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Pokemon Go Halloween 2021: Pumpkaboo, Misunderstood Mischief Research and more
Pokemon Go Halloween 2021: Pumpkaboo, Misunderstood Mischief Research and more
The second leg of Pokemon Go's Halloween 2021 event is coming to an end in a couple of days. Until Oct.31, certain ghost- and dark-type Pokemon are appearing in the game more frequently than usual, and you have your first chance to get four new ghost Pokemon from the Kalos region. On top of that, the next portion of the Misunderstood Mischief Special Research story is now live, and you'll earn extra candy for catching, transferring and hatching Pokemon. Here's everything you need to know about Pokemon Go's Halloween 2021 event.
New ghost Pokemon
As part of the Halloween event, four new ghost Pokemon have arrived in the game: Phantump, Trevenant, Pumpkaboo, and Gourgeist. All four were originally introduced in Pokemon X and Y for the Nintendo 3DS, making this your first chance to catch them in Pokemon Go.
Alongside Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist, a new size mechanic has been added to the game. Just as in mainline Pokemon titles, Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist can appear in various sizes, and the ones you encounter in Pokemon Go will visibly vary depending on how large or small they are. The game is also holding a new Collection Challenge tasking you with catching a Pumpkaboo of every size.
Featured Pokemon
In addition to the aforementioned new ghosts, the following Pokemon will appear in the wild and in raid battles throughout the Halloween event. The mythical Pokemon Darkrai has also returned to five-star raids, while Mega Absol has made its debut in Mega Raids.
Wild spawns
Halloween Mischief Pikachu
Halloween Mischief Piplup
Gastly
Haunter
Murkrow
Misdreavus
Shuppet
Purrloin
Yamask
Litwick
Phantump
Pumpkaboo
One-star raids
Murkrow
Yamask
Galarian Yamask
Phantump
Pumpkaboo
Three-star raids
Alolan Marowak
Banette
Halloween Mischief Drifblim
Lampent
Five-star raids
Mega Raids
7 km eggs
Spinarak
Misdreavus
Shuppet
Litwick
Golett
Phantump
Galarian Yamask
Misunderstood Mischief Special Research
Another leg of the season-long Misunderstood Mischief Special Research story is now live in Pokemon Go. You can see the full list of tasks and rewards below.
Stage 11/16
Earn 3 candies walking with your buddy - 10 Yamask Candy
Catch 30 ghost-type Pokemon - 10 Phantump Candy
Catch 30 dark-type Pokemon - 10 Pumpkaboo Candy
Reward for completing all three tasks: Pikachu encounter, 15 Ultra Balls, 40 Gengar Mega Energy
Other event bonuses
Just as during the first part of the Halloween event, a new Special Research story called What Lies Beneath the Mask? is now live in the game. The following bonuses are also still active;
2x transfer candy
2x hatch candy
2x catch candy
Guaranteed candy XL when walking with your buddy
Pokemon Go's Halloween 2021 event runs until 8 p.m. local time on Oct. 31. You can read up on everything else happening in the game this month in our Pokemon Go October events roundup.
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This Discounted Asus Laptop at Best Buy Beats Amazon's Early Prime Day Laptop Deals
This Discounted Asus Laptop at Best Buy Beats Amazon's Early Prime Day Laptop Deals
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET's guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
Best Buy has some of the highest quality products in stock. From home appliances like washers, dryers, and refrigerators to technology like speakers, TVs and computers, you'll occasionally find great deals on products (especially now before Prime Day hits). And this deal on a 14-inch Asus E410 laptop is one of them.
It's hard to imagine that for $140 you could have a normally $350 laptop with an Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. That's a savings of $210, so you'll save more than you spend on it. Simple but effective, this entry-level laptop comes with a 1,360x768-pixel screen resolution comparable to many Windows laptops at similar market prices. It runs Windows 11 and weighs less than 3 pounds. For first-time or young PC users, this laptop may be the best option out there. You'll get fast and free shipping if you act on this today-only deal and can have the laptop in your hands within three days.
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988 Mental Health Hotline Sees Increased Calls Following Rollout
988 Mental Health Hotline Sees Increased Calls Following Rollout
What's happening
The new number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been launched. All you have to do is dial 988 for crisis intervention.
