As per the company’s standard announcement schedule, Samsung has just used its most recent Galaxy Unpacked event to present a series of new products. This includes both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, as well as the Galaxy Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra, and the slimmed-down Galaxy Watch6 and Watch6 Classic.
And while there are quite a few new Samsung devices to get across, I wanted to focus on the two that’ll have the biggest impact. Those are the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. In case you’re not already familiar with the company’s ongoing foldable series then just know that one folds and can be opened out horizontally to offer more screen real estate, and one simply flips vertically like an old-school flip phone would.
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With Samsung now in its fifth generation of Galaxy foldables, I wanted to give Boss Hunting’s readers a quick rundown of what to expect when the phones are released in Australia on August 18th, 2023.
The long-short verdict? It seems Samsung has refined aesthetics even further for both phones, creating a new Flex Hinge that feels sturdier (I went hands-on with both recently), minimises the gap between screens when closed, and is just generally much more balanced in terms of design. Add in the requisite performance and camera updates, as well as AI improvements and more efficient batteries, and you’ve got yourself two very good reasons why Samsung is considered the king of the foldable game right now.
RELATED: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Review
Everything We Know About The New Samsung Galaxy Z Foldables
Release Date & Price In Australia
Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 will be released in Australia on Friday, August 18th 2023. Pre-orders opened up on Wednesday, July 26th 2023.
Prices start at $1,649 for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 while prices for the Z Fold5 start from $2,599.
Compare this with prices for the previous generation of Samsung foldables. The Z Flip4 started at $1,499 for the base model and prices for the Z Fold4 started at $2,499 for the base model. As you can see the Flip5 represents a hefty $150 price bump while the Fold5 increase is just slightly more modest at $100.
Here’s a proper breakdown for each storage option.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
- RRP $1,649 for the 256 GB model
- RRP $1,849 for the 512 GB model
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
- RRP $2,599 for the 256 GB model
- RRP $2,799 for the 512 GB model
- RRP $3,149 for the 1 TB model
In terms of colours, you’ve got the following options.
Galaxy Z Flip5 Colours: mint, graphite, cream, lavender
Galaxy Z Fold5 Colours: icy blue, phantom black, cream
Pre-Order & Trade-In Details
As per usual, Samsung has now opened its Samsung Care+ program, which offers premium device Swap and Mobile Refresh options when purchasing either phone online during the pre-order period.
The pre-order period started on Wednesday, July 26th and will run until Thursday, August 17th.
When purchasing either phone from the official Samsung website during this period, customers will receive a free storage upgrade, a free one-year subscription to Samsung Care+, or 50% off a two-year subscription to Samsung Care+.
As for trade-in bonuses, Flip5 customers are eligible for a $400 trade-in bonus and Fold5 customers are eligible for a $500 trade-in bonus.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Summary – Everything You Need To Know
One of the biggest improvements over the Flip4 is that the Flip5 sports a big, flashy new Flex Window that is 3.78 times larger than the one found on the previous model. Having a bigger exterior screen has unlocked more functionality when the phone is shut, not only protecting the main 6.7-inch screen inside but offering more customisation options, including graphical clocks that can match the face design of a user’s Galaxy Watch6.
Having more Widgets available for the exterior screen lets users quickly check the weather, control music playback and, for the masochists, keep track of the stock market. The phone’s designers have also made Multi Widget View possible, with a simple pinch of the screen showing multiple apps at once. Closed, the exterior screen also brings up a full QWERTY keyboard to you can reply to texts quickly without even opening the phone. Finally, Samsung Wallet can also be easily opened by swiping up on the exterior screen.
When I went hands-on, I found the most attractive and notable aspect of the phone’s design was actually the hinge. Samsung’s new zero gap hinge helps the two sections of the phone sit flush on each other. The gap wasn’t a massive deal with previous models, especially the rather attractive Flip4, but side-by-side you definitely notice the difference.
The tightening of aesthetics also means Samsung has found a way to make the crease that would visually split the phone’s two halves much less noticeable. This holds more significance for the Fold5, however, with the crease between both sides of the open phone.
The hinge is also sturdier, so you can actually half-flip the phone and have it stand very steadily on one side, acting as somewhat of a tripod to keep the device still while you take a high-quality selfie with the rear camera. I’ve included all the specs below so you get an idea of the bump in power for the camera system, which is furthered here by tighter AI solutions.
Samsung promises that photos taken with the new cameras are clearer, using AI to enhance details and colour tone with removing the visual noise that typically destroys low-light images. The claim is that, even from a distance, photos are clearer when taken with the digital 10X zoom. While I’ve gone hands-on with the devices, I haven’t spent enough time with either phone to validate the claim.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Specs
| Main Display | 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Cover Display | 3.4-inch Super AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate (Main) | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Refresh Rate (Cover) | 60Hz |
| Dimensions (opened) | 71.9 x 165.1 x 6.9 mm |
| Dimensions (closed) | 71.9 x 85.1 x 15.1 mm |
| Weight | 187 g |
| Camera (Rear) | 12 MP (Ultra Wide), 12 MP (Wide-Angle) |
| Camera (Cover) | 10 MP Selfie Camera |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy |
| Memory | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | 3,700 mAh dual battery |
| Operating System | Android 13 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Summary – Everything You Need To Know
The Fold5 is more expensive as it offers more functionality, is geared towards professional users who need productivity features and multi-tasking, and it just generally looks cooler. I was never really won over by previous foldable models, but with the aesthetic updates, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 could really win a bigger fanbase for these highly functional book-like phones.
