Samsung has released its latest smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold5, which offers a series of refinements and software tweaks over its predecessor, the Z Fold4. The device comes in three colors – Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream. I had the opportunity to review the Icy Blue variant of the Z Fold5, which arrived in a sleek box that notably lacked a power adapter. The package included a USB Type-C data and charging cable, a SIM card ejection tool, and a safety manual. Additionally, my loan unit came with the new Fold case, which is 27% slimmer and includes the S-Pen.
Upon taking the Z Fold5 out of the box, I immediately noticed its premium feel. The device is 10g lighter and more compact than its predecessor, thanks to some minor tweaks by Samsung. One significant improvement is that the Z Fold5 now folds completely flat, eliminating the gap that used to gather dust and debris on the Z Fold4. The new phone measures only 13.4mm at its highest point, compared to the Z Fold4’s 15.8mm. This change makes a noticeable difference, especially from a design standpoint. Additionally, the Icy Blue shade does an excellent job of repelling fingerprint smudges.
The hinge of the Z Fold5 features the Samsung logo, which is concealed when the phone is unfolded. Unlike previous versions, the logo is now printed rather than embossed, giving it a less premium appearance. The folding mechanism itself feels more rigid and durable, providing a satisfying experience when opening and closing the phone.
The Z Fold5 boasts two impressive displays. The cover screen measures 6.2 inches diagonally and is an AMOLED display. It is suitable for most tasks, although the keyboard can feel cramped, leading to more typos. The main display is a stunning 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The main display offers a QXGA+ resolution of 2176 x 1812 and a pixel density of 374ppi. The cover display, on the other hand, has an HD+ resolution of 2316 x 904 and a pixel density of 402ppi. Both displays support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, with the main display now capable of reaching a peak brightness of 1,750 nits.
In terms of cameras, the Z Fold5 features a triple rear camera setup, which offers the same specifications as its predecessor. While I didn’t have a Z Fold4 to compare, I expect the camera performance to be similar. The device also includes a 10MP selfie camera on the cover screen and a 4MP in-screen camera on the main display. However, the selfie camera still needs improvement, often leading users to opt for the cover screen or rear cameras for better results.
Under the hood, the Z Fold5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which provides impressive performance. In comparison to the Z Flip5, which also uses the same chipset, the Z Fold5 performed much better during stress testing benchmarks. This is likely due to the Z Flip5 reducing power to manage heat, while the Z Fold5 maintained its performance. However, it did not perform as well as the RealMagic 8S Pro, which features active cooling and an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
The Galaxy Z Fold5 is available for pre-order now and will go on sale from August 11th. The starting price for the device is €1,999, and it can be purchased through Samsung’s website and select partners.
