You know, it's kind of wild when you think about it.
Here we are in 2023 and the devices in our pockets
feel like they're taken straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Today, I'm diving deep into one of the newest,
the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Z Fold line from Samsung has been their bold experiment,
a journey of evolution.
Each iteration better than the last.
With the Z Fold 5, Samsung is promising
more than just tweaks.
They're selling a vision of the future.
So let's unwrap this vision and see if it delivers on its promise.
If you want to pick one up, I'll have an exclusive discount link down in the description below.
Now let's get started with what's new.
There are three main changes that Samsung made to the Galaxy Z Fold 5
that make it an improvement over the Z Fold 4 in terms of usability.
They made it lighter, thinner, and added a new hinge.
When closed, Z Fold 5 is 13.4 millimeters thick,
and that's a reduction of 2.4 millimeters
compared to the Z Fold 4.
It weighs 253 grams,
which is 10 grams lighter than the previous model.
In that new hinge, it lets the Z Fold 5 close without a gap,
which is something we've been waiting for
since the first model was released four years ago.
It should be noted that the Fold 4
was also thinner and lighter than the Fold 3,
so we are seeing continuous refinement in that regard.
Now, the new water drop hinge design
has been verified to last for an impressive 200,000 folds,
while the inner display is 25% stronger
due to the way the hinge folds.
Now again, one noticeable aesthetic change
is the removal of that gap when closed,
which gave the Z Fold 4 a slightly V-shaped look.
The device's thinness is also noticeable
as my hand folded around a closed device
allows me to reach more of the screen
than I could on the Z Fold 4.
Also, the increased brightness of the display
is another standout feature with a maximum 1,750 nits
that puts it on par with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
This was immediately apparent when using the Z Fold 5
outdoors in the bright South Korean sun.
Also with the larger vapor chamber
and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor
the same as the S23 Ultra,
the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is obviously
a technically superior phone to the Z Fold 4
even if the specs make it feel more iterative on paper.
Now, speaking of specs, let's get into that topic.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is definitely
the most refined big screen foldable to date.
But if you own the Galaxy Z Fold 4,
or even the Galaxy Z Fold 3,
the differences are likely going to come across
as fairly minimal.
The inner display is a 7.6 inch dynamic AMOLED 2X screen
with a 120 Hertz dynamic refresh rate
that can drop to one Hertz and a 2176 by 1812 resolution.
The cover screen is a 6.2 inch dynamic AMOLED 2X
with a 48 Hertz to 120 Hertz refresh rate.
Now, if those numbers sound familiar,
first, wow, great memory.
And second, it's because it's the same spec for spec
as the Z Fold 4 and essentially the Z Fold 3 as well.
When it comes to the camera,
you get a 50 megapixel main sensor,
a 12 megapixel ultra wide camera
with optical image stabilization
and a 10 megapixel telephoto sensor for 3X optical zoom.
There's a 10 megapixel selfie camera on front
and a four megapixel under display camera
on the inner screen.
Again, exactly the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4,
spec for spec.
Looking at the battery,
the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 4,400 milliamp hour battery
with support for 45-watt super fast charging
and wireless charging, the same as the Z Fold 4
with Android 13 and Samsung's One UI interface.
There are a few small changes to the software
with the taskbar now showing four recently used apps
and the ability to launch them in pop-up windows
while you can still run three full apps at the same time
on the inside screen.
There's a new copy and paste feature,
updated flex mode and media controls,
and the exclusive launch of the popular GoodNotes app.
The S Pen for the Z Fold 5 has an IP68
water resistance rating,
a step above the IPX8 rating of the phone itself.
And there's a new case that holds the S Pen
on the phone for safekeeping.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front
and back of the phone,
but it's the same ultra thin glass on the inside
and it uses Samsung's Armor Aluminum for the chassis.
This year, the Z Fold 5 comes in cream,
phantom black and an icy blue color,
along with Samsung exclusive blue and gray options.
But here's the thing,
the biggest problem for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
is that it's not the groundbreaking revelation
that some were hoping for.
It's one of the most iterative year over year updates
we've seen for any smartphone over the past several years.
But that doesn't mean it's a disappointment.
With the improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor
and new camera lenses,
this device is worth considering for anyone new to foldables
as well as anyone who owns a Z Fold 1 or 2.
While it may not be worth upgrading
if you're already a foldable enthusiast,
for newcomers to the field,
the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a fantastic choice.
In fact, it's interesting because I think that
despite devices like the Pixel Fold
and the upcoming OnePlus foldable,
Samsung's biggest competition this year for the Fold
is gonna be the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5,
which sees much more obvious year-over-year improvements,
especially when you take a look
at this much larger cover display.
The Z Flip 5's new features are more in your face,
while the Z Fold 5 is improved in ways
that kind of fly under the radar.
The Fold 5 is still a multitasking powerhouse,
but it's less pocketable and, dare I say,
less fun than the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
If you haven't used a big folding smartphone yet,
the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is going to really impress you.
But if previous versions haven't quite hit the mark for you,
then it may not do enough to change your mind.
That said, the Z Fold 5 is an excellent foldable.
It's just kind of forgettable this year.
With the exception of the fact that there's no longer a gap
when it's closed, even when using it,
it's hard to tell the difference compared to last year.
Thanks for watching as always guys.
I appreciate your support.
I'm Andru Edwards and I will catch you in the next video.