Why You Can Trust CNET Samsung's Foldables Compared: Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Z Fold 4 vs. Z Fold 3
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is slimmer, brighter and more powerful than its predecessors. Check out how it compares in terms of specs.
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The Samsung Galaxy Fold phone was first introduced in 2019.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is currently Samsung's most cutting-edge foldable phone. It features a new, gapless hinge and a speedier processor, yet keeps the same $1,800 price tag as 2022's model, the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5, launched last July, comes in the lighter and slimmer design teased by T.M. Roh, the president of Samsung's mobile division. The Z Fold 5 weighs 253 grams (8.92 ounces), which represents a 10-gram decrease from last year's Z Fold 4 and an 18-gram decrease from the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
The Z Fold 5 is measures 13.46 mm thick when folded closed, meaning it's 2.44 mm skinnier than the Z Fold 4 in that same position. The key to the Fold 5's more portable design is what Samsung calls the flex hinge, which allows for a more streamlined construction with fewer moving parts. The new hinge also makes way for both displays to fold completely flat.
Despite Samsung's progress, the world's thinnest foldable phone is the Honor V2, made by Huawei's former subsidiary Honor. The Magic V2 is 9.9 mm thick when in phone mode, which is markedly skinnier, and it launched globally this year.
The new gapless hinge for the Z Fold 5 received the most attention at Samsung's launch event.
Apart from this, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 received a series of incremental improvements such as the newest Snapdragon processor and a brighter internal screen (1,750 nits). It's the brightest screen on any Z Fold. There's also support for three SIMs, and the upgraded hinge. For more specifics, check out the details in CNET's specs chart below for a side-by-side comparison.
Z Fold 5 vs. Z Fold 4 vs. Z Fold 3
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | Cover: 6.2-inch AMOLED (2,316 x 904 pixels), 1-120Hz; internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,176 x 1,812 pixels), 1-120Hz | Cover: 6.2-inch (2,316 x 904; internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,176 x 1,812 pixels) | Cover: 6.2-inch AMOLED (2,268 x 832 pixels); internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,208 x 1,768 pixels) |
| Pixel density | Cover: 402 ppi, internal: 374 ppi | Cover: 402 ppi, internal: 374 ppi | Cover: 387 ppi, internal: 374 ppi |
| Size (inches) | Open: 6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24 in; closed: 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53 in | Open: 6.11 x 5.12 x 0.25 in; closed: 6.11 x 2.64 x 0.62 in | Open: 5.04 x 6.22 x 0.25 mm; Closed: 2.64 x 6.22 x 0.63 in; hinge ~0.57in (sagging) |
| Size (mm) | Open: 154.94 x 129.79 x 6.1 mm; closed: 154.94 x 67.06 x 13.46 mm | Open: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mm; closed: 155.1 x 67.1 x 15.8 mm | Open:128 x 158 x 6.4 mm; closed: 158 x 67 x 16 mm; hinge: ~14.4mm (sagging) |
| Weight | 253 g (8.92 oz) | 263 g (9.27 oz) | 271 g (9.56 oz) |
| Operating system at launch | Android 13 | Android 12L | Android 11 |
| Cameras | 50-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) | 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (telephoto) |
| Selfie cameras | 4-megapixel (under display); 10-megapixel (cover screen) | 4-megapixel (under display); 10-megapixel (cover screen) | 4-megapixel (under display); 10-megapixel (front cover) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM, storage | 12GB + 256GB/512GB/1TB | 12GB + 256GB/512GB/1TB | 12GB + 256GB/512GB |
| Battery capacity | 4,400 mAh (dual-battery) | 4,400 mAh | 4,400 mAh |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Features | 5G-enabled, IPX8 water-resistance, S Pen support, 25W wired charging, wireless charging, wireless power share, triple SIM | 5G, 30x space zoom camera, IPX8, 25-watt fast-charging (no in-box charger) | 5G-enabled; Foldable display, 120Hz refresh rate (front cover and main display), water-resistance, S Pen support |
| US price | $1,800 (256GB) | $1,800 | $1,800 (256GB); $1,900 (512GB) |
| UK price | £1,749 | £1,549 | £1,599 (256GB); £1,699 (512GB) |
| Australian price | AU$2,559 | Converts to AU$2,965 | AU$2,499 (256GB); AU$2,649 (512GB) |
