Should you upgrade your phone every year? Definitely not and companies like Samsung and Apple don’t expect you to. These companies already have a substantial base of users and each year, a sizeable chunk upgrades. This is important to remember when you look at Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 5G, the new foldable biggie. Three things here: First, there are many people who are using Galaxy Z Fold3, who wouldn’t mind moving to the latest phone. Second, there are many people (and we mean most smartphone users) who haven’t tried foldable phones yet and for them, the Galaxy Z Fold5 is a step up. Third, there are users who like to get a good deal every year by upgrading. Which category do you fall in?

Meaningful changes to the hinge and feel

The cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold5 now offer the same picture quality as the phones in the Galaxy S23 series

Looking from the back (or the front), it’s difficult to tell this year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 from last year’s Galaxy Z Fold4 but all that changes when you look at the phones from the side and when you use it. The hinge is the major upgrade for this year’s Fold5 and when it’s completely closed, it’s absolutely flat. It looks better and when you’re typing, it feels a lot more natural like a standard phone that we are used to.

The other change — a minor one — involves the flashlight on the back, which has been moved from the bottom of the camera island to the right. The overall thickness has been reduced and it’s consistent across the device (13.4mm). And the weight has also reduced from 263g to 253g, bringing it close to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Many have said the phone remains tall when closed. It’s not that tall at all when you place it next to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Yes, the outer screen is narrow but that’s exactly why it’s a foldable phone — you need to open the phone to get those heavy-hitting tasks done, otherwise, everything is possible on the outer screen. And since it’s narrow, it easily slides into pockets of all sizes.

Now that the phone doesn’t have any gap when closed, there is no chance lint and dust getting into the gap. The improved hinge has fewer moving parts, which will hold the phone in good stead for years to come. The phone is rated IPX8, so it will survive submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

Earlier, I mentioned that the updates have more to do with what you do with the phone. If you are coming from the Fold4, you will notice this when you open the phone — it feels a lot more consistent throughout the process. The hinge on the Fold4 came across as slightly stiff.

Good battery life

The outer screen is the same display quality as the Fold4 and there is no reason to complain because the Fold4 has an excellent panel. On the cover, there is a 10MP camera and the improvement you will notice has a lot to do with software processing. The skin tones are spot on and portraits come out fantastic, with excellent background separation in portrait mode.

When you move to the bigger, 7.6-inch QXGA+ display with Dynamic AMOLED 2X, there are fewer reflections on the screen and the impressive feature is that it can go up to 1,750nits compared to 1,200 on Fold4. More brightness means easier to work on the phone under direct sunlight.

The big screen comes in handy while browsing or taking pictures

A brighter display is supposed to eat into battery life. But that’s not true here. Perhaps this has to do with the processor — Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. I am easily getting a day of usage out of the phone. As for the processor, it’s very quick and efficient, even if you play games. In case you are playing games for a few hours, you may feel the phone warming up slightly but that’s no reason for concern.

Computational photography

Even last year, there was a feeling that the best cameras are on the Galaxy S series while the Z Fold is more for productivity and that’s it. Samsung has worked on that. You get three cameras on the back — a 50MP wide lens, 10MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The difference in terms of photo quality comes down to computational photography. I find the pictures more contrasty and the overall feel is vibrant. There is sharpness and clarity around the edges of a photo, which wasn’t the case with Fold4.

The Galaxy Z Fold5 comes with sturdy hinges

Another welcome change is the 2x portrait mode and night-time photography has improved. The phone can process photos faster and you don’t have to wait for a long time before a nighttime photo gets clicked under uneven lighting. In the video department, you can now shoot QHD@30fps; the outcome is steady. Also, it can do 8K@30fps instead of 8K@24fps on Fold4. The usual Flex mode is here, that is, you can use the top display for something and the other half for controls and so on.

Should you buy it?

Many people will opt for a cover and the S Pen. Earlier, the S Pen would protrude (when kept in the silo that comes with the cover)... sort of a bump and it would create a wobble when the phone was kept on the desk. The S Pen has been made slimmer. The new S Pen lies flat in the case. But if you have an old S Pen (for Fold), it still works here.

The foldable phone market is quickly changing and a lot of Chinese OEMs are getting into the fray (to cater to the international market). Where Samsung has an advantage (and a big one at that) is software experience. Samsung has been offering a lot of meaningful updates and is ensuring the phone remains secure for years. Rival OEMs are promising a lot but when it comes to delivery, it’s a different story.

The gap between the folds has disappeared on the Fold5 (right) compared to Fold4 (left)

Instead of just focusing on iterative improvements across the board, the company is now focusing a lot more on what actually matters, what people had complained about. The foldable phone market is maturing: The phone is thinner and lighter, which makes the phone feel optimal for use. Also, there are more multitasking options, which will make people ditch multiple devices and carry the Fold5 on work trips. And that’s what we are talking about: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has important changes that will make users care about the foldable market and make this the go-to device. The Galaxy Z Fold5 continues to lead the foldable pack and it ensures top-notch big-screen experiences.

At a glance

Device: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 5GPrice: Upwards of Rs 154,999 (there are a number of offers to bring down the price)

High notes

** Excellent multitasking features** The hinge folds flat** Samsung offers plenty of software support** Good battery life and camera

Muffled note

** You have to buy the S Pen separately