The main point of a foldable device is multitasking and the Z Fold 5 is tuned at the software side to support the multitasking as much as possible. There are still some limitations to the technology to make it appealing to all consumers rather than enthusiasts.
That being said, there are some sacrifices inherited from the foldable technology which you should keep in mind before purchasing a foldable phone.
Fifth generation of Galaxy Fold is still thicker than the competition
Most of the foldable phones are thicker and bulkier than a mainstream device, which you can immediately feel upon holding them. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 13.4mm while closed, which is quite a bit thicker than the mainstream phones. Even foldables like the Honor Magic V2 have managed to bring the thickness in single digits all while housing bigger batteries.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 no doubt provides the most polished software experience overall, but considering that these are mobile devices, factors like the thickness and weight also becomes important.
You still have to trade in some of the in-hand feel to get the multitasking abilities into your palm or your pocket. But foldables from some other manufacturers have nearly matched the form factor of a single slab phone while closed while also improving in the software side bit by bit.
To be precise, some people will trade in the slightly more polished UI experience for the form factor of the device. We have compared different aspects of the Galaxy Fold 5 with the Honor Magic V2 in depth, to make it easier for you to choose the right one for you, if you wish to.
There are other manufacturers in the foldable market as well, but most of them, like Xiaomi or Huawei, are China-exclusive for now. So, internationally, we have only a handful of options, including the Galaxy Fold, Honor Magic series, and the Google Pixel Fold for now.
Display crease persists on the Z Fold 5
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has slightly less of a crease than its predecessor, though the crease is still noticeable. The crease might bother some people transitioning from traditionally shaped phones. However, it’s important to understand that the crease is more visible from certain angles and becomes less noticeable when viewing the display perpendicularly, which is the normal position for viewing.
Should you buy the Z Fold 5?
If your use cases involve running multiple applications on your phone, often all at once, then the Z Fold 5 should be the best option for you among all foldables. And if you are using the Galaxy Z fold 4, should you upgrade to the Z Fold 5? The phone offers an improved hinge with further improvements in the software.
However, for someone who does not need to run multiple applications all at once and just wants to try out the new technology of a folding device, I would suggest going with the Z Flip 5, considering its compact and user-friendly form factor.
And If you do want a larger book style foldable that happens to resemble a single-slab phone while folded, then
