Samsung unveiled the latest version of its flip-format smartphone in August last year with the arrival of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. This particular model has already received a very enthusiastic review from us, but rumors are starting to circulate about what we should expect from its successor, the Z Flip 5.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 be released?
Samsung hasn’t started teasing the launch of the Z Flip 5 yet, but most leakers think we’ll see it soon.
the electric, Tech_Reveand SamMobile have all independently reported that Samsung is planning a July launch for the foldable, with Chosun and leaker Max Jambore
Any July launch would be early for Samsung, which rolled out the latest Z Flip models like clockwork in August, following an initial launch in February (note: there was no Galaxy Z Flip 2):
Based on last year’s launch and the latest leaks, we expect to see the Z Flip 5 appear at a Galaxy Unpacked event alongside the Z Fold 5, Watch 6, and Tab S9.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 cost?
Phones with folding screens still occupy the higher end of the price bracket when it comes to mobile devices, but we’ve seen costs start to come down as innovative technology becomes more mainstream. Chances are you’ll still be paying top dollar when the Flip 5 arrives, so here’s a quick guide to the prices of the latest two versions to give you an indication of what you’ll need to put aside.
Samsung Galaxy ZFlip 4:
- 128GB: $999/£999/$1,099
- 256GB: $1,059/£1,059/$1,159
- 256GB Bespoke Edition: $1,139/£1,099/$1,199
- 512GB: $1,179/£1,199/$1,279
Samsung Galaxy ZFlip 3:
- 128GB: $999/£949/$1,049
- 256GB: $1,049/£999/$1,099
Prices for the Flip 4 are mostly the same as the previous generation, with Europeans actually seeing a slight drop, although the Brits ended up paying a bit more.
It remains to be seen if Samsung can repeat this trick with the class of 2023 as financial markets and supply chains show signs of turbulence. Hopefully the prices you see above will be the ceiling rather than the ground floor in terms of cost with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 – especially as in the UK it now has the Oppo Find N2 Flip at £849 to compete.
What new features will we see in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5?
As launch nears, we’re starting to know what to expect from the Z Flip 5. More importantly, we think we know what it’ll look like – and it’s getting a major design overhaul.
Our best look comes from leaker OnLeaks, who shared renders he made of the phone with the MediaPeanut site:
The obvious special feature is the much larger cover screen on the phone. The screen – reportedly 3.4-inches diagonally, slightly larger than the Oppo Find N2 Flip’s 3.26-inch panel – now fills most of the top half of the phone, with an unusual folder shape which cuts slightly around the two camera lenses.
We’ve seen similar images of this rough screen shape shared by SamMobile and leaker Ice Universe, who shared their own mockup of its appearance while adding the detail that it will have a 720×748 resolution:
OnLeaks adds that the phone uses a 6.7-inch main screen, the same size as before. It also says it measures around 165 x 71.8 x 6.7mm when unfolded, while ice universe suggests the phone weighs 187g which means the phone is almost exactly the same size and weight as its predecessor despite the redesigned display.
Analyst Ross Young adds that the interior screen will get its own upgrade thanks to a new hinge design “which should reduce the visibility of the seam”. Meanwhile, Ice is more specific: he says Samsung is using a teardrop hinge that will allow the phone to fold completely flat. He adds that this inner display will also benefit from a narrower bezel.
Samsung’s rivals have made some serious progress in eliminating the crease from foldable screens and closing more completely, so let’s hope the Korean company has caught up.
Ice also notes that the Z Flip 5 will be IPX8 waterproof – the same rating as the previous model, indicating a high level of water resistance but no official dust and particle protection.
Finally, Young added the crucial detail that the phone will be available in “beige, grey, light green and light pink” – but adds that there will likely be additional colors for the phone’s bespoke color configurations.
Now let’s move on to the actual specs of the phone.
Korean site The Elec was the first to hit the blocks, reporting that the new model will feature the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This chip was announced in November 2022 by Qualcomm and promises a major performance leap without giving up gains efficiency improvements that have improved the battery life of the Z Flip 4 so much.
A phone believed to be the Z Flip 5 has already appeared on the Geekbench benchmark, in fact powered by the Galaxy 8 Gen 2 – a slightly overclocked version of the chip we’ve already seen in this year’s Galaxy S23 phones.
The Geekbench listing also says the phone has 8GB of RAM. As for storage, SamMobile says we should see 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options for the phone – the same one Samsung offered last time around.
We’ve yet to hear anything about the phone’s battery life – which has improved dramatically in the Z Flip 4 – but a listing on China’s 3C certification sadly suggests charging won’t be increased, with the phone apparently supporting the same 25W wired speeds as before (presumably more of a wireless option again).
Likewise, the camera specs don’t seem to change much. Leak Yogesh Brar tweeted that the Z Flip 5 will once again have a pair of 12Mp main and ultra-wide cameras, but adds the important caveat that the phone will have new image sensors. It’s the same approach Samsung took when upgrading from the Z Flip 3 to 4, and the result was a significant improvement in photo performance, so another sensor change could still mean a significant upgrade.
Finally, the phone software can also be updated. SamMobile has reported that for the first time the Z Flip 5 will support DeX, Samsung’s software that lets you use your phone as a portable workstation by projecting it to an external display with a desktop-like interface. With an 8 Gen 2 inside, the phone will have plenty of power, so it’s a decision that makes sense.
We will continue to update this article regularly as more information becomes available, so be sure to check back regularly. In the meantime, be sure to check out our current favorites in the best smartphones, best foldables, and best Samsung phone charts.
