News
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3: Price, availability in Singapore
Samsung’s latest foldable is coming to the island
It’s Samsung’s third crackt at a foldable and it’s looking more refined as ever. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is here and it’s coming to Singapore.
Improved UX, app integration
The biggest challenge of the foldable form factor has been software. Naturally, there won’t be that many apps that could maximize, let alone scale properly to the Galaxy Fold. Three years in, and it’s significantly changing.
Samsung has expanded their partnerships with multiple companies that handle apps to ensure that they are maximized on the Fold form factor. Some of them are the most used ones today like video call apps Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Apps like Spotify and YouTube should also now work better and feel more organic on the Galaxy Z Fold3. But it doesn’t stop there. On the settings menu, you can turn on the Labs feature which lets you customize the size of your app window so you can use it alongside other apps.
Lighter, more screen
The differences are subtle but still notable. For instance, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is lighter at 271g vs the Galaxy Z Fold2’s 281g.
Then there’s the Under Display Camera. From the eyesore that it was on the first Galaxy Fold, to the more subtle but still noticeable punch hole, Samsung is now finally introducing their first crack at an Under Display Camera on the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G.
It’s a 4MP camera that you shouldn’t expect much from in terms of quality. The priority here was to still deliver some form of front-facing camera while ensuring that you get as much screen real estate as possible on the Galaxy Z Fold3.
The screen now also has a protective film to prevent accidental scratches. We still don’t know exactly how tough it is but Samsung was confident enough to point it out.
Speaking of the screens, both the main display and the cover display can now go up to 120Hz refresh rate. Previously, this was only available on the main display.
S Pen support
Samsung already said we’re not getting a Galaxy Note this year, breaking the popular device line’s yearly cycle since it first came out in 2011. Fret not though, as Samsung is bringing S Pen support to the Galaxy Z Fold3.
There are two S Pens compatible with the Galaxy Z Fold3: The S Pen Fold Edition and the S Pen Pro.
As its name suggests, the S Pen Fold Edition is one that’s made especially for the Galaxy Z Fold3. It measures 132mm and has pretty much all the useful S Pen features we know and love like Air Command, instant screen captures and jotting down notes . There’s also a special cover case for the Galaxy Z Fold3 to be able to carry the S Pen Fold Edition.
Meanwhile, the S Pen Pro is larger at 173.7mm and can be used with other supported Galaxy devices like the S21 Ultra, Note 20 Series, Note 10 Series, Tab S7 and S7+, and the Galaxy Book Pro 360. It also has an onboard memory feature that lets you copy from one device and paste it to another.
Galaxy Z Fold3 Specs
Everything else on the Galaxy Z Fold3 is either a rehash or an expected upgrade from its predecessor. Here’s a spec rundown:
- Main Display — 7.6” Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Infinity Flex Display
- Cover Display — 6.2” Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Rear Cameras:
- 12MP f/1.8 Wide
- 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-wide
- 12MP f/2.4 Telephoto
- Cover Camera — 10MP f/2.2
- Under Display Camera — 4MP f/1.8
- Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
- SIM — Two (2) NanoSIMs, One (1) eSIM
- Battery — 4,400mAh
- RAM — 12GB
- Storage — 128GB and 256GB (Both UFS 3.1)
- Authentication — Pattern, PIN, password, Side fingerprint sensor, Face recognition
Price and availability
Pre-Order for the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G will start on August 11, 2021, Wednesday, 10.30PM. Consumers who pre-order their devices will be able to collect their devices on September 2, 2021, Thursday.
The device will be available for sale in Singapore starting September 10, 2021, Friday, 10AM. Pricing are as follows:
- 256GB — SG$ 2,398
- 512GB — SG$ 2,548
Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G — BUY here
Galaxy Fold 3 5G — BUY here
Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic — BUY here
Tab S7 FE — BUY here
Galaxy Buds 2– BUY here
Accessories
Samsung joins the clip-on earbud trend with the Galaxy Buds On
But it’s exclusive to South Korea for now.
Audio wearables have been getting makeovers as of late. Besides the traditional form factors, the segment is experimenting with bone conduction and clip-on headphones. Today, Samsung is joining that trend with the Galaxy Buds On.
Debuting in South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On is Samsung’s first-ever clip-on earbuds. You’re likely familiar with how these earbuds look like, having seen them grace the ears of many a passerby today. Instead of plugging right into your ear canals, they actually do clip onto your earlobes. Samsung’s take, however, is a little bit heftier, which the brand claims gives it a wider surface area to balance the weight for your ears.
Additionally, the new earbuds has a TwinBoost speaker system. While the system adds better bass to the earbuds, it also adds automatic voice adjustments to better attune the sound according to your environment. It also has an Audio Leakage Reduction feature, so others won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to.
