Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: the foldable to beat

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still the best big-screen foldable despite modest camera upgrades

A photo of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 foldable smartphone
(Image: © Basil Kronfli)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Book-style, big-screened folding phones are niche, expensive, and the choice is limited for anyone who lives in the West. With that in mind, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the best around, with its solid hinge, good-enough camera, ample power, decent battery life, and S Pen support. What sets it apart from the competition is how well the interface is optimized for its folding form. While it isn't worth an upgrade from the Z Fold 3 or 4, therefore, it could be a smart first foldable.

Pros

  • +

    Foldable optimized interface

  • +

    Great S Pen support

  • +

    Solid-feeling hinge

  • +

    IPX8 water resistant

Cons

  • -

    Heavy photo processing

  • -

    Cramped cover screen

  • -

    Visible screen crease

  • -

    Very expensive

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Just a few months after the Google Pixel Fold laid down the gauntlet to challenge Samsung's domination of foldables, Samsung unveiled its 2023 line of folding phones, with its Galaxy Z Fold 5 leading the charge, alongside the Z Flip 5.

There are plenty of exciting, cutting-edge big-screened foldable phones in China – the Honor Magic V2, Oppo Find N2, and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 – but Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold-series hasn't had as much competition in the West. 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Basil Kronfli

Basil Kronfli is a freelance technology journalist, consultant, and content creator. He trained in graphic design and started his career at Canon Europe before moving into journalism. Basil is also experienced in video production, independently running the YouTube channel TechEdit, and during his time at Future, he worked alongside the Digital Camera World team as a senior video producer.