Why it matters
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. 988 crisis line increases access to help.
What it means for you
988 is an easy-to-remember number that you can dial to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis resources.
September is National Suicide Prevention month, and getting mental health help is easier than ever. The new health emergency number is 988, which replaces the previous 10-digit number established in 2005 by National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When you call 988, you receive real-time free and confidential support, prevention and crisis resources.
The 988 hotline is a significant stride in mental health accessibility in America. However, this change has significantly increased call volume to local crisis centers, which has started to overload already under-funded crisis centers. Here's what to know about 988 and the work to prevent suicide.
What is the 988 hotline and does it work?
When you dial 988, you will be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of 200 nationwide crisis centers. It is an equivalent to 911 and will connect you to trained mental health professionals who can help. The 988 crisis line will not have all the resources 911 has. The network will be closely communicating with 911 dispatchers if emergency resources are needed. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 2% of current Lifeline calls require emergency support from 911.
What happens when you call the 988 crisis line:
When you call, you will be directed to your closest crisis center based on your area code.
Once connected, the trained mental health professional will listen and help address the issue by providing support and resources.
You will be connected to a backup location if your local center is unavailable.
The number change for this resource might not seem like that big of a deal, but removing the barrier of being able to find the 10-digit number online or remembering it will make it more accessible to people.
Lifeline and other hotlines work. Studies show that hotlines are effective in helping people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or having a mental health crisis. 66% of people said that the chat intervention feature offered by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is helpful.
So what's the issue with 988?
In terms of the function and goal of the 988 crisis line, there is no issue. However, money and resources are lacking to support this initiative. Congress authorized 988 in 2020; however, the funding for crucial things like staffing and infrastructure (phone line and internet connection) were left to the states. Many centers are finding that states haven't provided adequate funding to supplement.
Most states have yet to allocate funding for 988 operations.
sb10066698qn-001/Getty Images
Before the July rollout, many states hadn't made progress on legislation in the face of the federal mandate. President Joe Biden's 2022 budget request includes funding for Lifeline. However, according to a SAMHSA report, federal and state resources are needed to support the estimated $560 million needed to help local centers prepare and $110 million annually to fund the 988 hotlines.
Our mental health system is already underfunded and under-resourced. The concern is that local centers will be unable to keep up with the demand for calls. Being routed to another crisis center unfamiliar with local resources is problematic for quick assistance. Calling 911 is not an adequate stand-in for mental health emergencies as you may not connect to someone qualified to address the situation properly. When it comes to mental health events, minutes matter.
The future of 988
The 988 crisis line is live and seeing increased call rates, regardless of whether centers are ready to take on the influx of calls. Even with the potential road bumps, 988 is a good thing and an undeniable step toward addressing the growing mental health crisis in the US. We should expect a time of growth and adaptation in the coming months.
Considerable time and resources from state and local organizations are needed to help centers prepare for the strain widespread accessibility brings. Hopefully, 988 is only the beginning.
Frequently asked questions
Is the suicide hotline number changing?
As of July 16, 988 will replace the original lifeline 10-digit phone number. The current number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available, even after 988 is rolled out.
What are other suicide prevention resources?
988 is an easy and accessible way to get suicide prevention assistance. However, it's not the only option out there. And you may find that others are better suited for your needs.
Suicide prevention resources:
Crisis Text Line: Text Home to 741741 to connect to a counselor.
Trevor Lifeline: Contact the 24/7 phone service at 1-866-488-7386. TrevorText is available by texting "START" to 678678.
Trans Lifeline: Call 877-565-8860 to access. Hours are 7 a.m.–1 a.m. PST / 9 a.m.–3 a.m. CST / 10 a.m.–4 a.m. EST.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255
What happens if you call 988?
When you dial 988, you will be routed to a regional crisis center that is a part of Lifeline's network. All crisis specialists are trained to handle mental health emergencies. If additional help is needed, the crisis specialist will connect you to a mobile crisis response team or an ambulance.
How can family members help a loved one that's in danger of suicide?
