Jason's Review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: A Polished and Pricey Multi-tasker

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Edited by: Jason Howell
 

Foldables have had some time to mature, and Samsung's latest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is a prime example of how refined they've become. Samsung provided a review unit courtesy of AT&T, so I could put the latest version of their premium flagship foldable through its paces and share my thoughts with you.

First, the Z Fold 5 doesn't represent a major leap over last year's model. In many ways, it feels very iterative. The most noticeable change is the redesigned hinge that now lets the phone fold completely flat. Samsung trimmed 2mm off the thickness when folded, but it's still a heavy brick of a phone compared to more standard-format smartphones.

The real value becomes apparent when you unfold it to reveal the expansive 7.6" display inside. The crease inside is still there, which could turn some users off, but the tradeoff is that this tablet-sized screen enables some awesome multitasking. You can run multiple apps simultaneously, seamlessly drag and drop content between them, and even save customized app layouts to the home screen. It's a versatile and unique experience you can't get on most standard phones.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor delivers predictably fast performance for gaming, navigation, and the device's signature multitasking feature set. The rear cameras capture vivid, detailed shots in all kinds of conditions that impressed me time and again. Samsung's latest software suite is comprehensive and thoughtfully designed to enhance the transformative display technology. But to be fair, I expect all of this from a $1,800 flagship.

While Samsung has clearly honed its foldable formula, I do wonder if it's time for Samsung to shake things up a bit. After five generations, how can Samsung inject fresh excitement and showcase even more innovation in this form factor? More dramatic changes may be needed to keep its foldables ahead of the creeping competition.

So, is the Z Fold 5 worth $1,800? For gadget enthusiasts chasing the latest tech, there's so much to like. But this device is more expensive than most, which means budget-focused buyers won't likely take the bait. Still, props to Samsung for pushing boundaries and maturing the foldable form factor to an impressive point. I'm curious to see what Samsung does with the Z Fold lineup next.

~ Jason

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