Shubham Sawarkar
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Samsung has once again made waves with its latest offerings. While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 may seem familiar at first glance, a closer look reveals some significant improvements and noteworthy changes. In a surprising move, Samsung has saved its biggest advancements for its flip phone, but that doesn’t mean the Z Fold5 is lacking in innovation.
The most noticeable upgrade in the Galaxy Z Fold5 is the new hinge. Thanks to a teardrop-shaped design, the phone can now close flat, making it more portable and pocket-friendly. When closed, the device measures a mere 13.4mm in thickness, which is slimmer than its predecessor, the Fold4, which measured 14.2mm. Additionally, the Z Fold5 is slightly lighter, weighing in at 253g, down from 263g. Samsung has managed to shave off some weight, making it six nickels lighter than its closest rival, the Google Pixel Fold.
Samsung has also put a considerable focus on durability. The new hinge’s double-rail design makes it better equipped to withstand impacts, ensuring a longer lifespan. To protect the phone’s delicate screens, the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 has been employed on both the front and inner displays.
Another area where the Galaxy Z Fold5 shines is the brightness of its main 7.6-inch screen. With a peak brightness of 1750 nits, the same as the Galaxy S23 series, users can expect a vivid and immersive viewing experience. The S Pen, which has been tailored for the Fold series, has undergone a makeover as well. It is now 40 percent thinner, making it more comfortable to use. However, it’s worth noting that the phone still lacks a built-in silo for the stylus. Instead, Samsung offers a Fold5 case designed to hold the S Pen, which maintains a sleek profile similar to a regular case.
While the Galaxy Z Fold5 introduces some software improvements, including a taskbar that displays four recent apps and a two-handed drag-and-drop feature for enhanced multitasking, the changes are relatively minimal. However, Samsung plans to extend these features to older Fold phones through a future One UI update.
Despite the incremental upgrades and enhancements, the Galaxy Z Fold5 may not necessarily sway current Fold owners to upgrade. Rather, it appears that Samsung is solidifying its position against its latest competitor, Google, by bolstering its strengths and addressing its weaknesses. The Pixel Fold‘s advantage of closing completely flat is now matched by the Z Fold5’s new hinge, but some users still favor the Pixel Fold’s wider form factor.
Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 begin today, price at $1,799.99 with availability starting on August 11th. The phone comes in standard color options, including icy blue, phantom black, and cream. For those who order directly from Samsung, there are two extra choices: blue or gray.