Talking about suicide doesn't increase the risk of it happening. According to the 988 Suicide Crisis & Lifeline website, acknowledging and discussing suicide may reduce suicidal ideation. The most important role of a family member is to be there without judgment. You can help them create a network of people and resources that offer safety and assistance when needed.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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5 predictions for bitcoin, NFTs and the future of money
5 predictions for bitcoin, NFTs and the future of money
This story is part of The Year Ahead, CNET's look at how the world will continue to evolve starting in 2022 and beyond.
Cryptocurrency made many of the strangest headlines of 2021. Boosters touted digital currencies as a world-changing technology with the potential to create new economies and empower people who don't have access to bank accounts. Critics pointed to crypto's massive environmental footprint, as well as its popularity in online crime. The chasm between these views will be hard to bridge.
Much of the cryptocurrency industry functions as a hype-monster, powered by oddball memes of cute dogs and outer-space emoji. The same industry boasts a staggering amount of funding from venture capitalists and private enthusiasts, along with real technical innovations that could radically alter the way we interact with money. And, as it often goes with innovation, what we get may not be what we expect. CNET asked experts to help us navigate crypto's journey to new lands in 2022. Here's what they told us.
1. Crypto moves further into the mainstream
Big companies are trying to figure out how cryptocurrency fits into their business. Everyone from hedge fund managers to Starbucks executives are making moves that could impact how we use digital money this year.
When we hear about cryptocurrency in the headlines, it's often about Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweets, overnight millionaires, expensive digital art and hacks. Yet the larger, fundamental changes are often less flashy and attention-grabbing than whatever crypto-hype machine dominates Twitter at any given moment.
"I hope we're going to see a lot more focus on utility," said Denelle Dixon, CEO of Stellar Development Foundation. "Instead of focusing just on a few use cases that create a lot of hype, we'll see more focus on the use cases that drive real value. And more discussion around financial inclusion."
2. NFTs create new ownership opportunities, and remix old ones
NFT, or nonfungible token, is a buzzy term that many of us heard for the first time in 2021. A new way to determine ownership of digital property using a blockchain ledger, NFTs are increasingly popular in the art and collectibles scenes. One of the most notable NFT collections of 2021 was called the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Go figure.
But the potential of NFTs goes far beyond eccentric digital artworks. NFTs are also used for digital land purchases in virtual worlds and for next-generation music ownership, licensing and publishing. Some observers see a future in which NFTs offer access to special sales or limited-edition products. How about using a NFT as a concert ticket? Or when you log into your favorite video game online? Expect to see all of that in 2022.
"The possibilities of NFTs are endless, since they can be used to log ownership of any unique asset," Alex Atallah, co-founder of OpenSea, said in an email. "We're already seeing early use-cases of NFTs being used as event tickets, software licenses, fan club memberships, or otherwise tied to interactive experiences."
Some of America's biggest brands, including Nike, are already working on expanding the application of NFTs. But NFTs used in consumer products may only be the tip of the iceberg. How about using an NFT to prove you are you?
"We've seen some movement from the artist-driven NFTs to NFTs that are focused on access or authorization," said Stellar's Dixon. "There was a party in New York recently where folks got access to the party by purchasing an NFT. So I wonder if we'll see some focus on leveraging NFTs for digital identity."
The $85 billion video game industry may be one of the most fertile areas of potential for NFTs. Some of the larger studios are already experimenting with them. And with all the talk surrounding the metaverse, an immersive 3D digital environment that's been proposed by Meta (formerly Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other movers and shakers in the tech industry, NFTs could serve as building blocks for a next-generation digital world.
"Gamers are already accustomed to caring about digital goods, so the potential for NFTs is enormous: a few million NFT users compared to almost 3 billion gamers," said Atallah. "We're seeing some exciting developments when it comes to the intersection of NFTs, gaming and the metaverse."
3. Bigger hacks and bigger ransoms
Cryptocurrencies were used to facilitate millions of dollars of ransomware payments in 2021. That's because digital currencies include features that make them attractive to criminals. They're difficult to track, they're borderless, and once the payment goes through, it's nearly impossible to unwind.
