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The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 are finally here. The new Samsung foldable phones were announced at the company's Unpacked event yesterday. We already know about the new phones' cameras, design, and specs. But you might be wondering, are the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 finally bringing waterproofing to foldable phones? Here is what we know on the matter.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 waterproof?
Good news, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 comes with an IP water resistance rating! The new foldable phone has an IPX8 water resistance rating, which means that the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 should be able to withstand continuous immersion underwater of 5 feet(1.54m) for 30 minutes. This makes the new foldable phone the first water resistant device of its kind.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 in the wild
But there is some bad news as well. There is no dust resistance rating whatsoever for the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung states that the Z Fold 3 is not dust resistant and it shouldn't be used at the pool or at the beach. It looks like Samsung is still unable to seal its foldable phone’s hinge well enough to be certified with an official rating , which is a bit weird considering it is so water resistant. This can be simply explained by the fact that dust and water are two vastly different things that need different solutions in order for them to stay away from the components of such a complex phone.
But even so, the fact that its foldable tech has achieved water resistance on par with non-foldable smartphones in such a short time is promising. Maybe the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will finally get a dust resistance rating once and for all.
For context, the first two generations of the Galaxy Fold were impressive in many areas. These devices were developed to be groundbreaking, show the new path for smartphones, and in the end, they delivered. While we admit that the first Samsung Galaxy Fold was full of reliability issues, these were quickly addressed. The company did not make this mistake again with its first foldable phone's successor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2. This device was much more polished, well thought out, and of course, it sold more.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in a promotional image
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 waterproof?
The simple answer is yes, not waterproof, but water resistant. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 actually has the same water resistance rating as its bigger folding sibling. The Z Flip 3 comes with an IPX8 rating, allowing it to be submerged 5 feet(1.54m) underwater for 30 minutes.
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This similarity is not surprising, as even if the two phone concepts are different, they still share the same folding technology. Just like with the Galaxy Fold series, the Galaxy Z Flip phones were never water or dust-resistant.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 finally features water resistance
Unfortunately, the similarities between the two continue, as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 lacks a dust resistance rating too. This further confirms that the complicated hinge folding the screen is still not sophisticated enough to keep the dust fully out. It is logical for Samsung to make the smaller folding phone dust resistant first because it will be easier, as its hinge is a lot smaller, which means there are smaller gaps where the dust can get through. But the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s lack of such resistance means that foldable phones are once again more prone to breaking than others, which is a bummer. Still, if you keep good care of your foldable device, you probably won't have any reliability issues. Samsung advises owners to not use the Z Flip 3 at the pool or at the beach, which like we mentioned also goes for its bigger foldable brother.
Preorder the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 now at Samsung.com
Iskren, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been passionate about technology since his childhood, sparked by his early experiences with phones like the Ericsson T28 and Sony Ericsson P910i. After earning a bachelor's degree in Media and Journalism, he turned his fascination with smartphones into a career, with a particular interest in Apple and Motorola. Outside of his tech pursuits, Iskren enjoys watching TV series, movies, driving, and has a deep passion for cars and Formula 1. He looks forward to the future of mobile tech, particularly the potential of rollable smartphones.
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