The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is Samsung’s latest contribution to the growing segment of foldable smartphones, featuring a very large (when unfolded) 7.6 “display as well as a more normal sized 6.2” display. external device that can be used when the device is folded. The unusual design means you have several camera options when it comes to taking selfies. Depending on how the phone is folded, you can use a “pinhole style” front camera on the cover screen, a camera below the display on the main screen, or the main rear camera, using the cover screen to compose the image.
In our tests, the latter option provided the best overall results, which is why this review focuses on the performance of the main camera as a selfie shooter. We’ve also posted an additional article that compares the main camera to the other two options and gives you a better idea of which camera to choose in a specific selfie shooting situation.
Key Camera Specifications:
- Main: 12 MP sensor with 1.8µm pixels, 83˚ field of view lens and f / 1.8 aperture, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
- Ultra Wide: 12MP sensor with 1.2μm sensor, 123˚ field of view lens and f / 2.2 aperture (not tested in Selfie mode)
- Telephoto: 12MP sensor with 1.0μm sensor, lens with 45˚ field of view and f / 2.4 aperture, PDAF, OIS (not tested in Selfie mode)
- Video: 4K at 30 / 60fps, 1080p at 30 / 60fps (4K / 30fps tested)
About SBMARK selfie tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone front camera reviews, SBMARK engineers capture and evaluate over 1500 test images and more than 2 hours of video in both controlled laboratory environments and indoor and outdoor natural scenes, using the default camera settings. This article aims to highlight the most important results of our tests. For more information on the SBMARK Selfie Test Protocol, click here.
Test summary
Pros
- Good details in photos and videos at all selfie distances
- Low noise and wide dynamic range in all conditions
- Accurate white balance with internal lighting
- Good exposure in bright light and indoor video
- Accurate white balance and natural color in bright light videos
Cons
- Some underexposure on dark complexions
- The limited depth of field causes faces to blur in group photos
- No flash available for selfies in low light conditions
- Video stabilization causes vibrations when the device is mounted on a tripod or held steady during recording
- Inaccurate white balance and color rendition in low-light video
- Video artifacts, including ringing and facial sharpness
With a SBMARK Selfie Score of 98, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G secures a mid-table position in the Ultra-Premium segment ranking when using its main camera to take selfies. Depending on the specific photographic requirements you have, the Z Fold3 5G’s front camera might be a better option in some situations. For example, with its greater depth of field, it is better suited for grouping images than the main camera, while maintaining an acceptable level of detail on faces in all planes of focus. The main camera, on the other hand, is the best choice in low light conditions where it is able to capture good exposures even in very low light conditions. The autofocus also makes it a better option for shooting with a selfie stick as it can easily adapt to the greater distance to the subject. Overall, the main camera offers the best results and the highest selfie score.
The main camera the strengths in selfie mode are the excellent textures, especially in low light conditions, as well as very well-controlled noise levels in the photos. The most noticeable area of improvement is the limited depth of field because subjects in front of or behind the plane of focus tend to be blurry, which can be a problem in group selfies.
The main camera of the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G offers excellent detail, low noise and beautiful colors when used in selfie mode.
Compared to the other cameras available for taking selfies on the device, the main camera records the highest levels of detail, even in low light. The autofocus system means that subjects are always in focus and no detail is lost when shooting close-ups or with a selfie stick as might happen with a fixed focus lens. The camera also performs very well in terms of exposure. Although our testers noted some inaccuracies in the exposure, such as on dark skin tones, the dynamic range is very good, ensuring good detail in both the light and shadow areas of the frame, even in low light conditions. As mentioned above, limited depth of field can be a problem if you want to capture multiple subjects that are at different distances from the lens.
In this example, you can see that under indoor conditions the Z Fold3’s main camera records noticeably better detail than both its front-facing camera and the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s front-facing camera. However, even the subjects in the background are noticeably more blurry in the shot. with the Z Fold3 main camera than the comparison images.
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, indoor selfie with main camera
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, crop: great detail but limited depth of field, low noise
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, indoor selfie with front camera
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, less details but greater depth of field
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, selfie indoors
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, crop: less detail but greater depth of field
When you switch to bokeh mode, the camera blurs the background quite strongly, simulating a wide aperture. Slight artifacts in the depth estimate may be visible around the subject.
Bokeh mode: simulated large aperture, slight depth artifacts
When using the Z Fold3 main camera for selfie video recording, the camera captures high levels of detail in 4K resolution. The colors are also beautiful and vibrant. The downside is that some high-frequency vibrations, caused by the stabilization system, are visible when holding the camera still or mounting it on a stand.
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, good detail and nice color but noticeable vibration
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