"We should expect to see more criminals turning to cryptocurrency and services that promise to obfuscate illicit funds due to the misconception of total anonymity," Gurvais Grigg, a senior tech officer at Chainalysis, said in an email. "Bitcoin is appealing to criminals for the same reasons it appeals to those using them for legitimate purposes: It's cross-border, instantaneous and liquid."
Grigg and others expect decentralized finance, a nascent but blossoming industry on the cryptocurrency frontier, to be a popular target for cybercriminals in 2022. Decentralized finance, or DeFi, involves finance that works independently of a central authority or institution. Instead of relying on a bank or credit card network, people can connect directly with DeFi products on a distributed network.
Though the industry is still in its early days, DeFi is a fast-evolving, highly technical space with tremendous potential. As such, it's attracted a great deal of attention and investment, making it ripe for criminal activity.
"Criminals are likely to explore DeFi as both a target for hacking and as a means to attempt laundering funds through," said Grigg. "Because of how new DeFi is, and the explosion in adoption in developed markets, these platforms are easy targets for experienced criminals who have conducted similar hacks before."
4. You'll hear more about stablecoins
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have grabbed headlines because of their volatility. You can become a millionaire or lose it all at the hyper speed of the internet. But try buying a latte with bitcoin, and that volatility can make things confusing fast.
Enter stablecoins. This subcategory of cryptocurrency, which is tied to an underlying asset, mitigates much of that volatility. Stablecoins could play a vital role in turning cryptocurrency into something we can easily use to conduct the ordinary transactions of everyday life.
"People should start paying attention to trends in stablecoins both as a medium of payments and as a dollar digital currency. The use cases for cross-border payments, aid relief, instant settlement payments are starting to flourish in 2021 and we will see more of that in 2022," Rachel Mayer, a vice president of product at fintech firm Circle, said in an email.
Transferring assets more efficiently is one of the central values of a stablecoin. This value is powerful for companies that need to move digital assets and cash quickly and efficiently.
"On the payments side, more industries will start adopting stablecoins as a more efficient way to make payments," Omid Malekan, author of The Story of the Blockchain and a professor at Columbia Business School, said in an email. "Stablecoin volumes will continue to grow, but the share of that volume that is only involved in crypto trading will go down."
5. New crypto rules appear on the horizon
Washington lawmakers sense that cryptocurrency is a big and important thing. But they are struggling, perceptibly, to understand it. It may only be a matter of time before crypto gets its "series of tubes" moment from a hapless representative out of their element.
In December, executives from six cryptocurrency companies were called to testify before the House Financial Services Committee, where they discussed potential paths for future legislation. Lawmakers in the US have expressed interest in a range of topics -- whether stablecoin issuers should be considered banks, when to tax cryptocurrency and how to craft functional rules in a highly technical and complex industry. This is tricky stuff. Creating the right standards will take time.
"I think there's going to be a lot more conversations around crypto and blockchain," said Dixon, one of the executives who testified before the House committee. Dixon previously testified on the issue of net neutrality before a House committee during her tenure at Mozilla in 2019 and harbors no illusions when it comes to regulating new technology. Some discourse will be positive and some will be negative, "but I just think that [by] having these conversations, we're going to see policymakers and regulators be more focused, and hopefully, more traditional businesses will be more focused on that."
There could be more milestones to reach before Americans see a comprehensive framework for crypto-focused legislation. But if industry leaders and elected officials can work together, regular cryptocurrency users and investors may benefit while environmental and security concerns are addressed.
"It's important to understand that the cryptocurrency industry wants to be regulated, but wants to ensure that proposed regulatory frameworks are feasible," said Grigg. "Governments globally are working with industry players to create legislation that protects consumers and fosters innovation."
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Sony drops PlayStation 2 from its repair roster
Sony drops PlayStation 2 from its repair roster
Sony has finally pulled the plug on the 18-year-old PlayStation 2 console. Production was discontinued in 2013, but Sony just ceased repairs for them last week.
The company posted a termination notice on its Japanese PS2 repair site (Google Translate version), saying, "We have finished accepting after-sales service."
According to the BBC, Sony started running out of the parts necessary to fix the console. While there are still third-party services that might help you eke a few years more out of your vintage unit, eventually they too will have to surrender to the inevitable.
