Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 worth buying in 2026?

Yes — at $700-900 used it's one of the best foldable bargains. The bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip is still strong, the waterdrop hinge holds up, and Samsung's foldable software remains the best. Skip it if you want the Fold 7's thinner profile, larger battery or better cameras.

What's new on the Z Fold 5 vs the Z Fold 4?

Three big things: the new waterdrop hinge that lets the phone fold completely flat with no gap, the bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, and a 1750-nit peak display (up from 1000). Storage doubles to 256GB at the same $1,799 starting price. Carryovers: same 4,400mAh battery, 25W charging, IPX8 rating, S Pen still requires a separate case.

How long does the Z Fold 5 battery last?

The 4,400mAh battery typically delivers ~4-5 hours of inner-screen SOT. Outdoor 1750-nit usage drains faster than the cover display. Long-term tests have it placing third in a Fold 5/6/7 drain shootout at 4h32m total runtime — Samsung's chip-efficiency gains in later Folds have stretched the same battery further.

Does the Z Fold 5 fold flat with no gap?

Yes — the new waterdrop hinge is the headline change and finally lets the Fold 5 close completely flat. After four years of Samsung foldables that left a visible gap, this was the most-requested fix.

Does the Z Fold 5 have an S Pen built in?

No. The S Pen for Fold is 40% thinner this generation and works on the inner display, but it still requires a separate case purchase to carry — Samsung has yet to add a built-in stylus silo to the Fold line.

How fast does the Z Fold 5 charge?

Only 25W wired (~1h-1.5h to full), plus 15W Qi wireless and 4.5W reverse. This is slow compared to the OnePlus 11's 80W or the S23+/Ultra's 45W, and Samsung kept this speed through subsequent Fold generations.

Is the Z Fold 5 water resistant?

It's IPX8 — fully water resistant to typical depths but has NO dust rating. That's a meaningful concern for a foldable since dust ingress at the hinge has been a long-standing concern; later Fold models added IP48 (still no full dust seal but better).

How many years of software updates does the Z Fold 5 get?

Samsung promised 4 major Android upgrades and 5 years of security patches — taking it from Android 13 at launch through Android 17 and security support into 2028. Same industry-leading policy as the S23 family.

Z Fold 5 vs Pixel Fold — which to buy?

Forbes says the Fold 5 has the better screen, hinge and premium feel; the Pixel Fold counters with a more book-like cover aspect and Google's software smarts. Both are similarly priced. The Fold 5's foldable software polish (split-screen, taskbar, three-app multi-window) is the deciding factor for many.

How much does the camera lag behind the S23 Ultra?

Meaningfully. The Fold 5 has 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto — no 200MP main, no 10x periscope. The 8 Gen 2 image processing helps it match the S23 Ultra on basic daylight shots, but zoom and ultra-high-res shots show the gap.

Image: Samsung

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Smartphones

Older model

27 expert reviews

4 user opinions

May 20, 2026

Updated May 20, 2026

High confidenceUp to date

Quick Verdict

Reviewers landed on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as a tidy iterative refresh: the long-awaited waterdrop hinge that finally lets the phone fold flat with no gap, the bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip from the S23 family, 1750-nit cover and inner displays (up from 1000), and a doubled 256GB base for the same starting price as the Fold 4. Almost everything else carries over — the 4,400mAh battery (unchanged across five Fold generations), 25W slow charging (~1.5h to full), 50MP+12MP+10MP-3x camera trio, IPX8 (no dust rating), and the S Pen still needing a separate purchase with no built-in silo. Buy this if you want the best Android foldable software and don't want to pay $2,000 for the Fold 7; skip it if you need flagship-grade cameras at this price, fast charging, or want the thinner unfolded profile of the Fold 6/7.