Much like the aesthetic updates with the Z Flip5, the hinge and crease are some of the more notable changes. The hinge is sturdier and the crease is barely visible, presenting a much smoother display once open. And when folded, the screens sit flush with each other without any unsightly gap.
When unfolded, that head-turning 7.6-inch QXGA+ display presents a phone with some serious real estate. Essentially, it’s a tablet hybrid that you can easily stuff into your pocket and use with the seamless S Pen Fold Edition, which has also been redesigned to not only be slim and more compact but also charge regardless of how you insert it into the phone’s dedicated slot.
Improving the writing experience seems to have been a big focus for this model. The big-screen experience just generally feels more robust and smoother, furthered by the improved Taskbar that allows you to very quickly switch between apps. It also allows for a new two-handed drag-and-drop feature so you can work across apps easily. For example, dragging and dropping something from a note-taking app to a CMS now works seamlessly and saves you from having to open and close apps constantly.
The other updates are mostly iterative but very welcome for those who don’t already own a Foldable. I’d have to spend more time with it to judge whether or not it’s worth updating from a Samsung Fold4, but for now, what the company has presented is undeniably beautiful and forward-thinking.
Small updates help too. Peak brightness on the main display has been upped by 30%, for example, and graphics have been enhanced with AI to enable dynamic gaming and multi-game functionality for users who really want to take advantage of the pseudo PC experience.
The cover screen is also much larger at 6.2 inches with an HD+ format and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Much like with the Flip5, this cover screen is bigger to offer more functionality and customisation so you can choose what Widgets the phone shows when it’s bundled up into one very slim, pocketable device.
As for the cameras. You’ve got a triple set-up on the rear with a 12 MP ultra-wide sensor, a monster 50 MP wide-angle camera and a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom. The 4 MP Under Display Camera helps with Face ID biometrics, while the 10 MP Selfie Camera is most valuable when the phone is half folded, with one side acting as a stand.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Specs
| Main Display | 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Cover Display | 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh Rate (Main) | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Refresh Rate (Cover) | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Dimensions (opened) | 129.9 x 154.9 x 6.1 mm |
| Dimensions (closed) | 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4 mm |
| Weight | 253 g |
| Camera (Rear) | 12 MP (Ultra-Wide), 50 MP (Wide-Angle), 10 MP (Telephoto) |
| Camera (Cover) | 10 MP Selfie Camera |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy |
| Memory | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh Dual Battery |
| Operating System | Android 13 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 & Z Fold5 – Our Thoughts
I wasn’t expecting that modest aesthetic upgrades would make such a difference, but they do. Samsung recently invited me to a photography studio in Sydney where I was able to go hands-on with all the new Samsung devices and compare them with previous generations. Improvements like the tighter hinge and a less visible crease really do make a difference, helping make the open displays look much more attractive.
Other than that, all the iterative updates to software seem fairly standard. Samsung has found a way to introduce smoother gestures and help make multi-tasking feel more seamless. I guess that’s more than you can ask for with Foldables right now, given the category has still got a long way to go if it’s properly going to penetrate the market and truly evolve from the standard smartphones of the past decade.
Would I buy one? Yes. If I had the disposable income, sure. I’m not a foldable phone user so I don’t own a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 or Fold4. If I was going to finally convert over to what is ostensibly the future of smartphones, then the fifth generation of these devices seems like the perfect place to start.
As above, the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 will be available in Australia from Friday, August 18th 2023. Pre-orders are now open.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 vs Google Pixel Fold
I wanted to quickly do a side-by-side comparison with the spec sheet for both the Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Google Pixel Fold which will be in our laps later this year, despite already being available for the US market. Given the Google Pixel Fold is likely to be the biggest competitor to the Flip5, it’s important to compare both the hardware and software for Android users who are thinking of getting into the foldable market.
As you can see below, on paper the Google Pixel Fold offers more power. I haven’t yet spent enough time with either device to make a judgement call there but knowing both companies, it’s going to be tough to make a choice between two very powerful foldable devices. Samsung wins in terms of size and design, given despite the bigger cover display, it’s also a slimmer phone overall. Meanwhile, Google offers a better camera system (and two selfie cameras) and what should be a slightly juicier battery.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | Google Pixel Fold |
| Main Display | 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 7.6-inch Foldable OLED |
| Cover Display | 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 5.8-inch OLED |
| Refresh Rate (Main) | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Refresh Rate (Cover) | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate | 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Dimensions (opened) | 129.9 x 154.9 x 6.1 mm | 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.8 mm |
| Dimensions (closed) | 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4 mm | 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm |
| Weight | 253 g | 283 g |
| Camera (Rear) | 12 MP (Ultra-Wide), 50 MP (Wide-Angle), 10 MP (Telephoto) | 48 MP (Wide-Angle), 10.8 MP (Telephoto), 10.8 MP (Ultra-Wide) |
| Camera (Cover) | 10 MP Selfie Camera | 8 MP (Wide), 9.5 MP (Wide) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy | Google Tensor G2 |
| Memory | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh Dual Battery | 4,821 mAh |
| Operating System | Android 13 | Android 13 |
This round-down of the new Samsung foldable devices was independently researched and is designed to help readers make the best decision for them. For more information have a read of our editorial policy.
If you enjoyed our round-up for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 then check out some of our other Samsung content.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review
- Samsung QN900B Review
- Samsung Launches A Pint-Sized 100-Inch Projector
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Samsung release the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 in Australia?
Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 are scheduled for an Australian release on Friday, August 18th 2023.
How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 cost in Australia?
The RRP for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 starts at $1,649 in Australia.
How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 cost in Australia?
The RRP for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 starts at $2,599 in Australia.