The PS2 is arguably the biggest-selling console of all time, with over 150 million units populating the planet. The announcement comes after Sony officially celebrated its 500 millionth PlayStation console with a translucent limited-edition PlayStation 4 Pro and matching accessories.
Nostalgia aside, Sony is currently facing rumblings of discontent from gamers over its unwillingness to support cross play with other gaming platforms.
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Twitter Expands Direct Message Search to More Than Just Names
Twitter Expands Direct Message Search to More Than Just Names
Twitter users can now search their direct messages using names and keywords, the company said Wednesdy in a tweet. The new capability allows people to find past conversations, even if they don't remember who they had them with.
Until now, Twitter's direct message search let people pull up conversations only by a user's name.
A quick test shows that a keyword search will return not just the conversation in which it appears, but multiple mentions within that conversation.
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Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: A refined foldable in search of a purpose
Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: A refined foldable in search of a purpose
Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 at the same time. But of the two, the $1,000 Z Flip 3 has a familiar design that's based on clamshell flip phones that have been around for decades. It folds in half from a 6.7-inch phone down to a square that's roughly the size and thickness of several coasters stacked. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 3 costs $1,800, with a futuristic design closer to something you'd see in a sci-fi movie or TV show like Westworld. The latter folds open from a regular phone, into a 7.6-inch square tablet and lacks the same "love at first sight" appeal as the Z Flip 3.
This is because Samsung's phone/tablet hybrid design is still inherently new compared to the tried-and-true flip phone motif the Flip 3 embraces. The Z Fold 3 is actually a wonderful tablet, but when it's folded up it has the same hefty appeal as an air conditioner remote control.
Like
120Hz cover screen
Water resistance
Wonderful tablet experience
S Pen is a blast to use
Software improvements for multitasking and Flex Mode
Don't Like
Battery life lasts about a day
Weird, heavy phone when closed
$1,800 is still expensive
Despite its complicated allure, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a remarkable showcase of technology and innovation. Pretty much anytime I open the phone in public, there is someone with a dumbfounded look on their face. For the price, you get nearly every high-end feature one would expect in a flagship Android phone. And for $1,800, you better. The few compromises Samsung did make, like having B+ cameras instead of A+ ones, aren't deal breakers and stand as further reminders that the Z Fold 3's high price tag is because the phone folds in half.
Throughout my time with the Z Fold 3, I kept asking myself why the tablet even needs to fold in half? Or is there a better way to design a tablet that folds down to the size of a phone? As much as the Z Fold 3 has improved over its predecessors, it's still largely a concept in search of a purpose. And I couldn't escape that underlying conundrum. Yet if you want a tablet that can fold up and fit into your pocket, the Z Fold 3 certainly deserves your consideration. It's the second best foldable phone Samsung has made to date, with the best one being the more practical Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 storage and pricing
US
UK
Australia
Galaxy Z Fold 3 256GB
$1,800
£1,599
AU$2,499
Galaxy Z Fold 3 512GB
$1,900
£1,699
AU$2,649
The Z Fold 3 has nearly all the refinements you could ask for, but it still feels like it's missing a purpose.
Patrick Holland/CNET
A stronger, lighter and thinner Fold
The Z Fold 3 takes on the same design and form as the Z Fold 2, albeit with a bunch of improvements. For some, the best improvement might be the $200 drop in price from the $2,000 the Z Fold 2 cost. Most of the phone's upgrades are more iterative, small touches that add up to a more refined package overall.
For instance it's lighter than the previous Fold, which I noticed as soon as I picked it up. But it's still one of the heaviest phones I reviewed this year. It's thinner and more svelte than the Z Fold 2, but still one of the bulkiest phones I have ever tested.
It seems more durable. Obviously, I only had a couple of weeks with the Z Fold 3, so I can only be hopeful that the improvements I noticed span the life of the phone. The metal in the frame and hinge is reinforced and you can feel that extra tensile strength when you hold it, fold it and interact with it. The folding screen, hinge and body feel more like a single uniform whole instead of being separate features. The 7.6-inch main screen still has a crease but it doesn't bother me in the least. You could nitpick it if you want, but the iPhone's notch is far more of an eyesore.
