Samsung made waves with the announcement of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 at its Unpacked event on July 26th. This cute, pocketable flip phone stole the show alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6 series, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series. While the other devices offered minor updates, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 took it to the next level. Some things we adored about the Galaxy Z Flip 4 remain, but the Galaxy Z Flip 5 brings exciting changes that make it the ultimate upgrade.
Let’s compare the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 4, to uncover the amazing enhancements and help you decide if it’s time for an upgrade.
Z Flip 5 vs Z Flip 4: Design and build
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 boasts an exquisite design and offers a wide array of 75 stunning color options, all with an elegant matte finish. Its horizontal fold and sleek stainless steel edges exude a sense of premium craftsmanship. Although it doesn’t fold completely flat, leaving a slight gap next to the hinge, and its external display is not the largest among flip folding phones, I’m genuinely happy with the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
On the back, alongside the external display, you’ll find two camera lenses. Inside, there is an inner display featuring a centrally placed punch hole camera at the top. While the water resistance is rated at IPX8, indicating its resilience against water, do note that it is not dust-resistant. Moreover, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 incorporates a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, setting it apart from other flagship non-folding phones that opt for under-display sensors.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5, on the other hand, shares a similar design with its predecessor but brings several noteworthy improvements. Samsung claims that it is 25% stronger than its predecessor. The hinge has also been redesigned to allow for a completely flat fold, eliminating the gap seen in the previous model—an admirable trait also found in the Oppo Find N2 Flip.
However, like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 still carries an IPX8 rating, meaning it is not dust-resistant. This is something to consider, especially when using it in areas that are dusty. The most significant change, however, lies in the external display, which is significantly larger than that of the Z Flip 4 and considerably more functional. More details on this will be discussed shortly.
Internally, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a centrally placed punch hole camera, similar to the Z Flip 4. It also retains the physical fingerprint sensor and the dual camera setup on the rear. While it maintains a sense of familiarity, it brings about notable differences compared to its predecessor.
Z Flip 5 vs Z Flip 4: Displays
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that unfolds to reveal a centralized punch hole camera at the top. With a pixel resolution of 2640 x 1080 and a pixel density of 425ppi, the flexible plastic surface is protected by ultra-thin glass (UTG). The device also boasts an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, ensuring a smooth viewing experience based on your activities.
The display delivers excellent brightness and overall performance, complemented by the innovative Flex Mode, which allows you to conveniently use the phone while it is partially folded.
On the back, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is equipped with a 1.9-inch AMOLED cover screen, offering a resolution of 512 x 260 pixels and a pixel density of 302ppi. Although primarily designed as an information screen, it includes useful features such as a camera viewfinder and widgets for weather and alarms.
Moving over to the Galaxy Z Flip 5, it features a new and larger cover display. While the internal display remains consistent with the Galaxy Z Flip 4, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2640 x 1080 and an aspect ratio of 22:9, the external display has nearly doubled in size.
The 3.4-inch external display surpasses that of the Oppo Find N2 (3.26-inch) and offers a resolution of 748 x 720 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 305ppi. This larger external display significantly enhances its usability, providing more detailed information.
Unlike the original Galaxy Z Flip, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 allows customization with images, clocks, frames, and supports notifications, full keyboard replies, and various core and third-party widgets, including SmartThings, Galaxy Buds Controller, and Netflix.
Z Flip 5 vs Z Flip 4: Performance and Battery Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, delivering a smooth and fast user experience. Although it is no longer the latest platform from Qualcomm, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 remains highly capable. The Flip 4 has handled everything I’ve thrown at it with ease.
It offers 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, all of which unfortunately lack microSD support. In terms of battery, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 houses a 3700mAh capacity and supports 25W wired charging, along with 15W wireless charging.
I’ve found the battery life on the Flip 4 to be satisfactory, easily lasting me through a day’s usage with about 8% left. However, the Oppo Find N2 Flip did last me a little longer, but that was thanks to its huge 4300mAh battery.
