Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

by Jeremy

Samsung has unveiled the new foldable flagship duo – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G and Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G. This article will compare the Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra and see which may be a better pick for you to upgrade. To help you make the best decision, we have also collected some of the best Z Fold 3 cases and some of the best Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals we could find today. Samsung

At the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung also released the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series and the new generation of wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2. All of the devices are now available for pre-order, and some extra perks are available, not to mention the fantastic trade-in values and other benefits.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra specifications

SpecificationSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 3Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Build
  • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the outer screen and back panel
  • Armor Aluminum frame
  • IPX8 water resistance
  • Aluminum mid-frame
  • Gorilla Glass Victus back
  • Gorilla Glass Victus front
Dimensions & Weight
  • Folded: 67.1 x 158.2 x 16 ~14.4mm
  • Unfolded: 128.1 x 158.2 x 6.4mm
  • 271g
  • 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  • 229 grams
Display
  • External display:
    • 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
    • 2268 x 832; 387 PPI
    • 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
  • Inner display:
    • 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
    • 2208 x 1786; 374 PPI
    • 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
  • 6.8″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X curved display
  • 3200 x 1440 pixels
  • 515ppi
  • 120Hz variable refresh rate
    • 120Hz at QHD+ supported
    • 10-120Hz
  • 20:9 aspect ratio
  • 1500nits peak brightness
  • HDR10+
  • Always-On display
  • Infinity-O display
SoC
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
    • 1x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex X1-based) Prime core @ 2.84GHz
    • 3x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A78-based) Performance cores @ 2.4GHz
    • 4x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz
  •  Adreno 660 GPU
  • International: Exynos 2100:
    • 1x ARM Cortex X1 @ 2.9GHz +
    • 3x ARM Cortex A78 Cores @ 2.8GHz +
    • 4x ARM Cortex A55 Cores @ 2.2GHz
  • USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888:
    • 1x Kryo 680 Prime Core @ 2.84GHz
    • 3x Kryo 680 Performance Cores @ 2.4GHz
    • 4x Kryo 680 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz
RAM & Storage
  • 12GB RAM
  • 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage
  • 12GB LPDDR5 + 128GB
  • 12GB + 256GB
  • 16GB + 512GB
Battery & Charging
  • 4,400mAh dual-cell battery
  • 25W fast charging support
  • 10W wireless charging support
  • 4.5W reverse wireless charging
  • Charger not included
  • 5,000mAh
  • 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging
  • 15W wireless charging
  • 4.5 reverse wireless charging
  • No charger in the box in most regions
Security
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • AI face recognition
  • Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner
Rear Camera(s)
  • Primary: 12MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
  • Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2, 123° FoV
  • Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.4, PDAF, Dual OIS, 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom
  • Primary: 108 MP, wide-angle lens, f/1.8, 79°, 24mm, 1/1.33″, 0.8µm (pre-nona-binning), OIS, PDAF, Laser AF
  • Secondary: 12 MP, ultra-wide-angle lens, f/2.2, 120° FoV, 13mm, 1/2.55″, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel AF
  • Tertiary: 10 MP, telephoto lens, f/2.4, 35°, 72mm, 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom, Dual Pixel AF
  • Quarternary: 10 MP, telephoto lens, f/4.9, 10°, 240mm, 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, OIS, 10x optical zoom, Dual Pixel AF
Front Camera(s)
  • Outer camera: 10MP, f/2.2
  • Inner camera: 4MP, f/1.8, under-display sensor
  • 40MP, f/2.2, 0.7µm, 80° FoV, PDAF
Port(s)USB 3.2 Type-CUSB 3.2 Type-C
Audio
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dolby Atmos
  • Stereo speakers by AKG
  • Dolby Atmos
Connectivity
  • 4X4 MIMO, 7CA, LAA, LTE Cat.20
  • SA/NSA 5G (Sub6/mmWave)
  • Wi-Fi 6E
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • NFC
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • NFC
  • Wi-Fi 6E
  • 5G
SoftwareOne UI based on Android 11Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11
Other Features
  • IPX8
  • S Pen Fold Edition/S Pen Pro support
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Samsung DeX
  • WEB
  • Wacom Stylus and S Pen support (sold separately and stored externally)
  • MST support in some regions
Colors
  • Phantom Black
  • Phantom Green
  • Phantom Silver
  • Phantom Gray
  • Phantom White
  • Samsung.com Exclusive:
    • Phantom Titanium
    • Phantom Navy
    • Phantom Brown

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: design

The design of the two devices is vastly different. One can fold, while the other sits flat and cannot be unfolded. The question is, which of these is the better device for you? If you always wanted a portable tablet, you could technically pick up the Galaxy S21 Ultra and use it as such. After all, it even supports the S Pen and has a massive screen of 6.8 inches. On the other hand, if you always wanted a slightly more portable tablet and an even bigger screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers just that in a compact form factor.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is taller and weighs more than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, although it only measures more by about 50 grams. The external display of the Fold 3 is still very narrow, which can make videos and other content look a little odd at first, and it certainly takes some time to get used to. The S21 Ultra offers the standard smartphone aspect ratio, which we’ve used over the years. When the Z Fold 3 is folded, it can be very thick, measuring 16mm, while the S21 Ultra constantly measures 8.9mm unless you put a case on it. Even then, holding and carrying around all day in your pocket will be much less and far more comfortable. It’s not a significant issue, but you should keep it in mind as you will likely have to change a few habits.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the first device to be IP certified, and its IPX8 certification, meaning that it can withstand splashes of water, so using it in rainy conditions should be fine. If you want more peace of mind and occasionally take your phone to the beach or places with a lot of sand, the Galaxy S21 Ultra offers more protection in every scenario. We must warn you that technology doesn’t match well with water and dust, and you should always avoid it to prevent damaging your expensive gadgets. Accidents do happen, and it’s great to know that both devices offer some form of protection.

Samsung has also announced that a Thom Browne Edition Galaxy Z Fold 3 and S Pen Pro are coming in late September. If that’s something you’re interested in, it’s worth looking out for, as the Galaxy S21 Ultra does not offer that particular edition.

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