I enjoyed the Surface Duo, but I love the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Galaxy Fold 3 Surface Duo Vs Source: Windows Fundamental

I am admittedly a phoneaholic. During the Windows Phone days, every upgrade felt meaning and palpable. Moving from the HTC 8X to the Lumia 920 to the Lumia 1020 to the Lumia 1520 to the Lumia 950 Forty, information technology was a fun ride. I never really cared much virtually phones or tech in full general until I got on board with Microsoft's Windows eight vision — a platform where all of your content would motion seamlessly betwixt devices, with a single unified design language. Alas, as we all know, 'twas non meant to be.

Like many Windows Phone refugees, I sought the embrace of Android, owing to its increased customizability and its (at least theoretically) more than open up platform. The power to customize the hell out of my Samsung devices has kept me locked to their platform ever since, and the deal has only gotten sweeter in contempo times, owing to beefy back up from Microsoft. The "Your Phone" Windows 10 connection performs incredibly well on the Samsung Milky way line, thanks to total Os integration. It'south easier to swap all the defaults on Android to Microsoft services too, ditching Samsung's launcher for the cleaner Microsoft Launcher, alongside Microsoft Swiftkey, OneDrive for cloud storage, Outlook for e-mail, and then on. Samsung even dabbles with inking support, something I've always enjoyed on Surface.

I've been using Samsung'due south Galaxy Note line for the past few years, equally I institute it most closely mimicked my all-fourth dimension favorite phone, the Lumia 1520. Huge screens, beefy battery life, and powerful cameras, complete with heavy integration with Microsoft's services. I have, however, recently discovered a new love, that will change my telephone habits maybe forever.

I dabbled with the Surface Duo this past summer, and I enjoyed my time with it. Only it wasn't until I picked up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii that I truly cruel in love with foldables.

Why I dear the fold

Samsung Glaaxy Fold 3 Source: Windows Primal

I am in some ways all the same pining for that "1 Windows" vision that Microsoft has sought afterward to mixed success over the years. Information technology'south somewhat ironic and then that since dropping Windows Telephone, we're arguably closer to that vision than ever earlier. Nosotros can play Xbox games on Android using Xbox Game Pass' cloud gaming platform. We have phone calls, SMS, and app streaming on PC thanks to Your Phone. We have the well-nigh full-blown Office on mobile devices, too.

Every bit a chronic multitasker, I take been floored by the usability of Samsung's One UI.

Where some of this vision falls autonomously historically is in the form factor. Microsoft tried to solve this with Continuum, which permit you connect a Windows ten Mobile device to an HDMI monitor, producing a Windows desktop-like surround. Using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or typing upwardly a Word document on a phone is an absolute hurting, but if you take the screen real estate for it and the right accessories, it was at least passable. The problem has always been that in that location simply wasn't a device — until now — that could truly provide this two-in-1 experience. I'g not the kind of guy who would conduct an external HDMI display around with him simply for Continuum or Samsung DeX's like desktop-like feel. But thank you to the Milky way Z Fold 3, I don't need to.

When folded outwards, the Galaxy Fold 3 is an enormous 7.6 inches across. Held in landscape, information technology truly is like a small laptop display. Disregarding its impressive brightness, colors, and 120Hz refresh rate, it's the size that I love above everything else. Playing games designed for TVs on Xbox Game Pass ofttimes sucked on my insufficiently small Note 20 Ultra. The UI would exist squished, alongside font sizes, making some games simply unplayable. The tablet-similar size on the Galaxy Fold iii eliminates this outcome completely, giving you something closer to a Nintendo Switch-style feel, admitting with a far, far superior display.

Samsung Glaaxy Fold 3 Source: Windows Cardinal

As a chronic multitasker, I have been floored by the usability of Samsung's I UI on the Milky way Fold iii as well. Information technology's a uncomplicated case of dragging and dropping apps where you want them, snapping into identify with Windows 8-similar intuitiveness. You can run up to 3 apps next on this affair, without any discernible deposition in performance. Although yous may find that watching a YouTube video while streaming Xbox Game Pass alongside a web browser may chew through the battery if used with impunity, if I'm traveling for whatever particularly large length of time I'll most probable grab a ability bank anyway. That's not to say the bombardment life is poor, though — it's annihilation but.

Samsung used new techniques to increase the brightness without impacting ability consumption on its Fold three devices, and the departure is very noticeable compared to my Annotation 20 Ultra. I generally use this phone near to the lowest brightness setting while indoors, giving me anywhere up to x hours of non-stop screen time, admitting with 120Hz disabled. I found that an average day of use would net me anywhere upwardly to 18+ hours on a single charge, which approaches Lumia 1520 ability satisfaction.

