The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 keeps everything that worked about the Flip 4, then combines that with a larger cover screen and a nicer hinge. It’s a compelling upgrade that improves on the formula established by last year’s model and makes a strong case for being the best folding flip phone currently available.
The hinge is a major upgrade. Samsung’s new “Flex Hinge” allows the Flip 5 to fold completely flat when closed, eliminating the unsightly gap that was present on previous models. This makes the phone thinner and more aesthetically pleasing, and it also prevents dust and lint from accumulating inside the hinge.
The cover screen is another major upgrade. It’s now a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 720 x 748 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. This makes it much more useful for everyday tasks, such as checking notifications, replying to messages, and using apps. It’s not as sharp or as smooth as the cover screen on the Motorola Razr Plus, but it’s still a significant improvement over the Flip 4’s screen.
However, the cover screen does have a few downsides. The software experience is not as polished as it could be, and Samsung’s approach to using apps on the cover screen is overly complicated. It requires users to download and configure a third-party app, which can be confusing for less experienced users.
The main display is very good. It’s a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 2640 x 1080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s the same display that was used on the Flip 4, and it’s still one of the best displays on the market. It’s bright, vibrant, and smooth, and it’s great for everything from watching videos to browsing the web.
The camera system is also largely unchanged from the Flip 4. It features a 12MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 123-degree field of view, and a 10MP selfie camera on the main display. There are a few minor improvements, such as an upgraded image signal processor and a new “clear lens coating” to prevent lens flares, but overall, the camera performance is very similar to the Flip 4.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by the same “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy” chip that was used in the Galaxy S23 family. This means that the phone is incredibly fast and smooth, and it can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. It gets a bit warm when gaming or multitasking for extended periods, but it’s never too hot to the touch. The battery life is a bit disappointing. The Flip 5 has a 3,700 mAh battery, which is the same size as the battery in the Flip 4. However, the battery life is not as good as it could be. It’s a one-day phone, and it’s not uncommon for the battery to drain to single digits by the end of the day. The charging speeds are decent, with 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a great phone. It’s well-designed, powerful, and has a fantastic display. The hinge is a major upgrade, and the cover screen is much more useful than it was on the Flip 4. However, the cover screen software could be improved, and the battery life is not as good as it could be. Despite these flaws, the Z Flip 5 is still the best folding flip phone on the market and a strong contender for the top spot in the foldable phone world.