The Galaxy Buds On has a charging case almost identical to the Galaxy Buds4 case. Powered by the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform, the earbuds can reportedly last up to 9.5 hours on a single charge.
Right now, the wearable is exclusive to South Korea, but Samsung says that a global rollout will happen in the future. In South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On costs KRW 299,000 (or approximately US$ 220).
SEE ALSO: Galaxy Buds4 Pro review: I thought I was done with in-ears
News
vivo X Fold6 makes global debut with 200MP camera and 6900mAh battery
With 200MP camera and 6900mAh battery
vivo has officially launched the X Fold6 globally. It combines a slim foldable design with productivity features, flagship imaging, and a large 6900mAh battery.
The X Fold6 runs OriginOS 7 Fold, which introduces Multi-Task Workbench with Origin Workbench and Multi-Split Screen. Users can display and resize up to four windows simultaneously, while AI Cross-App Drag allows content to move directly between apps.
Productivity with AI
The foldable also includes AI-powered productivity tools. AI Meeting Assistant provides speaker transcription and summaries through AI Recorder, while AI Captions adds real-time subtitles during online meetings. AI File Manager organizes files with features such as Topics, Smart Naming, AI Summary, and Column View. There’s also AI Reader Mode that reformats PDFs into an eBook-style layout.
vivo also equips the X Fold6 with Jovi, an AI agent designed to handle tasks across smartphones and PCs. It can search and understand materials, generate content, and complete office workflows through voice commands. It also supports scheduled and recurring tasks.
For users who want to replace a computer for lighter workloads, vivo Office Kit enables cross-device collaboration. Desktop Mode turns the foldable into a desktop-like workspace when connected to a compatible monitor or TV.
6900mAh large battery
The X Fold6 packs a 6900mAh BlueVolt Battery with 80W FlashCharge, 40W Wireless FlashCharge, and wireless reverse charging. Its 5th-Gen Silicon Anode Technology allows vivo to fit the large battery into a slim foldable body, while its 3rd-Gen Semi-Solid-State Battery is designed to maintain performance in temperatures as low as -20°C.
Despite its battery capacity, the X Fold6 measures as little as 4.4mm when unfolded and weighs 228g in Prism Black. The Horizon Blue version measures 4.8mm and weighs 235g. Both variants feature a 2.5D flat-edge metal frame and ultra-narrow bezels.
For photography, the foldable features a 200MP ZEISS main camera with a Samsung HPB large sensor, ZEISS T* coating, and optical image stabilization. It is paired with a ZEISS APO telephoto camera with a Sony LYTIA 602 sensor, 3x periscope design, telephoto macro capability, and up to 100x ZEISS HyperZoom.
The camera system also introduces Stage Mode for telephoto concert and live performance photography. It supports 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video, while Motion Portrait 2.0 uses subject tracking and portrait processing to capture moving subjects.
Powered by MediaTek
The X Fold6 uses the Dimensity 9500 Super Edition flagship platform and features an 8.02-inch inner display alongside a 6.51-inch cover display. Both screens use 8T-LTPO technology with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, adaptive dimming, up to 5,000 nits local peak brightness, and a minimum brightness of 1 nit.
The foldable also carries IPX8 and IPX9 water resistance and IP5X dust resistance. Its 1+4 Communication Chipset is designed to improve cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, while Data Store allows users in select markets to purchase local data plans directly on the device across 129 countries and regions.
Gaming
The regular PlayStation 5 is getting an AI upscaling feature
The feature debuts with Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei.
If you’re an owner of a regular PlayStation 5, watching a PS5 Pro owner might touch you with a tinge of jealousy. Besides the upgraded console’s better hardware, it also has something called the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which uses AI to improve resolution and framerate. Unfortunately, that feature isn’t available on the regular console. But Sony is throwing the classic console a bone today by adding Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), which does the same as PSSR but on the older machine.
Since the introduction of PSSR, fans and developers alike have asked whether the older console can have a version of the technology. Developed with AMD, QSSR is an AI upscaling feature that improves performance for modern games on the PlayStation 5. For now, the feature is debuting first on Ghost of Yotei and Marvel’s Wolverine via a set of patches. Moving forward, Sony will also allow its developers to add the feature for their respective games.
Now, the choice of games is deliberate. Marvel’s Wolverine is still fresh on everyone’s mind. Meanwhile, Ghost of Yotei has just released a Complete Edition, which packs in a new story expansion and a roguelike mode. You don’t even need to Complete Edition or the corresponding paid upgrade to enjoy the new feature.
SEE ALSO: Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition review: More of a great thing
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