Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

Trade in Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

In 2019, Samsung introduced the original Galaxy Fold, marking the debut of a phone with a flexible display (excluding contenders like the Royole Flexpai). Despite its notable shortcomings, the potential was evident. In the subsequent years, Samsung refined its flagship foldable, incorporating features like IPX8 water resistance, enhanced durability, and native stylus support. However, more recently, the pace of innovation has gradually decelerated, with iterative enhancements outnumbering significant upgrades on the specification list. The same pattern applies to the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: While several enhancements, such as the brighter primary screen, are certainly welcome, they tend to feel somewhat redundant. Even the primary change for 2023 – the introduction of Samsung’s new Flex hinge – doesn’t substantially alter how the device is utilized; it merely contributes to a slight reduction in thickness. Given the ongoing price tag of $1,800, it appears that Samsung’s Z Fold series, and perhaps the foldable category as a whole, might be encountering a wane in momentum.

The Design and Display of the Z Fold 5

Remaining faithful to the fundamental blueprint of its predecessors, the Z Fold 5 adheres to the same framework. It features a slender yet elongated external Cover Screen and opens up to unveil a spacious main display, equipped with a fingerprint sensor embedded within its power button. The notable modification this year is the introduction of Samsung’s Flex hinge, which is constructed on a two-rail internal structure. This novel hinge not only boasts a smaller size compared to its predecessors but also eradicates the gap between the phone when closed.

Score: 86

Pros

• New Flex Hinge
• Elimination of gap
• Enhanced performance
• Additional multitasking gestures
• Impressive battery life
• Brighter main screen

Cons

• Considerably expensive
• S Pen sold separately
• Camera setup remains unchanged
• Still relatively bulky

This is a feature that Z Fold users have long been requesting since the original iteration. Beyond the slimming of the phone to a mere 13.4mm, the elimination of the gap also diminishes the possibility of dust or debris infiltrating and damaging the sophisticated flexible screen. However, the benefits don’t end there. Samsung’s Flex hinge introduces a new waterdrop-shaped crease that minimizes stress on the display, enhancing long-term durability. Furthermore, it aids in securing the factory-installed screen protector in place, resolving an issue from previous models.

The updated hinge also enhances the device’s usability and grip. The slender hinge fits more comfortably in the hand when the phone is closed and ensures a smoother opening motion. It’s a development that perhaps should have arrived earlier, considering it’s the fifth generation of the device. In parallel, Samsung managed to elevate the main display’s brightness to 1,750 nits, on par with the S23 Ultra and surpassing the Pixel Fold’s brightness of 1,450 nits. Consequently, while Google’s foldable boasts a commendable flexible display, the Z Fold 5’s takes it up a notch. Its size and orientation are perfect for reading ebooks or perusing comics, and in my opinion, Samsung’s flagship foldable is the ultimate choice for indulging in Marvel Snap. The utilization of a stylus for drawing or note-taking is still feasible, and the Z Fold 5’s new S Pen is 40 percent thinner than its predecessor. However, as the phone still lacks a designated space to house the stylus when unused, opting for one of Samsung’s new Slim S Pen cases is likely a prudent choice.

Performance and multitasking on the Z Fold 5

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The model from the previous year demonstrated respectable speed; however, with the incorporation of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, the Z Fold 5 has elevated its performance even further. In conventional benchmarks, it showcased significantly higher multicore scores in Geekbench 6 compared to the Pixel Fold (5,362 versus 3,226). The Z Fold 5 offers a remarkably responsive experience, and when engaged in gaming, the graphics and animations achieve a remarkably smooth quality. This indicates that if you belong to the category of power users who prioritize abundant speed irrespective of the task, the Z Fold 5 outshines the Pixel Fold. The latter’s Tensor G2 chip allocates a greater share of its processing power to AI functions.

