The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has emerged as a notable contender in the smartphone market, backed by Samsung Electronics Co's SSNLF determined marketing efforts.
With the iconic flip phone design, the Galaxy Z Flip series has eclipsed the Galaxy Z Fold lineup in terms of popularity. Especially this year, the bigger upgrade seems to be on the Flip with the enlarged display that can do most of the tasks without flipping the cover open.
It was my first time with a flip phone, although they've been in the market for quite some time now. So, the key takeaways from my review are whether the Flip 5 is ready to replace my conventional slab phone and what it changes for a first-time flip phone user.
We also delve into whether the Galaxy Z Flip 5 truly justifies its place in the spotlight and whether it’s a worthwhile upgrade for those who invested in the Galaxy Z Flip 4 just a year ago.
Cover Display: Mini Screen That Lands A Mighty Blow
The standout feature of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is its expansive cover screen. While Samsung has pitched it as a tool for hands-free selfies, its utility goes beyond that.
Boasting a 3.4-inch size (much bigger than its predecessor of 1.9 inches screen), this display flaunts a 60Hz refresh rate, a 720 x 748-pixel resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and an impressive peak brightness of 1600 nits.
The Good Lock app by Samsung enables users to add various applications on the cover display, including WhatsApp, YouTube, Netflix, Google Maps, and some games. It would’ve been nice to have full app support out-of-the-box, but still, this simple workaround is not so bad, given how much boost it could give to users' productivity.
The unique folder-like shape of the cover display, contrary to mere aesthetics, harbors practicality. It houses navigation buttons, ensuring an unobstructed app interface while interacting with the device.
Surprisingly, these apps are quite functional on the 3.4-inch screen, offering an adept keyboard layout for messaging and an enjoyable video-watching experience, but certain things might force users to open the phone.
For example, when using the camera, if you want to use flash, the setting will only be available on the cover display after you choose it by opening the camera on the main screen.
Another example is that playing games on the cover display can drop the frame rate of some games. It happened with BGMI, at least.
This is definitely the most notable upgrade in this fifth-generation flip phone and can make it easier for users to navigate through apps when they don't want to open the full face of the phone.
Design: It Gets The Much-Needed Upgrade
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 hinge design notably eliminates the gap when folded, enhancing both aesthetics and durability. It is definitely pretty enough if you want to make a style statement.
The device measures 71.90 mm in width, 165.10 mm in height, and 6.90 mm in thickness. It weighs 187 grams or 5.60 oz and boasts an IP68 rating. It is available in various colors (depending on availability), including Cream, Gray, Blue, Green, Yellow, Graphite, Lavender, and Mint.
The smartphone is easy to pocket, and since it is foldable, having a big screen phone doesn't make pocketing it uncomfortable. Additionally, the in-hand feel of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is premium. If you can ignore the crease, it feels pretty good, especially with that aluminum body.
Regarding the hinge, the mechanism responsible for the Z Flip’s flipping action has been redesigned to be slimmer and incorporates a waterdrop design, enabling the phone to achieve more secure closure.
Samsung assures that this updated hinge can withstand 200,000 folds, implying that the phone should remain functional for numerous years before any hinge-related issues might arise.
However, one side hinge on the model I used has already started wobbling a bit, and the 90-degree angle is already crooked (It's been less than a month since I started using the smartphone).
I checked other reviews, but this issue doesn't seem to be seen on others, so I suspect it might be a unit issue with my Flip 5. Although I admit that the hingle wobble is so minute that it cannot be captured in a video. We'll update this once we independently confirm this on other units.
Nevertheless, the device’s water resistance and the ability to stay open at multiple angles remain intact and super useful.
The one thing that concerns me is the glossy back glass considering I am one of those people with butter fingers and am prone to slipping and dropping things left and right. So it's better to get a case that keeps it safe and makes it easy to carry.
