Samsung has been rocking the foldable phone market for a few years now. With its latest cutting-edge devices that offer a unique take on smartphones, they’re changing the landscape when phones are starting to look the same.
Along with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest addition to their flagships, and it comes with upgrades and features that could make it one of the best foldable flip phones available right now.
Let’s find out if the latest clamshell-type foldable is flipping fantastically.
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Pricing and Availability: How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 cost in the UAE?
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was announced on July 26, 2023, and is expected to be released shortly after. It will be available in Mint, Graphite, Lavender and Cream. There will also be some exclusive colours on Samsung’s website, so watch out for that.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be available with 8GB of RAM and two storage options which are 256GB and 512GB. Pricing starts at AED 3,899. However, Samsung is running a pre-order promotion where you get double the storage. So for AED 3,899, you get the 512GB version.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | |
| Display | 6.7 inches, Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | 6.7 inches, Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Cover Display | 3.4 inches, Super AMOLED, 720 x 748 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+) | 1.9 inches, Super AMOLED, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB or 512GB | 256GB or 512GB |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12MP, f/1.8 (wide) 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | Dual 12MP, f/1.8 (wide) 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 10MP, f/2.4 (wide) | 10MP, f/2.4 (wide) |
| Battery | Li-Po 3700mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 25W Wired Fast Charging 15W Fast Wireless Charging | 25W Wired Fast Charging15W Fast Wireless Charging |
| Water Resistance | IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Frame Material | Armor aluminium frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance | Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance |
| Size (Unfolded) | 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm | 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm |
| Size (Folded) | 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm | 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9 mm |
| Weight | 187 g | 187 g |
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a head-turner with its sleek and stylish design. Since it’s classified as a flip phone, it has a clamshell form factor allowing it to fold in half to fit in your pocket or purse.
As a foldable phone, it needs a robust hinge to open and close easily, and the Z Flip 5 delivers. Since it’s a Samsung flagship, you can expect the best craftsmanship with a glass back and a matte finish to give it that luxurious feel.
Display
With the clamshell design, it’s reasonable to think how Samsung has put in two different displays on the Z Flip 5. No matter which screen you’re looking at, you can expect sharp and vibrant visuals that pop out, as expected from a Samsung.
You’ll enjoy a smooth, immersive viewing experience on the phone’s main 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen. It has a 2640 x 1080 pixels resolution with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for sharper and crisper pictures.
Since we’re looking at a foldable phone here, yes, the main display of the Z Flip 5 easily bends in half without breaking or cracking. It has a protective layer of ultra-thin glass making it durable and scratch-resistant.
There’s a crease in the middle, but Samsung has taken the necessary steps to reduce it compared to the Z Flip’s previous iterations.
On top of the main display, the Z Flip 5 also has a cover display which has received a big upgrade this year, which is 3.4 inches in size now. That’s much larger than the 1.9-inch screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 but small than the latest Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, which measures 3.6 inches.
Camera
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with an impressive camera system. Now, it’s not as comprehensive as the Galaxy S line; you can still capture amazing photos and videos in just about any situation.
This phone has a dual rear camera setup that consists of a 12MP primary camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens for those wide shots. An 8MP telephoto camera is also perfect for zooming in on faraway subjects.
Opening the clamshell, there’s also a 10MP front or selfie camera you can use as a webcam for Zoom meetings.
An interesting feature of the Z Flip line is that you can use the smaller cover display as a viewfinder whenever you take selfies using the primary camera. This way, you can take advantage of the higher quality of the rear camera.
Performance
You can expect outstanding performance from the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as a flagship. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it can handle virtually any task you throw at it. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, you can expect smooth operation with any app and task.
It runs on Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 ensuring a smooth and intuitive performance in all the different ways you’ll use the phone.
Battery and Charging
The phone utilizes a 3700mAh battery that can last you throughout the day of moderate use. If you are streaming or doing light work on it, expect to plug in with the 25W fast charging.
You can charge the phone from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. It’s not as fast as other fast charging technology in the market, but it should be enough to get you into decent levels as quickly as possible.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Reviews
In this review by Mrwhosetheboss, he looks at the unique form factor and features of the newly-announced Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. The phone stands out with its significantly improved hinge design and covers screen from its predecessors.
Samsung has upgraded the cover screen, which enhances its customizability features. Now, you can add widgets on the front display to give you more information than previous models.
Marques Brownlee focuses on the several upgrades that Samsung has included on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip provides added power for different apps and activities. It also has a more durable hinge, allowing the phone to fold completely flat.
He also examined the larger outside screen that makes the phone much more functional, even when closed. However, there are some aspects that Samsung didn’t bother to update from the previous model.
In Dave2D’s review, he highlights the significant improvements with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. The star of the show is the larger front-facing display that now measures 3.4 inches from the 1.9 inches of the Z Flip 4.
He also marvels at the improved hinge that reduces that crease allowing the phone to fold completely flat. Despite these improvements, Dave mentions that the phone’s price remains high.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Alternatives
After Samsung released its first Z Flip phone, other manufacturers followed suit. Now, they’re not the only foldable device in town, and here are some of the alternatives you can get:
The Oppo Find N2 Flip is a clamshell foldable phone with a slightly larger primary and cover screen than the Z Flip 5. It offers more storage options with OTG, making it more versatile than Samsung.
The Motorola Raze 40 Ultra has that nostalgic design inspired by the original Razr flip phone. It has a similar main display to the Z Flip 5 but has a smaller cover screen. The camera system is not as refined as it only has one rear camera and another one on the front.
A foldable phone with an exquisite design, the Huawei P50 Pocket is an option to consider. Its True Chroma display gives it a wider gamut making it an excellent phone for creatives. Its advantage is its better camera system with four lenses, including a periscope camera.
It does not have a front camera on the main screen and does not support Google services and apps.
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a unique and versatile phone in a world of ever-evolving devices. From the stylish design, stunning display, and impressive camera system, the Z Flip 5 is more than a novelty device.
That being said, Samsung has some good competition in this space- especially in the form of the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, which is priced similarly. If you were to choose a high-end foldable flip phone today, it would be one of those two. Motorola has a larger external screen and a more stock Android UI while Samsung has a faster processor and will probably fare better with cameras.
