Samsung has announced updates to several of its devices at its Galaxy Unpacked event held in Seoul, Korea, and streamed to millions around the world online. In Kenya, the company held a viewing party in the upmarket neighbourhood of Loresho in Nairobi.
Top on the list of the newly-announced devices are the latest updates to the company’s pioneering foldable smartphone lineup. There’s a new Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and a new Flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 5. These devices make up the fifth generation of Samsung’s foldable efforts.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 shares a lot in common with its predecessor, the Z Fold 4. At the same time, as can be expected, it has had a lot of its internals and exterior parts and features upgraded in order to convince you to part with your cash again this year.
Top on the list of refinements every year since the very first Galaxy Fold smartphone was unveiled has always been the hinge. This year, it gets a name (Flex Hinge) and a new waterdrop style in the hinge that makes sure the two halves of the foldable device come together nicely when it is closed thereby leaving no gap, as is the case on the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also very thin. So thin, in fact, that Samsung says that it is the thinnest foldable it has ever made. Even thinner than the more portable flip foldables the company has been releasing.
While the Z Fold 5’s display remains largely unchanged (same size and quality for the cover screen and the main display) from that on its predecessor, it gets a new protection layer in the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 as well as getting the brightness on its main display bumped up to 1,750 nits at peak, 30% more than the Z Fold 4’s 1,200 nits of peak brightness. To users, this means even better visibility when out in the bright sun.
The processor, too, has seen a bump up to the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is also shared with the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Talking about the Galaxy Z Flip 5… The cover display, which was rather limited on the Galaxy Z Flip 4, gets a lot more functionality on the new device, a new name (it’s now called the Flex Window – on both devices, actually) and an adjustment in size – it’s now bigger! Its new size, 3.4 inches, allows for far more room to play around with than the 1.9 inches on its predecessor, something that Samsung made sure to highlight the most during the 1-hour event.
As far as size goes, the device remains largely the same. The same goes for the cameras (as is the case in the Fold 5 which keeps that 4-megapixel selfie sensor we found to be mediocre under the main display making us prefer the much better 10-megapixel sensor on the cover display); they’re all unchanged from the last generation’s. Except in the software implementation. There are improvements to the device’s night mode, called “Nightography” which sees AI smarts kick in to save the situation in low light conditions.
There are software improvements in the One UI 5.1.1 that the devices are running out of the box (and they should be some of the first to be on that One UI 6 beta that we are expecting as Samsung gears up for its own Android 14 launch later in the year) but, really, that’s all about it.
In short, what we are saying is that you can check out our coverage of the last generation of foldables here for everything we have not highlighted above as it is the same same – battery capacities, fast-charging capabilities, IP rating, all that shebang.
There’s an improved stylus (S Pen) for these devices (the Fold 5) but, if you consider it, an investment in a case that will allow you to take it with you everywhere will be necessary. Samsung has tried to make that case be almost the same size as standard cases for the Fold so you don’t have to worry about extra space and weight.
Pricing and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 are available for pre-order in Kenya starting (today) July 26th. Their global availability starts on August 11th, the same time they will officially be going on sale in the country.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes in Icy Blue, Phantom Black and Cream colour options with several options for cases.
The Flip 5, on the other hand, comes in Mint, Graphite, Cream and Lavender colour options with a variety of options when it comes to accessories like cases.
Both devices are covered by Samsung Care+, which a buyer needs to activate within a month of buying either device in order to get at least 1 free screen repair within the first year if something accidentally happens to their smartphone.
Prices for the devices are as follows:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (512GB) – Kshs 325,000
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256GB) – Kshs 193,000
Last year, prices for the predecessors of the two devices started at Kshs 143,000 for the Flip 4 and Kshs 257,000 for the Fold 4.
Samsung is throwing in some gifts with pre-orders of either device (a Galaxy Watch 5 for the Fold 5 and a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 for the Flip 5).
As usual, we recommend checking with some of our recommended merchants if you’re looking to purchase the device.
