My job requires me to use a variety of smartphones each year. I’ve used and written about everything from the best-in-class Galaxy S22 Ultra to the unconventional Black Shark 5 gaming phone. But a 2021 smartphone is still my daily driver, even though I have access to the best Android smartphones of 2022 I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as my primary device since January, and here’s why it’ll be sticking in my pocket for the foreseeable future.

Rolling out to a bigger screen still feels futuristic

I have the Galaxy S22 Ultra, OnePlus 10 Pro, Xiaomi 12 Pro, a few gaming phones, and many more on hand. I’m spoiled for choice, but the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has proven itself. (And, of course, none of the usual flagships fold).

Samsung is making the science fiction of the past our reality in the modern world. Unfolding a smartphone and being greeted by a larger screen is no longer a fantasy. We’re now on the third iteration of the Fold, and Samsung has nearly perfected its hardware. To be greeted with a 7.6-inch screen from a narrow display on the outside is a delight.

I found myself unfolding the Fold 3 if the task at hand takes me longer than a few seconds. Do not mistake yourself; the outer screen disguises the Fold 3 as a chunky regular phone. I can use it with one hand surprisingly easily! I use it for quick tasks like listening to music on Spotify, responding to an urgent WhatsApp text, or checking Twitter notifications.

But unfolding the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and turning the smartphone into a mini-tablet still feels futuristic, even after all these months. If I have both hands free, I use the Fold 3’s larger screen, which is most of the time. It’s a delight for the reader in me. I have completed two books on the Kindle app while reading on the Samsung foldable.

Having a 7.6-inch screen right in your pocket is also revolutionary for people who need to travel by public transport. For example, I use the metro for most of my trips in Delhi, and it’s a boring route if you don’t have your smartphone and headphones. But having a big screen means watching videos or immersing yourself in a book in a way a “normal” smartphone could never match. And, time permitting, the Fold 3 has even been a perfect gadget for writing articles on the go. There’s nothing he can’t do.

Although it’s a foldable screen, the inner screen is crisp and colorful. And having the whole panel to yourself without the intrusion of the punch-hole camera makes viewing photos that much more immersive. The under-screen camera isn’t perfectly hidden, but it gets the job done. And you don’t have to use it to take selfies. Another camera mode lets you use the main camera on the back as a selfie shooter, while the exterior screen acts as a viewfinder.

The Fold 3 makes me excited for the Fold 4

Using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for six months has me excited for the next iteration of the foldable Samsung. Unlike regular slab phones, where innovation has seemingly reached its peak, the foldable segment is a breath of fresh air. And there is still room for improvement.

For example, cameras aren’t the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s forte. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is rumored to sport the same 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x zoom as the Galaxy S22, which is one of the best of the segment. It could also get a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. If that happens, the Fold 4 will arguably be one of the best camera smartphones of 2022. Samsung is also rumored to be increasing the pixel density of the under-display selfie camera, hiding it more discreetly.

While these are all upgrades I look forward to, their absence on the Fold 3 hasn’t deterred me from using it. Average camera performance and a noticeable display crease aren’t enough to tarnish an excellent user experience. The Z Fold 3 allowed me to do things that none of my other phones would. It doesn’t have the newest chipset or the flashiest specs, but the Fold 3 is unlike anything else. And that’s why, more than anything, it keeps a place in a pocket.

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