As seen in the numerous rumours and leaks leading up to Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, there aren’t many changes to this year’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 when compared to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is easily overshadowed by the smaller and more accessible foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 5, which has received more notable upgrades. This year’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, focuses on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and a new hinge design meant to reduce the sharp crease that’s visible on the outgoing Fold and Flip models. I got to spend about an hour with Samsung’s latest productivity powerhouse and here are my first impressions.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings many such refinements, which includes bringing down the weight of the device from the current 263g, to 253g. When folded, the new device is now slimmer by 2.4mm. This is possible thanks to the new hinge design. Samsung claims that apart from making the inner display’s fold look less prominent, the hinge is also more durable to shocks when dropped. The new device is also IPX8 rated like the previous model.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s design appears very similar to the previous model despite packing a new hinge

The two halves of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 now sit nearly flat against one another when folded, as there’s only a minor gap and is not as evident as on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The reduced gap means that its overall thickness when folded is also less, making the Galaxy Z Fold 5 feel slimmer to hold and not as chunky as the previous model.

During my brief hands-on time with the device, I found the hinge to have the same resistance as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 model. It’s still stiff enough to be held at an angle of your choosing and for use with the various Flex-mode related software features.

The rest of its design from the bezels around the 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED cover display, to the inner 7.6-inch QXGA Dynamic AMOLED flexible panel appear very similar to the previous model. Both displays seem identical to the previous model, but the main display has a higher peak brightness of up to 1,750 nits, which is about 30 percent brighter than the previous generation. This should make outdoor viewing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 a lot better than the previous model.

The crease on the main display is still quite noticeable on the Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, which is a slightly customised version of the standard processor. Just like with the Galaxy S23 series, Samsung claims that the new chipset brings several noticeable improvements to the phone’s performance, image quality and battery life.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available in three storage variants, all of which come with 12GB of RAM. There’s a base model with 256GB of storage, one with 512 GB of storage, and a top-end model with 1TB of storage. Samsung says it has also included a bigger vapour cooling chamber which it claims will help provide sustained performance when playing demanding 3D games.

The gap between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s two halves has reduced but is still noticeable

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs Samsung’s One UI 5.1.1 with Android 13, and comes with some added features and improvements. It can now also open apps in floating windows that should help with multitasking. One can now use two fingers to copy and paste data between apps, by holding one finger on the item (in the Gallery app) and using the other to access the second app. Samsung now also lets users access up to four recent apps in its taskbar, located at the bottom of the main display.

Like the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the camera hardware on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 also remains similar to its predecessor. There’s a 50-megapixel primary camera, 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. Selfies are handled by two cameras — a 10-megapixel camera on the cover display and a 4-megapixel camera under the folding display.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers the same cameras as the previous model

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is powered by a 4,400mAh battery, which again is the same as before. It can be charged using a cable at 25W, or wirelessly at 15W.

Samsung has also announced a revised S Pen for the Galaxy Fold 5. It’s called the S Pen Fold Edition and it has a slimmer design which is 40 percent slimmer than the one used for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, the phone does not have a dedicated silo for it which means it will have to be carried separately or with the optional folio case.

Unlike the smaller Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 upgrades can mainly be described as refinements. Whether they add to the phone’s overall value and if it is worthy of an upgrade over the already excellent Galaxy Z Fold 4, is something we know after we have reviewed it.

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Samsung’s foldables are currently at the height of their inventiveness, as evidenced by the iterative updates we’ve received over the past year. That is not a problem, but it does mean there is little to be thrilled about. This year was no different with the July release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. In addition to the customary improvements, including a newer processor, Samsung adopted a modified hinge mechanism that helped reduce the weight and thickness of the phone by a small amount. Although this doesn’t alter the game, it is unquestionably a positive move. Current Galaxy Z Fold 4 owners can easily wait for the next generation and forego this.

Is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 worth upgrading to if you currently own an older Fold phone, though? Here is our review of it after using it for about a month.

Price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in India

Surprisingly, the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the same as that of the previous generation (which is still formally offered for sale in India). You can purchase 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for Rs. 1,54,999. There are two other models with the same RAM capacity but extra storage. Priced at Rs. 1,64,999 for the 512GB model and Rs. 1,84,999 for the 1TB model. Since storage cannot be increased, such alternatives are convenient. The base variant will be adequate for the majority of people. Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream are the available colors.

Samsung’s S Pen is not included with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and must be purchased separately. The S Pen case, which contains a small docking station for the stylus on the back, is the ideal option if you want to do that.

Design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is essentially indistinguishable from its predecessor. Still, if you pay close attention, you can spot subtle differences like where the LED flash is located and the color differences. Because of the front and back glass’s ability to withstand breaking and the aluminum frame, it is still among the best-built horizontally folding phones. The redesigned hinge further decreases the gap, which enables the two parts to fold almost flush with one another. The phone’s water resistance rating is IPX8.

