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”
Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.
The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.
Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.
The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.
Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.
On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.
The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.
More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.
Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:
You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!
Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.
Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.
There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.
Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.
Successful people tend to be secretive.
Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.
Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.
Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.
TORONTO – A new survey says a majority of software engineers and developers feel tight project deadlines can put safety at risk.
Seventy-five per cent of the 1,000 global workers who responded to the survey released Tuesday say pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget could be compromising critical aspects like safety.
The concern is even higher among engineers and developers in North America, with 77 per cent of those surveyed on the continent reporting the urgency of projects could be straining safety.
The study was conducted between July and September by research agency Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX division, which builds connected-car technology.
The results reflect a timeless tug of war engineers and developers grapple with as they balance the need to meet project deadlines with regulations and safety checks that can slow down the process.
Finding that balance is an issue that developers of even the simplest appliances face because of advancements in technology, said John Wall, a senior vice-president at BlackBerry and head of QNX.
“The software is getting more complicated and there is more software whether it’s in a vehicle, robotics, a toaster, you name it… so being able to patch vulnerabilities, to prevent bad actors from doing malicious acts is becoming more and more important,” he said.
The medical, industrial and automotive industries have standardized safety measures and anything they produce undergoes rigorous testing, but that work doesn’t happen overnight. It has to be carried out from the start and then at every step of the development process.
“What makes safety and security difficult is it’s an ongoing thing,” Wall said. “It’s not something where you’ve done it, and you are finished.”
The Waterloo, Ont.-based business found 90 per cent of its survey respondents reported that organizations are prioritizing safety.
However, when asked about why safety may not be a priority for their organization, 46 per cent of those surveyed answered cost pressures and 35 per cent said a lack of resources.
That doesn’t surprise Wall. Delays have become rampant in the development of tech, and in some cases, stand to push back the launch of vehicle lines by two years, he said.
“We have to make sure that people don’t compromise on safety and security to be able to get products out quicker,” he said.
“What we don’t want to see is people cutting corners and creating unsafe situations.”
The survey also took a peek at security breaches, which have hit major companies like London Drugs, Indigo Books & Music, Giant Tiger and Ticketmaster in recent years.
About 40 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they have encountered a security breach in their employer’s operating system. Those breaches resulted in major impacts for 27 per cent of respondents, moderate impacts for 42 per cent and minor impacts for 27 per cent.
“There are vulnerabilities all the time and this is what makes the job very difficult because when you ship the software, presumably the software has no security vulnerabilities, but things get discovered after the fact,” Wall said.
Security issues, he added, have really come to the forefront of the problems developers face, so “really without security, you have no safety.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.
As online shoppers hunt for bargains offered by Amazon during its annual fall sale this week, cybersecurity researchers are warning Canadians to beware of an influx of scammers posing as the tech giant.
In the 30 days leading up to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, there were more than 1,000 newly registered Amazon-related web domains, according to Check Point Software Technologies, a company that offers cybersecurity solutions.
The company said it deemed 88 per cent of those domains malicious or suspicious, suggesting they could have been set up by scammers to prey on vulnerable consumers. One in every 54 newly created Amazon-related domain included the phrase “Amazon Prime.”
“They’re almost indiscernible from the real Amazon domain,” said Robert Falzon, head of engineering at Check Point in Canada.
“With all these domains registered that look so similar, it’s tricking a lot of people. And that’s the whole intent here.”
Falzon said Check Point Research sees an uptick in attempted scams around big online shopping days throughout the year, including Prime Days.
Scams often come in the form of phishing emails, which are deceptive messages that appear to be from a reputable source in attempt to steal sensitive information.
In this case, he said scammers posing as Amazon commonly offer “outrageous” deals that appear to be associated with Prime Days, in order to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link.
The cybersecurity firm said it has identified and blocked 100 unique Amazon Prime-themed scam emails targeting organizations and consumers over the past two weeks.
Scammers also target Prime members with unsolicited calls, claiming urgent account issues and requesting payment information.
“It’s like Christmas for them,” said Falzon.
“People expect there to be significant savings on Prime Day, so they’re not shocked that they see something of significant value. Usually, the old adage applies: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Amazon’s website lists a number of red flags that it recommends customers watch for to identify a potential impersonation scam.
Those include false urgency, requests for personal information, or indications that the sender prefers to complete the purchase outside of the Amazon website or mobile app.
Scammers may also request that customers exclusively pay with gift cards, a claim code or PIN. Any notifications about an order or delivery for an unexpected item should also raise alarm bells, the company says.
“During busy shopping moments, we tend to see a rise in impersonation scams reported by customers,” said Amazon spokeswoman Octavia Roufogalis in a statement.
“We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”
Falzon added that these scams are more successful than people might think.
As of June 30, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said there had been $284 million lost to fraud so far this year, affecting 15,941 victims.
But Falzon said many incidents go unreported, as some Canadians who are targeted do not know how or where to flag a scam, or may choose not to out of embarrassment.
Check Point recommends Amazon customers take precautions while shopping on Prime Days, including by checking URLs carefully, creating strong passwords on their accounts, and avoiding personal information being shared such as their birthday or social security number.
The cybersecurity company said consumers should also look for “https” at the beginning of a website URL, which indicates a secure connection, and use credit cards rather than debit cards for online shopping, which offer better protection and less liability if stolen.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.