Iterative refresh with the long-awaited gapless hinge

Pros reviewers agree on

Strengths consistently called out across sources

New waterdrop hinge finally folds flat with no gap — the most-praised design change after four years of evolution
Same bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip as the S23 family — flagship-grade performance, more efficient than the Fold 4's 8+ Gen 1
1750-nit peak on both cover and main displays — a huge step up from the Fold 4's 1000 nits, finally usable in bright sunlight
Base storage doubled to 256GB at the same $1,799 starting price as the Fold 4
4 OS upgrades + 5 years of security — same industry-leading policy as the S23 family, through Android 17
Excellent foldable software: split-screen, taskbar, app continuity — best multitasking experience in any foldable

Cons reviewers agree on

Weaknesses flagged across multiple sources

4,400mAh battery unchanged for five consecutive Fold generations — real-world SOT lands at 4-5 hours, behind cheaper slab flagships
Slow 25W wired charging (1h-1.5h to full) — Plus and Ultra S23 siblings get 45W, OnePlus 11 gets 80W
IPX8 only — no dust rating, a real concern for a hinge-and-fabric phone
S Pen still needs a separate purchase + bulky case, no built-in silo despite four years of owner requests
Cameras lag the S23 Ultra significantly — 10x periscope is Ultra-exclusive, no 200MP main; the camera bump also sticks out further on the Fold 5
Crease in the main display is still visible and tactile — Samsung hasn't fundamentally improved it

What reviewers disagree on

Points where expert verdicts diverge — weigh based on your priorities

BGR's 'No Longer the Best' vs Forbes' 'final form of a four-year evolution' — same hardware, opposite takes on whether the iteration is enough
Camera worth — Android Central says 'the same, but better'; Dave2D argues the image-quality bump doesn't justify the added camera-bump bulk
vs Pixel Fold — Forbes calls the Fold 5 the better-built device with the best foldable software; the Pixel Fold counters with a more book-like cover screen

How This Review Was Created

16Publications

11YouTube Reviews

4Reddit Threads

31Total Sources

High ConfidenceReviews & long-term tests published August 2023 – May 2026

This is a synthesis of expert reviews and user discussions; we may not have physically tested the product. See methodology.

Detailed Breakdown

📐Design & Hinge

The new waterdrop hinge is the headline change — finally lets the phone fold completely flat with no gap, a four-year wait for Samsung owners. Same overall footprint, IPX8 only, S Pen still requires a separate case.

New waterdrop hinge eliminates the gap — the Fold 5 folds completely flat for the first time in Samsung's foldable lineup.— Android Authority
More reliable hinge, stronger glass and an IPX8 rating — the durability story improves meaningfully versus the Fold 4.— Android Authority
The S Pen for Fold is 40% thinner than its predecessor — still housed in a separate, bulky case rather than a built-in silo.— Marques Brownlee
After two years of ownership, the hinge still feels sturdy and the cover screen has held up well — no creaking, no sandy noises, no loose hinge.— YouTube — Fold 5 in 2024 Worth It?
One long-term owner reports the hinge eventually loosened despite the upgrade — durability story is mostly good but not bulletproof.— YouTube — Gui Cabral 1.5 year LT
Compared to the later Fold 7 (~4.2mm unfolded), the Fold 5 is noticeably thicker — the Fold series stayed chunky for two more generations after this.— Gizmodo Fold 7 comparison

🖥️Displays

Cover and inner displays both jump from 1000 to 1750-nit peak — a transformative outdoor improvement. The crease in the main 7.6-inch panel is still visible and tactile but reviewers say Samsung's pre-crease engineering ages well.

Cover and inner displays both go to 1750 nits peak — 'dramatically better' than the Fold 4's 1000 nits, finally usable in direct sunlight.— Marques Brownlee
Main 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz with Samsung's classic vibrancy — among the best foldable inner panels of its era.— YouTube — Fold 5 2-year owner review
The crease is still visible and tactile after years of use — Samsung hasn't fundamentally improved it, though they're 'doing this longer than anyone'.— YouTube — Fold 5 in 2024 Worth It?
After two years, the inner display has no marks and is still flat — no 'banana curve' problem some other foldables develop.— YouTube — Fold 5 2-year owner
Inner 4MP under-display selfie camera is still serviceable — most owners use the 10MP cover camera for video calls.— Notebookcheck

📸Cameras

50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto — same combo as the Fold 4 with the SD 8 Gen 2 processing bump enabling sharper enhanced-pixel mode. Capable but not Ultra-grade; the camera bump still protrudes noticeably.

