Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: The best foldable phone

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Techhub24 verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a top choice for those seeking a high-end foldable phone. Its innovative design, powerful performance, versatile camera system, and productivity features make it a standout device in the market. Whether new to foldable phones or looking to upgrade, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers a premium and durable experience. echhub24 verdict

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PRONS	CONS
+Lighter and thinner	-Narrow front display
+Improved multitasking	-Very expensive
+Strong cameras	-Not dust resistant

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The flagship model in Samsung's foldable phone series is the Galaxy Z Fold 5. This newest model, released in late July 2023, has a sleek hinge design and is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU overclocked specifically for Samsung smartphones. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers the Galaxy S24 series and may be utilized in next-generation Fold models, is the result of this fruitful partnership with Qualcomm.

Even if the little improvements in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 might not convince owners of the Z Fold 4 to convert, it's still a great option for those new to folding phones. Offering a high-end and durable experience, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great starting point for those looking into foldable smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Design

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 shows significant improvements in foldable smartphone design. Released in late July 2023, it boasts a sleek and lightweight build, weighing just 8.9 ounces, making it comfortable to carry and use daily.

The new Flex hinge design allows the phone to fold completely flat and has fewer moving parts, making it more durable and reliable. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is thinner than its predecessor, measuring 0.53 inches thick when folded and 0.24 inches when unfolded. It's also IPX8 water-resistant, meaning it can handle being submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes.

The camera bump is less noticeable now, with the flash positioned to the right of the three lenses. The phone comes in three colors: Cream, Phantom Black, and Icy Blue. The Icy Blue version looks vibrant, while the Phantom Black offers a more professional look.

While the phone doesn’t have a built-in slot for the S Pen, the pen itself is smaller, and the case is slimmer. This feature could still use some improvement, but overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers a premium experience for those new to foldable phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Display

The new Galaxy Z Fold 5's display won't look all that different to those familiar with earlier Galaxy Z Fold models. The exterior still features a 6.2-inch cover screen. The phone. has a 7.6-inch primary screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz when you first open it.

Samsung has maintained the panels' dimensions and form, which has led to a tall outer display. Samsung has opted to maintain the form of the Z Fold, but some users prefer the Pixel Fold's broader outside display since it is simpler to text on.

The inner screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has been brightened to a maximum brightness of 1,750 nits, which is the primary modification to the device's display. This is comparable to the Galaxy S23 Ultra's brightness. This indicates that using the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in direct sunlight should be comfortable.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Performance

As expected before launch, Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU powers Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5. This version, like the one in the Galaxy S23 series, has an overclock. Benchmarks from the Galaxy S23 Ultra indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will outperform many other Android phones, except those that also use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 It's interesting to note that, according to our benchmarks, several Android phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors beat the iPhone 14 Pro in graphics tests. We're interested to see if this pattern is maintained with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Battery Life

With a 4,400mAh battery, Samsung has maintained the same capacity for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as it did for the Z Fold 4. This weighs 30 grams less than the 4,727mAh battery of the Pixel Fold, although it is still somewhat smaller.

My experience supported Samsung's claims that the Z Fold 5 had all-day battery life, with 15 hours or more of use on average each day. 'Super Fast Charging' from Samsung is compatible with the phone; it takes 30 minutes to charge the battery to 50%. 

Be aware that the phone only comes with a USB-C connection and no charging adapter; thus, to get the fastest charging rates, you will need to buy a 65W or 45W converter separately.

The Z Fold 5 also supports wireless Power Share and is compatible with  Qi wireless chargers. By stacking compatible earphones or smartwatches on top of one another, you may use this capability to transfer battery power between Samsung devices. The phone's settings may be used to activate this. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Camera System.

With its amazing and adaptable camera arrangement, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is ideal for a range of photographic applications. Its 10 MP selfie camera on the cover screen makes it easy to take clear, colorful selfies. When the smartphone is unfurled, the 4MP camera on the main screen helps take fast pictures and make video calls. The rear camera array includes three powerful lenses:

12MP Ultra-Wide Lens: Ideal for capturing expansive landscapes, architecture, and group shots. This lens allows you to fit more into each frame, ensuring stunning wide-angle photos.

10MP Telephoto Lens with 3x Optical Zoom: Perfect for getting closer to distant subjects or capturing portraits with a beautifully blurred background. The 3x optical zoom ensures that you can achieve detailed close-ups without compromising on image quality.

50MP Wide-Angle Lens: The primary camera, offers high-resolution images with accurate colors, excellent exposure, and a wide dynamic range. This lens is great for everyday photography, ensuring photos are crisp and vibrant.

One of the standout features of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is its compatibility with the S Pen Fold Edition. This stylus allows for remote camera control, making it easier to take selfies, record videos, and capture group photos without having to hold the device. You can also use the S Pen for precise editing and annotation, adding another layer of functionality to your photography and overall device usage.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s camera system is versatile and powerful, catering to a wide range of photographic needs. Whether you're taking selfies, capturing wide landscapes, or zooming in on distant subjects, this device has you covered. The addition of the S Pen Fold Edition further enhances the user experience, making the Galaxy Z Fold 5 a top choice for those who value both innovation and performance in their smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Productivity and multitasking

With its remarkable multitasking skills, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 lets users run up to three apps at once. With the addition of new gestures, Samsung has enhanced multitasking capabilities. Users may now slide in from the left side of the screen with two fingers or swipe up from the bottom to open a second app.

The four most frequently used applications and pinned favorites are now displayed in the taskbar. Creating a floating window by swiping diagonally down from the top right of the main screen is one of the additional multitasking options. This is helpful for applications like Spotify and YouTube. It is possible to drag and drop objects with two hands, for example, by choosing an object in a picture and using the other hand to open the messaging app. 

With controls and menu choices at the bottom and the primary information shown at the top, users may use the phone like a little laptop while in Flex mode. The Z Fold 5 can be made to function like a little Chromebook by attaching it to a display and turning on DeX mode.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: Conclusion

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a premium foldable phone launched in late July 2023. It features a sleek, lightweight design with a Flex hinge for easy folding and an IPX8 rating for water resistance. The phone comes in three colors: Cream, Phantom Black, and Icy Blue, and it lacks a built-in slot for the S Pen. The display size is a 6.2-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch main screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The inner screen now has an increased brightness of 1,750 nits, comparable to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, the Z Fold 5 promises top-tier performance, rivaling even the iPhone 14 Pro in graphics performance. Its 4,400mAh battery offers all-day usage and supports 'Super Fast charging', reaching 50% in 30 minutes. The phone also supports wireless PowerShare and Qi wireless chargers.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a versatile camera setup, including a 10 MP cover-screen selfie camera, a 4 MP main-screen camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, a 10 MP telephoto lens, and a 50 MP wide-angle lens. The S Pen Fold Edition enhances the camera experience for remote control and precise editing.

The Z Fold 5 excels at multitasking, allowing up to three apps to be on screen simultaneously. New gestures, Flex mode, and DeX mode further enhance productivity, making it a mini laptop or a mini Chromebook when connected to a monitor.