- Samsung recently launched its foldable smartphones, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in India.
- The device price starts at ₹1,54,999 and is available in three variants.
- Here is my review of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 that will help you decide whether or not to buy the device.
Samsung is the leader in the foldable phone segment and for good reason. The company was the first to introduce a foldable device and has been making improvements to foldable technology for years. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the company’s latest foldable smartphone and features its most refined design yet.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 launched alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the company’s most affordable foldable smartphone. From gimmicky and very delicate to sturdy, sturdy and water-resistant, the Korean giant has made major strides in making its foldable smartphones more practical.
I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 5 for a few weeks now, and here’s my detailed review of the Korean smartphone maker’s latest flagship offering.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has been priced at ₹1,54,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, ₹1,64,999 for the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage variant and ₹1,84,999 ₹ for 12GB RAM + 1TB internal storage variant. The device is available in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream color options. Samsung also sells two exclusive colors on its website: blue and gray.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available on Amazon India, Samsung online store, and the company’s authorized stores across the country.
In the box
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- USB Type-C cable
- SIM card ejector
- Documentation
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 specifications
Details | Features |
Indoor display | 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED |
Refresh rate | 1-120Hz |
protection | N / A |
Outdoor display | 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED |
Refresh rate | 48-120Hz |
protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus2 |
Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
Variants | 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB and 12 GB + 1 TB |
Rear camera | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP |
Selfie camera | 10MP on outer screen, 4MP on inner screen |
Battery | 4,400mAh |
Loading | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
Fingerprint sensor | Side fingerprint sensor |
Weight | 253 grams |
5G | Yes, SA/NSA |
Advantages and disadvantages of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold
Benefits
- Improved battery performance
- Design – improved hinge, better screens
The inconvenients
- 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging
- Price
Design and display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks similar at first glance to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. However, the device comes with some significant changes.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is sleeker than the Z Fold 4. It measures 13.4mm when folded, compared to the Z Fold 4’s 15.8mm. Additionally, the weight has also been reduced from 263 grams to 253 grams. This was made possible thanks to its new hinge.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 now folds flat, unlike its predecessor. This means that there is no gap between the two halves when the device is folded.
Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with a glass back with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It features a triple camera setup on the back with a single cutout that houses all three cameras. The rest of the back is bare.
The only mark you can see on the device is on the hinge. It comes with an Armor Aluminum frame which is very durable and gives a premium feel when holding.
The location of the buttons has not changed. The right side features the volume rockers and the power button, which comes with the in-display fingerprint sensor. The left side shows the SIM tray and antenna lines. Additionally, you get the speaker grille and three microphones.
At the bottom, you get the USB Type-C port, a speaker grill, and a microphone.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rated IPX8 for water resistance, meaning it can handle being underwater up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. However, I wouldn’t recommend testing this if you decide to buy the foldable.
Coming to the screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 features a large 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate on the inside. This screen is equipped with ultra-thin glass material.
On the outside, it has a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.
Both screens are vibrant and quite bright – you don’t have to worry about outside visibility. The crease is still there, but unless you’re specifically looking for it, the crease is barely visible in everyday life.
Software and performance
As for the software, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs Android 13 with OneUI 5.1 on top. The device will get four Android updates and five years of security updates, which should be more than enough.
Samsung’s OneUI is among the best, especially when you consider the company’s flagship smartphones. However, not much has changed since the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Samsung continues to offer its pop-up windows and split-screen mode on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which allow you to easily use multiple apps, especially when you use the most large interior screen. .
I had no problem multitasking on the device. The device also comes with S Pen support, which is not included in the device and must be purchased separately.
When it comes to performance, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for Galaxy, which is currently the most powerful chipset available for Android devices. The custom variant of the chipset, specially designed for Samsung devices, operates at 3.36 GHz.
The processor is coupled with 12 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of internal storage. As expected, the device is able to easily handle whatever you throw at it.
I tried popular games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India and Asphalt 9 on the device, and not only did they load very quickly, but the performance was quite smooth even at the highest graphics.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is powered by a 4,400mAh battery coupled with 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Samsung has not made any changes in the battery department. Offering 25W charging at a time when other companies’ flagships offer much faster charging is a bad thing, especially when the company’s own S23 series offers 45W charging.
Camera
Coming to the optics, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a triple camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50 MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, an ultra wide angle of 12 MP with f/2.2 aperture and a 10 MP. telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom and 30x spatial zoom. The camera setup is the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which may disappoint some users.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 captures good images with its rear camera. It is capable of capturing good images with very little noise and lots of detail in daylight. Thanks to OIS, you don’t have to worry about blurry images.
Portrait images captured with the device are excellent, with good edge and detail detection.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s telephoto lens is limited to 3x optical zoom, the device offers up to 30x digital zoom, which the company calls Space Zoom.
Images captured in low light conditions turned out okay, with noise and color shifts.
On the front, the device has two different selfie cameras: a 10MP unit on the outer screen and a 4MP unit on the inner screen. While the 10MP camera is capable of capturing decent selfies, the 4MP unit is more of a demonstration of its under-display camera technology.
It’s worth noting that you can also use the rear camera setup to capture selfies by opening the screen and using the outer display. With this, you can use the triple camera setup with OIS to capture images and videos.
Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a feature-rich, well-built smartphone that ticks all the boxes if you’re an enthusiast looking for a premium smartphone. It is a good device that not only allows you to consume content on a larger screen but also increases productivity.
Ultimately, the most important thing is the price. Starting at ₹1,54,999, this is not a device that everyone can feel comfortable on. One thing we can say is that this is currently the best foldable smartphone in the market and if you want to buy a foldable smartphone, you can grab it.
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