Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review: The first foldable you may actually want to buy

With a lower price, 120Hz refresh-rate screen, an "aluminum armor" body and an improved cover screen, Samsung's new smartphone could be the most "normal" foldable available.

When Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip 3, I was eager to try it out. You can fold it in half. Flip it open with your wrist one-handed. Use the outside screen when it's closed and place it just about anywhere you want to record videos and take photos. With its lower price, seven colors and the assortment of bold cases that make it look like a toy, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 could be the first foldable phone you'll consider buying. But if Samsung wants the phone to be widely adopted, it needs to deliver on its promised improvements and convince people that they can depend on the Z Flip 3 without compromising their daily phone routine.

The Z Flip 3 starts at $1,000 (£949, AU$1,499) for 128GB and 8GB RAM. Scroll down to the chart below for a full breakdown of prices and specs.

Based on my time with the phone, I believe Samsung mostly got it right. The body, hinge and screen are made with materials that make them stronger and more durable, and the phone is rated for water resistance. A larger cover screen, a better main screen and improved software put the Z Flip 3 on par with most other $1,000 phones. None of this means the Z Flip 3 is without its own quirks or problems. Its battery life is short, there isn't any dust resistance and its long-term durability is unknown.

The screen still has a soft crease across the middle, and it didn't bother me. It's not distracting. It doesn't stop me from using the phone in any way. When I interact with the middle of the screen I notice it. but not because it feels weak or like a flaw. I have friends and colleagues who suggest that as long as there's a crease, no one will ever buy a folding phone. Let me put it this way: The iPhone has a large black notch that eats into the display. That bothers me more than the crease on the Z Flip 3.

The Z Flip 3 is Samsung's most "ready for prime time" foldable yet. It seems ready to sit in more people's hands, pockets and bags. The Z Flip 3 is far from perfect, but it's a solid phone if you can cope with some of the trade-offs. If you're ready to embrace its "different" vibe, it's absolutely fun to use.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is available for preorder and will launch on Friday Aug. 27. To tempt you more, Samsung and carriers are offering a number of trade-in deals that lower the Z Flip 3's price.