Pros
- Top-notch, attractive design
- An external screen that’s a pleasure to use
- Well-calibrated screen
- Good camera quality
- Great performance
Cons
- Battery life is too short
- No telephoto lens
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Model
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
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Dimensions
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Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm - Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm
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Weight
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187 g (6.60 oz)
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Display Type
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Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
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Size
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6.7 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
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Chipset
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Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
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Main Camera
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12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
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Selfie Camera
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10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1.22µm
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Battery
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Li-Po 3700 mAh
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Features
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Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
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Overview
The Galaxy Z Flip 5, eagerly awaited by a market increasingly fond of folding smartphones in clamshell format, breathes new life into Samsung’s range. The new terminal features a teardrop-shaped hinge, the advantage of which is that it closes completely, with no visible gap, and a new external screen, much larger than the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
The smartphone’s technical specifications are in line with those of its predecessor: the inner screen is still 6.7 inches, but promises increased brightness, the Snapdragon chip has been upgraded to Generation 8 Gen 2, and both the camera and battery are identical to those of the Galaxy Z Flip4.
In terms of price, expect to pay €1,199 for the least expensive version (8/256 GB), which is €30 more than the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in a similar configuration. The latter had the advantage of also being available in an 8/128 GB version at €1,109. The slightly more expensive Galaxy Z Flip 5 needs to prove its worth against the Galaxy Z Flip 4 it succeeds, as well as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and even the Huawei P50 Pocket.
Ergonomics and design
Several innovations give the Z Flip 5 a modern edge. The first is its hinge: the smartphone adopts a teardrop-shaped design that allows it to close completely, without the gap seen in previous generations delivered by Samsung. This is good news, as the device is now able to display a thickness of 15.1 mm when folded, on all sides, while the Z Flip 4 measured between 15.9 and 17.1 mm thick. This teardrop-shaped hinge, which is a latecomer for the Korean manufacturer, even though its competitors offer it on their clamshell and book-shaped terminals, gave it a hard time since it was necessary for it to offer IPx8 certification on this generation of mobiles to which its customers are accustomed. The good news is that the smartphone remains certified water-resistant.
The rest of its chassis is made of Armor aluminum, its external screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Victus+ on the Z Flip 4), and its weight remains stable at 187 grams. Its dimensions, when unfolded, barely vary: it measures 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm, thanks to its stretched screen ratio (165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm for the Z Flip 4), and 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm when closed (84.9 x 71.9 mm for the Flip 4); its new hinge, therefore, adds a small millimeter to the device when folded.
The second new feature is the external screen. Gone is the Flip 4’s 1.9-inch slab, replaced by a 3.4-inch Amoled slab, with a wide notch surrounding a dual camera module, similar to that of the Flip 4. The effect is successful.
As for the rest, nothing really changes. The inner screen, in p-Oled (Polymer Organic Light Emitted Dynamic), retains the same rather sensitive fold, especially in the face of current competition, which has attenuated the bulge in the middle of folding slabs. Leaving this aside, the edges are slim (it occupies 85.86% of the available space), and there’s a punch to accommodate an internal camera. The fingerprint reader doesn’t move: it remains located on the smartphone’s power button, next to the volume control bar.
Connectivity is unchanged: a USB-C port, compatible with 25W charging, remains. Audio is nevertheless served by Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity (5.2 on the Flip 4), and we note the support of wifi 6E on the new smartphone.
Finally, the Flip 5’s back is similar to that of the Flip 4 and remains flat, but Samsung has opted for a glossy finish, which catches fingerprints a little – for a matte look, you’ll have to turn to editions exclusive to Samsung’s online store… In any case, we appreciate the appearance of new colors, water green, and cream, which join the more traditional graphite and lavender.
Screen
The inner screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is quite similar in appearance to that of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 insofar as it adopts the same P-OLED technology, retains the same fold, and has the same 6.7-inch diagonal. Its resolution remains at 425 pp, and its refresh rate varies between 1 and 120 Hz; on paper, the changes seem minimal.
If there’s anything new, it’s the panel’s maximum brightness, which contributes to good screen legibility when smartphones are used outdoors. On the Z Flip 5, it reaches 1,302 cd/m2, one of the highest values in our comparison. Not only is this brightness high enough for outdoor use, but the reflectance of the screen is also low, at just 28.51%. So it’s comfortable to use, even in bright sunshine. It’s also possible to lower the brightness to 0.995 cd/m2, so you can use the smartphone in the dark without damaging your eyes.
It should be noted that Samsung claims a maximum brightness of 1,750 cd/m2: this applies to the display of HDR content, which for our part, achieved 1,588 cd/m2. That’s already a lot.
