Enhanced flip phone features an improved external screen, seamless hinge, and upgraded processors
Samsung’s well-liked folding flip phone enters its fifth generation with significant enhancements, including an expanded and more practical external screen, while maintaining its elegant appearance with a sleek gapless design in its closed state.
The latest Z Flip 5 is priced at £1,049 ($999/A$1,649), which is £50 higher compared to the previous year’s model. This version offers double the initial storage and an array of subtle yet impactful improvements. Undoubtedly, folding technology still holds a premium position in terms of pricing, aligning with high-end Androids and iPhones.
The Flip 5 exudes a luxurious aura of technology and boasts a higher level of refinement compared to its predecessors. A novel hinge mechanism ensures that the phone’s two halves close seamlessly without any gaps, delivering enhanced aesthetics and preventing lint or debris from accumulating in the crevice.
The fresh design additionally contributes to a slimmer profile for the phone and slightly diminishes the size of the screen crease, akin to what’s observed on the Oppo Find N2 Flip. While a depression still exists along the midpoint of the fold and remains visible under certain lighting conditions, it tends not to be prominently noticeable during regular usage.
The expansive 6.7-inch display is highly impressive: vivid, sharp, seamless, and swift in responsiveness. Samsung asserts that this screen is 25% more resilient than previous iterations. Nonetheless, it retains a softer composition compared to conventional phone screens, necessitating more cautious handling to prevent scratches.
The significant novelty is the large 3.4-inch cover screen on the phone’s exterior. It serves as a standout feature, exhibiting the time, notifications, and other customary information found on always-on displays of standard phones. Furthermore, it incorporates an eight-button quick settings panel for convenient wifi and other toggles. However, it’s frustrating that this panel cannot be personalized. An endearingly retro red dot indicator emerges with notifications, and ample options exist for personalizing the display’s appearance with diverse designs, images, and animations.
Specifications
Main Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED Infinity Flex Display (425ppi) Cover Display: 3.4-inch AMOLED Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 RAM: 8GB Storage Options: 256GB or 512GB Operating System: One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 Camera Setup: Dual 12MP rear cameras, 10MP front-facing camera Connectivity: 5G, nano SIM + eSIM, WiFi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, and GNSS Water Resistance: IPX8 (Protection against immersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes) Folded Dimensions: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.1mm Unfolded Dimensions: 165.2 x 72.2 x 6.9mm Weight: 187g
Responsive operation alongside a full day’s battery longevity
Equipped with the same leading Qualcomm chip found in the Galaxy S23 series since the beginning of the year, the Flip 5 showcases comparable performance. It stands among the swiftest smartphones available, outpacing the folding device competition by a significant margin—making it exceptionally adept for virtually any task you might undertake with the phone.
The battery endures for a commendable 35 hours between charges. During this period, the screen remains active for around five hours, and approximately two hours are spent on 5G usage. This grants the Flip 5 a couple of extra hours compared to its predecessor, the Flip 4. However, it’s probable that you’ll still need to recharge it nightly. Achieving a full charge takes about 90 minutes, while reaching 50% capacity only demands 30 minutes using a 25W charger (charger not included).
Sustainability
Samsung does not furnish an anticipated battery lifespan, yet it’s anticipated to endure over 500 complete charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity.
The phone is generally designed for repairability. Repairs to the internal screen amount to £314, and authorized service centers can replace the battery. For UK and US customers, Samsung provides a self-repair initiative along with Care+ accidental damage coverage that mitigates repair expenses to £99.
Constructed using recycled aluminum, glass, and plastic, the Flip 5 exemplifies Samsung’s commitment to sustainability. The company offers initiatives for trading in and recycling older devices. While Samsung publishes annual sustainability reports, specific product impact assessments are not disclosed.
One UI 5.1 Android software
Running on Samsung’s One UI 5.1, built upon Android 13, the Flip 5 exhibits familiar behavior akin to standard Samsung phones. This offers users one of the most polished Android experiences accessible. Additionally, a handful of enjoyable additions are present, including the “Flex Mode,” which arranges apps on the upper segment of the display when the phone is folded into an L-shape, and the capability to operate apps or the camera via the cover screen.
From its release, the phone is slated to receive a minimum of five years’ worth of software updates. This encompasses four major Android version upgrades as well as monthly security patches. While this longevity exceeds that of many folding screen competitors, it falls short of the best in the category, such as Fairphone.
Camera
Adjacent to the cover screen, the Flip 5 incorporates a pair of 12-megapixel cameras on its exterior, while atop the interior screen is a 10MP front-facing selfie camera.
The primary cameras retain their quality, with minimal alterations compared to the previous year’s model. They exhibit slightly improved sharpness and enhanced low-light photography. This translates to generally capturing good images and satisfactory videos, enriched by a variety of entertaining features within the camera app. However, their true excellence is hampered by the absence of optical zoom capabilities.
The 10MP front-facing camera delivers dependable performance, particularly excelling during video calls. Its true utility emerges when utilizing the main cameras and the expansive cover display as a viewfinder, permitting more superior results across diverse lighting scenarios when taking selfies.
Price
The pricing of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 commences at £1,049 ($999/A$1,649).
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is priced at £1,249, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available for £1,749, the Google Pixel Fold bears a price tag of £1,749, Oppo’s Find N2 Flip is priced at £849, and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra flip phone shares the same cost of £1,049.
Verdict
Samsung’s fifth-generation flip phone doesn’t reinvent the wheel, maintaining its tradition of fitting a substantial smartphone screen into a significantly smaller folded configuration. Nevertheless, an assortment of subtle yet impactful alterations mitigates many of the compromises associated with this evolving technology, resulting in a sense of increased maturity for the product.
It now folds shut seamlessly, eliminating the gap between the device’s two halves and resulting in a thinner profile. The addition of the substantial cover screen on the exterior proves to be both more functional and visually appealing.
The internal screen boasts excellence, with a slightly firmer tactile feel compared to competing options. While the folding crease remains visible, and the screen is not as rugged as a conventional glass display, careful handling remains essential due to the inherent compromises of folding technology. Considering accidental damage insurance could be a prudent move.
The phone boasts water resistance, utilizes the fastest available chip among Android devices, and promises five years of software support. Its battery life is respectable, and the camera performs well, although it falls short of the best in the non-folding phone category.
The Flip 5 is no longer the sole folding-screen flip phone available, as strong contenders from Oppo and Motorola have emerged. Nonetheless, it stands as the leader in the market, offering a more intriguing alternative to conventional premium phones.
Pros: Notable large foldable screen, expansive cover screen, seamless closure, IPX8 water resistance, commendable camera, robust software with a five-year update commitment, nano SIM and eSIM compatibility, enjoyable user experience.
Cons: Relatively less durable than standard phones, lacks a telephoto camera, battery life lasts a day but doesn’t reach the highest standards, comes at a premium price.
