Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: What's the difference?

Samsung dominates the foldable phone market, and the Fold series is its flagship lineup with ultra-premium features and a hefty price tag.The latest model is Galaxy z fold 5, which succeeds the Z Fold 2022 due in 4.It brings several changes that make the device even better.

The folding series has grown to its fifth generation, and if you've been hesitating to buy a folding phone, maybe now is the time to do so.Let's take a look at how the Fold 5 differs from the Fold 4 and see if it's a big leap forward for folding devices or if it's just the same.

size and design

Samsung Galaxy z fold 5: 6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24 inches (expanded); 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53 inches (folded); 8.92 oz

Samsung Galaxy z fold 4: 6.1 x 5.12 x 0.24 inches (expanded); 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.62 inches (folded); 9.28 oz

After a redesign in 2022, Samsung will pretty much keep the same design on the Fold 2023 in 5, with just a few key changes.Overall, the Fold 5 is slightly thinner and lighter than the Fold 4.Weight has dropped from 9.28 ounces to 8.92 ounces, and the Fold 5 is just 0.53 inches at its thinnest point.

The major design change -- and a long-awaited one -- is the new hinge, which allows the device to close flat.This helps give the phone a more refined look.

There's a triple-camera system on the rear and two more selfie cameras (one inside the display and the other on the cover screen). The Z Fold 5 comes in Ice Blue, Phantom Black, Cream Gray, and Blue, while the Z Fold 4 comes in Lime Green, Phantom Black, Burgundy, and Beige.

Display

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Inner screen: 7.6 inches, 2176 x 1812 resolution, 120Hz frequency, 1750 nits peak brightness; Cover screen: 6.2 inches, 2316 x 904 resolution, 120 Hz, 1750 nits peak brightness

Samsung Galaxy z fold 4: Inner screen: 7.6 inches, 2176 x 1812 resolution, 120Hz, 1300 nits peak brightness; Cover screen: 6.2 inches, 2316 x 904 resolution, 120 Hz, 1500 nits peak brightness

Display size is one of the many similarities between the two phones.Samsung retained the 7.6-inch inner display and the 6.2-inch outer display.The resolution is similar, but the peak brightness of the Z Fold 5's internal screen is higher, reaching 1750 nits, which is a 30% increase in brightness.

The higher peak brightness allows the Fold 5's inner screen to provide a comfortable viewing experience in bright environments, such as outdoors in sunlight.Since the Z Fold 5 uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, while the Z Fold 4 uses the older Gorilla Glass Victus+, it should also have a slight edge in terms of durability.

On both devices, both the inner and cover screens support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and scrolling should feel smooth.

相机

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: 5000-megapixel f/1.8 main camera; 1200-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with 123-degree FOV; 1000-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom; 400-megapixel f/1.8 Under-display selfie camera; 1000-megapixel f/2.2 cover-screen selfie camera

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: 5000-megapixel f/1.8 main camera; 1200-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree FOV; 1000-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom; 400-megapixel f/1.8 Under-display selfie camera; 1000-megapixel f/2.2 covered selfie camera

Samsung made almost no changes to the Fold 5's camera setup, and you'll get the same footage whether you buy the new device or the upcoming Fold 4.

Rear triple-camera system (5000-megapixel main camera, 1200-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and 1000-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom), a 400-megapixel under-display selfie camera inside, and a cover screen A 1000-megapixel selfie camera.

Compared with the Z Fold 2021 launched in 3, the Fold 4's camera has been greatly upgraded, and Samsung may think that the Fold 4's camera is good enough.

Image quality on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is excellent, with rich detail and color.Whether in broad daylight or night, this camera is very reliable.

processor

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Snapdragon 8th Generation Galaxy 2; Adreno 740 GPU

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Snapdragon 8+ 1st Generation; Adreno 730 GPU

The Z Fold 5 uses the same chip as Samsung's 2023 flagship S23 series of devices.Unlike the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Z Fold 5's CPU (3.36GHz vs. 3.2GHz) and GPU (719MHz vs. 680MHz) are clocked slightly higher for better performance.So if you need a beefier foldable phone, the Fold 5 should be your first choice.

On the other hand, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 powers the Z Fold 4.Like the Galaxy's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it's built on a 4nm chip.While the clock speed is slightly lower, it generally delivers enough power for the Fold 4 to run without any issues.

There's unlikely to be a huge difference between the two, but with the Z Fold 5's higher performance numbers, expect it to perform slightly better.

memory and storage

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: 12GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: 12GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB

No matter which one you choose, 12GB of RAM comes standard.The same goes for storage, with your choice of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. 256GB is the lowest capacity option, which is great for a tablet-sized device like the Z Fold 4 or 5, since media consumption and productivity are likely to be two of your main uses.

Neither device has an expansion slot, which has become the norm for many high-end smartphones.Despite the similarities, the Fold 5 uses UFS 4.0 storage technology, which has faster read and write speeds than the UFS 4 used by the Fold 3.1, which is what sets it apart.

battery

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: 4400mAh; 25W wired; 15W wireless; 4.5W reverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: 4400mAh; 25W wired; 15W wireless; 4.5W reverse wireless charging

Since the Z Fold 5 is slightly lighter, you'd think that Samsung might have dropped some battery capacity.But that's not the case, it retains the same 4400mAh battery as its predecessor.

Same goes for other specs.25W fast charging is available via the USB-C port; using this port, the device can be charged from zero to 50% in just half an hour.There's also wireless charging, but it's capped at 15W.And both devices support reverse wireless charging, so you can charge Samsung's other devices that offer wireless charging without any hassle.

Is it time to buy a folding phone?

The Z Fold 5 will start at $1799, the same price the Z Fold 4 was listed for.The changes between the fourth and fifth generations are minimal but all important, with the most fundamental changes being an improved hinge, brighter display, and new processor.The smallest changes suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series has come of age.

For first-time foldable phone buyers, the Fold 5 looks like the perfect device.You no longer have to worry about hinges or displays, the main culprits of foldable phone durability.So if you've been hesitating from the start, now's the time to buy a folding phone.