About a year and a half after Samsung introduced its original flip-phone style foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has arrived. And on the surface, not much appears to have changed.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 appears to have significant enhancements, including the addition of S Pen support and a camera under the display, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 looks a lot like its predecessor. Like the flip phones of old, the Galaxy Z Flip opens to reveal the same large 6.7-inch screen as the original flip. The phones weigh the same and are nearly identical in size, albeit by a tenth of an inch.

However, as we did in our comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Flip, a closer look will reveal some important improvements. While we are still testing the Galaxy Z Flip 3, we found many reasons to support purchasing this updated flip phone.

Under $1,000

Folding phones are expensive, which is one of the main reasons they have not yet been accepted by the mainstream audience. The original Galaxy Z Flip cost nearly $1,400 when it debuted. Even after the price drop, the 5G version of the foldable phone still costs about the same as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the most expensive model in Samsung's flagship lineup.

Samsung clearly wants more people to buy its foldable phones, as it took a scissors to the Z Flip's price: the Galaxy Z Flip 3 can be purchased for $999, making it the first foldable to break $1,000, albeit by only one cent! The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first foldable phone to cost less than $1,000! Yes, $999 is still a lot to pay for a phone, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 price is at least a step in the right direction.

The outside display is larger and easier to use

The outside display on the original Galaxy Z Flip was often overlooked. It was large enough to see incoming calls, the name of the person who sent a text message, and the date and time, but not much else. Samsung even said that its 1.1-inch strip could double as a viewfinder for selfies, if you have a very cramped definition of the word "view."

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 makes no such compromise with its 1.9-inch outer display. It may not look that big, but trust us, it is. Incoming messages can be viewed with more information, and the viewfinder feature gives you a more complete view of what you are taking. It's a better design that makes the Galaxy Z Flip 3 easier to use.

The internal display is also better

The Galaxy Z Flip 3's internal display may be the same size as the phones that came before it, but Samsung did not reuse the exact same panel. This AMOLED screen has a fast refresh rate, adjustable up to 120 Hz. The refresh rate of the original Fold was 60 Hz.

We have been preaching the benefits of fast refresh displays since they first appeared on premium phones, and we need to repeat it here: 120Hz refresh rates make tasks such as scrolling run more smoothly. like the Z Flip This is important when the device is key to the cell phone experience, as is the case with the Z Flip. The refresh rate also adjusts based on activity, which helps preserve battery life.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is more durable than ever

See, bending the display in half doesn't feel natural. The original Galaxy Z Flip addressed that issue by introducing a layer of ultra-thin glass to the phone's display, making things feel a bit more sturdy. Still, the phone's design did not inspire enough confidence to make the foldable device mainstream.

Samsung clearly hopes to change that with the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The outer display is made of Gorilla Glass Victus and the body is made of Samsung's Armor Aluminum. Samsung also claims that the inner display is better at avoiding scratches. Furthermore, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is IPX8 water resistant.

Samsung Improves App Support

When I first reviewed the Galaxy Z Flip, I really enjoyed the phone's flex mode. This is a part of the phone that can be opened up by using the top half of the screen as a viewing area and the bottom half as both the base and control panel. It was very useful for video calls and for taking still pictures by turning the Galaxy Z Flip into a tripod.

The problem was that not all apps were optimized to take advantage of Flex mode. Samsung has stated that it is working with more app makers to increase the number of apps that take advantage of the foldable phone, and we hope to see evidence of this as we continue our review of this device. But it is at least promising that this is an area Samsung wants to address.

The cameras haven't changed at all

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 12MP (f/1.8) main camera on the back and a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide shooter. On the front, a 10MP selfie cam is attached to the inside of the display. If these specs sound similar, that's because it's the exact same camera that was on last year's Galaxy Z Flip. [But no one is going to confuse the Galaxy Z Flip with one of the best camera phones on the market, and we suspect the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will be no different.

More importantly, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 does not have a telephoto lens.

The battery is the same

If you recognize the camera on the new Galaxy Z Flip model, you will also recognize the battery. It's the same 3,300 mAh power pack used in the original model. Like the previous model, the Galaxy Z Flip 3's charging speed is limited to 15W.

The compact form of the Galaxy Z Flip means that the battery is limited in size. However, given the performance of the original Flip in battery tests, including continuous web surfing in cellular mode, it is understandable to be a bit concerned. The Galaxy Z Flip was below average for a smartphone. Perhaps the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will surprise us with a more efficient processor, but it does not seem to have improved on the original's shortcomings.

Display creases remain visible on the Galaxy Z Flip 3

Another complaint we had with the original Galaxy Z Flip was the creases visible where the phone was folded. It bothered us, especially when operating the touchscreen with our fingers, and did not make us feel good about spending a fortune on a foldable phone.

Unfortunately, the folds are still there on the Galaxy Z Flip 3. And the lower price of this phone does not make us feel any better.

A more feature-rich phone costs about the same

We understand that you cited the $999 price as a reason to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 3. And the good news is that Samsung was able to reduce the price so much. But for that amount of money, you can buy a premium phone that performs better than Samsung's foldable device.

The Galaxy S21 Plus, another Samsung handset, costs $999. However, this phone has a telephoto lens, a larger battery, and faster charging capabilities. Similarly, the iPhone 12 Pro costs $999 and has the best camera we've seen on a phone in the past year.

Ultimately, the ability to fold a phone down to a pocketable size may be reason enough to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Just be aware that you're also giving up features that a similarly priced phone would not need to do so.