Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, a best innovation in the world of smartphones. This phone builds with fifth generation of Samsung’s iconic foldable series. it is combination of compact smartphone and best experience of tablet offering the best of both worlds which is recently launched in Aug 2023.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 features an elegant design with a flexible foldable display that unfolds to reveal a large, vibrant screen. It is build with the latest technology for improved durability and performance, ensuring a best user experience. Whether you’re multitasking on the spacious display or capturing beautiful photos and videos with its advanced camera system, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 empowers you to do more, all in a stylish package.
In this article we’ll discuss in depth on the this smartphones features, including its cutting-edge hardware, software capabilities, performance, camera features, battery performance and how it enhances the mobile computing experience. Join us as we explore the future of smartphones with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 5:
| Pros | Cons |
| One UI’s foldable enhancements remain excellent | 25W charging for $1,800 in 2023 is quite expensive |
| unpredictable – battery life | this design is look like a little old |
| What worked last year still works pretty well here | Plenty of potential improvements from the Z Fold 4 left ignored |
| Chassis is slimed down so easily put in pocket | No tangible camera improvements this generation |
NETWORK:
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be available in stores starting from August 11th. You can get it from all the major phone carriers and some smaller ones. You can buy it directly from Samsung’s website either as an unlocked phone that works on almost any network or as a phone tied to a specific carrier. Samsung often has trade-in deals that can save you money, especially if you choose a web-exclusive color. If you’re outside the United States, you can probably get the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in many places, but the exact release dates may vary, so check with local retailers for details
DESIGN and DISPLAY:
When you first look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5, you’ll notice that Samsung decided to keep almost everything about its top foldable phone the same as the previous version. This might make it seem like they’re not making big improvements, but the few small changes they did make actually matter. The most significant change is that there’s no gap between the two parts of the phone when you fold it closed. When I first saw this, I wasn’t too excited because it seemed like the only big change. But after using the phone every day for a while, I can see how this improvement is actually really helpful for users.
One big improvement is that it’s a lot thinner now. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 13mm thick, which makes it slim enough to comfortably fit in your pocket. There are cases for regular non-foldable phones that also make them around 13mm thick, and like those phones, I didn’t find this one uncomfortable to carry around. It also means you can use a case without making the phone way too bulky. With the Z Fold 4, adding a case made it much thicker – it was thicker than some gaming laptops. The Z Fold 5 is still thicker with a case, but it’s not uncomfortably.
The most significant improvement from getting rid of the gap is how much better the whole phone feels. When I go back to the Z Fold 4, which is almost the same in most other ways, it just seems outdated. It’s a bit like when I first tried the Pixel Fold, which is still the thinnest foldable in North America for now. Samsung’s build quality now feels more like their premium Galaxy S23 series than it ever did with last year’s model. The gapless design of the Z Fold 5 means there’s a new hinge, but it hasn’t really changed how I use the phone. It might feel a bit snappier, but that could also be because my Fold 4 has been used for a year. The crease, which is the line you see in the middle of the screen when it’s unfolded, seems less noticeable during regular use, but that might be because the phone is new. In any case, both the hinge and crease are quite similar, unlike some other foldable phones from brands like Motorola or Honor, where these elements might be more noticeable.
If you’re worried about dirt or debris getting stuck between the two sides of the inner screen – a problem we’ve seen with the Pixel Fold – you don’t need to be too concerned. Even though the Z Fold 5 looks gapless, there’s a small space between the two halves to prevent this issue. You can see it if you hold the phone up to the light. Combined with the screen being slightly below the bezel, it’s clear that Samsung has thought about the possibility of small things getting in and is taking steps to prevent damage.
Speaking of issues, it’s important to mention some quality problems that people have had with previous models. If you check out the Galaxy Fold subreddit, you’ll often see posts about screen protectors peeling off or displays breaking unexpectedly. Samsung keeps promising to make their phones more durable with each new version, but it’s still a risk you should be aware of if you decide to buy this (very expensive) smartphone. This might discourage some potential buyers, and honestly, I can understand why. Now, let’s talk about the screens. They are pretty much the same as last year’s model, which is a good thing. The inner screen doesn’t have as many issues with reflections as I noticed on the Pixel Fold. Plus, its maximum brightness has been increased to match what we’ve seen on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so it’s great for using outdoors.
