Samsung's flagship foldable is back. And if you think 'bigger is better' when it comes to smartphones, you're in for a treat. We take a look at the Galaxy Z Fold5 below.
Looking to get the Galaxy Z Fold5 on a pay-monthly contract? With MoneySuperMarket, you can shop around and compare deals from a load of UK networks, both big and small.
Use the comparison table at the top of this page to sort deals by monthly costs, contract lengths and more. You can also use the filters to tailor your search to suit your needs, such as the amount of data you want, or the upfront cost you’re willing to spend.
Features and specs
- Dimensions: 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4mm folded, 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1mm unfolded
- Weight: 253g
- Display: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz screen (when unfolded)
- Triple lens rear camera: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto
- Front camera: 10MP
- Inner under-display camera: 4MP
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
- 12GB of RAM
- 4,400mAh battery capacity with 25W wired charging
- Storage options: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB
- Ships with Android 13 and Samsung OneUI 5.1
Availability and price
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 was unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 at the Galaxy Unpacked event on 26th July 2023, with pre-orders following shortly afterwards.
It goes on sale in the UK on 11th August, with prices starting from £1,749.
Don’t want to splash the cash all in one go? You can spread that cost over a series of months by getting the Galaxy Z Fold5 on a pay-monthly contract. Simply compare your options in our table at the top of this page, and see the range of networks that offer this device.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5's design and display?
Unsurprisingly, the standout feature of the Galaxy Z Fold5 is its folding display and design. And Samsung has employed its engineering sorcery to refine the foldable form factor, making the Galaxy Z Fold5 a more streamlined and ergonomic device than ever before.
Unfold the phone and the 6.2-inch, 904 x 2316 cover screen transforms into an impressive 7.6-inch, 1812 x 2176 resolution inner screen. Both displays are Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with 120Hz refresh rates – the same as the Galaxy Z Fold4. The main display is brighter, though, peaking at 1,750 nits.
And what a display! Although the cover screen is a little narrow, the main display is like using a mini tablet. It’s great for reading, watching video and multi-tasking; not to mention, apps are optimised to fill this full screen, which makes for an all-round better user experience.
The new ‘Flex Hinge’ mechanism makes a world of difference. It enables the two halves of the phone fold flat against each other, so there’s no awkward wedge-shaped gap when shut. As a result, it’s thinner and lighter than the previous year’s Galaxy Z Fold4: for example, the hinge end has been slimmed down to 13.4mm from 15.8mm.
Looking at build quality, it still uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back for protection from scratches and drops, as well as an Armor Aluminium frame. It’s also still IPX8-rated for dust and water resistance – meaning it’s not totally dust-resistant, but has good water resistance.
The Galaxy Z Fold5 has S Pen support, meaning you can use Samsung’s stylus for note-taking and drawing. However, unlike the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the S Pen doesn’t come in the box, nor does the Z Fold5 have an integrated slot for it.
The handset comes in three colours: Phantom Black, Cream and Icy Blue.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5's camera?
The Galaxy Z Fold5 sports a grand total of five camera lenses. This comprises the triple lens system on the rear of the phone, one front-facing camera, and one under-display camera on the internal screen.
Like the previous year’s Galaxy Z Fold5, the rear camera setup features a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto (though with a new 3x optical zoom). This time round, though, there’s a new image signal processor (as part of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip), improved lenses, and more software prowess for better quality images.
As is typical with Samsung, the photos captured are bright, colourful and vivid. They do err on the oversaturated side – skies are bluer, grass is greener – but they’re undeniably great to look at, especially on the Z Fold5’s lovely display. The main 50MP snapper is particularly good at preserving detail, even when you zoom in.
The 4MP under-display camera is not the best for selfies – use the 10MP selfie camera on the cover screen instead – but it’s useful for hands-free video calling.
However, it can’t compete with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which features one of the best smartphone camera systems in the market to date.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 good for video?
The rear cameras can capture video at 8K resolution at 30fps – that’s a slight improvement on the Z Fold4, which maxes out at 24fps. There’s optical image stabilisation, which smooths out any shaky footage from hand-held recording. And the resulting footage is pretty good quality, with a good amount of detail and dynamic range.
Meanwhile, the cover screen’s camera can shoot 4K at 60fps, while the under-display camera is limited to 1080p at 60fps. Again, you’d probably want to avoid the latter if you’re filming – it’s best used for video-calling.
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold5 does a good enough job of shooting video. But if you’re a budding streamer or YouTuber who’s looking to use your smartphone as your main shooter, you’ll be better off with a more traditional handset that can more reliably produce stellar footage.
What are the key differences between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4?
At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be many differences between the Galaxy Z Fold5 and the previous year’s Galaxy Z Fold4. However, there are a few key upgrades worth noting:
- Refined, improved design – The Galaxy Z Fold5 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, while the new ‘Flex Hinge’ mechanism allows the phone to close without a gap
- Newer chipset – The Galaxy Z Fold5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a step up from the Z Fold4’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. This means a more efficient battery life and better all-round performance
How does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 compare to flagship handsets in the UK?
