First impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5: Bigger (cover screen) is better

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 won me over the moment I saw its new, huge cover display. Well, huge for what it is, I’d argue.

After trying the OPPO Find N2 Flip with its 3.26-inch cover screen, I found myself wishing that Samsung’s flip phones would one day get larger cover screens too.

With the Z Flip5’s 3.4-inch cover screen (now called the Flex Window), this wish came true.

Okay, flex those capabilities

So far, I’ve enjoyed using YouTube on the Flex Window, although I will say that the 720p OLED and 60Hz refresh rate do slightly affect the quality of my usual video-watching experience.

The larger Flex Window also means that Samsung has been able to fit a QWERTY keyboard for typing out replies without unfolding the phone, and I personally find it quite comfortable to type on.

Using the Good Lock App on the Galaxy Store, I’ve also been able to game on the Flex Window (playing Honkai Star Rail). If you want to get more use out of the Flex Window for various apps that don’t seem to be natively supported by the cover screen, I recommend the Good Lock App.

To my surprise, the game’s UI orientation on the Flex Window wasn’t too far off from its usual when the phone was unfolded. It was relatively easy to play despite the smaller buttons, but reading any in-game text had me squinting. 

The experience was smooth, and I could open up the phone and continue playing without a hitch since it switched so seamlessly. 

However, once I closed the phone to continue playing on the Flex Window, I had to go through the motions of finding the game app and reopening it (but no loading is required, so you start back up where you left off).

Looking pretty good

Opening up the Z Flip5, the new hinge is sturdy without snapping open too easily.

The crease on the screen is said to be less noticeable, but to me it’s still quite obvious, although it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

The foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X HDR10+, 120Hz screen looks great, though the 6.7-inch screen is on the long and narrow side, so that will require some getting used to if you’re switching over from a mainstream phone.

On a less-happy note about the Z Flip5, I find that the phone is too slippery, just like the Z Flip4 and even OPPO’s Find N2 Flip.

It’s also a major fingerprint magnet all around, on the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back, Flex Window, and front screen. If this annoys you, a case and a matte screen protector for the Flex Window and front screen are a must.

A new chipset for subtle improvement

Equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, gaming on the Z Flip5 was pleasant. Playing Honkai Star Rail on the Z Flip5 was overall enjoyable and fuss-free.

There were moments when loading into an area got a bit glitchy for a second or two, but that’s kind of the nature of mobile gaming on a device that isn’t dedicated to gaming, I think.

If you’re planning to game on the Flex Window every now and then though, do note that the Z Flip5 will heat up faster when it’s folded.

On the productivity side of things, Samsung now has more apps that support its foldable ecosystem, but I’ve not found too much use for the Flex Mode yet beyond its split-screen capabilities, since I’m not sure how else I would use the touchpad function with my usual apps.

A bit of the same

The Z Flip5’s cameras are the same as the Z Flip4’s, which were already quite an improvement compared to the Z Flip3’s. 

One noticeable change is that the Z Flip5’s 10MP front camera has a wider angle than the Z Flip4, but I’d much prefer to just take Quick Shot selfies through the Flex Window (using the rear cameras).

The photos taken by the Z Flip5 are beautiful and rather crisp, but the post-image processing sometimes does feel like a bit too much. If that bothers you, perhaps turning off the Scene Optimiser could help.

Weighing 187g, the same as the Z Flip4, the Z Flip5 feels durable and solid in my hands.

Other specs that remain unchanged from the Z Flip4 are the 3,700mAh battery, and 8GB of RAM. 

However, I will say that so far, the battery life of the Z Flip5 has been great, going down only a few percentages despite hours of YouTube on the Flex Window. Perhaps the Flex Window overall takes up less energy?

The Z Flip5 starts at RM4,499, and comes in four colourways which are mint, graphite, lavender, and cream. 

Overall, the Z Flip5 has made a great first impression on me, and I’m excited to spend a bit more time with it and get to know its ins and outs, and see how it works as my daily driver.