The Gorilla Glass Victus-clad cover screen now has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate that matches the main display and looks lovely. The Z Fold 3 has water resistance and can be submerged up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet), which is truly remarkable for a folding phone.
Using an S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a blast
One indication that Samsung is confident about the Z Fold 3's durability is that it sells a sharp pointy stylus for you to use on the screen. It's as if Samsung is saying, "We're no longer worried about your fingernails making indentations on the main screen. Go ahead and try out an S Pen."
In my time using the S Pen with the phone, the screen looks just like it did when I took it out of the box. And that's on top of all the times I folded and unfolded it, shoved it in the pockets of my jeans and threw it in my backpack along with whatever else was in there.
Samsung made two versions of the S Pen for the Z Fold 3: the S Pen Fold Edition, which lacks Bluetooth and costs $50; and the S Pen Pro, which has Bluetooth and costs $100. Both have a retractable tip that helps reduce wear and tear on the screen. I only got to try out the S Pen Fold Edition and I noticed that the tip rarely retracted all the way. Instead, it seems to relieve some of the pressure I put on the screen when I draw or write. There's a small arsenal of S Pen tricks such as hover to magnify, which activates when the S Pen is just millimeters away from the screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the first foldable phone that supports the S Pen.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The cover screen doesn't support either new S Pen which is a bummer because there's no way to jot a quick note or a doodle without opening up the Fold. And if you have an old S Pen, you can't use it with the Z Fold 3.
As much fun as it is to use an S Pen on that giant vibrant screen, the Fold in no way replaces the inherent convenience that a Galaxy Note provides. The Fold doesn't let you quickly make a note. And there isn't a place to store the S Pen. It would be nice if you could magnetically attach the S Pen to the Fold 3's hinge in the same way you can attach an Apple Pencil to an iPad Pro. I should note that Samsung sells a bundled S Pen Fold Edition and phone case that stores it along the hinge for $80.
Under-display camera selfies and Zoom calls on the Z Fold 3
There are two, technically three, selfie cameras -- let me explain. You can take a selfie with the hole-punch selfie camera in the cover screen. Or you can flip the cover screen down, use it as a live preview and take a selfie with the main rear camera. Or you can use Samsung's first ever under-display camera, which is mostly hidden behind the main screen.
Out of the three options, the one that is the most curious is the under-display camera. The part of the display in front of the camera has fewer screen elements and translucent wiring. At certain angles or when brighter colors are on the display, you can see the part of the screen where the camera is. Think of this camera setup like looking through a window that has blinds on it.
The front-facing camera in the main display of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (white screen) is housed in a hole-punch cut out. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 uses an under-display camera. Notice the tiny octagon shape in the green leaf wallpaper on the Fold 3's main display.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The under-display camera is only 4 megapixels, which isn't a lot, but that lower resolution helps it see through or around those screen elements. Samsung also uses AI processing to improve the image quality. I took selfies with all three options on the Fold and, no surprise, the photos from the under-display camera looked the worst. Indoor selfies look highly processed and outdoor snaps in good lighting do not look much better.
The under-display camera is intended for video calls and works fine for them. On the few video calls I made using it, people on the other end said that they didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
I took selfies with the different cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. From left to right, here are selfies from: the main rear camera, cover screen camera and under-display camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
But let's go back to why there is an under-display camera. The idea is to reduce visual distractions on and around the display. There isn't a notch. There isn't a hole punch. Instead, you either see nothing (yay!) or when bright colors are displayed, you see a tiny glittery octagon that I found to be more distracting than something like a hole-punch camera. At this point, the benefit of having a screen free of visual interruptions isn't worth the tradeoffs from this under-display camera.
Z Fold 3 has B+ cameras at an A+ price
Despite all of the improvements to the phone's hardware, the cameras are one area that largely remain the same. In terms of quality and performance, they are a step behind the camera systems found on phones like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra. These are good cameras and for most people the photos and videos they capture with them will be fine.
