Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: What’s New and How It Performs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: What’s New and How It Performs

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest iteration of Samsung's popular foldable smartphone series, continuing to push the boundaries of mobile technology with its innovative design and cutting-edge features. In this article, we will explore what’s new with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, how it performs, and why it stands out in today’s competitive smartphone market.

1. Design: Evolution of the Foldable Experience

Bigger and Better Cover Screen

One of the most noticeable upgrades in the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is its larger cover screen. Samsung increased the external display from 1.9 inches in the Z Flip 4 to a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED screen in the Flip 5. This significant change transforms the outer display from a mere notification panel into a highly functional secondary screen. Users can now access a wide range of apps directly from the cover screen, including messaging, music controls, and even basic settings.

The increased cover screen size also opens the door for more customization, allowing users to personalize their screen with widgets, wallpapers, and shortcuts, making it not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

Slimmer Hinge and More Durable Build

The Z Flip 5 comes equipped with an improved Flex Hinge, which allows the device to fold more seamlessly. Samsung has focused on reducing the crease visibility when the phone is unfolded, an issue that has been a talking point for foldable devices. The hinge mechanism has been reinforced, ensuring smoother folding and unfolding actions while improving durability.

Moreover, the device maintains an IPX8 water resistance rating, which means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This durability ensures that users can take their phones on more adventurous outings without the constant worry of water damage.

Enhanced Color Options

Samsung continues to embrace the importance of personalization by offering the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in a variety of colors. The base colors include Graphite, Lavender, Cream, and Mint, while exclusive colors like Gray, Blue, Green, and Yellow are available for those who purchase directly from Samsung.

2. Display and User Experience

Main Screen: Bright and Responsive

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 reveals a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience, whether you’re scrolling through apps or playing games. The HDR10+ support delivers stunning visuals with vibrant colors and deep contrasts, making media consumption an immersive experience.

The foldable form factor continues to be the defining feature of the Galaxy Z Flip series, offering users a unique experience that allows them to use the phone in multiple configurations, such as in “Flex Mode” where the device can be partially folded for hands-free video calls, photography, and multitasking.

New Flex Mode Enhancements

Samsung has optimized Flex Mode in the Z Flip 5, making it more intuitive and practical. For example, when the phone is partially folded, the content can shift to the upper part of the screen while the lower half displays control buttons or additional information. This allows for more efficient multitasking, such as watching a video while taking notes or controlling media playback without interrupting the main display.

3. Performance: Power Under the Hood

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is a custom variant of the flagship chipset. This processor offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor, delivering faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and more efficient power management. Coupled with 8GB of RAM, the Flip 5 ensures a lag-free experience whether you’re gaming, streaming, or running multiple apps simultaneously.

This chipset also enhances AI capabilities, allowing the phone to optimize battery performance, camera functionality, and overall device efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides 5G connectivity, enabling faster downloads, smoother streaming, and reliable connectivity in supported areas.

Storage Options

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with two storage options: 256GB and 512GB, both utilizing UFS 4.0 storage technology. This ensures faster read/write speeds, allowing for quick file transfers and efficient app installations. While there’s no microSD card slot for expandable storage, the high base storage options should be sufficient for most users.

4. Camera Capabilities: Versatility on a Foldable Device

Despite its compact size, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers impressive camera features. The rear camera setup includes two 12MP lenses: a wide-angle camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view. The ultra-wide camera is particularly useful for capturing expansive landscapes or fitting more subjects into a frame.

Improved Image Processing

Samsung has fine-tuned the image processing capabilities on the Z Flip 5. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s enhanced ISP (Image Signal Processor), users can expect clearer and more vibrant photos, even in challenging lighting conditions. Night mode has been improved, offering brighter and less noisy photos in low-light environments.

Cover Screen as a Viewfinder

One of the standout features of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is its ability to use the cover screen as a viewfinder for the rear cameras. This means users can take high-quality selfies with the main cameras, ensuring better detail and clarity compared to traditional front-facing cameras. This feature is especially useful for content creators who want to capture high-quality vlogs or social media content on the go.

5. Battery Life and Charging

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by a 3,700mAh battery, which is the same capacity as its predecessor. However, thanks to the power efficiency improvements of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, users can expect better battery life. In regular use, the phone should comfortably last a full day of moderate use, including social media, media consumption, and some gaming.

Fast Charging and Wireless Charging

The device supports 25W fast charging, allowing it to charge from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes. Wireless charging is also supported, as well as reverse wireless charging, which can be handy for charging smaller accessories like the Galaxy Buds or a smartwatch.

6. Software: One UI 5.1 and Android 13

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 ships with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 skin, running on top of Android 13. One UI 5.1 is designed to take full advantage of the foldable form factor, offering features like split-screen multitasking, pop-up view, and app continuity. Samsung has also improved its foldable-exclusive features, such as Flex Mode controls and enhanced multitasking options, making the experience more seamless and enjoyable.

Samsung guarantees four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, ensuring that the device remains up-to-date with the latest features and security patches for years to come.

7. Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is priced starting at around $999 for the base 256GB model, with the 512GB model costing slightly more. While it’s on the premium side of the smartphone market, its unique foldable design, improved cover screen, and powerful internals make it a compelling option for those looking for something different from traditional smartphones.

Conclusion: A Foldable Future with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 builds on the strengths of its predecessors while addressing key areas of improvement. The larger cover screen, improved Flex Hinge, enhanced performance, and versatile camera setup make it a top contender in the foldable phone market. Whether you're looking for a stylish device with cutting-edge features or a phone that offers a unique and adaptable experience, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a worthy option. Its blend of innovation and practicality continues to push the boundaries of what foldable smartphones can achieve, making it a significant player in shaping the future of mobile devices.