Cameras: 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4, OIS, 66mm), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) — same hardware as the Fold 4.— Notebookcheck
8 Gen 2 image processing automatically uses 'enhanced pixel mode' on the 50MP sensor (like the S22 Ultra) — sharper shots than the Fold 4.— GSMArena Fold 5 reviews
Camera bump still protrudes meaningfully — better image quality doesn't justify the added bulk for everyone.— Dave2D
Cover-screen Dual Preview feature is a foldable-camera highlight — subjects can see exactly what you're shooting on the front display.— Wired Fold/Flip 3 carryover
Top-down food/document shots without leaning are a unique foldable use case — practical, social-friendly camera utility.— Wired

⚡Performance

Bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz) with 12GB RAM — the same chip as the S23 family. Flagship-grade performance with much better efficiency than the Fold 4's 8+ Gen 1.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy at 3.36GHz + 12GB RAM + 256GB base UFS 4.0 — same chip as the S23 Ultra in a foldable.— Phone Arena
8 Gen 2 power savings, better AI/CPU/GPU efficiency, faster RAM and UFS — meaningful step up from the Fold 4's 8+ Gen 1.— GSMArena reviews
Two years on (2025), the chip is 'still very powerful' — handles One UI 7's AI features and demanding apps without issue.— YouTube — Fold 5 Still Worth 2026
Forbes verdict: 'still a flagship chip — the best in Android — just not as special as Samsung marketing would have you think'.— Forbes

🔋Battery & Charging

4,400mAh — unchanged for five consecutive Fold generations. 8 Gen 2 efficiency stretches it to 4-5h of inner-screen SOT, but 25W charging is slow (~1.5h to full) and 4,400mAh is now well behind 2026 foldable rivals.

4,400mAh battery unchanged from the Fold 4 — and Samsung kept the same cell through the Fold 7 (a five-generation stretch).— SamMobile battery test article
Real-world SOT on inner display: ~4 hours typical (one long-term owner). Power-save mode stretches to 2 full days for lighter users.— YouTube — Fold 5 GSMArena owner
Cross-generation drain shootout: Fold 5 finished 3rd at 4h32m17s — beaten by both the Fold 6 and Fold 7 thanks to chip-efficiency gains.— YouTube — Fold 5/6/7 drain shootout
25W wired charging: ~1h-1.5h to full — slow next to the OnePlus 11's 80W or even the S23+'s 45W.— GSMArena reviews
15W Qi wireless and reverse wireless supported — handy for topping up Galaxy Buds while traveling with the foldable.— Phone Arena

🧠Software & S Pen

One UI 5.1.1 on Android 13 is the best foldable software — split-screen, taskbar and app continuity all polished. 4 OS / 5 years of security. The S Pen still requires a separate case.

Best foldable software of its era — split-screen, taskbar, three-app multi-window, drag-and-drop between apps.— Forbes
4 major Android upgrades + 5 years of security — same industry-leading commitment as the S23 family, through Android 17.— YouTube — Fold 5 in 2024 Worth It?
S Pen for Fold is 40% thinner this generation and works on the inner display, but still requires a separate case purchase — no built-in silo.— Marques Brownlee
The Fold 5 received Galaxy AI features alongside the S23 Ultra/+/Plus updates — modern AI tools still arrive on this two-year-old foldable.— YouTube — Fold 5 9 Months Later
Some apps still aren't optimized for the 7.6-inch inner display — letterboxing and stretching remain common pain points.— Trusted Reviews

💰Value vs Competition

$1,799 launch with 256GB base (doubled from Fold 4's 128GB) — strong value in the foldable space, especially at $700-900 used in 2026. The Fold 7 at $2,000+ makes the Fold 5 newly compelling as the smart upgrade pick.

Launched at $1,799 with 256GB base storage — same starting price as the Fold 4 but with double the storage.— Marques Brownlee
BGR's verdict: 'No Longer the Best' foldable in 2023 — the iteration was outpaced by competitors like Google's Pixel Fold and Honor V series.— BGR
Forbes counters: 'final form of a four-year evolution' — better screen, hinge and premium feel than the Pixel Fold competitor.— Forbes
2025/2026 long-term owners regularly recommend it as the smart pick if you want a foldable without paying $2,000+ for the Fold 7.— YouTube — Fold 5 Long Term 2025
Versus the Pixel Fold ($1,799): Forbes says the Fold 5 has the better screen, hinge and premium feel; the Pixel Fold has a more book-like cover aspect.— Forbes

Long-term Verdict

What creators say after 30, 100, or 365 days of real-world use — the post-honeymoon reality that launch-day reviews can't cover.