In a world where the Pixel Fold exists, I’d prefer a more comfortable cover display for typing. However, in some ways, I find Samsung’s approach better. Similar to Google’s phone, I often use the Z Fold 5’s main display in portrait mode without needing to rotate it 90 degrees. The slightly uncomfortable outer screen encourages me to use the larger 7.6-inch screen more frequently. Am I just trying to find reasons to justify Samsung’s unchanged design? Perhaps. But using these two phones one after the other made me realize how much more I preferred opening the Z Fold 5 over the Pixel Fold. Considering you’re paying a premium for these big screens, that can actually be seen as an advantage. However, your experience might be different.
HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES:
There are a couple of differences between this new model and the previous one. The speaker grilles are smaller and closer together, but they still sound good to my ears. There are also some new colors to choose from, including a cool Icy Blue shade that can look almost purple in certain lighting. But honestly, that’s about it. Most everything else is the same as the Z Fold 4. Samsung could have made improvements, but they seem to be saving those for next year.
I really wish Samsung had worked on making the under-display selfie camera less noticeable, or just removed it, given its low-quality output. I also wish the side rails of the device had a matte finish or something less slippery. Dustproofing is still on the wish list, and it might be a while before we see that based on recent reports. I’d love to see Samsung incorporate two in-display fingerprint sensors into this phone, although the current embedded power button solution works well enough. I don’t usually talk about specific accessories in phone reviews, but this upgrade is so similar to the previous one that Samsung’s own cases might be worth considering. Since the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is likely to attract users who want to be productive, the S Pen case is probably a must-have, and this is the first year I feel confident recommending it.
I just received my S Pen case to test as I was finishing up this review, so I’ll need more time to share detailed impressions. However, the slim design with a back that can sit flat on a surface already makes this more comfortable to use compared to last year’s model. Inside the box, you’ll find the phone (which still comes unfolded, unlike the Pixel Fold), a SIM tool, and a USB-C cable. Unfortunately, Samsung can’t include any accessories with this $1,800 foldable phone due to environmental concerns.
Software and performance:
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with One UI 5.1.1, which is a slight update to the version that debuted with the Galaxy S23 series earlier this year. These changes mainly focus on improving multitasking and app switching on the device. Most of these improvements are small but useful, like the ability to move a pop-up window into split-screen view using the controls at the top of the app. You can also see up to four recent apps in the taskbar for quicker switching between them.
Overall, One UI 5 on top of Android 13 isn’t a huge departure from what we already know. It wasn’t a revolutionary change from One UI 4 to begin with, and a year later, its strengths and weaknesses are well understood. Personally, I’m looking forward to the future. One UI 6 betas should be arriving soon, with a wider release later this year, and the Z Fold 5 is likely to be among the first devices to receive it. Even if I’ve found most of Android 14’s changes a bit unexciting, Samsung might add some flavor through its custom skin.
We’ll have to wait a few weeks to see what the next version of One UI will look like, so stay tuned for a future review update when this device gets an operating system upgrade. Speaking of updates, Samsung’s standard policy applies here: you can expect four OS upgrades up to Android 17, as well as security patches through August 2028. Samsung has a strong track record of keeping older devices up to date, even better than Google, so I don’t expect that to change in the future. Inside the Samsung galaxy Z Fold 5, you’ll find Samsung’s custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC, which is the same chip used in the S23 series. What can I say about this chip that hasn’t already been said after almost a year of smartphones using it? Qualcomm’s latest chip is excellent, offering a great balance between performance and efficiency. However, unlike the jump from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy S22 series (or the Exynos 2200 in the global model), the previous generation of Samsung foldables already performed well in this area.
CAMERA:
Most of the phone, including the camera lineup, remains unchanged this year, except for a new coating on the lenses to reduce lens flares. So, my assessment is pretty straightforward. The photo quality from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is similar to what we saw from the Z Fold 4; it’s not as good as what you get from phones same as Galaxy S23 Ultra. Even most other Pixels, including the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a, deliver better camera performance. However, the Samsung galaxy Z Fold 5 still takes great photos in most situations.
Daytime photos taken with the main 50MP f/1.8 camera look excellent, although they might be a bit oversaturated, which is a typical Samsung style. To be honest, this wasn’t surprising. The real challenge was with the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, where the Galaxy Z Fold 5 needed to make improvements to compete with its rivals. Unfortunately, it seems like it didn’t quite meet the mark. The 10MP 3x telephoto lens on this phone still feels somewhat limiting compared to the 5x lens on the Pixel Fold, although it can still capture decent shots. The 12MP 123˚ ultra-wide lens is still good for taking the occasional wide group shot, but if you use this mode a lot, you might be better off considering something like the Galaxy S23 Ultra instead.
