This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
Editor’s Note: As of this writing, Samsung has discontinued the Galaxy Z Fold. For more on Samsung’s current foldable lineup, check out our impressions of the new Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks a whole lot like its predecessor in the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Even the spec sheets are practically the same. As such, deciding between the two can get confusing.
When it comes to the Z Fold 5, there are a few key changes to point out, namely a new hinge that allows the phone to close completely shut as well as a processor upgrade. But what else has changed compared to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4? Glad you asked! Let’s take a closer look.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 at a glance
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 upgrades Samsung's high-end foldable with a redesigned hinge, a brighter screen and a faster processor. It's a good choice for first-time Fold buyers, but Fold 4 owners can skip for now.
Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 4 is nearly identical to this year's model, save for a few different color options, a slightly different hinge design and an older processor. If you can find it on sale and can live without the latest and greatest, it's a good choice.
Quick comparison
| Operating system | Android 13 with One UI |
|---|---|
| External display | 6.2-in. 2316x904, AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz |
| Internal display | 7.6-in. QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2176x1812, up to 120Hz |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Memory | 12GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto |
| Front cameras | 10MP on external display, 4MP under-display camera on internal display |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh, 25W fast charging |
| Colors | Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue |
| Size and weight | Folded: 6.10 x 2.64 x 0.53 in. Open: 6.11 x 5.11 x 0.24 in. 8.92 oz. |
| Operating system | Android 13 with One UI |
|---|---|
| External display | 6.2-in. 2316x904, AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz |
| Internal display | 7.6-in. QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2176x1812, up to 120Hz |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Memory | 12GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto |
| Front cameras | 10MP on external display, 4MP under-display camera on internal display |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh, 25W fast charging |
| Colors | Gray Green, Phantom Black, Burgundy, Beige |
| Size and weight | Folded: 6.11 x 2.64 x 0.56 in. Open: 6.11 x 5.12 x 0.25 in. 9.3 oz. |
They’re not identical twins, but it’s pretty close
Let’s start with the most obvious change: new colors. The Z Fold 4 is available in gray green, Phantom Black, beige and a Samsung-exclusive burgundy color.
The Z Fold 5 comes in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, cream and the Samsung-exclusive colors of gray or blue.
The other notable change to the design is the hinge that allows the phone to open and shut. In previous models, the hinge left a gap near where the display actually folded, which was an extra layer of protection in case there was dust and debris on the screen as you closed it.
With the Z Fold 5, Samsung redesigned the hinge, making it more robust while now allowing for the Fold 5 to close with zero gap. Don’t be fooled, though — both sides of the screen on the inside aren’t actually touching. There’s a small bumper around the perimeter of the phone that keeps it from doing so.
Otherwise, the designs of the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 5 are virtually identical. Both of Samsung’s large foldables boast an IPX8 rating, which means they can handle a splash of water but are not resistant to dust. Outside of colors and the lack of a gap when closed, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the two phones apart.
Display, cameras and battery life
Ready for some boring news? The display, camera setup and battery capacity of the Z Fold 5 are identical to the Z Fold 4, with one exception: The Z Fold 5’s internal display has a max brightness of 1,750 nits, up from 1,200 nits. That’s a feature you’ll most definitely want to take advantage of when using the phone outside, playing games or watching movies.
Otherwise, you’re getting the same 7.6-inch AMOLED inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 6.2-inch HD+ AMOLED cover screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The front-facing camera above the outer display is still 10 megapixels, while the under-display camera is 4 megapixels.
On the back of the phone is a triple-camera array consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10 megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
Arguably, the camera on the Z Fold 5 will be improved due to the performance, processing and AI improvements brought to it by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor. But we’ll have to see if that ends up being the case.
Finally, the battery capacity of the Z Fold 5 matches the Z Fold 4 at 4,400 mAh. Again, Samsung is touting improved battery life due to the upgraded chip inside the Fold 5. Nonetheless, you should expect, at a minimum, the same camera and battery life experience on the Z Fold 5 as its predecessor.
Performance and software
Outside of the slight design changes, the only other area you’re going to see any differences between the two devices — at least on paper — is when you compare processors. Oh, and there are a couple of software tweaks in the new version of One UI, but those features will come to the Z Fold 4 in a future update.
The Z Fold 4 has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, while the Z Fold 5 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor. That’s the same chip that was used in the Galaxy S23 series, which performed very well in both benchmarks and real-world use during our testing.
Both phones come with 12GB of memory, and they’re available in storage options of 256GB, 512GB or 1TB (the latter of which is a Samsung exclusive).
The Gen 2 processor does have a bunch of performance improvements and tweaks that will surely have an impact on more intense tasks on the Z Fold 5, but I’m not entirely sold on how noticeable those performance boosts will be in day-to-day use. We’ll know for sure when we give the phone a full review later this month.
Bottom line
If you’re thinking about upgrading from the Z Fold 4 to the Z Fold 5, odds are you’ve stopped contemplating it at this point. They’re basically the same phone but with a new hinge. That said, if you have an older Z Fold model or you’re thinking about buying your first Z Fold, then the Fold 5 is one of the best phones out there for foldable fans.
In the time since we first ran this comparison, Samsung launched the newer Galaxy Z Fold 6, which introduces slightly expanded displays, a faster processor and some small camera upgrades in addition to a wealth of new Galaxy AI features. It’s available now starting at $1,900 — just $100 more than the Z Fold 5 — so if you’re planning on joining team Fold, we’d recommend future-proofing yourself and grabbing the new one. The Z Fold 4 has been officially retired from the lineup, so unless you find a great third-party deal on one, your best bet is to go with this year’s model.