At first sight, the new Galaxy Z Fold 5 appears to be quite similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which means that the previous model might still be a great option, especially if it’s on sale. However, there are a few important modifications in the revised model that may be critical for many when selecting a new foldable smartphone. Z Fold 5 vs Galaxy Z Fold 4 who’s better ?
But what if you already own a Z Fold 4? Is it really worth it to upgrade? To further comprehend this progression, let’s compare the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Design & build
To begin with, both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Fold 4 use Samsung’s distinctive folding mechanism. When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 129.9 x 154.9 x 6.1mm and 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4mm when folded. When unfolded, the Z Fold 4 measures 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3mm and 67.1 x 155.1 x 14.2-15.8mm when folded. The Z Fold 5 is somewhat lighter, weighing 253g against 263g for the Z Fold 4. Of course, both are big, hefty gadgets in comparison to conventional phones.
Both include a 6.2in 120Hz AMOLED cover display, which offers brilliant graphics and seamless interactions. The aspect ratio of the Z Fold 5 is 23.1:9, while that of the Z Fold 4 is 21.1:9. The internal foldable screens, however, are identical – both phones have a 7.6in 120Hz AMOLED foldable internal display with an aspect ratio of 21.6:18.
They also provide a variety of color selections to accommodate diverse tastes. The Z Fold 5 comes in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Grey, and Blue colors. Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, and Burgundy are the colors available for the Z Fold 4.
However, one of the most notable modifications in construction is that the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s hinge has been enhanced, resulting in two substantial enhancements.
The first difference is that the seam on the inner Infinity Flex screen is significantly less noticeable. Second, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 now totally folds flat. As with prior Fold generations, there is no unpleasant gap between the two half of the screen. This not only contributes to the phone’s lower profile, but it also reduces the possibility of debris such as sand or tiny items entering between the inner screen’s two portions, minimizing the potential for harm.
It’s also worth noting that the S Pen developed for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has shrunk by 41%. Furthermore, the S Pen cover that comes with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is more streamlined than the one that comes with the Z Fold 4. As a result, lugging it around is more ergonomic and less burdensome.
The most noticeable differences in design and construction are weight, size, colors, a slightly different aspect ratio on the exterior screen, and, of course, the fold-flat hinge on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Aside than that, they seem practically identical on the outside.
Specs & performance
The Z Fold 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which offers increased computing capabilities over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 seen in the Z Fold 4. The Z Fold 5 earned 4740 points in the Geekbench 5 Multi-core test, whereas the Z Fold 4 scored 3636 points, demonstrating the performance advantage of the newer device.
Both variants include 12GB of RAM and storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. The Z Fold 5, on the other hand, has faster UFS 4.0 storage technology, which contributes to speedier data access and application loading times.
They both have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 5G connection, NFC, and allow up to 8K video recording, making them ideal for customers who want to create high-quality content. The Z Fold 4 had Bluetooth 5.2, however the Z Fold 5 had Bluetooth 5.3. Both phones are equipped with tri-band Wi-Fi 6E.
Camera & video
The Z Fold 5’s rear camera system consists of a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens with 30x space zoom, and a 12MP 123-degree ultra-wide lens. The Z Fold 4, on the other hand, has a 50MP primary camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens with 30x space zoom, and a 12MP 123-degree ultra-wide lens. The Z Fold 5, on the other hand, has a more modern under-display camera technology with 4MP resolution, which results in better front camera performance.
To be honest, you won’t notice much of a difference in images produced with these phones. They are essentially the identical cameras, with the main variations being in the software and algorithms used to process photographs.
Battery & charging
Both variants include a 4,400mAh battery and allow 25W charging. This guarantees that the flexible screens and powerful CPUs are supported by a stable battery life. It is crucial to note, however, that the Z Fold 5’s breakthroughs in CPU efficiency result in optimized battery usage. In our battery test, it lasted 11 hours and 10 minutes, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 4 barely lasted 7 hours and 40 minutes.
On both variants, Qi wireless charging is built in, and you may wirelessly charge earphones or other compatible devices with reverse charging.
Software & updates
Samsung’s customized interface built on Android 13 is included with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The previous Z Fold 4 received the One UI 5 upgrade this year as well, although it is expected to receive fewer additional software upgrades than the current Z Fold 5. Overall, One UI 5 is a solid Android skin that comes with a slew of pre-installed apps. Among all existing foldable devices, Samsung has the most sophisticated multitasking capabilities and great app optimization.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 retains the ability for users to use three applications concurrently on its 7.6in screen, with numerous beneficial improvements over its predecessor. To begin, there’s a new convenience: you may enter multi-window mode by swiping up with two fingers from the bottom or side of the screen.
Furthermore, the lower taskbar on the display now displays the four most frequently used applications, up from the two shown on the Fold 4. Furthermore, by pulling down from the top right corner of the screen, you can easily transform any program into a floating window.
Finally, capability for two-handed drag and drop is a major addition to the Z Fold 5’s functionality. This means you can, for example, tap and hold a picture in your photo gallery with one hand while opening the messaging app with the other, and then effortlessly move the image between the two apps.
Price & availability
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts from $1799/£1749 (256GB), but there are two more capacious versions that cost $1919/£1849 (512GB) and $2159/£2049 (1TB). Every version comes with 12GB RAM.
You can buy a Z Fold 5 directly from Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is now cheaper, starting at $1599/£1649 with 256GB of storage. You can also get another storage variants: 512GB for $1919 (discounted at the time of writing to $1499)/£1,769 and 1TB for $1959/£2019.
You can still buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from Samsung directly. It’s also available from retailers including Amazon
Verdict
The enhancements in terms of the processor and hinge do justify the Z Fold 5’s price, which is the same as what the Fold 4 cost last year. The Fold 4 is now a bit cheaper, but both are still very expensive phones.
As things stand, if you’re contemplating purchasing a Samsung foldable, the Z Fold 5 is the one we recommend you choose. Considering the enticing trade-in offers available, it could be a lot more affordable if you have a recent phone you’re looking to get rid of.
Specs
Galaxy Z Fold 5:
- Unfolded: 129.9x 154.9 x 6.1mm
- Folded: 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4mm
- 253g
- 6.2in 120Hz AMOLED cover display (23.1:9)
- 7.6in 120Hz AMOLED foldable internal display (21.6:18)
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front display and rear
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- 12GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB of UFS 4.0 storage
- Rear cameras: 50Mp main f.1.8, 10Mp f/2.4 3x telephoto, 12Mp f/2.2 123-degree ultra-wide
- 4Mp f/1.8 under-display camera
- 10Mp f/2.2 cover camera
- Up to 8K video recording
- 4,400mAh battery with 25W charging
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.3
- 5G
- NFC
- Available in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Grey, Blue
Galaxy Z Fold 4:
- Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mm
- Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8 mm
- 263g
- 6.2in 120Hz AMOLED cover display (21.1:9)
- 7.6in 120Hz AMOLED foldable internal display (21.6:18)
- Gorilla Glass Victus+ on front display and rear
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- 12GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB of UFS 3.1 storage
- Rear cameras: 50Mp main f.1.8, 10Mp 3x telephoto with 30x space zoom, 12Mp 123-degree ultra- wide
- 4Mp under-display camera
- 10Mp cover camera
- Up to 8K video recording
- 4400mAh battery with 25W charging
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.2
- 5G
- NFC
- Available in Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige and Burgundy