⏳Long-term Verdict

1, 1.5, 2-year and 2025/2026 long-term reviews converge on the same verdict: the Z Fold 5 has aged remarkably well as a foldable. The waterdrop hinge holds up, the inner display stays flat, software updates kept arriving — and at $700-900 used in 2026, it's the smart pick if you don't want to pay $2,000 for the Fold 7.

After 2 years of ownership: hinge still sturdy, no creaking or grinding, cover screen design adjustments paid off — a durable long-term phone.— YouTube — Fold 5 After 2 Years
Long-term verdict 2025: 'If you always wanted to try a foldable and you don't want to spend $2,000 for the newest Z Fold 7, I can absolutely recommend this device — huge improvement near-gapless hinge, improved durability, excellent multitasking, top-tier performance.'— YouTube — Fold 5 Long Term 2025
1.5-year owner: dropped a few times, hinge eventually loosened — durability story is mostly good but not perfect.— YouTube — Gui Cabral 1.5 yr
In Brazil with power saving on: 2 full days of battery from the 4,400mAh cell — 'amazing if you don't have to charge every time'.— YouTube — Gui Cabral 1.5 yr
Inner display after years: no marks, still nice and flat — no 'banana curve' problem some other foldables develop.— YouTube — Fold 5 in 2024 Worth It?
Crease in the main display is still visible and tactile years on — Samsung hasn't improved it materially, though it's livable.— YouTube — 9 Months Later review
2025/2026 verdict: the 8 Gen 2 with 12GB RAM 'is still very powerful', handles modern apps including Galaxy AI features rolled out alongside the S23 family.— YouTube — Fold 5 Still Worth 2026
Long-term Samsung software support delivered: Android 13 launch → 4 OS / 5 sec updates as promised; running One UI 7/Android 15 by 2025.— YouTube — Fold 5 in 2024 Worth It?
Long-term IPX8-only concern: dust ingress at the hinge remains the foldable's main aging worry; later IP48 ratings on newer Folds address this.— YouTube — Fold 5 2-year review
Long-term Fold 5 vs Fold 7: 2-year owner says the Fold 5 hardware still 'totally holds up' and the Fold 7 isn't worth the price jump unless you want the thinner design.— YouTube — Fold 5 vs Fold 7 worth skip

Real-World Tests

Battery drain runs, durability tests, camera shootouts, and gaming benchmarks — the numbers that only video testers capture.

🧪Real-World Tests

Hands-on tests give the Z Fold 5 modest numbers: 4h32m in a Fold 5/6/7 head-to-head drain shootout (3rd place), ~4h of inner-screen SOT typical, and 25W charging that caps at ~1.5h to full. The 1750-nit displays + waterdrop hinge are the standout real-world wins; battery remains the family's weak point.

