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Samsung introduced its new clamshell foldable quite recently, the Galaxy Z Flip 4. In this article, we’ll compare it with the most logical option, its predecessor. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comparison makes all the sense in the world, not only because these two phones are closely related, but because they’re quite similar. That mainly goes for their design, as the Galaxy Z Flip 4 can be considered an iterative upgrade.
As it usually goes when a new version comes to the market, the old one becomes more affordable. So, is it worth getting the Galaxy Z Flip 4 when the Flip 3 can be purchased for less? Well, that’s up to you to decide. We’ll give you some information to help you make that decision, though. We’ll first list the specs of these two smartphones, and will then compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance.
Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 | |
| Screen size | Main: 6.7-inch fullHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display (foldable, 120Hz) Secondary (Cover): 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display (flat, 60Hz) |
Main: 6.7-inch fullHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display (foldable, 120Hz) Secondary (Cover): 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display (flat, 60Hz) |
| Screen resolution | Main: 2640 x 1080 Secondary (Cover): 260 x 512 |
Main: 2640 x 1080 Secondary (Cover): 260 x 512 |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 8GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1); non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size, ultrawide) |
12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 27mm lens, 1.4um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size, ultrawide) |
| Front cameras | 10MP (f/2.4 aperture, 26mm lens, 1.22um pixel size) | 10MP (f/2.4 aperture, 26mm lens, 1.22um pixel size) |
| Battery | 3,700mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging | 3,330mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 11W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9mm Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1mm |
Unfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9mm Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1mm |
| Weight | 187 grams | 183 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | Side-facing fingerprint scanner | Side-facing fingerprint scanner |
| OS | Android 12 One UI 4.1.1 |
Android 11 (upgradeable to Android 12) One UI 3.5 |
| Price | $999.99 | $749.99 |
| Buy | Samsung | Samsung |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Design
When the design is concerned, these two phones are immensely similar. In fact, most people probably won’t be able to tell the difference between them. Display sizes remain unchanged, and they look almost the same, overall. If you do pay closer attention, and have them side by side, though, you’ll notice that the hinge on the Z Flip 4 protrudes less, it’s thinner. That is the most obvious giveaway.
Both phones use the two-tone design that people loved so much when the Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched. The bezels are quite thin, while there is a centered display camera hole on the main display on both phones A side-facing fingerprint scanner is also included, while both phones are made out of metal and glass. The secondary display sits right next to the cameras on the back, and both phones include two cameras back there.
Now, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a bit shorter and narrower in both folded and unfolded states. The two phones are identical when it comes to thickness, and that also goes for both folded and unfolded states. IPX8 certification is also included on both phones, which will give you some peace of mind when water is concerned. Both phones are slippery, though, so keep that in mind. Getting a case for them may be a good idea, and Samsung has some nice ones to offer.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Display
On paper, the two phones have basically the same displays. Well, the protection on the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s cover display is different (Gorilla Glass Victus+), but everything else is the same. You’ll find a 6.7-inch fullHD+ (2640 x 1080) Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel on both phones. That display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ content. It gets up to 1,200 nits of brightness. That is its peak brightness, and it can only be achieved through auto mode, not manual mode.
The cover display measures 1.9 inches on both smartphones. It is a Super AMOLED panel that offers a resolution of 260 x 512. Both main and cover displays are flat, by the way, and the cover display on both phones has a 60Hz refresh rate. Now, the displays do look basically identical one next to the other. They’re punchy, and viewing angles are good. They’re also more than sharp enough for their sizes. A 120Hz refresh rate functions really well on the main panel on both phones.
There’s not much you’ll find to complain about here. Some people may complain about the fact Samsung didn’t use a QHD+ panel for the main display, but quite frankly, that’s a moot point. This way the battery life will be better, and that’s not a difference the vast majority of people will notice.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Performance
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is fueled by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and several storage (UFS 3.1) options. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, on the flip side, is fueled by the Snapdragon 888 SoC. It also comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage (128GB or 512GB). The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the more powerful device on paper, though that’s not something you’ll easily notice in performance.
What I’m trying to say is… the Galaxy Z Flip 3 does a great job of keeping up. The Snapdragon 888 is still an excellent performer, which is not surprising considering it’s Qualcomm’s flagship SoC for 2021. You may spot fewer stutters with the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which are not that frequent in general, but there you have it. Even when it comes to gaming, both of these phones are more than capable of running pretty much anything, without a problem.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Battery
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 does bring a major improvement in the battery department. It does include a larger battery, and considering how questionable the battery life is on the Z Flip 3, this sure is welcomed. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 includes a 3,700mAh battery, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 features a 3,300mAh unit. That 400mAh difference does reflect on battery life, and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 only helps things.
We didn’t really get a chance to test out the battery life on the phone properly, but the difference is noticeable. Your battery life will depend on a number of aspects, so we wouldn’t get into the exact numbers. There are two displays here, and the more you use the main one, the less battery life you’ll get, of course. Balanced usage without much gaming can result in passable battery life. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 had a tendency to die on us before the end of the day, while it’s possible to reach that point with the Z Flip 4. The battery life still isn’t great, though.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 also brings improved charging. The phone supports 25W wired charging, compared to the Flip 3’s 15W wired charging. It also supports 15W wireless charging, compared to 10W wireless charging on the Flip 3. Both smartphones do support 4.5W reverse wireless charging, or as Samsung calls it, Wireless PowerShare.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Cameras
Both of these phones have three cameras, two on the back, and one on the front (main display). That being said, the ultrawide camera on the back, and front-facing camera remain unchanged on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. As far as hardware is concerned, of course. The main camera, on the other hand, is a bit different. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has an advantage in this regard, and a welcomed one.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 includes a 12-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. This is a 24mm wide-angle lens with 1.8um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, and OIS. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, on the other hand, has a 12-pixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 27mm wide-angle lens. This camera has a 1.4um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, and OIS. So, even though they are similar, they’re not identical.
How does that reflect on image quality, though? As the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was good in that regard, but not exactly flagship-grade. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 does offer better pictures, at least based on what we’ve seen thus far. The most apparent change, that you’ll notice straight away, is that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 pictures are more saturated in many situations. That’s not a bad thing at all, as it makes the images pop. They’re not too saturated, though, which is good.
Also, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is able to do a slightly better job in low light. The images from the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s ultrawide camera are similar to ultrawide shots from the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s camera. They are a bit more saturated as well, though. The front-facing camera offers very similar results, it’s more than good enough.
Audio
What about the audio, is it any good? Well, yes, it is, on both phones. In fact, you’ll struggle to notice the difference between the two when the audio quality is concerned. Both offer stereo speakers tuned by AKG, and provide 32-bit audio. They’re more than loud enough, and well-balanced. The vocals are clear, while the distortion is barely noticeable, even at the highest of volumes.
What they lack is an audio jack. Samsung opted to leave out the 3.5mm headphone jack on both phones. That’s not a surprise in this day and age, though. You always have that Type-C port for a wired connection, or simply use Bluetooth. Speaking of which, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers Bluetooth 5.2, while the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is limited to Bluetooth 5.1.