Category Archives: Mobile Devices Reviews, Articles & News

This section is where you will find everything on mobile devices – smartphones, tablets, phablets! We will share with you our reviews, articles and the latest news on these mobile devices.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Performance Examined!

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Take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone’s performance, and find out why this beauty is hiding a gaming beast inside!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Flagship Class Performance!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a very slim smartphone that folds to fit even the smallest pockets.

Yet it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world, with high-performance CPU + GPU cores :

a boosted Kryo 680 Prime core running at 2.84 GHz,
three high-performance Kryo 680 Gold cores running at 2.42 GHz,
four high-efficiency Kryo 680 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz, and
an Adreno 660 GPU running at 792 MHz

This actually makes it a great gaming smartphone and one that is slim and stylish, and does not feel like a brick!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0	Galaxy Z Flip 3	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Note20 Ultra	Galaxy A52	Redmi 9T
Mobile Platform	SD 888	Exynos 2100	Exynos 990	SD 750G	SD 662
Performance Score	13317	12535	10523	7874	5986
Web Browsing	11637	10185	8865	7021	5844
Video Editing	7762	6336	6232	5693	3423
Writing	15316	15247	11112	7454	6657
Photo Editing	25357	37847	30789	15812	12031
Data Manipulation	11938	8310	6825	6424	4799

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 lets the Galaxy Z Flip 3 easily handle anything you throw at it, whether it’s just posting your latest Instagram pictures or editing a 4K video.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark	Galaxy Z Flip 3	Note20 Ultra	Galaxy Note10+
Device	SD 888	Exynos 990	Exynos 9825
Sling Shot Unlimited	9248	8026	3327
Wild Life Unlimited	3952	4504	3288
Wild Life Extreme Unlimited	1174	1387	528

Look at that – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 packs a serious punch when it comes to gaming.

It may seem unbelievable because the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is so slim and stylish, but it will easily handle any game you throw at it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

The only problem is that because it’s so thin – it can get real toasty when you game on it. The back of the chassis can get as warm as 42°C.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu	Galaxy Z Flip 3	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Note20 Ultra	Galaxy A52	Redmi 9T
Device	SD 888	Exynos 2100	Exynos 990	SD 750G	SD 662
AnTuTu Score	696767	624411	522735	341908	173559
CPU	206228	166290	146783	105098	64505
GPU	242573	258995	215205	88068	31734
Memory	133586	120805	89376	60642	40377
UX	114380	78321	71371	88100	36943

The AnTuTu benchmark confirms that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a beast of a performer, beating even the very fast Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Performance Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 doesn’t look like your typical flagship smartphone. It’s larger than normal but looks extraordinarily slim. So you may be forgiven if you thought Samsung gave it a mid-range processor to keep it cool.

This is a flagship smartphone, and it comes with the industry-leading Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile SoC, offering top-notch performance.

So you can count on it to easily handle anything and everything you throw at it, as the benchmark results above amply demonstrates.

The only problems with fitting such a powerful SoC into such a thin and light form factor? Heat and battery life, but that’s another story for another time!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available for purchase from 27 August 2021 onwards, with a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, you can buy one with these freebies :

RM350 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In Singapore, you can buy one with these freebies :

Free Wireless Charger Duo and Clear Cover with Ring
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
Free 6 months of SiriusXM Streaming
Free 3 months of Spotify Premium

In the United Kingdom, you will get this freebie + offer when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
5% cash back on Samsung.com purchases using Samsung Pay+

In Australia, you will get these offers when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Bonus $300 when you trade-in an eligible device
50% off Samsung Care+

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!

Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!

They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…

Comfortable Fit

Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.

They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!

Super Strong Bass

Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!

You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.

It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!

And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.

Microphone Noise Cancellation

Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.

Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.

The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud. This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.

Multipoint Connection

Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.

If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.

Ultra-Low Latency

Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.

The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!

Battery Life

Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.