Foldable Display: Brighter, But The Crease Is Still There
The main display has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2640 x 1080 pixels resolution. The enhanced peak brightness of 1750 nits makes it comfortable for both indoor and outdoor use.
While the display appears smooth, although slightly delicate, the crease might be irksome during scrolling. It's a wonder that even after launching four generations of flip phones, Samsung still hasn't figured out a solution for it. It's not a deal breaker but just a hindrance that keeps it one step away from offering the best possible display experience on a flip phone.
Overall, it's a quintessential Samsung display that impresses with crispness, brightness, and colors.
Camera: Back ‘Wow,' Front A Bit ‘Meh'
Despite no hardware changes, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s camera performance is notably enhanced, thanks to improved algorithms and the new Snapdragon chip.
The camera works great in daylight, making things look sharp and colorful with its main 12MP camera, and zooming in a bit is still good. The wide-angle camera struggles in darker spots, but daytime photos still look nice. The photos could be better in darker or nighttime situations because they can be grainy, but there’s a Night mode that helps a lot, especially for the back cameras.
To prevent pictures from looking blurry, you can fold and use the phone halfway. There are different picture modes like Pro for changing things, Single Take for many kinds of photos in one click, and Director’s View for all cameras simultaneously.
There’s also a mode to make time-lapse videos of the night sky. Even though there isn’t a special app for professional photographers, another app lets you change settings for better pictures and decide how fast the camera takes pictures.
Taking selfies with the back cameras using the cover screen is really good, especially when it’s not very bright. This brings us to the utility of the front camera. To be honest, which the larger cover display, I mostly ignored the front camera. And, while the quality of the photos clicked with the front camera (10 MP) isn't bad, it doesn't compete with the photos captured using the back lenses.
Additionally, FlexCam controls have also been adjusted for capturing images with the phone in a partially open position is more feasible, making it easier for users to click photos.
Performance: Efficient With Rare Bouts Of Stuttering
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers impressive performance. While not entirely devoid of stutters, it handles tasks efficiently, reflecting its flagship status.
For example, while playing BGMI, Battleground Mobile India, the gameplay is extremely pleasant and effortless when playing with Smooth and Frame Rate – Extreme settings. In contrast, the gameplay lags a bit if settings are kept at Graphics – Ultra HD and Frame Rate – Ultra.
The phone tends to get warm after a long gaming session or recording 4K footage, but at no point it gets unbearably hot. Samsung has done a good job with hardware optimization and thermal management.
Battery Life: Stepping Up Stamina But Still Room For Improvement
The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s battery life is notably boosted thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency.
The battery capacity stands at 3700mAh, and it is not removable. The device supports proprietary fast charging as well as wireless charging.
With up to six hours of screen-on time and approximately 20 hours off the charger, the device fares well for everyday usage. However, the battery life depends on usage patterns, with power-hungry tasks potentially draining it more rapidly.
For example, I had to charge the smartphone at least twice a day when using it for regular tasks like playing one or two games, watching some YouTube videos, messaging friends, and scrolling through Instagram. On top of that, while the company says it has fast charging capabilities, it still charges relatively slowly.
It took about 70 to 80 minutes to charge the phone from 0 to 100% using a 30W adapter.
Verdict: Should You Spend $999?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 arrives with a host of improvements, such as an expanded cover screen, camera enhancements, and commendable battery life. Although not without its minor drawbacks, this device shines as a step forward in the world of flip phones. Compared to its flip counterparts from Motorola and Oppo, this one is still the top choice considering the overall balance of price, features, software and after sales support it offers.
However, I feel at $999, the smartphone is still pricey for the battery life and camera you get on this one. Unless you want to experiment with a flip phone or experience the flip universe, you might get a better performing smartphone at the same price or even slightly lower.
If you’re searching for a unique smartphone experience that combines innovation and aesthetics and is supremely pocketable without losing on flagship features, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 could be worth your consideration.
Cover Image – Shutterstock
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