Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 represents the next step in the evolution of foldable smartphones. With each new iteration, Samsung refines its foldable design, and the Z Fold 5 is no exception. 

Offering powerful performance, a sleek design, and unmatched multitasking capabilities, this phone is poised to be a game-changer for those looking for a premium, innovative smartphone experience. Here’s an in-depth look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Design & Build Quality

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts a premium design that is both sleek and durable. When folded, the phone is compact and easily fits into your pocket, with a smooth, matte finish on the back. The hinge, which has long been a focal point for foldable devices, has been further refined in this version, making it even more robust. Samsung’s new Flex Hinge design allows the Z Fold 5 to close almost completely flat, eliminating the gap that existed in previous models.

While the phone is slightly thinner than its predecessors, it still maintains a solid and premium feel, thanks to the combination of gorilla glass and aluminum. Despite being a foldable phone, the Z Fold 5 feels remarkably sturdy in the hand. The screen durability has also been significantly improved, with a protective PET film coating the internal display to resist scratches.

The device is rated IPX8 for water resistance, which means it can survive immersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. However, it is still not rated for dust resistance, so caution is needed when exposed to dirt or sand.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 features a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display when unfolded, delivering a stunning resolution of 2176 x 1812, making it one of the best large displays available on any smartphone. The colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and the high peak brightness ensures that it performs well even under bright sunlight.

What truly sets the Z Fold 5 apart is the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which provides a super-smooth experience when navigating through apps, scrolling through social media, or gaming. The display’s responsiveness is excellent, ensuring a premium, lag-free experience, and it can adapt to different types of content by adjusting the refresh rate to optimize battery life.

When folded, the 6.2-inch cover display also offers an AMOLED panel, providing an excellent experience for quick interactions like checking notifications or responding to messages. The cover screen has been designed with a 120Hz refresh rate as well, ensuring a smooth experience even when the phone is closed.

Performance

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which provides top-tier performance across all tasks. Whether you’re gaming, editing photos, multitasking, or running heavy apps, the Fold 5 handles everything with ease. The device features 12GB of RAM, which ensures smooth performance even when multiple apps are running at once.

App switching is fluid, and thanks to Samsung’s One UI, the software has been optimized for the unique form factor of the Fold 5. The multi-window support is exceptional, with the ability to run three apps simultaneously, making multitasking more efficient than ever.

Whether you’re opening documents, watching videos, or playing resource-intensive games like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG Mobile, the Z Fold 5’s performance is consistent and top-notch, with no stuttering or overheating issues. For power users, the 12GB of RAM and the advanced chipset ensure that the phone is future-proof for the next few years.

Camera System

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with a triple-lens camera system that performs admirably across a variety of shooting conditions. The main camera consists of a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This setup ensures that you can capture detailed, high-quality photos in most situations, whether you’re shooting wide-angle landscapes or zooming in on distant subjects.

The primary camera delivers sharp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range, while the ultra-wide camera captures stunning wide shots with minimal distortion. The telephoto lens allows for clear zoomed-in shots without sacrificing detail, something that’s often a challenge with other foldables.

The 10MP front camera on the cover screen provides solid selfies, but it’s the selfie camera under the main display (also a 10MP sensor) that stands out when the device is unfolded, offering clear, detailed shots when you need it. 

Additionally, the camera system benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing software, including features like Night Mode and Super Steady for smooth, shake-free video recording.

For video, the Z Fold 5 supports 4K recording at 30/60fps, which delivers sharp, professional-looking footage, and the Director’s View lets you switch between the different lenses in real-time while recording.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes equipped with a 4400mAh battery, which is a slight increase compared to its predecessor. The battery life is impressive considering the large, power-hungry displays and the high-performance hardware under the hood. You can expect a full day of moderate use, with some users even getting through a full day with more intensive usage, thanks to Samsung’s battery optimization features.

The 25W fast charging ensures that the device can be charged up quickly, with the ability to charge the phone to about 50% in just 30 minutes. The device also supports wireless charging, as well as reverse wireless charging, which is useful for charging accessories like Galaxy Buds or other Qi-compatible devices.

Software & Features

The Z Fold 5 runs One UI 5.1.1 based on Android 13, which has been optimized for foldable devices. Samsung has made significant improvements to the software to enhance the multitasking experience. With features like App Continuity, apps automatically switch between the cover screen and the main display without interrupting your workflow.

The Flex Mode lets you fold the phone at various angles and interact with the screen in a split-screen configuration. This is ideal for video calls, media consumption, and productivity tasks. The software integration with Samsung’s DeX mode enables a desktop-like experience, allowing you to use the Z Fold 5 like a PC when connected to an external monitor.

Samsung’s continued support for app optimization for foldable displays is another highlight, with many apps adapting to the larger inner screen, making the experience feel cohesive and fluid. The multi-tasking interface allows you to run up to three apps simultaneously on the large unfolded display, a feature that truly leverages the foldable form factor.

Price & Value

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is priced starting at $1,799.99 for the base 256GB variant. While this puts it in the premium segment, the device offers excellent value for those who are looking for a cutting-edge, foldable phone that’s both functional and future-proof. The high-end features, premium design, and incredible multitasking capabilities justify the price tag for those who value innovation in their smartphone experience.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a leap forward for foldable smartphones. With its powerful performance, stunning displays, refined design, and versatile camera system, it sets a new standard for what a foldable device can be. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a multitasker, or someone who wants the latest and greatest, the Z Fold 5 delivers an experience unlike any other phone on the market.

While the high price point may be a barrier for some, the Z Fold 5 offers unrivaled flexibility and innovation, making it one of the most exciting phones of the year. If you’re ready to embrace the future of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is an exceptional choice.