With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications	TWS 2 ANC	TWS 2e
Design	In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating	IP54
Speaker Unit	12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range	20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	No
Microphones	3	2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation	Yes, 3-Mic	Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2 Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency	88 ms (min.)	117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec	aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC	AAC / SBC
Wear Detection	Two capacitive sensors	None
Google Fast Pair	Yes
Controls	Pressure + Touch	None
Battery	45 mAh (each earbud) 505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation Off)	7.3 Hours	7.6 Hours
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation On)	4.1 Hours	–
Charging Time	60 minutes (earbuds) 110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port	USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions	23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions	60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight	41.9 g

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.

But it only costs RM68, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM369 – approximately US$88 / £65 / A$121 / S$119.

But it only costs RM98, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the X70 Pro and X70 smartphones featuring ZEISS optics and a unique gimbal camera!

Find out if the new vivo X70 gimbal smartphones are what you have been waiting for!

vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!

vivo just launched their X70 series of professional photography flagship smartphones, with two models – the X70 and the X70 Pro.

Both models come with ZEISS optics for their cameras, and a unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, to allow users to capture the best possible photos and videos, even in the most challenging conditions.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo X70 series smartphones…

Large AMOLED Display

Both the vivo X70 and X70 Pro come with a large 6.56-inch AMOLED display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels.

They both support a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 240 Hz response rate, as well as HDR10+ support and Hi-Rest certification.

There is a subtle difference between the two models though – the vivo X70 display has a 2.5D edge, while the Pro version has a 3D curved edge.

Performance

Both models are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 – a 5G mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, with eight processor cores that consists of :

a high-performance A78 core running at 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance cores running at 2.6 GHz, and
four high-efficiency A55 cores running at 2 GHz.

In addition to its 8 processor cores, it has a 9-core Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, and a 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0 AI processor.

RAM + Storage

The vivo V70 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, while the Pro version comes with a whopping 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

Even though they both come with a lot of memory, they support Extended RAM 2.0 – giving them additional 4 GB of memory on call!

There is no option to upgrade storage through a microSD card, but they both come with more than enough storage for most users, and most importantly – it’s super fast UFS 3.1 flash storage!

Cameras Co-Engineered With ZEISS

Both models have a high-resolution 32 MP front camera, with a triple camera system for the X70 and a quad camera system for the X70 Pro.

Both camera systems were co-engineered with ZEISS and feature lenses with ZEISS T* coating to reduce unwanted light flares, ghosting, stray light and other image artifacts.

The pièce de résistance of both models is the unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, which is coupled with the Gimbal Stabilisation 3.0 technology, to let you capture steady images and video even in the most challenging conditions.

They also support VIS 5-Axis Ultra Stable Video technology, which integrates enhanced optical image stabilisation (OIS) with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) to aggressively stabilise the X/Y-axis as well as Z-axis rotation for silky-smooth video.

Rounding that up is a slew of AI-enhanced photography and videography technologies, like Real-Time Extreme Night Vision, Super Night Video, Pure Night View, Pro Cinematic Mode and more.

Battery + Charging

The vivo X70 Pro and X70 come with large batteries – 4,450 mAh and 4,400 mAh capacities respectively, for a long battery life.

On top of that, they both come with a USB charger in-the-box, which supports 44W FlashCharge for extremely fast charging.

vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications	X70 Pro	X70
Display	6.56-inch AMOLED – 1080 x 2376 pixels resolution – 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz response rate – HDR10+, Hi-Res
Platform	MediaTek Dimensity 1200 – 1 x Arm Cortex-A78 core @ 3 GHz – 3 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores @ 2.6 GHz – 4 x Arm Cortex-A55 @ 2 GHz – Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU – 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0
Operating System	Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Memory	12 GB LPDDR4X	8 GB LPDDR4X
Extended RAM	4 GB
Storage	256 GB, UFS 3.1	128 GB, UFS 2.1
Front Camera	32 MP, f/2.45
Rear Cameras	50 MP, f/1.75 12 MP, f/1.98 12 MP, f/2.2 8 MP, f/3.4	40 MP, f/1.75 12 MP f/1.89 12 MP, f/2.2
Connectivity	WiFi : Up to Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth : BT 5.2 USB : USB 2.0 Type C
GPS	GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, QZSS, A-GPS
OTG	Yes
NFC	Yes
Fingerprint Sensor	In-Display
Other Sensors	Accelerometer, Colour Temperature, Ambient Light, Proximity, E-compass, Gyroscope
Linear Motor	Yes
IR Emitter	Yes
Battery	4450 mAh battery	4400 mAh battery
Charging	44 watt FlashCharge
Dimensions	73.21 mm wide 158.3 mm tall 7.99-8.08 mm thick	75.39 mm wide 160.1 mm tall 7.55 mm thick
Weight	183-184 g	181-182 g

vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo X70 is priced at RM2,499 – approximately US$598 / £437 / A$822 / S$806.

Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :

Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth speaker + car charger + 1-month Viu subscription

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM3,299 – approximately US$789 / £577 / A$1,085 / S$1,064.

Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :

Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth sound bar + 1-month Viu subscription

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

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You can now pre-order or buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable smartphone!

Find out how much it costs globally, and where to pick one up!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : What Are The Colour Options?

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in three colour options (from left to right) : Phantom Green, Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a starting price of US$1,799 – about £1,299 / A$2,449 / S$2,439 / RM 7,619.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

RM850 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Fold 3 :

50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
Free 6 months of SiriusXM Streaming
Free 3 months of Spotify Premium

In the United Kingdom, you will get this freebie + offer when you buy a Galaxy Z Fold 3 :

Free Flip Case + S Pen + 25W Super Fast Charger
Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
5% cash back on Samsung.com purchases using Samsung Pay+

In Australia, you will get these offers when you buy a Galaxy Z Fold 3 :

Bonus $500 when you trade-in an eligible device
50% off Samsung Care+

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 boasts a large 7.6-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1768 x 2208 pixels.

In the front, it has a 6.2-inch Cover Display with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

In addition to the Gorilla Glass Victus protection for the Cover Display, its rear triple camera system is protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

Its main display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. The display is now verified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, with 12 GB of memory, and either 256 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage.

There are two stylus options for the Z Fold 3 – the S Pen Fold Edition, and the S Pen Pro. They both feature a specially-engineered retractable Pro tip, with force limit technology to protect the foldable display.

Complementing its massive display are dual speakers tuned by AKG, but there is no 3.5 mm audio jack, in case you are wondering.

Just above its cover display, is a 10 MP camera, which you can use without unfolding the phone. When unfolded, you can use the 4 MP front camera, which is hidden under the display for a seamless look.

At the back, it has a triple camera system, that consists of :

12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP telephone camera, with 2X zoom and f/2.4 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

Powering all that is a large 4,400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, and it supports 25 watt fast charging, and 11 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

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You can now pre-order or buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3!

Find out how much it costs globally, and where to pick one up!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : What Are The Colour Options?

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, Cream, Lavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung is also directly offering three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : How Much + Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

RM600 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In Singapore, you can pre-order one with these freebies :

Free Wireless Charger Duo and Clear Cover with Ring
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
Free 6 months of SiriusXM Streaming
Free 3 months of Spotify Premium

In the United Kingdom, you will get this freebie + offer when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
5% cash back on Samsung.com purchases using Samsung Pay+

In Australia, you will get these offers when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Bonus $300 when you trade-in an eligible device
50% off Samsung Care+

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.

Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. The foldable display is now verified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

Its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, with 8 GB of memory, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage.

Its redesigned Cover Screen is now 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.

You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the new Cover Screen widgets. You can even coordinate its wallpaper with the new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic!

In the front, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, in the front.

And at the back, it has a dual-camera system :

12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

Powering all that is a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 15 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : My First Impressions!

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Here are my first impressions of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone!

Find out if this is the foldable smartphone for you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Unboxing + Contents!

The new Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s third-generation Flip device, featuring not only a large foldable 6.7-inch display, but also IPX8 water resistance!

As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in a premium two-tone black-grey box.

Once you fully unbox it, you should find these items inside :

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphone
Quick Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C data and power cable
SIM tray ejection pin

Unfortunately, it does not come with a fast charger in-the-box, or an USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!

6.7-inch Foldable Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display.

The foldable display lets you partially unfold at any angle, and is now certified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!

1.9-inch Cover Display

In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.

This redesigned Cover Screen is 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.

The Cover Display also serves as a camera preview display, letting you use both rear cameras for superior selfies!

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.

Our review sample came with 8 GB of memory, and 128 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. It is also available with 256 GB of storage.

