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Samsung Unveils Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 Foldable Smartphones

Samsung Unveils Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 Foldable Smartphones

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled two new foldable smartphones with enhanced features at cheaper prices on Wednesday, as the South Korean tech giant seeks to bolster its leading position in the phone market through the integration of the folding category.

The Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3, available for LTE and Fifth Generation (5G) networks, were unveiled at Samsung's "Galaxy Unpacked" online event and They have improved screens, durability and functionality.

Both the Z Fold3 and Z Flip3, equipped with a 5-nanometer application processor, will come with lower prices compared to their predecessors as Samsung looks to popularize the foldable smartphone category.

In the US, the Z Fold3 5G will start at $1,799, $200 less than the starting price of the Z Fold2 5G last year. The Z Flip3 5G's starting price has been set at $999, well below the Z Flip 5G's launch price of $1,449.

The new foldable smartphones will be officially launched on August 27 in select markets.

The third generation of the Z series comes with a waterproof rating of IPX8, a first in the foldable smartphone category. This rating is awarded when a device can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Samsung also applied a new protective film made of stretchable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to the main screen of the new Z-series devices, making them 80 percent more durable than their predecessors.

The phones are built with new Armor Aluminum, the strongest aluminum frame ever used in Galaxy smartphones, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus glass was used for the cover screen and back glass to protect against scratches and drops. accidental.

Samsung believes that the Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 can solidify its top status in the fast-growing foldable smartphone market.

Citing data from market researcher Strategy Analytics, the company expects this year's foldable smartphone market to triple from a year earlier, to 6.5 million units, reaching 117.2 million units in 2025. .

Samsung is already the dominant company in this market. Industry tracker Counterpoint Research recently estimated that Samsung will account for 88 percent of the global foldable smartphone market this year and its market share will remain around 75 percent through 2023.

The company also hopes the latest foldable devices could boost its phone sales amid fierce challenges from Chinese brands and Apple Inc.

Samsung defended its position as the world's top smartphone vendor in the second quarter of the year, but its market share fell to 18 percent from 22 percent the previous quarter, according to Counterpoint Research.

Notably, Samsung was outnumbered by Xiaomi Corp. in June, as its share of smartphone sales fell to 15.7 percent, while the Chinese maker's share rose to 17.1 percent, according to data. Counterpoint Research data.

The Z Fold3 is Samsung's first foldable smartphone to support the S Pen stylus, which was previously only available for the Galaxy Note series.

The S Pen for Z Fold3, which will be sold separately, comes in two options: S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro. Both feature a professional edge solution with force limiting technology to protect the main screen of the phone. The S Pen Pro also works with other pen-compatible devices from Samsung, including the S21 Ultra and the Note series.

The Z Fold3 is also the first Samsung smartphone to have an under-display camera. By placing the pixels on top of the camera hole, Samsung said users can have a seamless viewing experience on the main screen.

On the back, the Z Fold3 has a 12-megapixel (MP) ultra-wide camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 12MP telephoto lens. It also has a 12MP camera on the flip screen.

The Z Fold3 features a 7.6-inch main screen when unfolded, while it has a 6.2-inch cover screen, the same size as the Z Fold2, but this screen now supports an adaptive refresh rate of 120 hertz (Hz). Samsung also applied the new Eco square screen technology that makes its screen 29 percent brighter than its predecessor while consuming less power.

The Z Flip3 features a sleeker design, more color options and a larger cover screen compared to its predecessor.

The foldable device, which closes like a clam, now comes with a 1.9-inch lid display, a big improvement over the previous Z Flip's 1.1-inch display.

The Z Flip3 offers a maximum of seven color options, compared to three for the Z Flip, and Samsung is also introducing ring grips and strap cases for consumers who want to decorate their phones.

The phone has a 10MP camera on the front and a 12MP ultra-wide lens and 12MP wide-angle sensor on the back. Samsung said the Z Flip3 is equipped with its latest camera features, including improved "Flex" mode for hands-free selfies and "Quick Shot" using the cover screen.

When unfolded, the Z Flip3 features a 6.7-inch display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It has a 3,300 milliamp-hour (mAh) battery.

Samsung said that the limited edition Z Fold3 and Z Flip3, for which the company collaborated with US fashion brand Thom Browne, will also be available this time. Pre-sales of the Thom Browne Edition will begin this Wednesday in select markets.

adrian@yna.co.kr

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