During a nighttime walk with streetlamps and car lights, the Fold 5 performed reasonably well. You’ll need steady hands to prevent blurriness in your shots – something I struggle with at times – but if you can take a couple of snaps, you’ll usually get a good result. I haven’t had the chance to use this phone in more challenging low-light conditions like in the wilderness at night, but my upcoming vacation might be a good opportunity to see if Samsung has improved its performance in such situations. Last year, low-light shots often appeared muddy, especially when compared to the competition.
Just like with the Fold 4, it’s a better idea to use either the front-facing camera on the cover display or the rear-facing cameras in Selfie Mode rather than relying on the under-display camera on the inner screen. Samsung didn’t make any changes here, so the disappointing quality shouldn’t be a shock. It’s passable for video calls, although I can’t help but think Samsung could have done better. My feelings are similar when it comes to video quality; it’s okay but not particularly impressive in any way. While the cameras haven’t changed much, features like Flex Mode and Selfie Mode help make up for the lack of hardware improvements. These features aren’t new, although One UI 5.1.1 does enhance Flex Mode when shooting in Pro mode. Considering that the Z Fold 5 might be the first foldable phone for many buyers, I think it’s important to highlight these features.
BATTERY:
We’ve noticed some erratic battery performance with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 at TechInfiniteHub. On certain occasions, I’ve achieved almost six hours of screen-on time, which is significantly better than the four to five-hour range we saw on last year’s model, even though both phones have the same 4,400mAh battery. However, on other days, I’ve fallen within that four to five-hour range or even below it. For instance, one day I had just over four hours of screen-on time with 16 percent battery left, but the next day, I had 3.5 hours with 38 percent battery left, despite using the Fold 5 for similar background tasks like listening to music or podcasts. However, this doesn’t take into account the experience of AP’s EIC James Peckham. While I primarily use my device on my home Wi-Fi network, James drove to and from Scotland, using his Fold 5 for navigation and media playback on cellular data, and managed to achieve over seven hours of screen-on time. The only time I approached seven hours was when I charged my phone midday while using Android Auto in my car.
Overall, you can expect similar “all-day, but just barely” battery performance as we saw on last year’s phone. This isn’t surprising, given the same battery capacity and the modest improvements in efficiency between the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. If you plan to stay out late, I recommend charging the phone in the afternoon to avoid a dead battery by midnight. Now, let’s talk about charging…Samsung, this is an $1,800 device. Honestly, I don’t find 45W charging on the Galaxy S23 Ultra particularly impressive, especially since it requires a PPS brick that’s not included in the box. To make matters worse, limiting the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to 25W at this price point is disappointing. In a year where finding new features on this phone is like searching for a needle in a haystack, faster charging should have been an easy win. Instead, you’ll find yourself waiting for the device to charge while phones that cost nearly a third of this one, like the OnePlus 11, have already gone from empty to fully charged.
Should you buy it?
If you’re in the market for a foldable phone, especially in the United States where choices are somewhat limited, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a solid choice. It performs most tasks well, and while there are some minor criticisms, they mostly come from a place of admiration. I enjoy using this phone, and the few changes Samsung made this year have improved it. If you’re transitioning from an older Galaxy S phone or another traditional-shaped device, you’ll likely find a lot to appreciate here. However, I’d advise Galaxy Z Fold 4 owners (and possibly even Galaxy Z Fold 3 owners) to think twice before upgrading, even with trade-in options. The value might not justify the cost, and it could be wiser to save your money for whatever Samsung has in store for next year. I believe Samsung needs to make a significant move to regain its dominance in the foldable market by 2024. The competition is growing stronger, not just with phones like the Pixel Fold or the upcoming OnePlus foldable in the US but also with impressive offerings from Chinese manufacturers like the Honor Magic V2. While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a fine, even great, option for now, it can’t afford to rest on its laurels much longer.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung’s newest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is an excellent choice for people who are new to foldable devices. If you’re just getting into the excitement of foldable phones, this is a refined and solid option. However, if you’re already using a recent Z-series phone or you’re seeking an innovative and cutting-edge foldable, you might be disappointed because the Z Fold 5 doesn’t offer significant advancements in those areas.
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