I Finally Tried a Foldable Phone
I’ve been curious about folding phones since they first came out but could never justify the price or the risk. What if the screen cracked along the fold? What if I got a dud? Spending almost $2,000 on an experiment felt irresponsible.
But when my brother upgraded and offered to let me try his Z Fold 5 for a month, I couldn’t resist. Here’s what I learned about living with Samsung’s foldable flagship.
The Folding Screen Is Better Than I Expected
Let’s address the elephant in the room: yes, you can see the crease. In certain lighting, at certain angles, it’s definitely there. But after about two days, my brain stopped registering it. It’s like the notch on iPhones - annoying in photos, invisible in use.
The inner screen is huge - 7.6 inches feels closer to a small tablet than a phone. Reading articles, watching videos, and especially using two apps side by side feels genuinely different from a regular smartphone. I found myself actually preferring to browse Reddit on this over my iPad.
The outer screen is narrower than regular phones, which takes getting used to. Typing on it feels cramped. But for quick texts and checking notifications, it’s fine.
How I Actually Used It
After a month, I settled into a pattern:
- Quick stuff (texts, calls, checking time): Cover screen, phone stays folded
- Anything requiring reading or watching: Unfold it
- Multitasking: Unfold and run two apps side by side
The multitasking is where this phone really earns its keep. Having Slack and a document open simultaneously, or watching a YouTube video while texting, feels natural in a way it never did on regular phones.
For work travel especially, I can see this replacing a tablet for a lot of people. Not quite laptop replacement territory, but closer than any phone I’ve used.
Build Quality and Durability
The hinge feels solid and has a satisfying resistance when opening. I was nervous about it at first, treating it like a delicate artifact, but after a few weeks I was flipping it open one-handed without thinking.
The phone is thick when folded - noticeably thicker than any regular phone. It fits in pockets fine but creates more of a bulge. My brother uses his without a case; I would absolutely not be brave enough.
Water resistance rating is IPX8, which means it can handle splashes but Samsung still recommends keeping it away from water. The flex mode (propping it half-open like a tiny laptop) is neat for video calls.
Performance and Battery
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 handles everything I threw at it without complaint. Apps open fast, multitasking is smooth, and I didn’t notice any lag even with demanding games.
Battery life is… okay. Not great, not terrible. The large internal display draws more power, and heavy use days required an afternoon charge. Moderate use got me through a full day with about 15% to spare. There’s no getting around the physics of powering two screens.
Camera Quick Take
The cameras are good but not class-leading. Samsung put its best camera hardware in the S24 Ultra, and it shows. The Z Fold 5’s photos are perfectly fine for social media and everyday use, but serious photographers will notice the difference.
The selfie camera situation is interesting - there’s one on the cover screen and one under the main display. The under-display camera quality is noticeably worse. You can also use the main cameras for selfies by using the cover screen as a viewfinder, which produces the best results but feels awkward.
What Holds It Back
Price. At $1,800, this is an expensive experiment. It’s come down since launch, but even at $1,400-1,500 during sales, it’s a lot of money.
Weight. At 253g, this is a heavy phone. My pocket definitely knows it’s there.
App optimization. Most apps work fine, but some clearly weren’t designed for this aspect ratio. Instagram in particular looks weird unfolded.
The crease. I said I stopped noticing it, and that’s true for daily use. But it’s still physically there, and running your finger across it is a reminder that this is fundamentally different technology.
Durability concerns. Even though I didn’t have issues, the fold is inherently a weak point. Screen protectors are mandatory and expensive to replace.
Who Is This Actually For?
The Z Fold 5 makes the most sense for people who:
- Do a lot of reading/media consumption on their phone
- Want a tablet experience in their pocket
- Frequently multitask with multiple apps
- Have the budget and like being an early adopter
It’s probably not worth it if you:
- Mostly use your phone for calls, texts, and basic apps
- Are rough with your devices
- Want the absolute best camera
- Are on any kind of budget
Would I Buy One?
After returning my brother’s phone, I genuinely missed the big screen. Watching videos on my regular phone felt cramped. Multitasking felt limiting.
But would I spend $1,800 on one? Not yet. The technology is impressive and the experience is unique, but the compromises (battery, camera, price, durability questions) are still significant. I think foldables are the future, and the Z Fold 5 is proof the concept works. I’m just waiting for the future to get a little cheaper and more refined.
If you can find one on sale and the price doesn’t sting, it’s a genuinely novel way to use a phone. Otherwise, a flagship like the S24 Ultra gives you fewer compromises at a similar price.
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