Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Playing it safe

Samsung has been leading the foldable phone market for a few years now. Its latest flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is the realization of all its efforts.

The latest model comes with a host of improvements over its predecessor. It has a more durable design, especially the hinge. It also gets an under-display selfie camera and S-Pen support.

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Pricing and Availability: How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cost in the UAE?

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is set to be announced on July 26, 2023, and released shortly after that. It will be available in Beige, Black, and Light Blue. There will also be some exclusive colours, so watch out for that.

If you’re keen on getting one of the best foldable devices, expect prices to range from AED 6,799 for the 256 GB variant and AED 7,249 for the 512 GB variant. 

Samsung is currently running a promotion in the UAE offering double the capacity, meaning you pay AED 6,799 for the 256GB version but get the 512GB version instead or pay AED 7,249 for the 512GB version and get the 1TB version.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Specs

	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Display	7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main screen with 2,176 x 1,812 pixels resolution and a 1Hz-120Hz variable refresh rate	7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main screen with 2,208 x 1,768 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate
Cover Display	6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover screen with 2,316 x 904 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate	6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover screen with 2,268 x 876 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate
Dimensions (Folded)	155.3 x 67.1 x 6.6 mm	158.2 x 67.8 x 6.4 mm
Dimensions (Unfolded)	155.3 x 131.4 x 6.6 mm	158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm
Weight	254 g	263 g
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
RAM	12 GB	12 GB
Storage	256GB and 512GB	256GB and 512GB
Rear Cameras	50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto	50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto
Front Cameras	10MP under-display	10MP under-display
Battery	4,400mAh	4,400mAh
Operating System	Android 13	Android 12
Other features	IPX8 water resistance, S Pen support	IPX8 water resistance, S Pen support

Design

The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s design is similar to its predecessor, the Z Fold 4, with some subtle improvements. One of those changes is it’s thinner and lighter, weighing 254g and measuring 6.5mm thick.

Most importantly, it has a refined hinge mechanism allowing smoother folding and unfolding.

The Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back provide excellent scratch and crack protection wrapped around an Armor aluminium frame for durability. Additionally, the phone is rated IPX8 water-resistant, which means it can survive up to 1.5m underwater for 30 minutes.

Display

The main attraction of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is its foldable display. It’s a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 1812 x 2176 pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The stunning display produces vibrant colours with sharp details. It comes with an adaptive refresh rate technology that adjusts depending on the content on your screen, saving battery life.

Compared to previous iterations, the display is more durable thanks to the new protective layer that Samsung has installed. It’s 80% stronger, preventing the screen from damage from everyday use.

There’s also a cover display, a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 904 x 2316 pixel resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This screen is useful when your device is folded so you can still use it like a traditional smartphone. 

Camera

True to the Galaxy line, you can expect to get premium cameras on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. It has three cameras on the back, an under-display on the main screen, and one on the front.

The main rear camera is a 50MP with an f/1.8 aperture for that shallow depth-of-field shots. There’s also a 12MP telephoto camera with an f/2.4 aperture with 3x optical zoom to get far away subjects into better focus. Lastly, there’s a 12MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field of view for those wide-angle shots.

The rear cameras can also record 8K videos at 24fps or 4K at 60fps with HDR10+ support. 

Opening the phone, a 4MP under-display camera is hidden on the main screen, allowing you to take selfies when needed. It also makes an excellent webcam for video conferencing sessions.

If you’re looking for quality selfies, go for the 10MP cover camera on the front. It can take decent-quality selfies, especially in good lighting conditions.

Performance

Powering a phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 takes a bit of muscle power. And, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the phone should be able to handle any task or game without any performance issues.

The phone has 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants. Choose wisely, as there is no microSD card expansion slot.

The performance of the Z Fold 5 is further enhanced with Android 13 with the One UI 5.1, as Samsung has improved and optimized it for foldable devices. It allows you to use up to three active apps on the main screen in split-screen mode or pop-up windows.

You can even drag and drop content between apps or use App Continuity to switch between the main and cover displays seamlessly. The phone also supports Samsung DeX, allowing you to use it similarly to a desktop or Chromebook with an external display, mouse, and keyboard.

Battery and Charging

Since the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a large footprint, there’s enough room to squeeze in a massive battery, clocking in at 4,400mAh. This is not comparable to tablets, but it can still extend the battery life compared to the Z Fold 4 thanks to its adaptive refresh rate technology and a more power-efficient chip.

The batteries can last a full day of moderate use without plugging in. Fast wired charging is included in the feature list up to 25W, which roughly translates to around 40% in 30 minutes.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Alternatives

The Oppo Find N2 is a premium foldable phone that rivals the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Although it’s from a previous generation, it’s an option to consider if you’re not into using Samsung devices.

The Huawei Mate X3 is another foldable phone instead of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It’s not as fast but offers similar features to Samsung’s devices. It does come with Leica-branded optics for those stunning image and video quality. Its clear advantage is its 66W fast charging, which can replenish the batteries up to 50% in only 15 minutes.

You can expect similar performance numbers with the Honor Magic VS. The downside of this device is that the UI is not as refined as Samsung’s, so it can get clunky and confusing. It also doesn’t have robust software support compared to Samsung, so any bugs are not updated right away.

Other first looks and video reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Galaxy Z Fold5 is significantly lighter and more optimized compared to previous iterations, with a nearly non-existent gap between the panels and a sturdy hinge.

MKBHD thinks the Samsung Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 have minor updates and improvements compared to last year’s models, but they still offer a safe and good option among folding phones available.

Dave2D is of the opinion that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 have significant improvements in functionality, design, and hinge technology, making them more enjoyable and comfortable to use, although they still come with a high price tag.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is not just about the hardware. While Samsung hasn’t made huge strides with the design or hardware, the Korean manufacturer currently has the best software for foldable phones that makes it stand out.

This year, the S Pen support adds functionality and creativity. But the design is starting to look a little old, and the phone is more expensive, making it inaccessible to most consumers.

However, if you can afford it and appreciate its features, it’s one of the best foldable phones. With Samsung’s continuous refinements every generation, it pushes the boundaries on what smartphones can do and offer a glimpse into the future.