It folds flat ; Lighter and thinner ; A better mobile chipset means even peppier performance

The cover screen now feels too narrow ; The cameras are good but unchanged from the last model ; It's expensive and should include the S Pen in the price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a worthy successor to the Z Fold 4, bringing a flatter and lighter profile to an otherwise-familiar foldable formula. It's got ample power, versatility, and high-quality components and materials. But the same-as-last-year...

Loads of power and all-day battery ; Bright, high-quality displays ; Reassuringly solid hinge ; IPX8 water-resistance ; S Pen stylus input

Narrow cover screen feels cramped ; Modest upgrades versus Z Fold 4 ; Mediocre cameras for the price ; Still undeniably expensive

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a minor upgrade over the Z Fold 4. But it's a more polished package than the Pixel Fold or Honor Magic Vs – Samsung's main competition in the West – and it's also the only foldable with stylus input. So with seriously...

Thinner and lighter than the Z Fold 4 ; Brighter screen than its predecessor ; Longer battery life than last year

Still plagued with the reflective screen and middle crease ; Screen is an awkward aspect ratio for watching movies

Samsung's latest foldable is a refinement of last year's device, for better and for worse; it's lighter and feature packed, but still not ideal for watching videos.

Outstanding build quality and stylish looks – with no gap ; Top-tier performance and consistently good battery life ; Made for multitasking

Camera quality behind the best traditional flagship phones ; Pedestrian charging speeds

Minor improvements make all the difference; from software to camera quality, the Z Fold 5 is as good as foldable phones get. Just expect to pay dearly to get one in your pocket.

New hinge makes improves ergonomics ; Improved Taskbar aids multitasking ; Insane processing power ; Decent battery life ; Still the same starting price

Crease overstayed its welcome ; No dust resistance ; No charger ; Slow charging speeds towards 100% ; Really pricey

The TL;DR verdict: One of the most thoughtful changes in a mobile handset between generations, making it even closer to a premium foldable with a worthy, yet eye-melting price tag.

Thinner and lighter than ever Silent, high-quality hinge Strong multitasking tools Fun, social media-friendly camera Inner screen is perfect for games and video IPX8 and durable chassis

Battery life hasn't dramatically improved Slow charging

“The futuristic folding Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever before. It's the best big-screen folding smartphone you can buy.”

New Flex hinge for gapless design.

Charging could have been faster.

But at the end of the day the Fold5 is an easy decision for any tech-addicted user, or any power user. In most countries it runs virtually unopposed as Chinese competitors are slow to bring their horizontal foldables to global markets. And when it does...