Unfolding the Future: A Comprehensive Review of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a high-end foldable smartphone that continues the company’s lead in the foldable market. However, it’s worth noting that it faces stiff competition from other manufacturers such as Google with its Pixel Fold. Despite these competitors, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 manages to hold its ground due to its unique features and capabilities.
Design and Build
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 introduces a new hinge that allows the phone to fold completely flat, reducing its thickness by 2.4mm compared to its predecessor, the Z Fold 4. This results in a slightly thinner and lighter device. However, the difference in weight and size does not significantly affect the user experience, as the device is still considered chunky and relatively heavy Source 0.
The design is largely similar to the Z Fold 4, with a long and skinny outer screen and a larger inner screen. While the outer screen dimensions remain the same, the inner screen offers a peak brightness of 1750 nits, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight Source 0.
Despite the improved design, the Z Fold 5 still lacks dust resistance, which is a significant drawback. Additionally, the phone is still quite heavy, weighing 13 grams more than an iPhone 14 Pro Max and 80 grams more than a standard iPhone 14 Source 0.
Performance and Software
The Z Fold 5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which handles gaming and lighter tasks efficiently without getting too warm. The phone is also equipped with the latest flagship Qualcomm processor, although Samsung hasn’t made any significant changes to the performance Source 0.
Samsung’s software updates for the Z Fold 5 are minimal but useful. They allow for easier organization of apps on the homescreen and improved multitasking capabilities. The Fold 5 supports a multi-window view, which enables users to run multiple apps simultaneously Source 0.
However, the Z Fold 5 often feels more powerful than the mobile ecosystem it operates in. It’s occasionally hampered by buggy Android tablet apps and mobile web experiences. For instance, the Gmail app on the Z Fold 5’s inner screen looks great, but it lacks the ability to select all messages in an individual Gmail tab, unlike the desktop interface Source 0.
Camera
The Z Fold 5’s camera hardware is decent but not exceptional. It uses the same triple rear camera array that Samsung has been using in recent generations of S-series phones, featuring a 50-megapixel stabilized main camera, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide. The 4-megapixel under-display camera is adequate for video calls, provided you’re in a well-lit location Source 0.
Durability and Price
The Z Fold 5 is IPX8 rated, indicating resistance against full water immersion. However, it’s not dust resistant, and using the phone in a dusty environment is not recommended. The phone’s long-term durability is still uncertain Source 0.
As for the price, the Z Fold 5 is quite expensive, with prices starting at $1,599.99 for the 256GB variant. This puts it above the budget for many potential customers and is even higher than the Pixel Fold, which starts at $1,299 Source 1.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a high-quality foldable smartphone with several advanced features. However, its high price tag and lack of dust resistance are significant drawbacks. Despite these issues, the Z Fold 5 holds its own against competitors like the Pixel Fold due to its superior software support and multitasking capabilities. Whether it’s the right choice for you depends on your specific needs and budget.