Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review : The Best Foldable Phone Yet?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5  is the latest foldable smartphone from Samsung, released in August 2023, and it’s packed with features that make it a great choice for consumers who want the best of both worlds: a compact smartphone and a powerful tablet. It is a great choice for power users who want the best of both worlds: a compact smartphone and a powerful tablet.

In this review, we will take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, exploring its features, design, durability, and overall performance. By the end, you will have a good understanding of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and whether it is the right phone for you

A New Era of Foldable Phones

A New Era of Foldable Phones

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest foldable smartphone from Samsung, released in August 2023. It’s packed with features that make it a great choice for consumers who want the best of both worlds: a compact smartphone and a powerful tablet. It is a great choice for power users who want the best of both worlds: a compact smartphone and a powerful tablet.

In this review, we will take a closer look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5, exploring its features, design, durability, and overall performance. By the end, you will have a good understanding of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and whether it is the right phone for you.

Let’s take a closer look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s pros and cons, features, design, durability, performance, pricing, and how it compares to other technologies.

Design & build

Finally Improved Hinge Design!

Let’s start with the good news. The new hinge on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a major improvement. It folds flat, which is something that no other foldable phone has been able to do before. This makes the Fold 5 much more pocketable and easier to use. The hinge is also more durable than the previous generation, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking as easily.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s design is a masterpiece in itself. The foldable form factor not only provides a unique aesthetic but also enhances functionality. When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the size of a traditional smartphone. But when unfolded, it transforms into a tablet-sized device with a large 7.6-inch display. This makes the Galaxy Z Fold 5 extremely versatile. You can use it as a traditional smartphone for everyday tasks, or you can unfold it for more immersive experiences, such as watching videos, gaming, or working on documents.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 still has some of the same flaws as its predecessors. The screen crease is still visible, and it’s even more noticeable on the Fold 5 because the screen is larger. The body of the phone is also still pretty chunky, especially compared to other foldable phones like the Honor Magic V2.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a step in the right direction for foldable phones. It’s more durable, lighter, and has a better hinge than the previous generation. However, it still has some flaws that need to be addressed before it can be considered a truly great phone.

Galaxy Z Fold 5

VS

Honor Magic V2

I’m still hopeful that Samsung will continue to improve its foldable phones in the future. With a few more tweaks, the Galaxy Z Fold could be the perfect phone for people who want the best of both worlds: a large tablet and a compact phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: Displays

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has two displays, each with its own unique purpose. The 6.1-inch cover screen is perfect for everyday tasks like checking your email, making calls, and browsing the web. It’s also great for watching videos or playing games when you’re on the go.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has two displays: a 6.1-inch AMOLED display on the outside and a 7.6-inch AMOLED display on the inside. Both displays have a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes for a very smooth and fluid experience. The 7.6-inch display is especially impressive, as it’s one of the largest and most immersive displays on a smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: Battery & Charging

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 4,400mAh battery, which is the same size as the battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This is a bit disappointing, as many people were hoping for a larger battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 does have a more power-efficient processor, so it is possible that the battery life will be better than the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra still has the largest battery in the lineup, with a whopping 5,000mAh battery. This means that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 may not have as long of a battery life as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially if you are using the phone for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s battery should still be able to last for a full day of use on a single charge for most people.

Fast Charging, Any Way You Want!

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the ultimate phone for people who are always on the go. With its fast charging capabilities, you can always stay connected without worrying about battery life.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 supports 25W wired charging, which means you can get a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. That’s fast enough to get you through a long day of work or play.

If you don’t have a cable handy, you can also use the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s 15W wireless charging. This is a bit slower than wired charging, but it’s still plenty fast to get a charge in a reasonable amount of time. If you want to share your battery with another device, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 also supports 4.5W reverse wireless charging. This is perfect for charging your smartwatch or wireless earbuds on the go.

No matter how you choose to charge your Galaxy Z Fold 5, you can be sure that you’ll be up and running in no time. So whether you’re a busy professional or a student on the go, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the perfect phone for you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: Specifications & Performance

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is the latest and greatest mobile processor from Qualcomm. It is a 4nm chip with eight cores, including one Cortex-X2 core clocked at up to 3.36 GHz, three Cortex-A710 cores clocked at up to 2.52 GHz, and four Cortex-A510 cores clocked at up to 1.80 GHz. The Z Fold 5 also has 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

This combination of hardware makes the Galaxy Z Fold 5 one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. It scores very well in benchmarks, and it is able to handle even the most demanding tasks with ease.

In my testing, I found the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to be very fast and responsive. I was able to switch between apps quickly, and I didn’t experience any lag or stuttering. I also played a few demanding games on the phone, and they all ran smoothly.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s large screen is also great for productivity. I was able to easily split the screen to work on two things at once, and I found the large screen to be very useful for multitasking.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s performance. It is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market, and it is perfect for anyone who wants a phone that can handle even the most demanding tasks.

