Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 (2021): Foldable Family Guide

Samsung Galaxy model archive · 2021

The 2021 foldables put the Fold and Flip names on a shared generation number. Fold3 pursued a larger working screen with pen support, while Flip3 focused on a compact closed shape and a more useful cover display.

Official Samsung product image. Image source: Samsung.

Introduced 11 August 2021. Filed under the original announcement date. This retrospective was prepared in November 2026; shop availability may have followed later.

Generation at a glance

7.6-inch inner display on Fold3
S Pen support on Fold3 with compatible pens
120Hz displays in the launch feature set
IPX8 water-resistance rating

Two folding directions, two different jobs

A book-style Fold and a clamshell Flip should not be treated as competing screen sizes of the same phone. Fold3 opens into a workspace for reading, notes and more than one app. Flip3 closes a conventional phone-sized display into a smaller shape. The useful test is to describe your own day: if you rarely need two apps side by side, the Flip’s carrying benefits may matter more than the Fold’s extra open-screen area.

Which version is which?

Fold3 and Flip3 were announced together in August 2021. Fold3’s pen support requires an appropriate S Pen Fold Edition or S Pen Pro; it is not permission to use any sharp stylus on the screen. Flip3 is not a pen-input counterpart. The IPX8 rating is a water-resistance specification and should not be read as a dust-proof guarantee.

Looking at one today

Inspect the inner screen and hinge on either model and check the cover display separately. If pen input matters, test it using a compatible pen and gentle normal pressure. Ask about screen-layer replacement and repair history. Water resistance can be affected by wear or repairs, so do not use a used foldable’s original rating as a reason to expose it to liquid during inspection.

Before choosing an older phone, check the exact model on Samsung’s current security-update list and confirm local network compatibility.