Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: A Superior Foldable Experience

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Samsung has finally released its book-style foldable for 2023. Once again, Samsung has chosen to make an incremental upgrade, in line with the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3.

The catch is that the Z Fold 5 comes at a higher price of £1749/$1799, despite offering minimal changes. While improvements like enhanced performance and a seamless fold are certainly appreciated, this year has witnessed significant advancements in foldable technology from competitors such as Google, Honor, Huawei, Oppo, and Motorola. The question is whether Samsung has done enough to maintain its position as the leader in foldable devices.

I’ve spent over a week using Samsung’s new large-screen smartphone, and here’s my assessment.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Specifications

Key Features

Spacious Internal Display: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts a generous 7.6-inch foldable display, perfect for enjoying movies and multitasking with split-screen apps.

Impressive IPX8 Water Resistance: While retaining the same level of water resistance as its predecessor, the Z Fold 4, the IPX8 rating on the Z Fold 5 remains one of the best in the foldable phone market.

Versatile Triple Camera Setup: The Z Fold 5 features a triple camera system, consisting of a 50MP primary lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP 3x zoom lens, providing a wide range of photography options for users.

Design & Hinge: Welcome Refinements

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 adheres to Samsung’s tried-and-true formula of minimalistic design with subtle aesthetics rather than flashy appearances. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 5 brings notable changes in its design. It features a redesigned flash LED placement, is 10 grams lighter, and boasts an improved hinge.

The dimensions of the Z Fold 5 have slightly shifted, but it doesn’t feel smaller in hand; however, the new hinge is a noteworthy upgrade. Thanks to the new water-drop style hinge, which has fewer internal moving parts, the phone can now close completely flat, akin to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and other foldable devices on the market.

This puts Samsung in line with its competitors, a change we appreciate. Additionally, this new hinge design reduces the likelihood of dust or smaller particles entering the gap when the phone is in your pocket.

The hinge operation is both smooth and robust, holding the halves securely at various angles during folding and unfolding. While the device may not be as slim as some competitors available in markets outside India, it feels more luxurious in the hand and offers a solid, high-end feel.

In a world where phones are becoming lighter and slimmer, Samsung’s commitment to its form factor is commendable.

When folded, the device is notably tall due to its 23.1:9 aspect ratio cover screen. However, its narrower profile makes it easy to handle with one hand, allowing you to access the entire panel comfortably. When unfolded, like most other foldable phones, it becomes a two-handed phablet and feels lighter due to the even distribution of weight across your palm.

It’s worth noting that unfolding the phone may require some effort since there’s no indent for easy opening. The buttons on the right side function well, with the power button also doubling as a fingerprint sensor, which performs effectively.

Performance & Software

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC, paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The device runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.1 overlaid. The software experience on this device is fluid and responsive.

Camera Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts a triple camera setup on the back, comprising a 108-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. This camera setup is fully capable of capturing stunning photographs.

Price

The starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is £1,749 ($1,799.99/A$2,599).

To put it in perspective, the Z Flip 5 is priced at £1,049, the S23 Ultra at £1,249, the Google Pixel Fold at £1,749, and the Honor Magic Vs at £1,399.99.

Review Summary

Samsung’s fifth-generation folding phone-tablet, the Z Fold 5, boasts a lighter and thinner design, enhanced build quality, and a heightened level of maturity. It remains a pricey investment, a testament to the cutting-edge technology behind its folding screen, requiring careful handling compared to standard phones.

Nevertheless, it stands out as one of the swiftest and most versatile pocket-sized devices, offering impressive battery life and the market’s finest folding display. Samsung’s robust software further distinguishes it, enhancing productivity and optimizing the folding form factor even with apps not specifically tailored for it.

While its cameras fall slightly short of the Google Pixel Fold, the slimmer outer display can make messaging a bit cramped. Overall, the Z Fold 5 is a top-tier folding device, albeit with a substantial price tag.

Pros: Combines phone and tablet functionality, powerful multitasking capabilities, phone-like outer screen, superb tablet display, exceptional performance, extended battery life, water resistance, seamless closure, and reduced weight.

Cons: High price point, increased fragility, expensive repairs, lacks dust resistance, thicker than standard phones, and offers only incremental improvements over the previous generation.

Battery Life

Powering the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a 4400mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. The device delivers decent battery life.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 stands as an exceptional foldable smartphone, offering users an immersive experience. It presents a refined design, robust hardware, and capable cameras, making it one of the premier foldable smartphones in today’s market.

READ MORE

How to Oculus Quest 2 Repair: Don’t Throw Away Your Oculus Quest 2! Here’s How to Fix It