Is the Galaxy Fold iii for everybody, though? Probably not.

The concerns and shortcomings

Samsung Glaaxy Fold 3 Source: Windows Fundamental

The Galaxy Fold three is non cheap by whatever stretch. If you'd have told my younger self someday nosotros'd be paying over a thousand dollars for a phone I'd have laughed, let alone $1,500 dollars. Luckily, Samsung offers a pretty generous trade-in program, allowing me to shave a sizeable chunk off the request price. Fifty-fifty with that discount, though, my wallet wept a scrap.

I am the blazon of person who is glued to their phone almost all the time. I use my telephone when I wake upward, when I'thousand relaxing in the evening, and before I go to bed. I utilise it while traveling. I apply it even when I'grand at my laptop as a 2nd screen, using apps like spacedesk combined with a desk mount to go some more screen infinite. Slapping Reddit next to Twitter, or Xbox Game Pass next to a messaging app has been incredibly fun to do, and has ultimately changed the mode I eat content. That being said, it's quite apparent that this screen-fond lifestyle isn't for everyone.

You actually, really have to dearest your mobile life to justify the price tag attached to this thing. You're effectively ownership a phone and a tablet in a single package, given the external and internal displays. I suspect for nearly people, needing a device that can do both at once isn't really necessary. Even across that, I have reservations about the longevity of this product.

Galaxy Fold 3 Surface Duo Vs Source: Windows Key

The Fold ane and even the Fold 2 were notorious for carve up screens and cracks, even through regular use. The showtime Fold was particularly hard hit, with screens cracking fifty-fifty before the review embargos had lifted. The Fold 2 and Fold 3 utilize the same Samsung flexible glass composite, even though Samsung claims the telephone is sturdier overall, with new materials across the back and frame.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned that my screen volition eventually flex itself broken.

Considering the most ideal blazon of user for this type of phone is a ability user, I'd exist lying if I said I wasn't concerned that my screen volition eventually flex itself cleaved. I constitute myself wondering things like, "Should I take this to the beach?" on the off chance a grain of sand while on holiday might become into the screen protector and ruin the delicate display. I'm more often than not quite careful with my phones regardless, and have never actually croaky a screen in my life — but that's not to say I never dropped my Lumia devices and Milky way Notes. Quite the opposite. Despite having a case on the Fold three, I feel equally though I'll handle this one with fifty-fifty more than intendance than my previous devices.

Indeed, in some ways, the course factor on its closest direct competitor, the Surface Duo, makes more sense.

What nigh the Surface Duo?

Surface Duo Open Source: Windows Central

I do accept a Surface Duo in my possession and couldn't bring myself to make it my daily driver. I very about did, just the Bluetooth reliability on the Duo ultimately prevented me from doing so. Indeed, as a "power user" of Android, every shortcoming on the Duo, from software glitches to poor antennae betrayed its "power user" form factor and price. I went to the Surface Duo for the innovation, but information technology'due south Samsung Galaxy that has executed and produced a production I can actually apply.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the device the Surface Duo squad should ultimately aspire to shell.

Nevertheless, the question of that flexible glass display really does raise concerns. The Surface Duo has a more conventional glass brandish and is substantially two separate screens continued together, with an incredibly complex hinge mechanism. The swivel eliminates the demand for a contrary display as seen on the Galaxy Fold, since y'all can rotate the Duo 360 degrees. In that location'southward a sublime elegance that the Duo enjoys that the Fold simply does not. But I demand my telephone to be more than simply pretty. The Duo cameras, microphones, software, and other features but aren't up to par, only that may change with the Surface Duo ii.

One affair is certain: The merely types of phones I'one thousand interested in at present are foldables. Correct now, it'south the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 that holds the crown in this arena, but I can easily foresee a future where Surface ends up coming out on top if they can solve those screen-wasting bezels and pervasive software glitches that backbite from the design intent.

The Milky way Z Fold three is a power-user'south dream, for both work and play. And crucially for Microsoft, the Galaxy Z Fold three is the device the Surface Duo squad should ultimately aspire to shell.

Deals

Grab a case to protect your Surface Duo 2 with these options

Looking for a case to protection your shiny, new, and very expensive Surface Duo 2? We've got you covered with a circular up of the best Surface Duo ii cases you can observe. Unfortunately, in that location aren't many (yet) just we'll keep updating this post with new products as nosotros find them!