The Galaxy Z Flip 3, one of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones, offers a foldable display that folds in like a clamshell, similar to the flip phones of the past.
Unlike Samsung’s other foldable smartphones, the Z Flip 3 costs far less, offers top-of-the-line specs and features a great-feeling glass display. However, during my brief time with the foldable device, I also noted that its battery life isn’t great.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve put the smartphone through its paces by using it as my day-to-day device, including playing mobile games, taking photos and just flipping it shut whenever I’m bored (this is a lot of fun, trust me).
I want to make one thing clear though — while Z Flip 3 likely isn’t for everyone, it’s by far the most accessible foldable on the Canadian market.
Right off the top, I’ll say that while the book-style folding method is more useful, the Z Flip 3’s flip folding does offer several benefits.
For instance, being able to flick your phone shut is endlessly fun, and using the Flip 3’s 1.9-inch cover screen is more useful than I expected. I also like that I can see previews of my notifications, quickly pause music or skip songs, and take pictures, all from its easily accessible front display.
This front screen is far improved compared to the predecessor’s 1.1-inch Cover Screen, which I typically avoided using because it was too small.
Look at my flip phone
Dimensions-wise, the Z Flip 3 is slightly shorter, smaller and thinner than the Z Flip 5G, but the device weighs the same.
Interestingly, when I first got my hands on the Z Flip 3, I assumed it was substantially smaller and lighter than its predecessor, but evidently, that’s not the case. The Z Flip 3 and Z Flip 5G are actually a lot closer in size and the millimetre difference is negligible.
Compared to the Z Flip 5G, the Z Flip 3 features a glossy front and rear, which I found makes it feel decidedly less premium. Last year’s model offered a matte finish that prevents unsightly fingerprints; the new glossy front and back is a fingerprint magnet and not a design choice most flagship smartphones go with anymore.
On top of that, Samsung added what it calls an ‘Armor Aluminum’ frame to the foldable device. On my ‘Cream’ Z Flip 3, the frame is an off-silver colour, and you can see it prominently around the handset and the device’s hinge. Samsung says this feature aims to make the smartphone’s folding mechanism stronger and more durable, but to me, it makes it look cheaper.
It’s worth noting this could be pretty subjective. For example, my co-worker Bradley Bennett disagrees with me and feels that the Z Flip 3 looks decidedly more high-end than the Z Flip 5G.
The crease says it all
Flipping to the front, the Z Flip 3 features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and offers a new protective film made of stretchable plastic that Samsung claims improves the durability of the main screen by 80 percent. It’s important to note that Samsung also told me that this film can’t be removed. With that in mind, I still found the display had a ‘glassier’ feel compared to its predecessor’s rubber-feeling screen.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is IPX8 waterproof, an impressive feat on Samsung’s part given the phone’s display is foldable. While outside in the rain the other day, I slid the Z Flip out of my pocket to text a friend and didn’t have to worry about damaging the handset, which is something I’d never consider doing with the Z Fold 2 or Z Flip 5G.
“Yes, the crease is still present and very visible, and eventually, you do get used to it.”
While we’re on the display, the Z Flip 3 features a 6.7-inch main panel with a Dynamic Foldable 2X 1080 x 2640 pixel resolution screen and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. During my time with the phone, I always ran the Z Flip 3’s display with adaptive 120Hz turned on. The feature can scale down the device’s refresh rate to 11Hz when doing something static, like texting or reading, or push it to 120Hz while scrolling or gaming.
The viewing experience on the device is great, and I enjoy watching YouTube and Netflix videos on the Z Flip 3. While its screen doesn’t offer the highest resolution out there, it’s definitely good enough for most people. It’s also worth mentioning that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 features a longer display, and when you fully expand videos on YouTube, the stretched crop looks very odd.
Just because the Z Flip 3 feels more like a regular smartphone, it doesn’t mean Samsung managed to get rid of its display crease.
Yes, the crease is still present and very visible, but eventually, you do get used to it. Every once in a while, though, you’ll slide your finger across the middle of the handset and feel the crease, reminding you that it’s there.
On the front, the Z Flip 3 features an ‘Infinity-O’ selfie shooter placed in the top centre of the device, along with small bezels running around the display that feel somewhat “mid-range.”
Flipping the phone to the rear, there’s the already mentioned glossy Gorilla Glass Victus and a black top, giving the Flip 3 a dual-tone look. This is also where the two 12-megapixel cameras and a dual-LED flash are located. Finally, the smartphone features a volume rocker and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner on the right side.
On the inside
The Z Flip 3 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The smartphone feels quick and the processor does a good job of keeping up with what I need it to do. This includes taking several pictures, using Google Docs to write this review, playing games likeLeague of Legends: Wild Rift, using tons of social networking apps, and more.
