By Kevin Hiot (@niveekk) Share: 5

Samsung has increased the size of the exterior screen of its Galaxy Z Flip 3. It is four times larger than on the first Galaxy Z Flip, which allows more information to display.But is it really more useful on a daily basis?

Like the Galaxy Fold, its first foldable smartphone which has just unveiled the third iteration, Samsung has the Galaxy Z Flip with an outdoor screen.On the first version of the model, it was really small (1.1 inch) and barely usable.The lesson seems to have been retained by the South Korean firm which offers on its recent Galaxy Z Flip 3 a 1.9-inch cove.The display surface is therefore four times larger in 2021, offering more options to hope to open your smartphone as little as possible.Finally, that's on paper.What is it really worth in fact?

Good little OLED display

On a purely technical level, the external screen of the Z FLIP 3 relies on Super AMOLED technology and displays a definition of 260 x 512 pixels.We measured its maximum brightness, which reaches approximately 400 cd/m².A very good value for a if riquiqui display.If you ever find it too high, know that it is possible to manage the brightness directly from the Cover Display of a shift from the finger from the top of the screen.We would have liked to be able to measure its reflectance rate, but the slab is not wide enough to face our probe.

A screen that works almost like that of a connected watch ...

As on the first model, the external slab allows the time and notifications to be mainly displayed. By pressing twice or pressing the start button, the screen reveals widgets similar to what a smartwatch can offer us. Display of the time, appointments or even a voice recording: you consult all this information without opening the smartphone. Music control is also possible thanks to a Spotify widget. Good to know, it is only displayed if you have already launched the app on the main phone screen. It is indeed not possible to start music or walk in your reading lists from the outdoor screen. Shame. Note that, like the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung specifies that it is up to the developers to play the game of the provision of widgets compatible with its cover Display. However, do not expect to consult your Instagram or Tiktok flow immediately. Your Twitter timeline in rigor, but in such a limited space, the readability seems compromised.

Personalization is also in order since, as with a connected watch dial, you will be able to modify the main display of the small screen.Samsung boasts the possibility of matching its Galaxy Watch 4 screen with that of the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

But this small external display is not only used for widgets and other notifications.It also allows you to take a picture without opening the smartphone.By pressing the start button twice, the photo application opens with an instant screen return.By sliding to the right or left, you can alternate between video mode and photo mode.By performing the same gesture, but here up or down, you change the module (Grand Angle or Ultra Grand-Angle).To trigger a socket, simply raise your hand in front of the lens or press the volume controls.Practical for selfies.

... but which is not without limitations

For the time being, the use of this external screen is strongly restricted.Only certain Samsung apps use it, to which must be added.We would have liked that for the release of the smartphone, applications such as Gmail or WhatsApp can have a widget allowing you to consult our emails and messages - without necessarily answering them.On the other hand, the messages received appear entirely on this 1.9 inch slab.That's already it, but to answer you should unfold the smartphone.

Itou, it would have been sympathetic to be able to consult the progress of the various downloads of apps or files on the smartphone.A quick glance without opening the latter is always more pleasant.This leads us to regret the absence of a more complete quick adjustment panel.As it stands, only the brightness of the external display and the volume of alerts can be adjusted.Note that this external screen will no longer work once the smartphone is open, even in tent mode.The exterior slab seems to be designed only for a closed z flip 3 use, with one exception: when you take photos, you can transform the cover display into a mini-currency so that your subject will fit your framing.

For the moment, it is not certain that the external screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 allows enough interactions so that you do not systematically open the smartphone.The possibilities are limited, especially because the apps developers do not yet offer adequate widgets.In a few months, perhaps it will be possible to use the external display more than internal.For the moment, it only seems really useful to consult his notifications and, of course, take better quality selfies than with the internal photo module.

Often made jokes when it is uncomfortable.Could have been Spider-Man if he didn't spend too much time behind a screen.