It only supports a single SIM card, with no microSD card tray. There is no option to increase storage, but generally 128 GB of storage is more than enough for most people.

Protection

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.

In addition, its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

Front Camera

Samsung flagship smartphones are notable for featuring cutting-edge cameras, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 stayed with the last generation cameras.

In front, it uses a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. To be clear, this is an excellent camera. It’s just not new.

Dual Cameras At The Back

In the back, it has a dual-camera system, which consists of :

a 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture

These cameras are offer great image quality, even in low-light conditions – thanks to their large apertures.

And as I pointed out earlier, the Cover Display lets you use these cameras for really excellent selfies.

Buttons

The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.

Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Cover Display for preview and control.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity.

It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Battery + Charging

This is a pretty small battery, and rather slow charging speeds. I’m currently testing its battery life and will share with you the results shortly.

Unfortunately, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, so buy a new one.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Specifications

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Model	SM-F711B
Main Display	6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel 1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi 120 Hz refresh rate 900 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Cover Display	1.9-inch Super AMOLED display 260 x 512 pixels, 302 ppi 935 nits (HBM)
Protection	IPX8 Water Resistance No Dust Resistance
OS	Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (SM8350)
CPU	1 x Kryo 680 Prime core (2.84 GHz ) 3 x Kryo 680 Gold cores (2.42 GHz) 4 x Kryo 680 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU	Qualcomm Adreno 660
Memory	8 GB
Storage	128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera	10 MP camera (f/2.4)
Main Cameras	12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio	Stereo speakers tuned by AKG Surround sound with Dolby Atmos UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity	Network : 5G / 4G / 3G Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e Bluetooth : BT 5.2 USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors	Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC	Yes
Battery	3,300 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging	Wired : 15 watt Wireless : 10 watt Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded Dimensions	72.2 mm wide 86.4 mm tall 15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded Dimensions	72.2 mm wide 166.0 mm tall 6.9 mm thick
Weight	183 grams

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, Cream, Lavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung also directly offers three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available for purchase from 27 August 2021 onwards, with a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, you can pre-order one from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

RM600 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In Singapore, you can pre-order one with these freebies :

Free Wireless Charger Duo and Clear Cover with Ring
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

In the United States, you will get these offers or freebies when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

50% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
Free 6 months of SiriusXM Streaming
Free 3 months of Spotify Premium

In the United Kingdom, you will get this freebie + offer when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Free 4 months of YouTube Premium
5% cash back on Samsung.com purchases using Samsung Pay+

In Australia, you will get these offers when you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 3 :

Bonus $300 when you trade-in an eligible device
50% off Samsung Care+

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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vivo V1 Custom Imaging Chip : What You Need To Know!

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vivo just unveiled their first self-designed V1 custom imaging chip, and here is what you need to know!

vivo V1 Custom Imaging Chip : Launched In Shenzhen!

On 2 September 2021, vivo unveiled their first self-designed V1 custom imaging chip, at a press event in Shenzhen, China.

The V1 Imaging Chip was developed by over 300 vivo engineers and imaging experts over 2 years, as part of vivo’s four strategic tracks on imaging technology :

imaging system
operating system
industrial design
performance

vivo V1 Custom Imaging Chip : What You Need To Know!

According to Hu Baishan, vivo Executive Vice-President and COO, the V1 is a fully-customised integrated circuit chip that is designed to deliver leading-edge visual quality for both imaging and video applications.

The vivo V1 imaging chip will be used to optimise smartphone application scenarios like “viewfinder look and video recording“, according to Hu.

In these two leaked pictures, you can see how several vivo V1 chips sitting in their trays.

From what we understand, the vivo V1 custom imaging chip will first appear in the upcoming vivo X70 series of flagship smartphones.

Using a custom ISP (image signal processor) chip will allow vivo to offer faster processing and better image quality than what’s readily available through the integrated ISP offered by mobile SoCs.

vivo has already offered a sneak peek at how they will use their new custom imaging chip – paired with ZEISS Vario-Tessar lens in their X70 series smartphones!

Do let us know what you think!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Price + Pre-Order Deal In Malaysia!

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You can soon pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic in Malaysia!

