Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event brought the much-anticipated successor to the Galaxy Z Flip series and created a natural comparison: Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4. With the arrival, many are curious to know how it stacks up against its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
From design and display enhancements to performance and camera upgrades, let’s delve into the key differences between the two devices.
Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4: Price and availability
Surprisingly, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 enters the market at the same launch price as its predecessor, despite significant improvements. Starting at $1,000, the Flip 5 is available for pre-order from July 26 and officially launches on August 11. Both models boast 5G compatibility across major networks, ensuring widespread availability.
If you’re considering the now-replaced Z Flip 4, be aware that its availability might diminish over time, but you can still find new unlocked versions for around $900. Additionally, Samsung offers attractive trade-in deals, allowing you to save up to $700 when swapping your eligible phone for the Flip 4. Similarly, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will likely feature trade-in deals to make upgrading more enticing.
Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4: Specs design, and displays
When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 appears nearly identical to the Flip 4, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED primary display with a 2640 x 1080 resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Both devices boast high-end Samsung panels with vibrant colors and smooth scrolling, ensuring an excellent user experience.
However, the major design and display difference lies in the cover screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 replaces the tiny 1.9-inch cover display of the Flip 4 with a much larger 3.4-inch OLED display. This expanded cover screen offers more functionality, enabling users to access features and app functions without unfolding the device frequently. The 720 x 748 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate on the cover screen enhance its usability and make it a significant upgrade over its predecessor.
Performance and software
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a slight internal upgrade, sporting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, providing improved performance compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Flip 4. While the numerical difference may not translate to substantial real-world improvements, the new chipset ensures smooth app usage and excellent gaming performance, similar to Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The Flip 5 offers 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, more battery-efficient than the LPDDR5 in the Flip 4, though the difference may not be noticeable in everyday use. Software-wise, expect the Flip 5 to launch with the latest OneUI version (OneUI 5.1.1), based on Android 13. Samsung’s refined software experience, coupled with the enhanced cover screen, promises improved usability and customization options.
Battery
Both models house a 3,700mAh battery, with the Flip 5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and LPDDR5X RAM potentially providing slightly better battery efficiency. However, the increased power consumption of the larger cover screen might offset these gains, resulting in comparable overall battery life to the Flip 4. The Flip 5 retains the 25W wired charging capability and reintroduces Wireless PowerShare for added convenience.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Galaxy Z Flip series has been considered one of its weaker aspects compared to the Galaxy Z Fold series. However, the Flip 5 continues the improvements made in the Flip 4, particularly in night photography.
The rear cameras remain almost identical, featuring a 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle primary sensor and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor. The major advantage of using the cameras on the Z Flip series lies in Samsung’s innovative use of the foldable design. The enhanced cover screen on the Flip 5 provides a more enjoyable and valuable camera experience, allowing users to capture selfies without physically touching the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 presents itself as an impressive and appealing clamshell-style foldable phone, with notable enhancements like the larger and more functional cover screen. Priced similarly to its predecessor but offering significant improvements, it positions itself as a strong competitor in the foldable phone market.
For current Galaxy Z Flip 4 users, the decision to choose between Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4 depends largely on their appreciation of the new cover screen, as most of the internal upgrades may not result in a drastically different user experience. Nevertheless, for new buyers looking for an enhanced foldable phone experience, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a compelling choice that promises style, functionality, and cutting-edge technology.