Here are some of the specific things I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s performance on:

• Opening and closing apps
• Switching between apps
• Multitasking
• Playing graphics-intensive games
• Editing videos and photos
• Using the large screen for productivity

In all of these tests, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 performed flawlessly. It was fast, responsive, and never lagged or stuttered. I was very impressed with how well it handled even the most demanding tasks.

Galaxy Z Fold 5: Camera 

A Closer Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s Camera System

The camera system of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a delight for photography enthusiasts. The triple-lens setup, headlined by a 50MP primary sensor, produces stunningly detailed images with excellent dynamic range. The camera performance is similar to the Fold 4, so there are no major improvements. However, It’s not the best camera system on the market, but it’s definitely good enough for most people.

I’ll take a closer look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s camera system and see how it performs in different lighting conditions. I’ll also share some sample photos that I took with the Fold 5.

The 50MP Main Camera

The 50MP main camera is the star of the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s camera system.The 50MP main camera uses the same hardware as the standard Galaxy S23: an f/1.9 shooter with a 1/1.56-inch image sensor.

It takes stunningly detailed images with excellent dynamic range. I was particularly impressed with the way the camera handled shadows and highlights. Even in backlit scenes, the Fold 5 was able to retain detail in both the shadows and the highlights.

The 12MP Ultrawide Camera

The 12MP ultrawide camera is also very good. It captures sweeping landscapes without distortion, and the skies are properly exposed. In low light, the ultrawide camera suffers from soft images like most phones, but it’s still usable. 

The 3X Telephoto Zoom Lens

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 3X telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 76mm. This is slightly shorter than the 102mm focal length of the telephoto lens on the Galaxy S21/22/23 Ultras. However, the Fold 5’s telephoto lens is still capable of taking sharp photos with good detail at 3X zoom. The image quality starts to degrade at 10X zoom and beyond.

The Selfie Cameras

The Fold 5 has two selfie cameras, but I’d recommend using the one on the outside cover screen over the inner selfie camera. The inner camera is a measly 4MP shooter, buried underneath screen pixels, resulting in grainy photos. The “main” selfie camera is better, but it’s still not great. The images are soft and lack detail, especially in low light.

Here are some sample photo’s that was taken with the Fold 5’s 5 camera. 

Overall, Fold 5’s camera system is adequate for most people. However, if you’re looking for the best possible camera experience, you’ll be better off with a different phone.

The Ultimate Multitasking Machine

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the ultimate multitasking machine. With its large, expansive display and powerful processor, you can run multiple apps simultaneously without any lag. Whether you’re working on a presentation, editing a video, or just browsing the web, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 can handle it all.

The Multi-Active Window feature is the real star of the show. It lets you open up to three apps at once, and you can even resize and move them around the screen however you like. This is perfect for getting more done in less time. For example, you could be working on a document in one app, while simultaneously checking your email in another app, and keeping an eye on your calendar in a third app.

The One UI 4.0 software is also optimized for the foldable form factor. This means that you can easily switch between apps and screens, and everything just works seamlessly. The S Pen support is also a great addition, and it makes note-taking and precise interactions a breeze.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great phone for a variety of tasks, including:

• Multitasking: The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s large displays make it easy to multitask with multiple apps.
• Productivity: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great phone for work, as it can handle even the most demanding tasks.
• Entertainment: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great phone for entertainment, as it can be used to watch videos, play games, and read books.
• Creativity: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great phone for creativity, as it can be used to take notes, draw, and edit documents.

Here are some specific examples of how you can use the Galaxy Z Fold 5 for multitasking:

• You can use the Multi-Active Window feature to work on a presentation in one app, while simultaneously checking your email in another app, and keeping an eye on your calendar in a third app.
• You can use the S Pen to take notes while you’re watching a video, or to draw sketches while you’re brainstorming ideas.
• You can use the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as a mini laptop, with the cover screen serving as a keyboard and the main screen as a display.
• You can use the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as a gaming console, with the large main screen providing a great immersive experience.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the ultimate multitasking machine, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to get more done in less time.

Galaxy Z Fold 5: S Pen Support

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 also supports the S Pen, which is a great stylus for taking notes, drawing, and editing documents. The S Pen is especially useful on its large displays, as it allows you to interact with your content in a more precise and natural way.

Pricing

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is priced at $1,799, a $200 price drop from its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. While this is a significant price reduction, the Fold 5 is still a premium device, positioning it in the luxury segment of the market. This could be a barrier for some potential buyers, but the technology and innovation packed into the device may justify the price tag for some.

Who is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 Best Suited For?

Its is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a powerful and versatile foldable phone that can do it all. It’s also a great choice for people who want a unique and stylish phone. However, the Fold 5 is not the most affordable phone on the market, so it may not be a good choice for people on a budget.

Galaxy Z Fold 5: Comparison to other foldable phones

The Z Fold 5 is one of the best foldable phones on the market, but it faces competition from other devices like the Huawei Mate Xs 2 and the OPPO Find N. These phones offer similar features and performance, but they come at different price points.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Samsung Fold 5 is a top-of-the-line device that is sure to meet the needs and expectations of tech-savvy individuals. it is also expensive, may not be durable for everyone, and some apps may not be optimized for the foldable design.