Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Cell 256GB 2023 Review

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a cool party trick that makes you compromise on battery, cameras, and pocketability. Get it only if the fold is everything. Otherwise, buy a normal flagship and keep your cash.

Look, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a flex, literally. It's the phone you buy to show off that you have a phone that folds into a tablet. That's the one thing you need to know. It's a fantastic piece of engineering that feels futuristic, and when it's open, that 7.6-inch screen is genuinely great for watching videos or splitting two apps side-by-side. But after the novelty wears off, you're left with a phone that's heavy, has a visible crease, and costs more than a flagship slab phone while making some serious compromises.

Performance is solid, landing in the 79th percentile in our database. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and 12GB of RAM mean it handles multitasking and most games without a sweat. What surprised us, though, is how the software still feels like it's catching up to the hardware. Some apps don't scale perfectly to the inner screen, and you'll occasionally run into weird formatting issues. It's fast, but the experience isn't always as polished as a standard phone.

At a current price of around $564, it's a tempting deal for a foldable. But 'value' is tricky here. You're paying a premium for the folding form factor itself, not for top-tier specs across the board. For the same money, you could get a standard flagship with a better camera, better battery life, and a more refined software experience. So, worth it only if the fold is your non-negotiable dream feature.

If you're eyeing foldables, this is the one to beat. But if you're just looking for a great phone, skip the fold and look at the Google Pixel 10 or a standard Samsung Galaxy S model. The Pixel 10 will smoke it in camera quality and software smarts for likely less money. The OnePlus 15 will give you smoother performance and way better battery life. The Fold 5 asks you to trade core smartphone strengths for a big screen you can fold in half. That's the trade-off.

If you're looking for the best camera phone, the longest battery life, or a sleek and lightweight design, this isn't it. Go get a Google Pixel 10 or an iPhone 15 instead. They do the core smartphone things much better.

We can't recommend this as your only phone unless you're a specific type of user: someone who desperately needs a tablet-sized screen in their pocket and doesn't mind the downsides. For everyone else, a traditional flagship is a better, more complete daily driver. The Fold 5 is a fascinating and fun proof of concept, but it's not yet the practical choice.