Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Galaxy Z Fold 2: What's the rumoured difference?

Samsung is expected to reveal the Galaxy Z Fold 3 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and a few other devices during Unpacked on 11 August 2021.

Though Samsung itself hasn't confirmed any specifications of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, there have been an abundance of rumours, helping reveal what we can expect from the third generation - or fourth if you count the fixed version of the original - of the device. 

Here is how the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is expected to compare to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, based on the speculation.

Design

• Galaxy Z Fold 2: 159.2 x 128.2 x 6.9 (unfolded), 159.2 x 68.0 x 13.8-16.8 (folded), 282g
• Galaxy Z Fold 3: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4mm (unfolded), 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4mm (folded), 271g

Based on the rumours, and renders, it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 will share similar design traits, but the Z Fold 3 will make a couple of refinements, including a more streamlined rear camera housing.

The vertically-folding, bookstyle design is set to continue for the Z Fold 3 with a large display on the front, unfolding to a larger internal display, though there has been some talk of the Z Fold 3 adding IPX8 waterproofing, as well as a tougher frame.

Other reports have also suggested the Galaxy Z Fold 3 may offer an under-display front camera on the main display, which would see a more seamless design than the Galaxy Z Fold 2's centralised punch hole camera. 

Display

• Galaxy Z Fold 2: 6.23-inch cover display, 7.6-inch main display, 120Hz, HDR10+
• Galaxy Z Fold 3: 6.23-inch cover display, 7.56-inch LTPO main display, 120Hz, HDR10+, S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes with a 6.23-inch external display on the front, that offers a resolution of 2260 x 816, and a 7.6-inch display when unfolded that has a resolution of 2208 x 1768 pixels. 

The foldable dynamic AMOLED display has HDR10+ certification and it offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display on the outside of the device is AMOLED, but it has a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is rumoured to be coming with a 6.23-inch screen on the outside, offering a 2268 x 832 pixel resolution, while the inside display is claimed to be 7.56-inches with a resolution of 2208 x 1768 pixels, making it the same as its predecessor. A 120Hz refresh rate is claimed for both displays this time round, and HDR10+ support is expected on at least the main display, said to be a LTPO display.

Where the two devices might differ however is the top of the main display. As mentioned, some rumours have suggested the main folding display might have an under-display camera compared to the punch hole camera on the Z Fold 2. There is still expected to be a punch hole camera on the front display of the Z Fold 3, like the Z Fold 2.

The Z Fold 3 will offer support for the S Pen, like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, though Samsung has said it has designed an S Pen specifically for foldables. 

Hardware and specs

• Galaxy Z Fold 2: Snapdragon 865, 12GB RAM, 256/512GB storage, 4500mAh
• Galaxy Z Fold 3: Snapdragon 888, 12GB RAM, 256/512GB storage, 4400mAh

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 platform, with 12GB of RAM and a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage. 

The device is 5G capable and there's a 4500mAh battery under the hood, which supports 25W fast charging, 11W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

Rumours have claimed the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, supported again by 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage.

It is expected that the Z Fold 3 will be 5G capable again, though rumours have claimed the battery capacity will be a bit smaller than its predecessor. It's said it could be 4380mAh or 4400mAh. We'd expect support for fast charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging though. 

Cameras

• Galaxy Z Fold 2: Triple rear (12MP+12MP+12MP), two 10MP front
• Galaxy Z Fold 3: Triple rear (12MP+12MP+12MP), 10MP front, 4MP or 16MP UPC

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a triple camera on the rear, made up of a 12-megapixel (f/1.8) main camera, 12-megapixel telephoto sensor (f/2.4), and 12-megapixel (f/2.2) ultra-wide camera. 

On the front, there is a 10-megapixel punch hole front camera, and a 10-megapixel punch hole camera sits at the top of the main display too.

According to rumours, the Z Fold 3 will come with a triple rear camera made up of 12-megapixel main camera (f/1.8), 12-megapixel telephoto sensor (f/2.4), and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera (f/2.2) too. There are claims Samsung will offer Phase Detection Autofocus on all three lenses however, meaning we should get fast, accurate focusing.

There's said to be a single 10-megapixel punch hole front camera on the cover display, along with a 16-megapixel or 4-megapixel under-display camera on the main display, the latter of which would make up the main difference between the Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3.

Conclusion

Based on the speculation, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will offer some design refinements compared to its predecessor, largely in terms of the camera housing on the rear but also in terms of waterproofing.

It should also offer a hardware upgrade in terms of processor, some camera improvements to the rear cameras, as well as possibly the addition of an under-display camera on the main display. 

Battery capacity could reduce compared to the Z Fold 2 and the display specifications appear to be remaining the same, except for the idea that the Z Fold 3 will support the S Pen.

For now, nothing is official, but you can follow all the Z Fold 3 rumours in depth in our separate rumour round up.

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