Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 5 good points a considerably bigger cowl display screen, an upgraded hinge and a brand new processor that ought to enhance efficiency and pictures, addressing a few of the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s largest shortcomings. It launches on Aug. 11 beginning at $1,000 (£1,049, AU$1,649), displaying that buyers nonetheless need to pay a excessive worth to get their palms on telephones that fold in half.
This story is a part of Samsung Occasion, CNET’s assortment of stories, suggestions and recommendation round Samsung’s hottest merchandise.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s largest improve is its new cowl show, which I discovered compelling throughout my temporary time utilizing the gadget. With this improve, the exterior show really feels practical and helpful slightly than simply beauty, serving to Samsung’s flip telephone catch as much as these made by Motorola and Chinese language tech big Oppo.
Samsung launched the brand new flip telephone at its Galaxy Unpacked occasion in Seoul on Wednesday, alongside a bevy of different merchandise such because the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6 sequence and Galaxy Tab S9 household. The launch underscores Samsung’s guess that foldable designs are the way forward for high-end smartphones, particularly as a differentiator to Apple simply forward of iPhone launch season.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 (left) and Galaxy Z Flip 4 (proper).
Wealthy Peterson/CNET
The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s cowl show, which Samsung now calls the Flex Window, measures 3.4 inches in comparison with the Z Flip 4’s 1.9-inch exterior show. That makes it simply barely smaller than the three.6-inch entrance display screen on the Motorola Razr Plus.
Most individuals will nonetheless use the Z Flip 5’s 6.7-inch inside display screen for duties like studying the information, enjoying video games and searching social media. However the larger cowl show might make the Z Flip extra helpful in different methods. Once I reviewed the Razr Plus, for instance, I used to be enamored with the telephone’s spacious cowl display screen. I beloved propping it open like a tent whereas enjoying music, and even typing to rapidly reply to a textual content message.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Fingers-On: A Larger Display Goes a Lengthy Method
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Samsung is making an attempt to offer the same expertise with the Z Flip 5. Throughout my temporary time with it, I scrolled by way of Google Maps, typed within the messages app and even watched the Barbie film trailer on YouTube with out opening the telephone. You may’t do any of that on the Z Flip 4’s cowl display screen. Though you may on the Razr Plus.
However you will not be capable of use each app on the entrance show. For probably the most half, Samsung limits cowl display screen apps to ones it believes have motive to be there, like Google Maps, YouTube and WhatsApp. Samsung needs to deal with use circumstances that make sense for the duvet display screen, like rapidly checking instructions or replying to a textual content, which is why solely about 10 apps will probably be accessible on the Flex Window at launch. That differs from the Razr Plus, which may run nearly any app (together with TikTok) on the entrance display screen.
If you wish to strive different apps on the duvet display screen you may set up Good Lock, an app for Samsung units that lets individuals customise their telephones’ interface.
Samsung; GIF by Arielle Burton/CNET
Cowl display screen apps seamlessly transition to the 6.7-inch inside show if you open the telephone. However this does not work the opposite means round, because it does on the Motorola Razr.
The quilt display screen feels prefer it was primarily designed to run widgets greater than full apps. These widgets are the very first thing you see when turning on the duvet display screen, and so they present a bigger view of the climate, your calendar, alarms, related gadget controls and different tidbits of knowledge in comparison with the Z Flip 4’s minuscule display screen. You may take away or reorder these widgets, both on the duvet display screen or within the telephone’s settings menu.
Samsung: GIF by Arielle Burton/CNET
The Z Flip 5 additionally has a brand new hinge, which Samsung calls the Flex Hinge. This permits the gadget to fold fully closed, just like the Razr Plus, with out the wedge-shaped hole discovered on earlier Galaxy Z Flip and Fold units.
This not solely makes the telephone really feel extra compact, nevertheless it ought to enhance sturdiness, in keeping with Samsung. The brand new hinge has fewer transferring elements in comparison with the earlier model, which ought to make it much less inclined to wreck. Each of Samsung’s new foldables have an IPX8 water resistance ranking, which ought to enable them to resist submersion in 1.5 meters (roughly 5 toes) of water for as much as half-hour. That is the identical sturdiness ranking as final yr’s units.
The quilt display screen and hinge are the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s largest upgrades. In any other case, the telephone will get a routine processor improve to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. It is the identical chip that powers the Galaxy S23 lineup, which helped enhance the battery life and picture processing. I am wanting ahead to seeing whether or not that holds true for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Samsung is leaning on this chip to shoulder the burden of extending the Z Flip 5’s battery life because it has the identical 3,700-mAh battery capability because the Z Flip 4. The bottom storage can be growing from 128GB to 256GB on the Z Flip 5 in comparison with the Z Flip 4, a change that Samsung additionally made to the Galaxy S23 Plus earlier this yr.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 with its cowl display screen.
