Samsung’s new foldables are tougher, lighter and more useful

With the new Galaxy Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung is determined to prove that foldable is no fad. Staying power is hard to measure, but the impending arrival of Samsung's fifth-generation foldable smartphones makes it difficult to dispute that the company aren't here for the long run.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has come a long way since the durability concerns of the original Z Fold, and it's built around the same core value proposition. Like last year's Galaxy Z Fold 4, it's a slim device that can become a bigger tablet-sized one whenever you need it to.

The outside of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts a 6.2-inch AMOLED screen. The inside gives you a larger 7.6-inch AMOLED to work with. Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor found in last year's Galaxy Z Fold 4 and 12GB of RAM. It's available in three storage variants: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.

Courtesy of a new "zero gap" hinge and a number of other enhancements, Samsung is billing the Z Flip 5 as the lightest and toughest tablet-sized foldable to date. Compared to the original Z Fold, the Z Fold 5 is 30g lighter. It's also got a less visible crease.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is more durable as well, thanks to inclusions like Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum. While it seems unlikely that anyone Aussies are out there selecting their next phone based on hinge design alone, Samsung's targeted take-down of the infamous pain points associated with previous Z Fold devices seems primed to please those sitting on the fence as well as power users looking for the ultimate multi-tasking mobile device.

The only obvious improvement that Samsung seems to have left on the table here has to do with the S-Pen. As with last year's model, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is compatible with Samsung's stylus. However, there's still no built-in storage for the accessory.

If you plan to use the S-Pen regularly, you'll need to invest in a carry case that adds bulk and additional expense to the equation. Even if this year's Slim S Pen Case is an easier sell than last year's, it's still something you have to consider at all.

As for the camera tech side of things, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a pretty similar setup to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 4. The back of the device features a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lens. The front boasts a 10MP camera selfie camera. There's also a 4MP under-display camera built into the larger AMOLED screen.

The main difference here is that the rear camera on the Z Fold 5 comes with the same upgraded image sensor introduced in this year's Galaxy S23 line and should inherit a lot of the same improvements.

In Australia, pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $2,599. Preorders for the device are live now, ahead of an official launch on the 18th of August, 2023.

Check out the widget below for a round-up of cheap phone plans for the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Given that the most significant hardware update for its tablet-sized counterpart is a new hinge, it's a pleasant surprise that new Galaxy Z Flip 5 looks as different as it does from last year's Galaxy Z Flip 4. At a glance, it's the most significant visual update the line has received since the jump from the Z Flip 5G to the Z Flip 3.

The most eye-catching upgrade here is the new external cover display. This side of the Flip been significantly upsized from 1.9-inches to 3.4-inches. The expanded screen has support for widgets and a full QWERTY keyboard, allowing you to do more than ever before. One corner is taken up by a display cutout containing the camera, but it's still a lot more screen to work with than before.

In contrast, the guts of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 are much what you'd expect. It's powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor found in the Z Fold 5 paired with 8GB of RAM. It's even available in the same storage configurations as last year's model: 256GB and 512GB.

Meanwhile, smartphone photography remains something of a second thought for this half of Samsung's foldable lineup. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a dual-lens camera on the back that bundles together a 12MP main lens and a 12MP ultrawide one. Like the Z Flip 4, there's also be less-impressive but mostly usable a 10MP selfie camera on the inside of the device.

The inclusion of the upgraded sensors introduced by the Samsung Galaxy S23 and co should make for sharper snaps than last year's model could manage, but don't expect the Z Flip 5 to go toe-to-toe with the like of the iPhone 14 Pro Max anytime soon.

In Australia, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at $1,649. Preorders are available now, with the device set to land in local retailers on the 18th of August, 2023.

If you fancy the idea of picking up the new device on a plan, check out the widget below for a snapshot of your options.