There are five cameras on the Z Fold 3: the aforementioned under-display camera, the cover-screen selfie camera and a triple camera array on the "back" with a main wide-angle camera, an ultrawide-angle camera and a 2x optical telephoto camera that now has optical image stabilization. In bright lighting, photos look good. Digital zoom up to 4x magnification has minimal image deterioration. If you go past 6x, photos look less stellar and have softer details. Night mode on the Z Fold 3 is solid, but compared to the S21 or S21 Ultra, images look soft. Take a look below at a few photos I took with the new Fold.
The camera hardware didn't change, but the Z Fold 3 gets a new image signal processor thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chip.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Under good lighting, the Fold can capture great photos.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Notice how it handles the highlights in the clouds and the details above the windows of the cream-colored building.
Patrick Holland/CNET
There is something about the perspective of Samsung's ultrawide cameras that always gets me.
Patrick Holland/CNET
This was taken with the 2x telephoto camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
A beautiful day yields some perfect views. Look at the highlights and shadows in the clouds.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Night mode on the Fold 3 isn't quite to the level of the Galaxy S21, but it's still impressive.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Images look bright and are mostly free of image noise, even from the ultrawide camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Videos are decent, but suffer from image noise in all but the most ideal of situations. Take a look at some videos I recorded with the Z Fold 3 below.
There will inevitably be some people who expect the absolute best cameras on a phone that costs $1,800. I'd argue that Samsung made a smart tradeoff to keep that price under $2,000.
Like the Z Flip 3, the Z Fold 3 is essentially its own tripod. Because of its size and flexibility you can put it nearly anywhere to capture a unique angle or perspective.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 gets multitasking right
On the inside, the Z Fold 3 packs nearly every 2021 Android spec you could want. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM. It runs Android 11 and Samsung's One UI 3. Split-screen apps are more customizable, taking advantage of the larger tablet screen. You can put them side by side, stacked vertically or even have three. You can move each app around and resize their windows. You can also save split-screen app groupings and setups for later.
Like the Z Flip 3, the phone's settings has a section called Labs, which lets you optimize nearly any app for the screen. For example, natively Instagram shows up in a thin vertical aspect ratio with screen space on either side of the app. I went into Labs, and forced it to be displayed across the full screen, which worked well.
Multitasking is fun and customizable on the Z Fold 3. You can save app window layouts to use the same setup again.
Patrick Holland/CNET
A useful trait that the Flip and Fold share is Flex Mode. You can position either phone half open like a mini laptop. Flex Mode gets more support in One UI 3 and there are more apps that can take advantage of it. Some apps just move to the top half of the screen with system navigation and brightness controls on the bottom. Other apps, like for videos and music, place the playback controls on the bottom half of the screen. Not every app is optimized for Flex Mode, but this is a huge step up from the Fold 2. I still would like to see apps go farther and even be designed around Flex Mode. Can you imagine a game designed for Flex Mode?
Galaxy Z Fold 3 has less than average battery life
The Z Fold 3's biggest drawback is its battery life. The dual 4,400-mAh batteries are actually a tad smaller than the ones in the Fold 2. As a result, the Z Fold 3 barely makes it through a day. I imagine that has a lot to do with the combination of 5G connectivity and the fact that there are two screens that run at 120Hz. Screen-on time during my review averaged about three and a half hours, which isn't great. I am still running CNET's battery test and will update this review with the results soon.
The Fold lacks dust resistance. In my use this wasn't an issue. But I recommend being careful if you take the Z Fold 3 to the beach or on a hike or anywhere there's potential for small particles to interact with the phone. This wouldn't be a good phone for Salt BAE.
The screens and finish on the body collect finger smudges easily. I find myself wiping it clean constantly.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are quite the pairing. One is aimed more at the mainstream and the other at early adopters.
Sarah Tew/CNET
A better foldable, but not the best
While I continue testing the Galaxy Z Fold 3, I still question who this phone is for exactly. A phone enthusiast might love all of the technology in the Fold, especially that folding screen. Foldable phones are still at a comparatively early stage, but the lower price offered by the Z Fold 3 and the Z Flip 3 compared to their predecessors shows an effort to make them more accessible. And I hope that's a trend that continues in the coming years. I still hold that most people who want a folding phone will likely want to consider the Z Flip 3 for its familiar flip-phone aesthetic, but if you want that larger tablet shape the Z Fold 3 fulfills that promise.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Fold
