Samsung's third-generation Galaxy Z Fold opens up to nearly the same size as an iPad mini 5 but, since it's also a smartphone, an Apple owner would also need an iPhone 12 to compete with what a $1,800 Z Fold 3 can do. This perspective might help justify the seemingly high price of Samsung's foldable although it does really depend on how well each product fills the needs of the user and that will vary from person to person.
Samsung is the leading folding phone manufacturer, having demonstrated its commitment to flexible display technology by tenaciously pushing through the difficulties of its first-generation Galaxy Fold, to launch a better Z Fold 2 and following up this year with even more improvements. The latest Galaxy Z Fold 3 has an IPX8 rating for water resistance and Samsung claims its screen is 80-percent more durable overall. The company also added compatibility with the iconic Samsung S Pen, making for a better comparison with an iPad.
Samsung isn't pitching its Galaxy Z Fold 3 as a tablet but it can certainly fill that need since it unfolds to reveal a 7.6-inch display, allowing plenty of room for split-screen multitasking, video conference calls, and drawing. Considering the optional S Pen Pro or S Pen Fold Edition are compatible, artists have a better way to express themselves and those that prefer jotting down notes rather than typing or swiping will feel at home with a nice stylus. This experience is quite similar to that of using an iPad mini, its 7.9-inch display and an Apple Pencil. Since Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 can collapse to fit in a pocket, an Apple owner would also need an iPhone to make a fair comparison.
Are Two Devices Better Than One?
Apple users require two devices to fill the need met by Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the combined pricing is surprisingly close. The 6.1 inch iPhone 12 starts at $799 but to match the Galaxy Z Fold 3's base storage option of 256 gigabytes the price rises to $979 without a carrier plan. A fifth-generation iPad mini costs as little as $399 but jumps to $679 when adding 256 gigabytes and LTE. These configurations align well with what Samsung's top foldable phone offers and the total price of $1,658 is only $142 less than the cost of the $1,800 Z Fold 3. If a stylus is needed, the Apple Pencil and S Pen Pro are each about $100. Apple's iPhone 12 and iPad mini 5 each fill their own niche better than the Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3, but for some people, the portability and ability to switch form factors at a moment's notice will be worth the trade-off, particularly for those more familiar with Android.
The specifications are where Apple wins in this comparison, however. When using as a phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has the unfortunate burden of weighing over 60-percent more than the iPhone 12 and is roughly twice as thick. Samsung did an amazing job by including a 120Hz refresh rate, pushing its display quality a bit further than Apple has, but the iPhone's Ceramic Shield screen is dramatically more durable than the Z Fold 3's plastic screen. Even though folding durability has been improved, Samsung's screen will still be easier to scratch. When it comes to chip speed, Apple's A14 outperforms the Snapdragon 888 but when comparing tablet usage, Samsung outclasses the iPad mini 5's aging A12 chip. Apple's App Store has a large number of tablet-specific apps, a situation that's still uncommon on Android. While some apps are being designed specifically for the Z Fold layout, not all will make the best use of its larger screen.
In the end, technology made for a specific purpose will usually handle that need better than a multipurpose device. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a remarkable achievement in flexible screen technology but it won't replace an iPhone and an iPad.
Source: Samsung