When Samsung Electronics released the original Galaxy Z Fold in 2019, it wanted to change the game with a new design that combined the portability of a mobile phone with the flexibility of a tablet.
The South Korean tech giant followed that up in 2020 with the original Galaxy Z Flip, as it put more foldables into the hands of consumers.
Fast-forward to 2023 and we now have the Fold5 and Flip5, launched at the first-ever Unpacked event in Seoul. While not much has changed in terms of overall design, Samsung has made sure to provide upgrades that will stir interest.
Here are our first impressions on the Fold5 and Flip5.
How do the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5 feel?
Save for some minor updates over the years, both devices basically haven't strayed away from their original forms.
A couple of key specs for both, their inner and cover displays, have maintained their sizes: the Fold5 still has a 7.6-inch inner screen and 6.2-inch cover screen.
One of the biggest things thrown against the Fold is that it is a large device. But context matters here: it's only large when it's unfolded. When it's folded, it's slimmer and shorter than iPhone's Pro Max models.
Granted, it is thicker, but it feels right in your hands. The Fold5 is now the lightest and slimmest in its series.
The Flip5, meanwhile, also retains its 6.7-inch inner screen, while its cover screen … more on that later.
When folded, it's so handy and pocketable that those old enough will recall those cool clamshell phones of several years past.
It's been widely suggested that the Flip was aimed at female users. Samsung has in the past marketed it towards that demographic – the original Flip was launched on Valentine's Day 2020 – but the lines have been blurred since then.
The Flip5 is a stylish device that has evolved to suit anyone's taste when you consider its capabilities, main screen size and convenience.
What's the biggest upgrade?
Arguably the most significant update is the new Flex Hinge, which closes the gap when the devices are folded, making them slimmer.
The gap in previous Samsung foldables allowed dust to creep in and gave them a somewhat awkward shape.
Fewer mechanisms in the Flex Hinge have also contributed to the devices' lighter build, Samsung said.
The Fold5 and Flip5 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 chip, the same processor used in the Galaxy S23 series.
This is likely to give them a boost in power and battery life, as it did to Samsung's first flagship line-up earlier this year.
Their cameras basically stay put in terms of numbers, with some token upgrades including more artificial intelligence.
And circling back to a hanging statement earlier on the Flip5's screen: its outer screen has been significantly bumped up to 3.4 inches, which is nearly double its predecessor's.
That makes it more flexible as it shows more content and gives a bigger view when taking selfies, similar to what the Motorola Razr+ offers.
It is quite surprising Samsung didn't make this change as early as the Flip3. Google also beat them on the closed hinge which featured on the Pixel Fold launched in May.
Initial verdict
The Fold5 and Flip5 look very promising, albeit with only minor upgrades. The real test is when they are put into action.
There are also a lot more improvements that can be made to these devices. We don't know what Samsung is developing, but given this is the fifth Fold, we should expect some serious upgrades next time around.
In the meantime, we look forward to testing them.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
