Samsung yesterday officially took the wraps of their new foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 5. Now, looking at Samsun’s new offerings, you may not see a whole lot that screams game-changing. And on paper, that’s mostly true.
The two new Samsung foldable phones spot Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and also come with a new hinge mechanism (Flex Hinge) which enables them to completely shut without a gap. The cameras, battery capacities, and even the software are largely unchanged from their predecessors, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
However, tech specs aren’t everything. iPhone users know this, and Samsung seems to acknowledge this with the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5’s safe, evolutionary updates. However, the good thing about slowing down on chasing the fastest speeds and feeds is that the real-life experience does feel substantially improved — something you can’t convey on a spec sheet.
I had some extended time to try out the new Samsung foldables and while not earthshaking, I’m liking the quality-of-life changes.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Now Comes with a More Usable Cover Display
The Z Flip 5 took center stage at the unpacked event and this was mainly because of it’s large cover display. The cover screen (or Flex Window, as Samsung calls it) has grown from the baby one on the original Z Flip to the latest 3.4 inches, which covers nearly the entire front of the Z Flip 5 when it’s closed.
The idea is to enable users to access more information without unfolding the device. I’m supportive of this whole movement — in whatever form device makers are trying out — as it’s a step towards reducing our dependence on endless scrolling
The inner display is a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz and has a peak brightness of 1200 nits. What this means is, you won’t have any issues using the device under direct sunlight.
Both displays are also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Limited Functionality With The Cover Screen
I had hoped for full-blown Android apps to work right on the cover screen, but it appears support is limited at launch. Samsung’s updated its own cover screen apps with more expressive designs. Basic stuff like the clock, calendar, timers, stocks, and fitness tracking, all look prettier.
Notably, YouTube, Netflix, Google Maps, and Messages are among the few apps that currently work on the larger cover screen, providing enhanced usability. The bigger screen means there’s actually enough pixels to send a message or enter text into an app.
The same goes for looking at maps — it’s still small, but if you just want directions or navigation, I could see it being handy. I’m told there’s an experimental mode that lets you force other Android apps to work with the cover screen, though there could be some formatting or compatibility issues.
Cameras
One of the major advantages of having a larger cover screen is the significant increase in its usefulness as a viewfinder. Unlike the Z Flip 4’s small display, the expanded cover screen on the Z Flip 5 allows for a much better view of the shots taken with the rear cameras.
This is especially beneficial since the rear cameras generally offer superior quality compared to the interior sensors. With the Z Flip 5, users can now see their entire shot before capturing it, making the process much more convenient and efficient. Additionally, users can easily switch between different camera modes and lenses by swiping and zoom in on subjects by pinching the screen.
Although the camera hardware remains largely unchanged, Samsung has made some improvements to enhance the overall photography experience. The primary lens now features a different coating, and certain software tweaks enable improved digital zoom capabilities.
However, on paper, the Flip 5 still features the same 12-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras as its predecessor. Inside the device, the 10-megapixel selfie camera has a slightly larger aperture (f/2.2) compared to the Z Flip 4’s (f/2.4), which should result in brighter and clearer selfies. Yet, without a direct side-by-side comparison, it may be challenging to discern the extent of the difference in image quality.
The pictures I took were sharp and detailed and had nice dynamic range. If you love the saturated look on your photos where the colors pop, you’ll be glad to know that this is what the Z Flip 5 offers.
Aside from the bigger cover display, new hinge, the Z Flip 5 looks and feels pretty darn similar to the Z Flip 4. The straight sides and metal body all feel premium and the new hinge feels sturdy.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: It’s Now Thinner and Lighter
At first glance, the Z Fold 5 looks like an even more mild update than the Z Flip 5, but as somebody who’s tried every iteration of the Z Fold, I can tell you that the thinner and lighter design feels more substantial than it reads on paper.
That’s important because even though the Z Fold 5 only sheds 2.4mm of thickness and 0.36 ounces, holding it in my hand felt less like holding a brick. For a device that you grip in one hand throughout the day and use with two hands to fold and unfold, any hand fatigue reduction compounds. The virtually gap-free folding design should also be good for durability. Nothing’s worse than opening up a foldable phone only to see the screen covered in pocket lint.
Displays
As for the screens, you still get a skinny baton-like shape with a 6.2-inch OLED Cover display along with that big 7.6-inch main display on the inside, both of which sport 120Hz refresh rates.
That main screen’s peak brightness is now the same as what you get on an S23 Ultra at 1,750 nits, which is rather impressive for a flexible display. That said, it still has a crease, though, not as visible, which may be an issue for some.
Cameras
For the optics side of things, we’re essentially looking at the same general setup as on the Z Fold 4. The Z Fold 5 spots a 50-MP main camera, a 12-MP ultra-wide and a 10-MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom. Though, Samsung says it’s added some new processing tricks.
And like it’s smaller sibling, pictures taken were slightly oversaturated, with the sky being overly blue. I get that this is a look most people will love as they don’t have to fiddle around with the editing settings.
Availability and Pre-Orders
The pricing for the Z Flip5 (256GB) starts at Ksh 193,000, while the Z Fold5 (256GB) starts at Ksh 325,000. Samsung has initiated pre-orders for the new devices, starting today. Each pre-order comes with a bundle that includes a Watch 5 for the Fold5 and Buds 2 for the Flip5.
ABSA Credit Card holders have the option to pay for the new gadgets through the bank’s collaboration with Samsung. Payments can be made in three monthly installments, six months, or twelve months. This financing plan is accessible at all Samsung Experience stores. Customers can purchase the devices at Samsung’s experience stores, official retail stores, their brandcart store, and partner e-commerce sites.
Conclusion
I’ll share more detailed thoughts when I’ve got both foldables and put them through their paces, but as for now, while I do wish there were more improvements (especially to the cameras, which are identical to the previous foldables), I’m also understanding that the foldable market is still relatively small compared to non-folding phones. There are still way more people with non-folding phones, and for them, everything in the new Samsung foldables is new, despite it being small steps up in the Z Fold line.
