First Impressions: Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 a worthy successor to the Z Fold 4?

Last July 26, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 was held in Seoul, South Korea. Here, the public got its first look at the latest generation of foldables by Samsung: Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5. The event ushered in the newest line of flagship phones for the brand, including the aforementioned foldables. 

This undoubtedly created a buzz, especially since Samsung is one of the biggest players and leaders in the foldables space. Fortunately, I will be given the opportunity to test the capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Here are my first impressions, straight out of the box and how it compares to its predecessor. 

Design and Build

The Galaxy Z Fold5 is available in three colorways: Icy Blue, Cream and Phantom Black; the latter of which is what I have the privilege of testing out. The matte finish gives it a nice clean and sleek look; nothing over-the-top. 

The newest iteration is also lighter and slimmer than the previous generation, which is quite impressive given that the frame is made from armor aluminum to make the shell more robust. The new Flex Hinge is also more durable and also probably contributes to the improved slimness of the phone as it allows the phone to fold flat unlike that of the Z Fold4. 

Display 

In terms of the display, Samsung has opted to retain the 7.6” QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED inner display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. For the outer display, it’s the same as its predecessor, which is a 6.2” HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. 

The main upgrade to the inner display seems to be the brightness. The Z Fold5 features a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, which is about 34% brighter than the Z Fold4. 

Camera

Again, similar to the display, not a lot has changed with the camera. The hardware is basically the same. The rear cameras feature a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP ultra wide camera, and 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto camera. The selfie cameras’ hardware remains unchanged as well. The smartphone features a 10MP selfie camera on the outer side, while a 4MP selfie camera on the inner. 

The significant difference seems to be that the newest iteration harnesses the power of AI technology. The Z Fold5’s smart camera will help capture every detail to create pro-level images.

Performance

The next generation smartphone has a next generation chipset. While the predecessor is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 receives an upgrade as it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This allows for improved multitasking and an enhanced gaming experience all in the palm of your hand. 

The Z Fold5’s storage starts at 256GB, which is also the unit I will be testing. There are also options for 512GB and 1TB. The RAM is the same all throughout at 12GB, similar to that of the previous generation. 

Battery and charging

When it comes to the battery, the Z Fold 5 houses an identical unit to that of the Z Fold4 – a 4,400mAh battery. Hopefully the upgraded chipset can aid in allowing the new generation to last longer. 

The Z Fold5 offers 25W charging, which is the same as the Z Fold4. For faster charging, you might need to purchase a Super-Fast Wireless Charger which is sold separately. 

Initial thoughts

On the surface, it seems like Samsung opted for more of the same when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. The smartphone comes with improved durability, enhanced camera software and a new chipset which are the main draws of a potential upgrade from the previous generation. 

Now all that’s left to ask is “is it worth it to upgrade coming from the Z Fold4?” You’re all going to hate my answer… It depends. It really does depend on you, the consumer, if these enhancements are worth your hard-earned cash. Some may see the significance of the added power, the smart camera or the more robust build to their daily lives, while others may not. And that’s understandable considering the hefty price which starts at PHP88,990.  

One thing is for sure – I can’t wait to fully test this smartphone out. Make sure to stay tuned for a more in-depth review coming your way very soon!

Photos by the author