Samsung made a grand reveal of its latest technology products at the Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, including new foldable smartphones, flagship tablets, and Galaxy wearables. Indian consumers can now pre-book these new Galaxy products, with the star of the show being the Galaxy Z Fold 5, priced starting at Rs.1,54,999 for the base 12GB/256GB variant, going up to a staggering Rs.1,84,999 for the top-tier 12GB/1TB variant.
Let’s delve into the upgrades and determine if investing in the new Galaxy Fold is worth it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Upgrades- It’s all in the Hinge
The key improvements in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 lie primarily in its hinge design, which enhances the structural rigidity of the handset, resulting in a thinner and lighter phone that can fold completely flat. The Flex Hinge ensures a more mature and appealing folding phone design, offering a superior user experience. The handset weighs 253g and has a thickness of 13.4mm in its folded state, making it aesthetically balanced and highly functional as a folding device.
New S Pen?
Adding to the device’s appeal is the introduction of the S Pen Fold Edition, a more portable stylus that enhances the usability of the large folding screen. It promises an improved writing experience with better touch response, contributing to a more realistic writing feel. Samsung has also unveiled a range of practical and stylish cases for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, including the Slim S Pen Case, Clear Gadget Case, Eco-Leather Case, and a Standing Case with a Strap.
What Else is New?
Other notable improvements include a much brighter folding screen, matching the peak brightness of the Galaxy S23 Ultra at 1750 nits, making outdoor usage more convenient. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering faster computing performance compared to its predecessor’s 8+ Gen 1 processor.
On the software side, Samsung has introduced features like an improved Taskbar for better multitasking, two-handed drag-and-drop functionality for seamless content movement between apps and screens, and a hidden pop-up app that allows users to watch videos in full-screen mode while engaging in floating pop-up chat on the side of the screen. Popular apps like Instagram and Twitter are now better optimized for the folding screen form factor.
However, it’s important to note that certain key specifications and features have remained unchanged, including the same triple-lens camera system on the exterior, a 6.2” cover screen, an under-display 4MP selfie camera, the same battery cell, and the dated 25W charging speed, which some might find slow for 2023 standards.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available in three RAM-ROM variants- 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, and 12 GB/1 TB, with color options including Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream, along with a range of cases.
Should You Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5?
If you seek a cutting-edge foldable phone with a top-notch design, enhanced usability, and impressive multitasking capabilities, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could be a worthwhile investment. If you already own the 4th generation Z Fold handset, we recommend waiting for the next generation, which is likely to bring significant upgrades and improvements. Carefully weighing these factors will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and expectations.
Also, OnePlus is soon going to unveil its first-ever foldable phone. It’s going to be more affordable than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 without compromising much on the features and hardware.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Key Specifications
- Main Screen- 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display (2176 x 1812, 21.6:18), 374ppi, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
- Cover Screen- 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (2316 x 904, 23.1:9), 402ppi, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (48~120Hz)
- Dimensions and Weight- 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4mm, 253g
- Cameras- 10MP selfie, 4MP under display, 12MP+50MP+10MP
- Hardware- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, 12GB/1TB
- Battery- 4,400mAh, 25W Wired charging, 10W Wireless charging
- Durability- IPX8
- Software- OneUI 5.1.1 based on Android 13
- Connectivity- 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3
- Security- Samsung Knox with, Samsung Knox Vault