I'm averaging around 5 to 6 hours screen time on the Samsung Flip 4 from last year, which is okay for a flip phone. This is one area the new Flip 5 is expected to improve on thanks to the efficiency gains from the 8 gen 2. pic.twitter.com/DYwqpJDh63
— Tony Muchiri (@TonyMuchiri4) August 4, 2023
On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is equipped with the upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, similar to the Galaxy S23 series. This time, there are only two variants available, both featuring 8GB of RAM. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the 128GB storage option found in the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has been removed in the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Similarly, there is still no microSD storage option, so if you have a large collection of photos or enjoy taking numerous photos, it is advisable to opt for the larger storage variant. Regarding battery, while it would have been ideal to see an increase in capacity and charging speeds for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, especially considering the larger external display, this was not the case. The Flip 5 retains the same 3700mAh capacity and 25W fast charging.
However, Samsung claims that the upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform will result in improved battery life compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 4. This is something I’ll have to test out once I get the device in for review.
Z Flip 5 vs Z Flip 4: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 boasts a dual rear camera system, featuring a 12-megapixel main camera with 1.8µm pixels and an f/1.8 aperture. Alongside it is a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with 1.12µm pixels and an f/2.2 aperture. The main sensor is 65% brighter than that of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, resulting in vibrant and dynamic photos.
However, its low-light performance is not the best, although it does enhance dark scenes to provide more detail. On the front, there’s a 10-megapixel snapper with 1.22µm pixels and an f/2.4 aperture. It also does not excel in low-light conditions, but the external display can be used as a viewfinder, allowing you to take selfies using the rear camera. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 follows the same camera setup as the Galaxy Z Flip 4, both front and rear.
When it comes to the Flip 5, we have the same dual camera arrangement as the Flip 4 — a 12-megapixel main camera paired with a 12-megepixel ultrawide one. However, Samsung assures that there’s an improvement with the Z Flip 5 because it’s leveraging an AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm that boosts the sharpness and quality, especially those taken under low light.
I will need to conduct a thorough test of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to determine if there are any improvements in terms of processing. For now, I anticipate that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 will deliver similar results.
Z Flip 5 vs Z Flip 4: Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 was officially unveiled on July 26th, with pre-orders starting immediately. Priced at Ksh 193,000 in Kenya, the Flip 5 is slightly more expensive compared to the launch price of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. It comes in standard colors such as Mint, Lavender, Graphite, and Cream, but there are also exclusive colors available on Samsung.com, including Blue, Green, Grey, and Yellow.
Last year, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 was launched with a starting price of Ksh 142,000. It is available both online and in physical stores, and now that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has been announced, you may find it at a discounted price. In fact, at the time of writing this article, the 8/256GB variant of the Flip 4 is going for a discounted price of Ksh 122,995.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a range of color options, including Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, and Blue. Additionally, there is a Bespoke Edition of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 that allows you to customize the front, back, and frame finishes for a unique style, but I doubt you’ll find that variant locally.
How to pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in Kenya
To pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 in Kenya, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official .
- Choose between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 or the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
- Click on the “Buy Now” button, and the selected item will be added to your cart.
- Proceed to checkout by clicking on the “Proceed to Checkout” option.
- Provide your shipping address to finalize and complete your purchase.
By following these steps, you can secure your pre-order for the latest Galaxy foldable smartphones and be among the first to experience their advancements.
The Take Away
The Z Flip 5 brings notable improvements to the design compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 4. One key enhancement is the new flat folding feature, along with a larger and more practical external display.
These upgrades contribute to a better user experience. While some aspects remain unchanged, such as the cameras, RAM, and battery, the mobile platform has been upgraded, promising improved performance. If you’re torn between the Z Flip 5 and the Z Flip 4, the newer model is undoubtedly the superior choice.
However, if you already own the Galaxy Z Flip 4, there is a valid argument for holding off on upgrading, as certain elements are similar. Additionally, opting for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 could save you some money. On the other hand, if you currently have the Galaxy Z Flip 3 or are considering entering the flip phone market for the first time, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the device to go for.
