Don’t get me wrong: the iPhone is a wonderful device, but I just could not wrap myself around the fact that it only has nominal upgrades from its predecessor. Incremental improvements do not strike an appeal to me, and this has been one of the reasons I moved on from owning an iPhone since 2018. I must say that there is still a glimmer of interest, but I have this consistent craving for something radical… something new from the fruit company,
When Samsung announced the first Galaxy Fold in 2019, I found myself crazed about the introduced technologies. From its folding mechanism, to software optimization that ultimately makes it an all-around device, the Galaxy Z Series always piques my interest. This is why I don’t see myself switching to different series of smartphones until something better comes along.
Now, you might ask – what are the things that made me choose the new Galaxy Z Fold3 5G over the new iPhone 13 series? The following are based on my personal preferences, and do not mean to knock the iPhone 13 off. Besides, the latter is still an awesome device, albeit not aligning with my current preference.
Radical over Simple Design
Time and again, I have given praise over the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s radical design. Its folding mechanism, to me, has a tantalizing appeal that is not easy to ignore. It is, by the way, a folding smartphone, and this kind of technology has always fascinated me. You can call me a “sucker” for phones with moving parts, but it has been my personal preference since time immemorial – I bought the original Motorola Razr, Nokia N900, Nokia N95, and even the first OPPO Find X in the past.
The iPhone has perpetually been fostering ‘simplicity’ since the first iteration, and this is easily one of my qualms in renewing my interest in buying a new iPhone. As mentioned earlier, Apple did not even bother changing the overall design of the iPhone 13 compared to its previous generation. However, this does not mean that the iPhone 13 is a bad series; it just does not go at par with my preference over the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G that has more to offer based on its form factor.
With Galaxy Z Fold3 5G’s form factor, you can basically place it in flex or tent mode, so you can just simply put it on your table and watch YouTube. This also makes the phone very versatile in content creation scenarios. It has this feature where you can just simply place it on the table in Flex Mode and conveniently take a photo using its camera application that conforms to the form of the phone. Your viewfinder sits on top of the screen, while the preview and controls are placed below it. I have proven this very useful when shooting A-rolls for my videos.
Software Developed for Multitaskers
One of the best features of the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is its software. It’s made to maximize its phone/tablet flexible form factor. This gives the phone a major advantage over other smartphones, especially the iPhone 13 series in terms of multitasking features. While the new iOS 15 is now more powerful and better, I still believe that it is miles apart compared to what the Android version pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. With One UI 3.1.1 installed on the new foldable device, you can – for example – check your calendar on the left and watch Marquess Brownlee or Gadget Pilipinas on YouTube on the right. It’s a convenient way of consuming content while trying to be guiltlessly productive at the same time.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G’s overall design also satisfies cravings for owning a tablet and a smartphone. This, essentially, made me drop my interest to buy an iPhone 13 and the new iPad Mini as the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G can double as a phone and tablet, and may conveniently be switched to any form factor at will.
Also Built for Gaming
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G looks somewhat unassuming to be able to play graphics-demanding mobile games, unlike other gaming smartphones. However, you’ll be very surprised to know that this is a very capable device for mobile games. In fact, this is my go-to smartphone for playing games like Pokemon Unite and Infinite Lagrange. Games like Black Desert Online and Dead Cells play very well on this device as well.
Two of the best things that make this phone great for gaming are its processor and display capable of high refresh rate. Both the inside and outside displays have a refresh rate up to 120Hz. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 888, similar to the ones installed on most android gaming smartphones right now. Based on benchmark, which some of you may have seen on my video on Youtube, its performance is at par with current flagship devices and a tad lower than devices marketed as ‘gaming smartphones’.
In terms of real-life usage, I’ve never had any problems playing my favorite games, and the experience is further enhanced with its Game Booster settings that allow users to block notifications in-game, improve gaming performance and hardware monitoring. You can even download additional Game Plugins via Galaxy Store, which further beef up its features like performance and enrichment solutions, optimization, and even impose specific time limits on some games. You’ll be surprised to know that Samsung offers the following specific features: Game Booster Plus, Aim Assist, Daily Limits, Game Clock, GIF Creator, and Perf Z.
IPX8 Rating on a Foldable
The new iPhone has an IP68 rating, while the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G has an IPX8 rating. While IP68 rating gives complete protection, it is interesting to see a folding smartphone that is water resistant. Honestly, this is one of the major reasons why I decided to trade up my Galaxy Z Fold2 5G for the new one because I really wanted to have a waterproof foldable device.
Apart from its IPX8 Rating, it is also worth noting that the new Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is now more durable than ever thanks to aluminum build and Gorilla Glass Victus. In fact, this is one of the reasons why this is an impressive upgrade even to those who bought the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G last year like myself.
Price and Availability
The new Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G is now available in the Philippines for as low as PhP87,990 SRP (256GB), while the new iPhone 13 Pro Max will soon be available for as low as PhP70,990 SRP (256GB). There is a wide price disparity between the two devices, and it all boils down to preference. Would you rather buy a phone that doubles as a tablet but is pricier by PhP17,000 compared to another device from another company that is streamlined to have smartphone features?
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