Wealthy Peterson/CNET
Cameras have all the time been an necessary a part of the Galaxy Z Flip sequence, however the Z Flip 5 has comparable digicam {hardware} in comparison with final yr’s mannequin. That features a 12-megapixel essential digicam, a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam and a 10-megapixel selfie digicam. The distinction this yr is that the cameras have a brand new lens coating that ought to scale back lens flare. Hopefully this, mixed with the brand new processor, will enhance the Galaxy Z Flip’s cameras from what my colleague Patrick Holland referred to as “B-grade cameras” in his assessment final yr. And naturally, the Z Flip 5’s enlarged cowl display screen additionally means you will have a roomier viewfinder for taking selfies when the telephone is closed.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s software program expertise is basically the identical as that of the Z Flip 4, however Samsung added extra integrations with its new Galaxy Watch 6. For instance, when the digicam app is open and also you fold the Flip 5 midway to place it in Flex Mode and you may see the icon for the digicam controller app pop up in your Galaxy Watch 6’s watch face. This allows you to see a preview of what you are taking pictures and alter angles out of your wrist. The app itself is not new, however the watch’s skill to floor it when it detects that you take a photograph in Flex Mode is.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 looks like Samsung’s try to handle the earlier technology’s largest compromises: A canopy display screen that felt too tiny to be helpful, a comparatively brief battery life and a hinge that did not fold as flat as some rivals. Whether or not I will suggest this telephone depends upon how properly Samsung executes on that aim.
Samsung; GIF by Arielle Burton/CNET
However most significantly, I hope the duvet display screen offers the Z Flip 5 a clearer objective. Having a telephone with a built-in tripod that may slot in your pocket extra simply is useful, nevertheless it’s not sufficient to persuade most individuals to modify to a $1,000 flip telephone for. The Razr Plus’ bigger exterior show proved that flip telephones might be about extra than simply portability. With the Z Flip 5, I will be anticipating Samsung to push that concept additional.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs vs. Motorola Razr Plus, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Motorola Razr 2023
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5Motorola Razr PlusSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5GMotorola Razr 2023Display measurement, tech, decision, refresh price, brightness Cowl: 3.4-inch AMOLED (728 x 720 pixels); inside: 6.7-inch AMOLED (2,640 x 1,080 pixels), 1-120HzCover: 3.6-inch OLED (1,066 x 1,056 pixels); inside: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080)Cowl: 1.9-inch AMOLED (512 x 260 pixels); inside: 6.7-inch (2,640 x 1,080 pixels) Cowl: 1.5-inch, OLED (194 x 368 pixels); inside: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080)Pixel density Cowl: 306 ppi, Inner: 425 ppiCover: 413 ppi, inside: 413ppiCover: 302 ppi, inside: 425 ppi Cowl: 282 ppi, inside: 413 ppiDimensions (inches) Open: 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 in; closed: 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 inOpen: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.28 in; closed: 2.91 x 3.48 x 0.59 inOpen: 2.83 x 3.3 x 0.67 in; closed: 2.83 x 6.5 x 0.27 in; hinge: 0.59 in (sagging)Open: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.29 in; closed: 2.91 x 3.47 x 0.62 inDimensions (millimeters) Open: 71.88 x 165.1 x 6.89 mm; closed: 71.88 x 85.09 x 14.99 mmOpen: 73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99 mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1 mmOpen: 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9 mm; closed: 71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1 mm; hinge: 15.9 mm (sagging); Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35 mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 187 g (6.6 oz)189 g (6.64 oz)187 g (6.59 oz)189 g (6.65 oz)Cell software program Android 13Android 13Android 12/13Android 13Camera 12-megapixel (essential), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)12-megapixel (essential), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)12-megapixel (essential), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)64-megapixel (essential), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)Entrance-facing digicam 10-megapixel32-megapixel10-megapixel 32-megapixelVideo seize TBD4K4K4KProcessor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1Snapdragon 7 Gen 1RAM/storage 8GB + 256GB/512GB 8GB + 256GB8GB+ 128GB/256GB/512GB8GB + 128GBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneNoneBattery 3,700 mAh (dual-battery)3,800 mAh3,700 mAh4,200 mAhFingerprint sensor SideSideSideSideConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneNoneSpecial options 5G-enabled, IPX8 water resistance, 25W wired charging, wi-fi charging, wi-fi energy share, twin SIMIP52, 5G-enabled, foldable show, 30W wired charging, wi-fi chargingIPX8, 5G enabled, foldable show, wi-fi charging, 25W quick chargingIP52, 5G-enabled, foldable show, 30W wired charging, 5W wi-fi chargingUS worth off-contract $1,000$1,000$999TBAUK worth £1,049Converts to £780£999TBAAustralia worth AU$1,649Converts to AU$1,475AU$1,499TBA