Galaxy Z Flip 5’s odd cover screen design won’t trouble you when it’s off

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 unveiled today at Unpacked might represent one of the biggest technological leaps in the history of Samsung's foldable flip line yet. It's all because the Z Flip 5 employs a more generous 3.4-inch cover display that enables new software-driven use cases (including support for some fun new cases). It also drastically changes the overall look of the Z Flip line.

While previous generation Galaxy Z Flip phones had two colored back panels, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has only one. Now that the phone boasts a 3.4-inch cover screen, or as Samsung calls it, a “Flex Window,” half the phone's exterior consists of an AMOLED panel surrounded by a black frame.

Samsung could've chosen to match the color of the cover screen's frame with the back panel. But it didn't, and for a seemingly good reason as you can find out right after the video below.

Flex Window blends in with its surroundings

A visually-pleasing byproduct of Samsung's decision against using a splash of color on the bezel of the exterior display is that the Flex Window blends in with its frame. When turned off, the cover screen becomes almost invisible from most angles.

Because of this design decision and thanks to AMOLED technology, half the Galaxy Z Flip 5 gives the impression that it is covered edge-to-edge by a slab of black glass.

The illusion breaks when the cover screen, a.k.a. Flex Window, is turned on to reveal an unusually-shaped frame with a notch around the dual cameras. Nevertheless, it's a nice visual effect that sets the Galaxy Z Flip 5 apart from its predecessors and other foldable flip phones on the market.

Samsung is now offering the Galaxy Z Flip 5 on pre-order terms. The phone will go on sale on August 11. Storage options include 256GB and 512GB, but pre-order customers benefit from a free storage upgrade and can pre-purchase 512GB at the cost of the 256GB.