Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G: First impression – Times of India

We got a chance to experience the new Galaxy Z Flip5 5G at the Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul and here’s what we feel about it.
What it is like to have a bigger display at the front

Without moving around with the specs and features that Z Flip5 offers, let’s address the elephant in the room — the new bigger cover screen. Well, it looks fresh and different from other foldables out there. But, it makes things far more functional and practical for users. That means, there’s a chance you may not have to open the phone for everything.

Flex Windows — that’s what Samsung is calling it. Keeping the name aside, the bigger display is sort of a curated widget space that lets users add widgets for several apps and keep themselves updated. There are a handful of them like weather, notification, timer, etc. Then there’s a pinch gesture that puts all the active widgets on one screen and lets users choose the one they want.
While the idea for a secondary display is good and lets users do things that can be easily done on a screen of this size, unlike offering the entire main display on a tiny screen to make things look cluttered. Then there’s the option for quick replies as well as using the full QWERTY keyboard in
Moving over, there’s now the option to access Quick Settings to enable or disable certain features quickly. Samsung is also making things better for Samsung Wallet users by allowing them to make payments directly from the cover display.
All these appear to be pretty functional and interesting at the moment, but the full potential has to be unlocked by making developers add these kinds of widgets. For instance, an Uber widget or Swiggy/Zomato widget will make more sense by allowing users to track orders without continuously opening or closing the phone.

But, the FlexCam is something that will grab users attention. The FlexCam now lets users take high-quality selfies by getting a preview of themselves on the cover display hands-free. But, there’s more, Samsung has provided users with the option to view and edit the shots on the go. This is a handy feature for users as well as creators.
New hinge = New feel?
Flex Hinge is Samsung’s term for waterdrop hinge design that let’s foldable phones close flat without any gap. Yes, the Galaxy Z Flip5 can close without any gap. Although, the thickness has gone down by around 2mm. Certainly, the new hinge mechanism is far more smoother than before. But what makes it different to hold is the completely flat design. The phone feels new, even though it borrows the design elements from previous generations.
These new changes add to a good hand-feel as well as pocket-feel. It would be wrong to say that it is an entirely different feeling, but it is certainly a better move to make everything feel more polished and premium.

Small changes are making all the difference
It’s not that a lot has changed with the Z Flip5. Samsung has made small changes that make the entire experience better and more polished. The updated cover display adds to the user experience, plus the FlexCam, new Flex hinge feels like the changes in the right direction. Performance too has been updated, but it is a little too early to talk about it. Stay tuned for our full review to read more about how the phone stands the test of time in real-world situations.