With the smartphone market maturing, we're often left wondering if we have passed the peak of the smartphone era and hit saturation. While this is true to an extent, there are still a few handset makers that are trying to push foldables towards the mainstream premium category of smartphones. One of them is Samsung which has just launched its fifth generation of foldable devices. The OEM was the first to take the foldables segment seriously. The company launched its maiden foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold in 2019 and since then, the lineup has been polished each year with upgrades.
However, the competition in the foldable segment is now heating up as other handset makers are entering, in an attempt to maintain leadership in innovation and their presence in the premium segment. The hype around foldable is legit and the global foldable smartphone shipments are projected to cross 100 million by 2027, with Samsung and Apple likely to dominate the segment, according to Counterpoint Research. With Apple yet to make a foray into this segment, it is safe to say that Samsung is currently leading the space with a refreshed lineup of foldable every year. Its new Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes at a starting price of Rs 99,999 and here's how the flip phone fared in my review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Design, Display, Looks And Build
The highlight of this year's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the cover display which is what makes it stand out from the lot. The rehinged design also needs special mention that renders a gapless design. The cover screen, which Samsung calls Flex Window, is noticeable and much bigger than last year's Z Flip 4's Cover Display. It’s a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 60Hz and a resolution of 720x748. There's a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection. Performing tasks such as swiping for notifications and widgets are easier and also using it as a camera viewfinder, courtesy of the cover display. However, one has to bear in mind that the 3.4-inch cover screen on the Z Flip 5 has an unconventional aspect ratio and it doesn't support all apps. The rehinged design also makes sure that the gentle screen surface does not attract dust and dirt and get damaged and also improves the overall appearance. It is pertinent to note that the hinge design causes some discomfort while using the primary display especially when aimlessly scrolling Instagram or zooming in and out on the screen to view a picture or document.
This year's Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with an IPX8 rating and is thus, water-resistant too. This means carrying the phone in spells of rain or during sweaty workouts won't be a problem. Dropping the phone on the ground or on dirty surfaces may still lead to problems as the device has no protection against dust ingress. The primary 6.7-inch display has an aspect ratio of 22:9 and a resolution of 2640x1080. The display is bright and beautiful, exactly like a typical Samsung AMOLED screen. The blacks are deep and the colours pop. The screen supports HDR10+ and has a peak brightness of 1750 nits, which makes viewing content under direct sunlight easy. The new hinge feels sturdy and solid. I really liked how the phone folds with a satisfying snap. Opening the phone with one hand is possible, but it may take some practice. The fingerprint scanner has been placed on the right side of the phone which is pretty quick to unlock the phone. A pertinent thing to note about the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is that it is not made for power users, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold series. The Z Flip 5 offers style over practicality. The phone is very easy to handle and easily slips inside the pocket, thanks to 187 grams of weight.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Camera
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 12MP f/1.8 sensor with another 12MP 2.2 ultra-wide sensor at the back and a 10MP sensor at the front for taking selfies, similar to the camera set-up we saw in Flip 4. But the camera has been optimised, according to the company, for better low-light performance and colour accuracy. Images shot in daylight came out really nice with a good dynamic range and vivid colours. Using the camera on the Z Flip 5 is much better than the Flip 4, which is again due to the Flex Window. Those used to clicking images via telephoto lens would miss it terribly here.
I was also satisfied with the photos shot in low-light conditions. They came out nice with the right amount of contrast and brightness. Images shot at night were pretty decent too. But do not expect the Z Flip 5 to click snapshots like the Galaxy S series as this phone is made for people who choose style over everything else.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Performance, Battery And Software
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset which is customised for Galaxy and is a very processor and an ounce faster than the regular SD 8 Gen 2 SOC. We have seen the same processor on the Galaxy S23 line, launched earlier this year. The base variant of Flip 5 has 8GB of RAM coupled with 256GB of internal storage and its price has been set at Rs 99,999 while the 8GB RAM and 512GB storage model costs Rs 109,999. The phone ships with Android 13-based OneUI 5. out of the box with minimum bloatware, which is a standard for Samsung's top-of-the-line flagship lineup. The phone handled multiple tasks together pretty well without any noticeable hiccups. The phone scored well in benchmarks too. The phone did get a bit warm while playing games, though.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is fitted with a 3,700mAh battery which is not one of the high points of the device and the same as last year's Flip 4. The battery may not last an entire day for power users or those who binge-watch OTT platforms. One can get more out of a single charge if they use the Flex Window more. Samsung does not ship its phones with chargers and obviously, the Z Flip 5 did not come with a charging brick in the box. Buying the phone would mean investing separately in a 25W adapter too. A good upgrade from Z Flip 4's USB 2.0 is the USB 3.2. It took me around 100 minutes to charge the device from 0 to 100 per cent, which is pretty slow when compared to the insane fast charging that OnePlus, Oppo and Realme phones offer.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Final Verdict
Let's keep in mind that foldable phones are not mainstream for a reason and the new Samsung Galaxy Flip 5 is no different. It is not a powerhouse of a phone but a stylish and pricey proposition that will appeal to those who want to up their style quotient. For those looking for better productivity and battery life, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the answer.
