The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has been quite a successful phone for the company. Well, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is coming this year, and it will seemingly offer quite a few improvements, mainly in the design department. Samsung has been trailing behind some other companies in that area, mainly when it comes to the folding flat and the hinge parts. The company is looking to improve all that with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Needless to say, the phone will also be immensely powerful. If Samsung manages to nail the price tag, this could be yet another successful foldable product for the company. Samsung will have to do better and better moving forward, though, as more and more companies are bringing their foldable offerings to global markets.
This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on May 8, 2023.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 be released?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will launch in either July or August. Its predecessor arrived in August, but Samsung is allegedly thinking of launching the device early. No date has been mentioned thus far, but the launch will almost certainly take place in either July or August. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, of course.
What models are coming?
Samsung is planning to announce a single Galaxy Z Fold 5 model. Well, unless you consider different RAM and storage combos as different models, in that case, we’ll certainly get more than one. The company is not expected to release different models in any way, shape or form. All Galaxy Z Fold 5 models will have the same design, and be fueled by the same processor. Samsung is not expected to use its Exynos chip, only Qualcomm’s offering. More on that later on. The only differences will be visible in the RAM and storage counts, that’s it. 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants (UFS 4.0) are rumored, all of them sporting 12GB of RAM (LPDDR5X RAM).
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cost?
There are no specific rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Fold 5 price at this point. The phone will likely have a similar price to its predecessor, though. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched with a price tag of $1,799 (starting price) in the US, and the Fold 5 will likely have a similar price. Samsung may even go a bit below that level, but we’re not expecting price hikes this time around. It remains to be seen, though, some info will hopefully surface in the near future.
What will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 look like?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a similar footprint as its predecessor, but some major changes will be included this time around. We’re mainly talking about a different hinge. That hinge will not only allow the phone to fold flat, but it’ll also enable it to have a less pronounced crease. Not a single Galaxy Z Fold device thus far was able to fold flat, unlike many of its competitors. Its crease was also a major issue, as it was one of the most pronounced in the market.
Samsung will hopefully change that this time around, based on rumors, while retaining some form of water resistance. We’re not sure what level of water resistance will be on offer, though. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers an IPX8 rating, and it would be nice to see it in the Fold 5 as well. That may not be possible, though. Some rumors indicated that an IP68 rating will be on offer, but those are most certainly wrong. Chances are it will be an IPX8 rating, as the Huawei Mate X3 offers the same level of water resistance.
It’s expected to be thinner & lighter than the Fold 4
On top of all that, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to be both thinner and lighter than its predecessor. A rumor said that it will be 0.2mm thinner when unfolded, and noticeably thinner when folded. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 measures 14.2-15.8mm when folded, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to fly at 13.xmm. We still don’t have a specific number. Its weight will also drop from 263 grams to 254 grams, if a recent rumor is accurate. In fact, it could do way down to 250 grams, if Samsung’s plans come to fruition.
The phone will retain a display camera on its outer display, it would seem. We’re not sure about the internal display, but Samsung may push forward its under-display camera once again. The display sizes will be very similar, if not identical. Samsung is expected to utilize glass + metal build once again.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be available in Beige, Black, and Light Blue colors. Samsung will, of course, have special names for those color variants. We still don’t have info on those. The phone’s CAD-based renders did surfaced, in case you’d like to take a closer look. Check out the gallery below.
What specs will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 have?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. That is the most powerful processor Qualcomm has to offer at the moment. The phone will use that processor on a global scale. The display sizes will likely be identical to the ones its predecessor offered. In other words, we’re expecting a 7.6-inch main display, and a 6.2-inch cover panel. The display aspect ratios may be different, but we’re not sure just yet. Both displays are set to offer a 120Hz refresh rate, though the main one will be sharper. The cover display is expected to offer a fullHD+ resolution.
The phone will likely offer 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and come in several storage options. At the moment, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants are rumored. We’re looking at UFS 4.0 flash storage, here, by the way. Storage expansion will not be offered, and the phone will not come with an S Pen silo. It will, however, support an S Pen, of course. The battery is still a mystery, but it’ll most likely be in the 4,400mAh-4,600mAh range. That battery will also be easier to replace than before, thanks to pull tabs. 25W wired charging will be supported, along with 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Do note that a charger will not be included, however.
It probably won’t offer major camera improvements
What about its cameras? Well, Samsung may not upgrade the Galaxy Z Fold 5 camera setup. The device is tipped to retain a 50-megapixel main camera, instead of moving to a 108-megapixel or a 200-megapixel camera. It’s also tipped to include a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto unit. Still, we may see some changes (including new camera sensors), and besides, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ offer excellent performance with their 50-megapixel units. Samsung is rumored to deliver a thinner and lighter foldable this time around. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to measure 6.1mm when unfolded, and 13.4mm when folded. It’s also tipped to weigh 254 grams. When unfolded, the phone will measure 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1mm, and when folded, it will measure 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4mm.
Should you wait to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5?
So, should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5, or opt for its predecessor? Or, perhaps, for some other foldable? Well, there are so many options out there that we cannot really answer that question for you. If you are, however, trying to make up your mind between the Fold 4 and the Fold 5, well, waiting may be a better option. From the design standpoint alone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will bring a couple of major benefits. The fact it will be able to fold flat, and offer a less pronounced crease, are two very notable factors. If Samsung manages to retain the same or similar price tag, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will definitely be a notably more tempting option. Still, if the price is the issue, and you can get the Fold 4 for really cheap at the moment, well, it may be worth considering, it’s a great device.
2023-05-08 15:18:03