The Galaxy Z Fold5 was launched alongside the Galaxy Z Flip5, a smaller clamshell-style foldable. The Z Flip5 is eminently more pocketable, and the new cover display screen makes it feel like a fresher, more exciting update – not to mention, it’s very fun to play around with.
On the flip side (pun intended), it hasn’t got the screen real estate of the Z Fold5, which is far better for multitasking and productivity. Plus, the Z Fold5’s triple camera system comes with telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
Released earlier in the same year, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a traditional ‘candy bar’ phone – no flipping or folding to be seen here. However, it boasts one of the best camera systems featured in a smartphone, excellent battery life, and an inclusive, built-in S Pen.
MoneySuperMarket's expert rating
Our rating: 4/5
Truthfully, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 isn’t for everyone. Its formidable form factor, coupled with an eye-watering price tag, may scare many people off at first. Not to mention, more ‘normal’ phones can outperform it in several basic areas, such as camera quality.
Even so, it’s sure to hold a niche appeal to tech enthusiasts, or those who want tablet functionality in a more portable design. The re-engineered hinge design presents a nice upgrade from the Galaxy Z Fold4, too, although it might not be worth ditching the previous year’s model for this one.
Contract options
Looking to spread the cost of a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 with a pay-monthly contract? We have loads of options – read on to find out more.
Can I get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 with no upfront cost?
It’s possible, yes. While you usually need to pay an upfront cost for flagship phone contract, some networks do have no upfront cost phone deals.
Deals with no upfront cost can change quite frequently. So, you should shop around and compare deals to find the best one with nothing to pay upfront.
Just set the slider in the filters above to only show deals with no upfront costs.
Can I get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 with unlimited data?
Absolutely – plenty of networks offer the Galaxy Z Fold5 with unlimited data.
You can find an unlimited data deal on the Galaxy Z Fold5 with our comparison table at the top of the page. Just move the slider above to unlimited (or very high) data to see all your options.
What's the cheapest way to get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?
In general, the cheapest way of getting any phone is to buy it outright and off-contract, then get a SIM-only deal with a monthly allowance of data, minutes and texts.
However, buying a phone outright is a lot of cash to splash in one go. If you’d prefer to spread the cost over the course of several months, it’s worth considering a pay-monthly phone contract instead.
Use our comparison table at the top of this page to find and compare pay-monthly Galaxy Z Fold5 deals.
Can I get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 with poor credit?
Possibly, though it might be difficult. Networks typically run credit checks before accepting you for a mobile contract.
As the Galaxy Z Fold5 is a pricey flagship phone, it’s unlikely that you’ll be accepted for a contract if you have a bad credit rating. If that’s the case, our bad credit phones guide can help.
Is now a good time to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?
If you’re thinking of trying out a foldable device, now’s certainly a good time to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. It’s one of the 2023 foldables released by Samsung – and it’s also set to get five years of software updates, so there’s plenty of longevity with this device.
If you’re hesitant about the high price tag, however, it may be worth considering the previous year’s model instead. The Galaxy Z Fold4 offers pretty much the same display and camera system – and it’s since dropped in price.
Will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 drop in price?
Phones usually drop in price when newer models are released. In the case of Samsung foldables, these are typically launched around August every year. So, if you want to snap up the Galaxy Z Fold5 for a lower price, it’s worth waiting until then.
You might also find special offers during certain times of the year, such as Black Friday.
Galaxy Z Fold5 5G specs
Manufacturer | Samsung |
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Operating System | Android |
Sim Card Type | Nano |
Accelerometer | Yes |
---|---|
Proximity | Yes |
Compass | Yes |
Barometer | Yes |
Gyroscope | Yes |
GPS | No |
Form Factor | |
---|---|
Thickness | 13.4 mm |
Size | 67.1mm x 13.4mm x 154.9mm |
Weight | 256 g |
Battery Type | Lithium Polymer |
---|---|
Capacity | 4400 mah |
Standby | hours |
Talktime | hours |
Display Size | 7.6 inches |
---|---|
Screen Type | AMOLED |
Resolution | 1812 x 2176 inches |
Pixels Per Inch | 373 ppi |
Touch Screen Type | Capacitive |
CPU | 33600 mhz |
---|---|
Processor Cores | Octa Core Cores |
Memory | 256000 MB |
Internal Storage | 256, 512 |
---|---|
External Storage | No |
Primary Camera | MP |
---|---|
Flash | Yes |
LED Flash | |
GEO Tagging | Yes |
Auto Focus | Yes |
Fixed Focus | Yes |
Touch Focus | |
Face Detection | Yes |
Smile Detection | |
Image Stabilisation | Yes |
Video Quality | |
2nd Camera | MP |
Generation | 5G |
---|---|
Frequency | Dual-band |
NFC | No |
Wi-Fi | No |
Wi-Fi Hotspot | No |
Wi-Fi Direct | No |
Bluetooth | No |
USB | No |
Loudspeaker | Yes |
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