Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 FAQs: Price, Camera Performance, Everything Else You Need To Know
From folding upgrades to hardware improvements over the Galaxy Z Fold 4, here's everything you need to know about the new Galaxy Z Fold 5.
It is the bigger and more expensive of the two foldable phones Samsung launched at its Galaxy Unpacked event recently. And while it might not have the style quotient and compact form factor of the Flip, the Galaxy Fold has its own following, especially in the productivity-minded crowd. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 inherits the open-to-become-a-tablet quality of its predecessors and might even look a bit like the Z Fold 4, but it also comes with a number of new features, and a price tag as well. So if you are wondering what all is different about the new Galaxy Z Fold 5, if the changes are worth investing in, here are our answers to the most common queries about Samsung's new big foldable:
Q: Does the Galaxy Z Fold 5 look very different from the Galaxy Z Fold 4?
The short answer to this would be NO. The two phones actually look extremely similar. So much so that you might not even be able to tell them apart just by looking at them. Samsung has used the same design language that we earlier saw on the Fold 4. The slightly protruding camera module on the top left in a capsule metallic unit with a cover display and a main display and with pretty much the same exact positioning of buttons, speaker grille and USB Type-C port, it is pretty much all the same in terms of looks at least. The Fold 5 is marginally more compact and lighter as compared to the Fold 4. It weighs 253 grams while the Fold 4 weighs 263 grams, making it slightly more portable and easier to carry around.
Q: A big issue with the previous editions of the Fold has been the hinge. How has Samsung handled it in the Galaxy Z Fold 5?
The foldables have come with a learning curve, for both users and Samsung. Over the years, Samsung has managed to discover and then address the problems that have been a part of the Fold package. One of these recurring problems was the hinge of the Z Fold phones. In the past, many users had complained that the phone did not shut all the way through when folded and the hinge left a gap between the two halves of the primary display, allowing dust particles to reside inside. With the Z Fold 5, Samsung has fixed this issue - the phone shuts completely when folded and there is no gap between the two halves of the display.
Q: What is the size and resolution of the two displays on the Galaxy Z Fold 5?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with two displays — one external/ cover and another primary. Both of these displays come with the same size, resolution and refresh rate as its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X primary display with 120Hz refresh rate while there is a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display with 120Hz refresh rate as well. While these numbers are all the same, Samsung has mentioned that the brand has improved the brightness of the display on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It comes with a peak brightness of 1750 nits which is 30 per cent more than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Q: What are the hardware improvements in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 over the Galaxy Z Fold 4?
The biggest hardware difference between the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and its predecessor comes in the processor department. The Fold 5 is powered by the finest smartphone processor Qualcomm has to offer- the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2. Apart from this, while the RAM and storage options on the two phones remain the same (12 GB RAM with 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB of storage), the Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with UFS 4.0 storage as opposed to UFS 3.0 storage on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The camera setups are broadly similar - a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto on the back, a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the external display, and a 4-megapixel 'inner' camera on the large display inside. Both phones also have 4400 mAh batteries, with the same charging speed support of 25 W on wired, 15 on wireless and 4.5 on reverse. And neither has a charger in the box.
Q: Does the Fold 5 also support the S Pen stylus? Have there been any improvements in this regard?
Like the previous Fold, this one comes with support for the S Pen as well. And in terms of upgrades, the S Pen has received a bigger makeover this year than the new Fold itself. The new S Pen is 41 per cent slimmer than the previous one and so is the case for it on the Z Fold 5, making the combo much more portable to carry around. We will be posting more on software and feature changes (if any) in our detailed review.
Q: Does the S Pen come bundled with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or do we have to purchase it separately?
Alas, that is another thing that has not changed about the Fold series. While scribbling with Samsung's very good S Pen stylus on that huge tablet-like display of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is quite an experience, one still has to buy the S Pen separately. We do hope that changes in the next edition, or we at least get a 'Note edition' of the Z Fold 6.
Q: Is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 dust and water resistant?
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with IPX8 rating, which means the smartphone can survive in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes. But there is no specific dust resistance rating on the device.
Q: On paper, does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 seem a worthy update to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4?
If your heart is not set on the latest and the greatest, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 might seem like a very tempting proposition, especially to those who already have a Galaxy Z Fold 4. Yes, the Fold 5 is lighter and comes with a more powerful processor and better hinge, but other than that most of the specifications of the two phones are identical. They both have the same specced display, similar camera setups, battery and charging options. We are in the process of reviewing the device but as of now, we would say that you should go for the Z Fold 5 if you are one that wants the very latest, and also value power and portability. Otherwise, we would suggest you stick to your Fold 4 meanwhile.
Q: What is the pricing of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in India? When will it be available?
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with a single 12GB RAM variant but there are three different storage options. The lowest storage on the phone is 256GB which comes with a price tag of Rs 1,54,999. The 512GB storage option is priced at Rs 1,64,999 while the 1TB variant will set you back by Rs. 1,84,999. As far as availability goes, the phone is up for pre-orders in India but Samsung will start shipping the Galaxy Z Fold 5 from 18 August 2023 onwards.
Q: What alternatives do I have to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, if I want a similar form factor?
If you are looking for a foldable smartphone which can open up and double up as a tablet, there are a couple of options that one can consider along with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The biggest threat to the Z Fold 5’s existence has to be its predecessor, the Z Fold 4. The phone has pretty much the same spec sheet apart from the processor — it features a slightly inferior albeit still flagship-level processor — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.
The display of the Z Fold 5 is also 30 per cent more bright and the phone is also lighter and has a better hinge but it is also more expensive — the Z Fold 4 is available at Rs 1,54,999 at the time of writing. Another alternative (especially if you are on a tight budget) is the Tecno Phantom V Fold. The phone comes with slightly bigger displays (both cover and main) at 6.45 and 7.85 inches respectively, both of which are LTPO AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate.
The phone is powered by MediaTek 9000+ processor and comes with 12GB RAM, and also has perhaps the biggest camera megapixel count in the foldable zone — a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 50-megapixel telephoto and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera on the back, a 32-megapixel camera on the cover display and a 16-megapixel camera in the internal display.
It is a bit hefty at almost 300 grams, but that can be attributed partly to a massive 5,000mAh battery (again, more than the Fold 4 or Fold 5). Round that off with a starting price that is almost half of that of the Z Fold 5 at Rs 88,888, and the Tecno Phantom V Fold is a dangerous floater for those wanting to try a new foldable (from a new brand) for under six figures.
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