5 biggest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 leaks so far

5 biggest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 leaks so far

TechRadar·2021-06-14 22:00

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 could be one of the most exciting phones of the year, as Samsungs third-gen foldable is likely to be a polished, feature-packed handset, with none of the teething problems that initial foldables had.Of course, nothing is certain just yet, but a lot of things have been rumored, so we have a good idea of what to expect from the upcoming handset when it lands, likely in August alongside the cheaper Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Watch 4.Below, weve highlighted the five biggest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 leaks so far – these are mostly big or unexpected changes, and with one exception would all probably be good news too.1. It could have an under-display cameraThe Z Fold 3 could join the ZTE Axon 20 5G (above) in having an under-display camera (Image credit: TechRadar)The days of punch-hole selfie cameras are hopefully numbered, with under-display cameras likely to be the next big thing in smartphone camera tech. Already weve seen the likes of the ZTE Axon 20 5G launch with such a snapper, but so far no big names have made the jump.That could change with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 though, as its widely rumored that this will be the first Samsung phone to have an under-display selfie camera.That said, this camera might not be a perfected form of the tech, with a leak suggesting that there might be a visible mosaic pattern on the screen above the lens, and that photo quality might not be up to Samsungs usual standards.Still, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 likely wont be short of conventional cameras either, and a slight mosaic effect is probably better than a cut-out in the screen.2. Stylus support is likelyThe Note is no longer the only range with an S Pen (Image credit: Future)Perhaps the thing weve heard most about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that it may support Samsungs S Pen stylus. This is no real surprise given that the company has already launched the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with stylus support, and is rumored not to be launching a new Galaxy Note this year.So wed say this is very likely, especially given how many different sources have pointed to it. Better yet, one leak suggests that there will be a slot in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 for the S Pen, which is something the S21 Ultra doesnt have – you have to buy a special case or risk losing the stylus.3. It could be a lot cheaperThe Z Fold 3 might undercut the Z Fold 2 (Image credit: AakashJhaveri)The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is sure to be very expensive, theres no way around that. But it might at least be significantly cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was.Thats according to sources speaking to SamMobile, who claim that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could be up to 20% cheaper than its predecessor, meaning it might start from around $1,600 / £1,440 / AU$2,400. Still a lot of money then, but edging slightly closer to the price of a typical top-end smartphone.4. Battery life might disappointDon't expect longer life than the Z Fold 2 (Image credit: Future)One less promising thing weve heard about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that it might have a smaller battery than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. That phone has a 4,500mAh battery, which already isnt especially big for a foldable phone, but according to one source the Z Fold 3 will have a 4,380mAh battery, while another leak suggests it could be even smaller at 4,275mAh.That might not mean the life is terrible. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 managed all-day life in our tests, and the Z Fold 3 might have slightly smaller screens and a more efficient chipset, so a lower capacity could go further.Still, its not promising, and nor is the charging speed, which is rumored to be 25W – thats not slow, but its well below what many premium phones now offer.5. It might resist waterSamsung's next foldable might be more durable (Image credit: Future)One small but potentially very important upgrade thats been rumored is water resistance, with sources claiming that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will have an IP rating.IP ratings are applied to products which have some amount of water and dust resistance, though exactly what rating and how much resistance the Z Fold 3 might have is unclear.Still, any amount would be an upgrade on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, and would also be desirable, since this is sure to be a very expensive phone, so youll want it to be able to survive a splash, spill or bit of rain.

……

Read full article on TechRadar

Technology Smartphone