Find out how much they will cost in Malaysia, and what their pre-order deals are like!

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Price + Pre-Order Deal In Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has a starting price of US$249 – about £181 / A$342 / S$338 / RM 1,055.

Here in Malaysia, Samsung will offer two variants of Galaxy Watch 4 for pre-order, with this freebie :

44 mm (Bluetooth) : RM999 (free RM 150 Samsung e-voucher)
40 mm (Bluetooth) : RM899 (free RM 150 Samsung e-voucher)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a starting price of US$349 – about £253 / A$475 / S$474 / RM 1,478.

Here in Malaysia, Samsung will offer two variants of Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for pre-order, with this freebie :

46 mm (Bluetooth) : RM1,399 (free RM 250 Samsung e-voucher)
42 mm (Bluetooth) : RM1,299 (free RM 250 Samsung e-voucher)

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Size + Colour Options In Malaysia

Samsung will offer the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic in two size options each, with different colour options :

40 mm Watch 4 : Black, Pink Gold, Silver
44 mm Watch 4 : Black, Green, Silver
42 mm Watch 4 Classic : Black, Silver
46 mm Watch 4 Classic : Black, Silver

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Everything You Need To Know!

On 11 August 2021, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, and here is everything you need to know!

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first smartwatches to feature the new Samsung Wear OS, built jointly with Google and featuring One UI Watch – Samsung’s most intuitive user interface.

Both smartwatches are built around the Exynos W920 – a 5 nm dual-core mobile SoC with 20% faster CPU performance and a GPU 10X faster than the last generation.

Samsung also increased the resolution of the display, up to 450 x 450 pixels, and double their memory to 1.5 GB of RAM.

It has 16 GB of built-in storage, which allows you to store your favourite apps, music and photos – all secured by the Samsung Knox security platform.

But arguably the most important thing is its new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, which monitors your heart rate, heart electrical impulses and bioelectrical impedance.

It also comes with an all-new Body Composition measurement tool, to give you a deeper understanding of your general health and fitness, with key measurements like skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage.

Both smartwatches offer up to 40 hours of battery life, with fast charging capability – 30 minutes of charging gives you up to 10 hours of battery life!

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Specifications In Malaysia

Specifications	Galaxy Watch 4	Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Model	NA	NA
Chassis	Aluminium	Stainless Steel
Display Size	44 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels 40 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels	46 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels 42 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels
Display	Full Color Always On Display Super AMOLED panel Gorilla Glass with DX+
OS	Wear OS with One UI Watch 3
Processor	Samsung Exynos W920 – two processor cores @ 1.18 GHz
Memory	1.5 GB RAM
Storage	16 GB
Samsung BioActive Sensor	Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
Other Sensors	Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor
Connectivity	LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi-N
GPS	GPS / GLONASS / Beidou / Galileo
NFC	Yes
Protection	5ATM + IP68 MIL-STD-810G
Compatibility	Android 6.0 or higher, with more than 1.5 GB of RAM
Dimensions	44 mm : 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm 40 mm : 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8 mm	46 mm : 45.5 x 45.5 x 11.0 mm 42 mm : 41.5 x 41.5 x 11.2 mm
Weight	44 mm : 30.3 g 40 mm : 25.9 g	46 mm : 52 g 42 mm : 46.5 g

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Price + Pre-Order Deal In Malaysia!

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You can soon pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 in Malaysia!

Find out how much it will cost in Malaysia, and what the pre-order deal is like!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Price + Pre-Order Deal In Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a starting price of US$999 – about £723 / A$1,361 / S$1,357 / RM 4,231.

Here in Malaysia, Samsung is offering two variants of Galaxy Z Flip 3 for sale :

8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,999
8 GB + 512 GB : RM4,199

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in four colour options (from left to right) : Green, Cream, Lavender and Phantom Black.

Samsung is also directly offering three more exclusive colours in their online store – Gray, Pink and White.

You will be able to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 in Malaysia, from 19 September to 21 September 2021, with these freebies :

RM600 e-voucher for Samsung Malaysia Online Store
Samsung Care+ protection (1 year), which covers accidental damage, including screen replacement, water damage and back cover replacement

You can pre-order your Galaxy Z Flip 3 here!