Fold 5/6/7 drain shootout — Fold 5 placed third at 4h32m17s total runtime. The same 4,400mAh battery in all three; the Fold 7's chip + screen efficiency stretched it further.— YouTube — Fold 5/6/7 drain shootout
Per-app drain: 1h of 4K60 recording = 25% battery (Fold 5) at 49°C, vs 21% Fold 6 and 20% Fold 7 at lower temps — the Fold 5 runs hotter and drains faster than newer siblings.— YouTube — Fold 5/6/7 4K test
1h Instagram Live: Fold 5 lost 22% battery at 45.7°C — meaningfully hotter than the Fold 7 (16% loss at 41.7°C).— YouTube — Fold 5/6/7 IG Live test
Real-world SOT: ~4 hours on the inner display typical (one long-term owner) — meaningfully short for a $1,799 phone.— GSMArena owner reviews
Power-saving mode 2-day life: real-world owner in Brazil hit a full 2 days on the 4,400mAh cell with power saving enabled — the lighter use case works fine.— YouTube — Gui Cabral LT
25W charging: full charge takes ~1h-1.5h on the official Samsung 25W brick — slow by 2026 standards.— GSMArena reviews
Display brightness real-world: 1750 nits is finally usable outdoors — a transformative real-world upgrade from the Fold 4's 1000 nits.— Marques Brownlee
Hinge real-world: folds flat with no gap on this generation for the first time — the most-tactile design improvement of the four-year evolution.— Android Authority
Drop test (long-term owner, 1.5 yr): dropped 'a few times', inner display held but hinge eventually loosened — durability mostly holds up but case is recommended.— YouTube — Gui Cabral LT
S Pen real-world: 40% thinner than previous gen and works smoothly on the inner display, but needing a separate case to carry it remains a daily annoyance.— Marques Brownlee
Multitasking real-world: split-screen, three-app windows, taskbar app continuity — the inner 7.6" panel is genuinely productive for email + browser + chat side-by-side.— Forbes

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Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Update History

May 20, 2026— Review published
May 20, 2026— Added Real-World Tests section (11 points)
May 20, 2026— Added Long-term Verdict section (10 points)

Source Scores

BGR

“Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: No Longer The Best.”

negative

Forbes

“Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: The Final Form Of A Four-Year Evolution.”

positive

Android Central

“Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 camera review: The same, but better.”

positive

Android Authority

“The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 improves on the folding platform with a more reliable hinge, stronger glass, an IPX8 rating, plenty of storage options, and a big, bright display.”

positive

Notebookcheck

“Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review — small steps toward being the best foldable smartphone.”

positive

GSMArena

“Better battery life even if it's still same 4400mAh and same 25W charging speed... the 8 Gen 2 itself came with a lot of power saving.”

positive

Reviewed (USA Today)

“The new Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the new foldable Samsung smartphone that comes packed with intuitive functions, innovative design features, and powerful processing.”

positive

Phone Arena

“Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review — every product we review is thoroughly tested in real-world conditions.”

positive

Trusted Reviews

“Some of these challenges include making the phones weigh less and thinner, more durable, reducing the crease, having a designated slot for the S Pen.”

mixed

Marques Brownlee

“It gets up to 1,750 nits, which is dramatically better than last year, which was 1,000 nits, so that's awesome.”

mixed

Dave2D

“This protrudes out a lot and the image quality is better this year, but to me that improvement is so not worth the bulk that this camera system has added.”

mixed

Fold 5 Worth It 2024

“A year later, everything is still on the up and up with the Fold 5 — the hinge still feels very sturdy.”

positive

Fold 5 Long Term 2025

“If you always wanted to try a foldable and you don't want to spend $2,000 for the newest Z Fold 7, I can absolutely recommend this device.”

positive

Fold 5/6/7 drain shootout

“Third place is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with a finishing time of 4 hours 32 minutes and 17 seconds.”

mixed

Reddit r/Android (Ars Technica forum)

“As much as I love the idea of one of these phones, there is absolutely no chance I'd risk that much money on something so unreliable.”

mixed

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This synthesis review was compiled from 31 independent sources. TechTalkTown did not receive products or compensation from Samsung.

Image: Samsung

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Smartphones

Older model

27 expert reviews

4 user opinions

May 20, 2026

Updated May 20, 2026

High confidenceUp to date

Quick Verdict

Reviewers landed on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as a tidy iterative refresh: the long-awaited waterdrop hinge that finally lets the phone fold flat with no gap, the bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip from the S23 family, 1750-nit cover and inner displays (up from 1000), and a doubled 256GB base for the same starting price as the Fold 4. Almost everything else carries over — the 4,400mAh battery (unchanged across five Fold generations), 25W slow charging (~1.5h to full), 50MP+12MP+10MP-3x camera trio, IPX8 (no dust rating), and the S Pen still needing a separate purchase with no built-in silo. Buy this if you want the best Android foldable software and don't want to pay $2,000 for the Fold 7; skip it if you need flagship-grade cameras at this price, fast charging, or want the thinner unfolded profile of the Fold 6/7.

Iterative refresh with the long-awaited gapless hinge