Except for the folding display’s peak brightness, which is now 1,750 nits as opposed to 1,200 nits on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, both displays on the device are comparable to those of the Fold 4. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has the same display specifications as its predecessors, including a 7.6-inch QXGA+ main panel and a 6.2-inch HD+ AMOLED outer display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The new Icy Blue color for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available.

 Both displays create vibrant colors and have good sunlight legibility. The exterior display is excellent for doing fast chores but is still too small to type comfortably. The inner foldable display is best used for multi-app or leisure pursuits like gaming and movie watching. When viewing the display directly, it can be difficult to discern the crease, but it is still fairly noticeable and can be seen at odd angles.

Except for a SIM removal tool and a USB Type-C connector, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with a few included accessories. It does make sense to spend a little extra and purchase the S Pen cover case for this type of smartphone, including the stylus and additional protection.

Specifications and software for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 employs the same specialized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ‘Mobile Platform for Galaxy SoC as the S23 series. It is a capable CPU that uses little power and performs well. 4,400mAh is the same as last year’s battery capacity, yet only 25W cable charging and 15W wireless charging are still supported.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s operating system, One UI 5.1.1, is based on Android 13, and Samsung has promised to provide four significant Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. Many of the software gimmicks from the Fold 4 are still available, including the ability to utilize three applications at once and Flex mode in apps like Google Meet and YouTube. One of the newer enhancements is the ability to display up to four recently used programs in the taskbar. Because the default is still two apps, this must be manually activated via the Settings app.

A necessary accessory for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the S Pen cover.

There is also two-handed drag and drop for situations where you don’t have two programs open in split-screen mode. When you want to copy an image or other item to another app, simply long-press it. Then, with your other hand, you may open the second app’s full-sized version and drop the selected item within.

Battery life and performance of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a flagship that performs flawlessly even when pushed. No matter what programs you use, there is always adequate power, thanks to the large RAM and potent SoC. The SoC-equipped half of the phone vibrates when playing games or performing other demanding duties, but the other half never does. Performance is quite good, whether multitasking or playing games.

The S Pen also performs admirably, although it’s unfortunate that the outside screen isn’t compatible with it, making it unable to take notes or perform any other functions without opening the phone. It’s also important to remember that the Z Fold 5 only supports the unique “S Pen for Fold” edition of the stylus. Thus, the S Pen for ordinary S series phones (like the S23 Ultra) won’t function here.

When the phone is folded in half, supported apps can be used in flex mode.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 had strong benchmark results, scoring 14,13,684 points in AnTuTu and maxing out a few graphics tests in GFXBench while delivering 120 frames per second in the T-Rex test suite.

Even with moderate to heavy use, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 can give more than a day’s battery life while having the same capacity as last year’s model. It performed admirably for 19 hours 53 minutes while doing our battery loop test on the primary foldable display, which is excellent.

Cameras from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5

The hardware of the camera has stayed the same. Three rear cameras—a 50-megapixel wide, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with a 3X optical zoom (up to 30X total zoom)—are available on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. A 4-megapixel under-display camera is in the folding display, and a 10-megapixel selfie camera is on the outside screen. Due to its poor quality for taking pictures, the latter is mainly useful for video calls. Samsung could have chosen to use larger sensors and improved optical zoom as it did with the S23 Ultra, but doing so would have likely resulted in a thicker phone, which is not what you want in a foldable.

Examples of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s daylight cameras

Given the technology, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 does a fantastic job with stills and videos. Daytime photos offer good color clarity, and HDR is handled nicely. Although finer details blur at zoom levels over 20X, telephoto performance remains outstanding. The standard shooting options are available, and Portrait mode produces images with well-defined foreground and background separation. The phone does a great job of balancing the shadows and highlights, even in dim lighting. When it counts, night mode is incredibly efficient.

Samples of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cameras

Additionally, good selfie cameras are the ultra-wide and side ones. While the ultra-wide lens does an excellent job of removing barrel distortion during the day, photos might still appear grainy in low light, especially when using the Night mode. When you’re in a rush, the selfie camera’s quality is respectable, but for the greatest results, I suggest using the back cameras. When taking films during the day, they are well-stabilized and appear appealing. As long as there is a sufficient amount of ambient light, low-light videos are also acceptable.

Verdict

Given that the price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 1.5 lakh rupees, you should pause and consider its usefulness before making your purchase. It is, without a doubt, the greatest phone for someone obsessed with productivity or mobile gaming. If you are certain that you will be using this form factor and are willing to put up with the drawbacks of using a smartphone in this way, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

However, it might not be the most convenient to live with for many consumers. People who acquire the phone purely for the novelty or bragging rights may later regret their choice. Folding and unfolding the phone can become a chore very quickly. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the next best option if you still want to spend this kind of money but prefer something less difficult to live with. It has considerably better cameras and supports the S Pen as well. You might also have a peek at the brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Max. We are now testing it and should have a conclusion very soon.

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