The calibration of the Z Flip 5’s internal screen is similar to that of its predecessor. Two modes are available: Vivid, offered by default, which results in a slightly high delta (3.2), but less than that of the Z Flip 4, testifying to some colorimetric drift. However, color temperatures are less cool than last year, as we measured 6,996 K under our probes, compared with 7,146 K on Flip 4. If you opt for the “Natural” display, the temperature is closer to the 6,500 K reference value, with 6,356 K (colors are slightly warm), compared with 6,756 K for its predecessor. DeltaE is down to 1.8. Thanks to Oled technology, contrast is virtually infinite, and afterglow is zero. We measured a touch delay of 77 ms, on par with the 78 ms recorded on Flip 4.
Camera
Samsung has concentrated most of its efforts on the outer screen, the hinge, and, to a lesser extent, the interface of its Z Flip 5, choosing not to renew the entirety of its components. The back photo module is identical to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, with two 12-megapixel sensors. The first is flanked by a wide-angle lens (equivalent to 24 mm, f/1.8), and the second by an ultra-wide-angle lens (f/2.2). The smartphone, therefore, falls short of the versatility of a Galaxy Z Fold or Galaxy S, all of which feature a telephoto module.
Main camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, eq. 24 mm
The results delivered by the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s main module are very similar to those of the Galaxy S23 series, with the same tendency to overexpose images slightly. Despite a definition limited to 12 MP, images benefit from high sharpness, rendering textures rather well. The colors are a little inaccurate, but we appreciate the image quality, even at the periphery. The qualities of Motorola’s Razr are different: colors are more accurate, and processing is smoother, but contrasts are less accentuated, making the image appear less sharp.
Digital noise quickly appears in low light, impairing image legibility, especially around the edges of our scene. Details are partly smoothed out, but Samsung’s processing preserves the contours of small elements, at least in part.
Ultra-wide-angle camera: 12 MP, f/2.2
This tendency towards overexposure is confirmed at ultra-wide-angle, where areas of random focus are particularly noticeable. While results are convincing at wide-angle, they are far less so with this module, even in daylight.
Night-time images are also less convincing, but it’s worth noting that, despite some software failures (see the book cover), colors are at least rendered adequately, unlike the Razr 40 Ultra.
Portrait mode, front module, and video
Samsung doesn’t change the game when it comes to video, which is still offered up to 4K at 60 fps on the back, and at 30 fps on the front (see our Galaxy Z Flip 4 test). Selfies are still handled by a 10 MP sensor, which produces shots that may lack a minor detail but whose processing flatters the features. Portrait mode is equally effective. Thanks to Flex mode, it’s worth remembering that it’s possible to capture selfies and vlog-style videos with the back sensors, using the Cover Display as a monitor; the internal sensor is mainly of interest for occasional Visio videos.
Conclusion
To consider buying the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 more than ever, you need to know what you want. “What are my essential criteria, and what elements can I accept concessions?” Take the time to ask yourself the right questions and do a little soul-searching. Are we clear? Are we thinking clearly? Let’s see if this is the phone for you.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is for you if you’re in the mood for a smartphone with a format that’s out of the ordinary, that catches the eye thanks to its cool looks, and that invites you to use it in two different ways: as a classic smartphone, on the one hand, and as a small, comfortable and well-thought-out add-on screen, on the other. This is the product’s main asset. The widgets and apps already compatible with the Flip work perfectly, and navigation is highly intuitive. What’s more, this Flip is still the right choice for you if screen quality, high performance, good software support, and Samsung-style photo quality are what you’re looking for.
But beware! Avoid it if you’re looking for long battery life and real photo versatility for a real-quality zoom. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has obvious shortcomings in this respect. Its external screen, however neat, remains a little frustratingly limited in terms of officially compatible applications. This problem can be overcome fairly easily thanks to the Good Lock application, which allows any app to be displayed on the external screen. Still, it’s up to you to make an effort to adapt. And it’s understandable that, for 1,200 euros, some people want to have everything at their fingertips on the spot.
So take the time to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to go for it. And if you had to remember just one sentence, it would be this: the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is not a geek’s or a nerd’s smartphone, but a smartphone you want to show the world once you start using it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB Storage, Graphite, 3 Year Manufacturer Extended Warranty (UK Version)
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | - | |
| Highest Price | £1,149.00 | December 28, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | £809.10 | March 13, 2024 |
Last price changes
| £809.10 | March 13, 2024 |
| £899.10 | March 4, 2024 |
| £1,034.10 | February 8, 2024 |
| £1,149.00 | December 28, 2023 |
| £818.68 | December 27, 2023 |
SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip 5 Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB, Compact, Foldable Design, One-Hand Control, Best Selfies, Full Cover Screen, US Version, 2023, Mint
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | - | |
| Highest Price | $1,119.99 | December 25, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $608.29 | January 15, 2024 |
Last price changes
| $1,119.99 | March 13, 2024 |
| $969.99 | March 5, 2024 |
| $1,119.99 | January 26, 2024 |
| $608.29 | January 15, 2024 |
| $772.33 | January 11, 2024 |
