Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is here! Samsung, a pioneering force in the foldable phone market, has consistently dominated sales charts with its impressive offerings. However, the competition in this innovative space has been steadily increasing, with companies like Huawei, Honor, and Oppo introducing their own compelling foldable devices.
In response, Samsung has risen to the challenge and revealed its latest innovation in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, aiming to solidify its position as a leader in the industry in 2023.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 keeps pushing boundaries
Introduced at a prestigious Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea, theSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 stands as a testament to Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of foldable technology. Though some may argue that the Fold 5 represents a minor iteration compared to its predecessor, its new hinge and enhanced internals significantly elevate the overall user experience. Despite facing competition in terms of outright innovation, Samsung’s strategic advantages, including a vast distribution network and compelling trade-in deals, ensure that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 maintains a competitive edge.
Design and display
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 bears a resemblance to its predecessors, but subtle refinements set it apart from its predecessors. Notably, the slim and flexible Flex hinge allows the device to fold completely flat, addressing the issue of dust settling on the inner screen that had plagued previous foldable models. Moreover, the redesigned hinge contributes to a more comfortable grip, and the device itself is lighter and slimmer, weighing in at 8.92oz and measuring 0.53 inches when folded.
Samsung has also made notable changes to the rear design, relocating the LED flash outside the camera bump, and accentuating the protruding cameras with silver rings. An exciting departure from the norm is the replacement of the traditional green shade with a stunning Ice Blue option, accompanied by the classic Black and Cream colors, with Blue and Gray exclusively available through Samsung’s online store.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 maintains its IPX8 water-resistant certification, ensuring protection against water damage. However, dust resistance is notably absent from this flagship device, which sets it apart from some of the best Android phones.
In terms of the display, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 retains its predecessor’s dimensions, featuring a tall (23.1:9) and compact 6.2-inch AMOLED panel with a 48-120Hz refresh rate and HD+ (2316×904) resolution for the cover display. The main 7.6-inch QXGA+ folding screen boasts up to 30% increased brightness and a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, which significantly improves outdoor visibility. To enhance durability, Samsung has incorporated a new shock dispersion layer and redesigned the back for the main display.
Moreover, to alleviate concerns about potential damage to the display, Samsung offers a one-time free internal screen protector replacement, along with a one-time display replacement discount for accidental damage.
It is worth noting that Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 does not come with a dedicated S Pen slot like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Users who wish to use an S Pen will need to invest in one of Samsung’s cases with an S Pen holder.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 represents an iterative upgrade over its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, with notable improvements in its internal specifications. The device now houses Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ‘for Galaxy’ processor, offering a slightly higher clock speed of 3.36GHz for the main Cortex-X3 core. Samsung’s partnership with Qualcomm ensures top-tier performance, and the inclusion of faster UFS 4.0 storage options in 256GB and 512GB configurations further enhances user experience.
Samsung has also paid attention to thermal management, employing a beefier cooling solution to dissipate heat more effectively during intensive tasks and extended gaming sessions. This, combined with the Snapdragon chip’s improved efficiency, promises a favorable impact on the Fold 5’s battery life. The device retains a 4400mAh battery capacity and supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, offering convenience and speed in power top-ups.
Connectivity features remain consistent with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, supporting Bluetooth 5.3, faster 5G speeds, Wi-Fi 6E, dual-SIM with eSIM support, USB Type-C 3.2, and NFC. However, unlike the iPhone 14 series, the Fold 5 lacks satellite connection capabilities.
Software and user experience
As is customary with premium Galaxy devices, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 debuts with One UI 5.1.1, based on Android 13. This specialized skin incorporates foldable-specific enhancements, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience. Among these improvements are a new two-handed drag-and-drop gesture for seamless content movement between apps, easier switching of pop-up apps into split-screen mode, and enhanced app previews in the Recent apps screen. The Taskbar has also undergone enhancements, displaying up to four recently used apps.
Existing Galaxy Fold users will receive the same enhancements through an update to One UI 5.1.1 shortly after Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s release. Samsung’s commitment to long-term support is evident, with the device guaranteed to receive four years of Android updates and five years of security patches, ensuring its relevance and security until July 2028.
Camera performance
While Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts an impressive array of features, some may be disappointed that Samsung opted not to introduce major camera-focused upgrades in this iteration. The device retains the same camera setup as the Galaxy Z Fold 4, featuring a 50MP f/1.8 primary camera with OIS, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto shooter. The under-display 4MP camera and 10MP f/2.2 selfie shooter on the cover display also remain unchanged.
The camera features offer 4K@60fps and 8K video recording, 3x optical zoom, up to 30x digital zoom, AI-based object detection, and the ability to capture high-resolution 50MP photos. Though the faster ISP of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ‘for Galaxy’ chip may improve image quality in some scenarios, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 does not boast significant camera-specific enhancements compared to its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Release date and price
The highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 was announced alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5 during the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26th, 2023. Pre-orders began immediately, and the devices are set to hit retail stores on August 11th, making them readily available in major markets and through various carriers.
Taking advantage of pre-order deals will allow customers to enjoy a free storage upgrade, obtaining the 512GB configuration at the price of the 256GB model. Furthermore, trading in an existing Galaxy Fold can lead to savings of up to $1,000 on the new purchase, making Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 an attractive proposition for both new and existing Samsung users.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 may not showcase groundbreaking innovations, but its refined design, upgraded specifications, and enhanced user experience make it a strong contender in the fiercely competitive foldable phone market. With its extensive distribution network and customer-oriented deals, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 is poised to maintain its position as one of the leading players in the foldable phone revolution of 2023.
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