Samsung has pretty much perfected the foldable phone in the last few years, and its upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is set to be even better than the current models in its flagship foldable lineup.
We don’t expect to see the device until fairly late 2023, so there aren’t many rumors yet – but we’ve heard a few tidbits, and you’ll find them all below, along with information on the possible release date and price of the phone.
We’ll also be updating this article whenever there are new leaks or rumors, so bookmark it if you want to stay up to date.
Also, at the bottom of this article, you will find a wish list of key things we want to see on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to make sure it solves all Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 problems.
To the point
- What is this? Another flagship foldable phone from Samsung
- when is it coming out? Probably July or August 2023
- How much does it cost? Probably around $1799 / £1649 / AU$2499
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date and price
The only rumor so far about the release date suggests that Samsung will start mass production of hinges for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 almost a month earlier. A follow-up report from Sammobile claimed the phone would launch in the last week of July, which could mean the phone would launch earlier as well – possibly mid-August rather than the end of the month.
Why did we expect August differently? Well, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was announced on August 10, 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was unveiled on August 11, 2021. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was also announced in August of its launch year, albeit a little earlier on August 5. That’s because Samsung often holds an Unpacked event in August, and has been doing so for years.
In other words, if Samsung does not break the pattern, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, early to mid-August seems likely. All of these announcements also happened on Wednesday, so our best guess for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date is Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
As for the price, we’ve heard the phone could start at $1,799. If so, it’s the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which costs £1,649/$2,499 elsewhere.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 news and leaks
One of the first leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 indicated that the foldable smartphone has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
It would be the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipsets that power many of the best Android phones in 2022, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4. So either a Gen 2 (in the kind of power supply of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series) or a Plus version always seemed likely.
The same source also suggests that the phone will have a triple-lens rear camera with a 50MP main sensor. That’s exactly what the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has – the other two sensors are a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto – so that could mean there aren’t many camera upgrades. A second source has now said the same thing.
We now have a series of unofficial renders showing what the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 could look like – and apparently it will look very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 that came before it.
Good morning #FutureSquad! Here’s your first look at the #Samsung #GalaxyZFold5 (360° video + stunning 5K rendering + dimensions)! On behalf of @Smartprix 👉🏻 pic.twitter.com/QAnWJtSOoBApril 29, 2023
Photos of the case purportedly for the phone have also now been leaked and show the same design as above, meaning the main visual change could simply be the camera flash moving off the camera block.
That said, we’ve also heard that the phone apparently has a waterdrop-shaped hinge, allowing the two sides of the device to lie completely flat against each other. Theoretically, this would improve the durability of the foldable. This has since been backed up by a second report that adds that the phone will be waterproof.
More evidence to support the increased dust resistance came later from another insider, although it wasn’t clear if the company would go all out or if it was just something under consideration. If that were the case, the foldable would be the first Samsung to adopt IP68 certification rather than the IPX8 it currently has.
Going back to the overall durability of the fold, the third report confirms this as well, but adds that the Z Fold 5 will only be tested to 300,000 folds, while some competing phones (like the Honor Magic Vs) are tested to 400,000. It also suggests that Samsung The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be slightly thinner and lighter than the Z Fold 4, but won’t have any significant spec upgrades. Adds some weight to this lightweight report, tipster Ice Universe says the Fold 5 will weigh 254 grams. That means it’s 9 grams lighter. Ice also shared some specs (opens in a new tab) giving extra color to size, weight and hinge reports without gaps. Again, these are all details that need to be felt to be truly appreciated. 9 grams lighter is something that looks small on paper but would be better appreciated in the hand.
Elsewhere, a recent report suggests the Fold 5 will be offered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants, which are the same storage options Samsung has opted for with the Z Fold 4.
We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will apparently have a 6.2-inch screen protector like its predecessor. The same source probably said the design will be the same as well, but the wording is ambiguous. As for colors, display analyst Ross Young is said to be beige, black and light blue.
• Improved Vibration Motor • 5.1.1 Single UI • Spen Support • IPX8 Water Resistant • New Hinge • Less Noticeable Wrinkles • Thinner and Lighter • Improved Under Display Camera • Gorilla Glass Victus 2 • More Durable Internal Display • Smaller Gap When Closed≈ $1799April 25, 2023
The detailed spec leak repeated many of the details above, but also added to what we’ve heard, claiming, for example, that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a 7.6-inch home screen that’s brighter than its predecessor, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate on the both displays, 12 GB of RAM, improved speakers, improved camera under the display, better durability and an improved vibration motor.
Apparently it will also have an IPX8 rating (contrary to reports that it will have a full IP68 rating) and will be able to record in quality up to 8K at 30fps.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: what we want to see
For Samsung to make the best foldable phone, it needs to do five key things that we’ve highlighted below.
1. Same cameras as Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The cameras in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 are not bad at all, but they are not the best from Samsung, even though it is the company’s most expensive phone. Anyone who can save as much money as the Z Fold 4 is likely to want the best of the best, and the camera front just can’t handle it.
So for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, we want the phone to match the camera setup of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which based on the former form factor is likely to have the company’s best snappers.
2. No visible folds
As impressive as Samsung’s foldable screens are, the company hasn’t broken a crease that’s visible and something you can feel when you slide your finger across the display.
It’s not a huge deal and it’s something most people will quickly get used to, but it’s an imperfection in a great screen, so we’d like to see Samsung successfully hide it in the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
3. Lower price
The biggest problem with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is simply how much it costs, as it is one of the most expensive phones in the world – almost making the iPhone 14 Pro Max look cheap in comparison.
It’s no wonder the price is high given the screen size and technology involved, but if this foldable line is ever going to be truly mainstream, the price needs to come down, and we’re hoping that Samsung starts lowering it with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
4. Faster loading
Most Samsung phones charge quite slowly, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is no exception. It tops out at 25W wired or 15W wireless, both of which are significantly lower than other flagships like the 150W OnePlus 10T or the 120W Xiaomi 12 Pro.
We don’t expect or need Samsung to achieve this kind of charging power, but we’d like to at least see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 split the gap and offer around 60W-80W.
5. Bigger battery
In addition to faster charging, we would also like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to have a larger battery. At 4,400mAh, the one in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is mid-sized at best, and actually smaller than the batteries in many conventional phones.
But given that it has a huge foldable screen, it can do so with a particularly large battery. So at least we want 5,000mAh in the Z Fold 5 – the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has it, so it shouldn’t be too much.