Samsung has also bolstered mobile productivity through three notable improvements. A new gesture has been introduced to expedite the transition into side-by-side app mode: by swiping in from the screen’s side using two fingers, you can promptly switch to dual-pane mode. Alternatively, transforming a full-screen app into a windowed one is as simple as diagonally swiping downward from either of the top two corners. Both of these gestures are immensely practical and user-friendly. However, it’s important to note that they aren’t enabled by default; you’ll need to activate them within the Advanced features section in the settings.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Another notable update is evident in the Z Fold 5’s taskbar, now capable of showcasing up to four recent apps, an enhancement from the previous limit of two. This seemingly straightforward alteration effectively leverages the ample width of the Z Fold 5’s expansive main display. Nevertheless, a minor drawback I have is that the expanded taskbar and the introduction of additional gestures are realized through software updates, making the acquisition of an entirely new device seem somewhat unnecessary. In comparison, the Pixel Fold adopts a more streamlined multitasking approach. Nonetheless, Samsung’s desktop-like taskbar remains the prime choice for individuals seeking to use their phone with PC-like functionality. It’s important to mention that Samsung’s convenient Dex mode is also preserved.

Camera Performance on the Z Fold 5

In terms of camera capabilities, the Z Fold 5 employs the same imaging configuration as its predecessor: a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom located on the rear. Additionally, there is a 10MP front-facing camera and an extra 4MP camera positioned beneath the main display. When evaluated individually, these cameras exhibit proficiency in capturing excellent images across a diverse range of environments. However, when one takes into account that the S23 Ultra comes at a $600 lower price point and boasts a 200MP primary sensor as well as a 10x optical zoom lens, Samsung’s most expensive phone finds itself in a rather unusual position.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Adding to the complexity of the situation is the fact that the Pixel Fold incorporates a longer zoom capability (5x vs 3x) and superior overall image processing. In my assessment, this attribute positioned the Pixel as the more skillful camera in a variety of scenarios.

Under well-lit conditions, the Z Fold 5 excelled at capturing images, adhering to Samsung’s characteristic color profile characterized by richness and saturation. The drawback, however, is that this occasionally led to a minor loss of intricate details, occasional overexposed highlights, and slightly less precise color rendition. Conversely, in low-light settings, Samsung’s Night Mode effectively heightened exposure while minimizing undesirable side effects. Nevertheless, owing to Google’s Night Sight feature, photographs from the Pixel Fold often exhibit a slightly brighter and sharper quality. This discrepancy is evident in an example, where an image of nighttime flowers was captured; the Z Fold 5’s image showcased more vibrant colors but failed to capture some of the nuanced petal textures.

Gallery: Sample Images from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Camera | 9 Photos

Battery life on the Z Fold 5

Examining the battery performance of the Z Fold 5, it’s notable that despite possessing a smaller battery capacity compared to the Pixel Fold (4,400 mAh vs 4,800 mAh), the Z Fold 5 manages to deliver longer battery life. In our video rundown test, Samsung’s device exhibited endurance, lasting for 19 hours and 48 minutes with its primary display, and an impressive 23 hours and 10 minutes with its Cover Screen. In both scenarios, the Z Fold 5 outperformed the Pixel Fold, which achieved times of 15 hours and 22 minutes on its internal screen and 22 hours and 21 minutes on its external panel.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The charging speed of the Z Fold 5 has remained consistent, featuring 25-watt wired charging, 15-watt wireless charging, and 5-watt power sharing, also known as reverse wireless charging. While this configuration is functional, it’s worth noting that the more affordable S23 Ultra offers a superior option, capable of reaching up to 45 watts when connected.

Is the Z Fold 5 a Worthy Buying?

Speaking as an optimistic advocate of foldable devices who has owned the past three iterations of Samsung’s flagship flexible phone, my inclination is favorable towards the Z Fold 5. It boasts enhanced speed and a sleeker design, along with a brighter primary display and extended battery life compared to its predecessors. However, a pertinent question arises: How much should we anticipate in terms of refinements and updates from a device now in its fifth generation?

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Z Fold 5 has undergone significant maturation since its initial conceptual release in 2019, and the introduction of Samsung’s new Flex Hinge marks a noteworthy milestone eagerly anticipated by enthusiasts like myself. However, in the grand scheme of things, there isn’t a plethora of new capabilities the phone offers that it didn’t possess previously. It appears somewhat leaner, as though the preceding model has been diligently working out over the past year. Yet, with a persistently high price point, I find it challenging to believe that the Z Fold 5 possesses enough allure to win over individuals who haven’t already embraced the concept of foldable devices.

Source: Engadget