I'm a big fan of the Galaxy Z Flip series. When the first one came out, it felt that I finally had a phone that ticked all of the boxes for me. I always have more phones than I need due to the nature of my work, so there's always one that takes great pictures and another that's an absolute spec monster. What I needed from my primary device, the one that I always had on me, was portability, versatility, a decent level of style, and respectable specifications.
The original Galaxy Z Flip was like a dream come true and subsequent iterations have only just elevated its status for me. I've been using the Galaxy Z Flip 3 as my daily driver for more than two years. It has served me very well and I had no problems with durability. I loved the fact that it didn't weigh down my pockets, that I could carry it easily, and the fact that it was folded shut when I didn't need to use it was less distracting and helped controlled doom scrolling.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 came around last year and while it was a decent enough upgrade, I felt that I was fine with using the Galaxy Z Flip 3 as my daily driver for another year. We're all aware of Samsung's upgrade cycle for its phones. You get major upgrades one year and then it's a refinement operation the next. So I waited patiently for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, knowing that it would deliver something great.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Upgrading to the latest clamshell foldable from the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has blown my mind. It makes me happy to see that Samsung continues to hit the nail on the head. The company is executing its vision for foldable phones spectacularly and it gives me great confidence that Samsung will continue to deliver exceptional foldables in the years to come.
The larger cover display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 makes my life so much easier. The tiny one on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was one of its shortcomings but it was the best that could be offered at that point in time. I can shoot of quick messages, check widgets, make calls, etc right from the cover display which eliminates the need to unfold the device.
It's a subtle change but the new hinge makes the device feel more solid. The panel gap is almost gone and it folds with a reassuring, solid snap. The build quality feels more refined and the device is just put together very well. I wasn't expecting it to have the sort of impression that it did on me.
At their core, both of these foldables are quite similar, but the improvements and adjustments that Samsung has made punch above their weight. I wasn't expecting that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 would make the Galaxy Z Flip 3 feel like a relic but it did.
There's also the fact that the battery life on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is far better than the 2021 model. Not only does the new model have a larger battery, it's also more power efficient thanks to new chipset and other optimizations. While I would need to charge my Galaxy Z Flip 3 every single day, I easily get two full days with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and often make it through most of the day on the third if I haven't been pushing the phone too hard. That's something I really like about this new model.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a lot more to offer compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The cameras are better, the memory is faster, you can get it with more internal storage, it supports faster wired charging, etc. All of them combined with the primary benefits that I've highlighted above make it an absolute no-brainer to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is you're still holding on to the Galaxy Z Flip 3. You'll quickly realize that you made the right decision.
