We met the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 earlier and this is how they look

So, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 are finally live for the world to see but we got the chance to actually experience them firsthand earlier in an early media access event so let us share with you our thoughts on both devices.

Let’s start with the horizontal boy Galaxy Z Fold5. There will be 3 colors – Phantom Black, Cream, and Icy Blue – and I think a lot of the ladies will want the latter.

From the get-go, at least the appearance is like a 98% carbon copy of the Z Fold4 but tiny changes that are crucial are awaiting discovery.

When unfolded, it is still 7.6-inches in size so if the Z Fold4 can into my pocket, the successor can too.

But it is lighter now at 253g – 10g lesser so pretty good(?).

But the new Flex Hinge cuts the entire thickness down to 13.4mm only and it is quite obvious to identify with my eyes and hand feel.

The crease is a lot shallower than before, albeit not entirely sealed. Great job but I think it is just a matter of time for Samsung to find the solution.

The Ultra Thin Glass reportedly has been improved in terms of longevity and durability but we’ll see as time goes on.

The IPX8 rating stays while a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers it for protection. On the other hand, the phone frame is from Samsung’s Armor Aluminum.

The immaculate screen is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC alongside a 38% larger vapor chamber for handling heat (gamers arise).

The new chipset will contribute to better post-processing in terms of photography because the same camera setup can be found here yet the main camera has a larger pixel size so changes maybe granted to the sensors as well.

Software wise, they made some great improvements.

For example, the taskbar can hold more Recent Apps now while 4 popup windows can be had at once or hidden away in a stacked widget.

A new gesture where you hold something with one hand, open another app and dropping it there have been implemented. The demo over there had us do the “holding Gallery pictures and drop them into Samsung Notes” for intuitive image insertion.

The new Flex Mode Panel hosting multimedia controls for multiple apps are a live changer as well.

Charging speed and capacity stays the same – 4,400mAh + 45W via USB-PD. Pretty good on its own.

The S Pen is kind of “new” in the sense of its form factor coming in smaller and thinner now. And yes, it can be now parked into the case but I do wish it is directly embedded in the phone itself like the old-school Note series.

As for accessories, there’s the Leather Case, Slim S Pen Case with tons of pastel colors for personalization, and the standing strap case that instead of holding the S Pen in place, you put your fingers in.

And there’s a clear gadget case with the spinning ring thing for balancing on a flat surface.

I’ll put down the specs sheet here just in case you need some reference.

• 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Main Screen
  • 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
  • Infinity Flex 2176×1812 Resolution
• 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Cover Screen
  • 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset
• 12GB RAM
• Up to 1TB Storage
• Triple Rear Cameras
  • Main: 50MP f/1.8 with Dual Pixel AF, OIS
  • Ultra-Wide: 12MP F/2.2
  • Telephoto: 10MP f/2.4 with PDAF, OIS
• 4MP Under Display Camera
• 10MP Cover Camera
• 4,400mAh Battery

Now to the Galaxy Z Flip5 and perhaps the one that is “less attractive” at first.

But Samsung gave it a little refresh, as the name of the Cover Screen no longer carries that name and instead, it is Flex Window now. Okay.

Maybe they want it to be official as part of something else from the hardware or software perspective as naming consistency is important.

Colors-wise, they come in Graphite, Cream, Mint, and Lavender.

The Flex Window has a little curve now which can be good or bad subjectively but overall it is bigger than before.

My thoughts of mostly software upgrades and optimizations are true though.

To start, you still swipe down for the Quick Access toolbar, notifications, and keyboard when input is required like WhatsApp and WeChat.

If you’re a widget maniac, you can quickly zoom out and jump to whichever widget you want to use next and that’s pretty cool and easy to use.

As for the Flex Hinge, the device can now be laid flat with no gaps. Thanks, Samsung.

And props to that, the device is now 2mm thinner at 15.1mm now.

Initial assumptions for the camera processing capability are mid at best since they are using the same setup but reckoning the SoC, which is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in this case, could bring some changes.

But we’ll know when our review is done.

The screen’s max brightness has been increased as well but I don’t crank them to the max in my daily life so definitely not my cup of tea but in extreme cases, that could be useful.

The official accessories are kind of fun though, as they made new stuff for this year’s entry.

You got the new ring case here.

And you got the leather flap case with hinge protection for more coverage in case you’re a droppy person.

This is a new one and it is called the FlipSuit Case. Containing a built-in NFC chip that can be detected by your phone and changes the software aesthetics (particularly the Flex Window) to match it, it is kind of like the Amiibo from Nintendo.

The spec sheet for it is kind of simple though.

• 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Main Display
  • 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
  • Infinity Flex 2640×1080 Resolution
• 3.4-inch Super AMOLED Flex Window
  • 60Hz Refresh Rate
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset
• 8GB RAM
• Up to 512GB Storage
• Dual Rear Camera
  • Main: 12MP f/1.8 with Dual Pixel AF, OIS
  • Ultra-Wide: 12MP f/2.2
• 10MP Selfie Camera
• 3,700mAh Battery
  • 25W Wired

Pricing

Although the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 had a little price hike, the Z Fold5 surprisingly starts from the same spot as last year’s Z Fold4 so this is a really good piece of news.

As for color selection, there are a couple of online exclusive colors which we didn’t get to see but you’ll know when u pay a visit to the official page.