand, at least not when open. Its size and weight make one-handed use a balancing act, and you’re already limited to the length of your thumb. You can always call on the S Penbut you do need a second hand or a desk to put your Fold on.

There are book-style foldable phones that approach the usability of the Galaxy Z Flip, most notably the Oppo Find NO. However, Oppo’s beefy device isn’t readily available in the US, which opens up the potential for many buyers. If Samsung copied the smaller foldable approach, we could have a real battle.

All rumours: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | Galaxy Z Fold 4

Software sensitivities

One user interface is already one of our favorite Android skins, and the foldable wrinkles make it even better. I’ve customized all the widgets on my external display so that I rarely have to open my phone unless I want to. I can get the gist of text messages and emails and check the day’s weather without ever seeing the main screen. In fact, Samsung keeps adding widgets to the mix, so there are usually new ways to make the phone feel more like yours.

While widgets are great, the unique twist on the camera app makes the Galaxy Z Flip 3 shine. I mentioned above that it’s much easier to use when folded, and Samsung’s camera controls automatically adapt to the folded shape. Instead of splitting your viewfinder above and below the fold, the image above lives while all your controls live below. You can also use the external display as a selfie preview, giving you a pair of 12MP selfie cameras instead of the internal 10MP option.

Even something as simple as streaming video helps illustrate the difference between the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and its Galaxy Z Fold sibling. Sure, TVs used to be square, just like the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s internal display, but those days are behind us. When you watch a movie, you get thick black bars at the top and bottom, reducing the 7.6-inch screen to a fraction of its original size. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is ready for the widescreen way of life with minimal loss.

Learn more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Buyer’s Guide

Room to grow

I said it at the top, but the Galaxy Z Flip series isn’t perfect – at least not yet. The smaller form factor limits some of its internal components, while the Galaxy Z Fold has more room to flex its muscles. The battery and charging capabilities are the biggest gap between the two, with the larger device racking up an extra 1,000mAh over its pocket-friendly sibling. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 also charges at 25W compared to the Flip’s 15W wired speed.

Get the most out of a small battery: Good charging habits to get started

Then there is the matter of the cameras. The little Flip has a pair of 12MP shooters, which are excellent as dual selfie lenses, but they feel underpowered as a primary array. You get a third 12MP lens with the Fold and the cool – but not overly useful – 4MP lens for under the screen. I’m not asking for a lens under the screen on the next Galaxy Z Flip (mainly because it’s not ready yet), but it’s about time the clamshell took a few steps forward.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is essentially unchanged from the first version, although it has become the most popular foldable phone in the world. Samsung has a whopping 88% of the global folding market but seems to be content with an existing design, at least for now.

Furthermore, Samsung has the clamshell market by the horns. The only real competition is the Huawei P50 Bag, which suffers from Huawei’s usual list of issues. However, the P50 Pocket offers sharper cameras overall and a 4000mAh battery with much faster 40W charging. The lack of Google services relegates it to a support role, but the hardware should be enough to push Samsung for higher rates. goals.

In my view, the clamshell is secure in its position as the best foldable for most people. The form factor, software tweaks, and a dash of nostalgia make it easier to pick up and use on a daily basis. However, the Galaxy Z Flip (and by extension the Motorola Razr) has some lessons to learn from its book-style siblings if it wants to get even better. I’ll keep reaching for my trusty clamshell, but I’m ready to take the next step forward.