When I first heard about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, I was skeptical. I thought it was just another gimmick from Samsung, trying to cash in on the nostalgia of flip phones. I didn’t see the point of having a foldable phone that didn’t offer much more than a regular smartphone. I was wrong.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is not just a gimmick. It’s a well-designed, well-performing, and well-priced foldable phone that offers some unique advantages over traditional smartphones. It’s also one of the most compact and portable phones on the market, thanks to its ability to fold in half and fit into any pocket.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that folds along the horizontal axis, creating a clamshell-like form factor. The display has a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes everything look smooth and responsive. The display also supports HDR10+, which enhances the color and contrast of videos and photos.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also has a 3.4-inch cover screen on the outside, which is much larger than the previous model’s 1.1-inch screen. The cover screen can show notifications, time, date, battery level, and other useful information. It can also act as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the rear cameras, or as a mini-app launcher for accessing some of the most used apps without unfolding the phone.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a versatile camera system
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 12MP wide-angle lens and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The cameras can take sharp and detailed photos in various lighting conditions, thanks to the optical image stabilization and the dual-pixel autofocus. The cameras can also record 4K videos at up to 60 frames per second, or 8K videos at up to 24 frames per second.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also has a 10MP selfie camera on the inside, which is embedded in a hole-punch cutout on the main display. The selfie camera can take decent selfies with good exposure and skin tones. It can also record 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second.
One of the best features of the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s camera system is the Flex Mode, which allows you to use the phone in different angles and positions. For example, you can fold the phone halfway and place it on a flat surface, creating a mini-tripod for taking hands-free selfies or group shots. You can also use the cover screen as a viewfinder while using the rear cameras, giving you more creative control over your shots.
Flex Mode also works with some apps, such as YouTube, Google Duo, and Samsung Gallery. You can watch videos or video chat on the top half of the screen, while browsing comments or controls on the bottom half. You can also view photos or videos on the top half, while editing or sharing them on the bottom half.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has impressive performance and battery life
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is one of the most powerful processors available for Android phones. It also has 8GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. The phone can handle any task or app you throw at it, whether it’s gaming, multitasking, or streaming.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also has a decent battery life, considering its compact size and foldable design. It has a dual-battery system that combines two separate batteries into one unit with a total capacity of 3,300mAh. The phone supports fast charging up to 15W with a wired charger, or up to 10W with a wireless charger. It also supports reverse wireless charging up to 4.5W, which means you can use it to charge other devices such as earbuds or smartwatches.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 can last for a full day of moderate use on a single charge, or for about half a day of heavy use. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how you use the phone and what settings you have enabled. But overall, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a respectable battery performance for its category.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is worth buying
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is not perfect. It still has some drawbacks and limitations that come with being a foldable phone. For instance, it’s not very durable or water-resistant compared to other flagship phones. It also has a noticeable crease on the main display where it folds, which some people may find annoying or distracting. And it doesn’t have some features that other premium phones have, such as stereo speakers, telephoto lens, or under-display fingerprint scanner.
But despite these flaws, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is still a great phone that offers a lot of value and innovation. It’s one of the most affordable foldable phones on the market, starting at $999.99 / £1,049 / AU$1,649 for the base model. It’s also one of the most stylish and fun phones to use, thanks to its foldable design and colorful options. And it’s one of the most practical and convenient phones to carry around, thanks to its compact and portable size.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is not for everyone. But if you’re looking for a phone that stands out from the crowd, that gives you a different way of interacting with your device, and that fits your lifestyle and personality, then the Galaxy Z Flip 5 might be the phone for you. I was wrong about the Galaxy Z Flip 5 — and I’m glad I gave it a chance.