“The Z Flip 3 also features a 3,300mAh battery that doesn’t last all day, unfortunately.”
While playing Wild Rift, the handset did get a tad warm, but I wouldn’t say that it got overly hot. Oddly, only the top half of the smartphone gets warm, likely because that’s where the chipset is located.
Like the Z Fold 3, the Flip 3 includes Samsung’s ‘Labs’ feature that automatically forces apps to offer the ‘Flex mode’ panel, a feature meant to leverage the folding screen for unique app experiences, such as putting a video on one half and comments on the other. YouTube does that already, but the Flex mode panel works differently with each app (and often not as well as with YouTube).
On Messages, for example, all the messages go on the top part of the screen and there’s nothing on the bottom half of the handset. After forcing Labs with Messages, I decided not to try it with another app because of how poorly it looked and operated.
The Z Flip 3 also features a 3,300mAh battery that doesn’t last all day, unfortunately. I found that if I used the device consistently starting at 9am, it’ll only make it until roughly 7pm. Checking the phone’s ‘Battery’ settings reveals that I only ever get at most four and a half hours of screen-on time. It’s unfortunate that the battery doesn’t last as long as I’d hoped it would, as it’s probably the Z Flip 3’s most significant issue.
Another negative point I should mention is that the Cover Screen doesn’t let you use your widgets when charging the device.
Finally, the Z Flip 3 features dual speakers on the top and bottom of the smartphone, offering a reasonably loud amount of sound. It won’t replace an actual external Bluetooth speaker (no smartphone really can), but it’s good enough to provide background music when you’re hanging out with friends or roommates.
Using the Sound Meter app, I determined the Z Flip 3’s speakers are louder than the Pixel 5 and S21+ and typically peaked around 75 to 79 decibels. That said, they still sound like smartphone speakers, which means they don’t offer a ton of bass and the sound profile isn’t very full.
No telephoto camera
The Z Flip 3 features two 12-megapixel shooters, a wide-angle and ultra-wide angle, but it lacks a telephoto lens. Some might not like this, but I don’t mind it, although at one point I was trying to take a dope picture of a hawk and using the digital zoom resulted in several not-so-great shots. In some ways, this reminds me of what Google did with the mid-range Pixel 5; still, at a far more expensive $1,259, I expected the Z Flip 3 to feature a telephoto shooter.
Even though the phone doesn’t feature a telephoto lens, it does take impressive shots with the camera hardware it has. The Z Flip 3’s photos are sometimes oversaturated, like most Samsung smartphone cameras, but images are vibrant, detailed, and show a wide range of colours.
For example, you can clearly make out shadows, the sun setting, and the blue of the sky.
Sometimes the Z Flip 3’s image optimizer can make a mess of photos, but for the most part, it doesn’t add much to images save for making colours deeper. The AI-powered ‘Scene Optimizer’ typically results in greener grass or slightly more vivid flowers.
Taking selfies with the Z Flip 3’s front-facing camera is what I’d describe as an okay experience. Similar to most Samsung smartphones, my skin is a little too light in images, and you can’t make out the follicles of hair in my beard. However, when you take selfies with the Z Flip 3’s Cover Screen using the handset’s main 12-megapixel shooters, there’s a wider range of colour and detail, for instance, you can better make out the details in my beard.
If you want to see a camera comparison, take a look at our video below:
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With night shots, I had to hold the phone a bit longer than I did with the Galaxy S21+. Generally, the images are still pretty dark, and I think the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 Pro are better at taking pictures in low-light. That said, the images are decent so long as you’re using the Z Flip 3’s main shooter; the ultra-wide camera is unable to take shots with Night Mode.
The most accessible foldable
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 costs $1,259, making it cheaper than the S21+, S21 Ultra, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, iPhone 12 Pro and only $5 more than the Z Flip 5G.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a flagship smartphone, and while it’s definitely not the most affordable phone on the market, its price tag is comparable to other high-end devices out there.
In fact, you could argue that the Flip 3 is the first foldable smartphone an average person might consider buying. For those looking to get this phone, I’d also consider buying a case. While the foldable handset is pretty sturdy, I’m still concerned about its durability if I happened to drop it. Not to mention how much you’ll be able to fold it over time.
Further other flagships on the market typically offer a telephoto lens, better battery life, and a lot have more RAM, but I wouldn’t say you’re giving up a lot with this foldable device. If you’re okay with that and the ever-noticeable crease, this year’s Z Galaxy Flip 3 is a pretty good flagship smartphone option.
“Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a flagship smartphone, and while it’s definitely not the most affordable phone on the market, its price tag is comparable to other high-end devices out there”
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
