6 Things I’ve Realised About the Samsung Z FOLD 5 as an iPhone User

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I’ve been using the Samsung Z Fold5 for a few weeks now. It’s been my only Android device for that period and travelled with me to Berlin for the IFA tech conference and some extensive camera testing.

I’ve used the Fold5 productively, I’ve shot loads of photos and videos with it, and I’ve whiled away far too many hours consuming meaningless short-form content on it.

Put simply, I’ve managed to get a really good grasp of what this device is all about.

Spoiler: I really like this foldable mobile telephone. But there are some problems. Still.

I’m also an iPhone owner and Apple’s smartphone remains my main device due to its irritatingly sticky ecosystem. My perspective on the Z Fold5 is, therefore, skewed by my desire for things to ‘just work’ and a penchant for pretty much anything Tim and co. releases.

However, I know that a lot of people who usually buy high-end iPhones have a very keen eye on the Z Fold5. So, my experience really does matter – and I’ve found six things that you need to know if you’re considering making the switch.

1. It’s lovely to hold when closed

I often find the strangest elements of smartphone ownership the most satisfying.

With the Z Fold5, it’s the fact that this is a lovely device to hold when it’s snapped shut. It fits comfortably in my grip and feels substantial enough to make you aware that you need to keep a hold of it, yet light enough not to be annoying.

While wandering around Berlin snapping photos and videos for this review, it barely entered my pocket – but whenever it did, it was ludicrously comfortable. The Samsung Z Fold remains, weirdly, one of the most pocketable smartphones on the market – far more so than the colossal iPhone 14 Pro Max.

This does present a problem, though.

2. The cover screen is still too narrow

The Z Fold5 has the same Achilles heel as all of its predecessors – that cover screen is far too narrow.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great for the aforementioned grip when the device is closed, and I quite like the form factor for mindlessly scrolling social media. But as soon as you want to do anything productive, it’s super frustrating.

No amount of tweaking or third-party fiddling makes the keyboard any easier to use on the cover screen, which is the main bone of contention for me. I don’t have particularly large fingers, but I find it virtually impossible to type effectively.

The Pixel Fold and Honor Magic V2 get this right. Samsung needs to change it on the Fold6.

3. The big display is the best of its kind

The good thing about the narrow cover screen on the Z Fold5 is how often it tempts you to open this thing up. Which, let’s be honest, is the point of the Fold5.

That 7.6-inch internal display is an absolute masterpiece. It’s brighter than the Z Fold4 by quite a distance with a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, bringing it in line with the beautiful display on the S23 Ultra. It’s also fast, thanks to that buttery smooth 120Hz variable refresh rate, and it features thinner bezels than the Pixel Fold’s.

The Fold5 also demonstrates how far ahead Samsung is when it comes to app compatibility on these big displays. Whereas the Pixel Fold will often default to a windowed version of apps that don’t conform to the big display’s dimensions, the Samsung rarely does so.

I can confidently say that the inner display on the Samsung Z Fold5 is the best of its kind. For now.

4. Multitasking IS useful

I’ve always been the simplest of foldable device users. For me, that big canvas was nothing more than a lovely way to consume content and interact with my favourite apps.

Multitasking on a smartphone has never made sense to me – regardless of how big the display is. Why bother, when such work can – and should – be carried out on your laptop?

As it turns out, multitasking on the Z Fold5 is genuinely useful. True to form, I’ve been using it in the simplest way possible, but the ability to respond to a message on WhatsApp while referring to something else without scrolling through your open apps is very handy.

Why didn’t I realise this before?

5. The camera is typically Samsung

I’m not someone who pixel-peeps at smartphone photography. Nor do I have any interest in undertaking detailed comparisons between devices.

But I know what I like.

The iPhone has always been a great all-rounder when it comes to photography, and it remains the king of video. The Pixel is my absolute favourite snapper due to the unmistakable stamp Google’s phones leave on photos. Samsung is, well, equal parts joyful and frustrating.

The Z Fold5 is no different. It takes some utterly lovely images both on the front-facing camera and the main rear cameras. They’re detailed, feature great dynamic range, and are usually punchy enough to impress but not over-exaggerate.

Sometimes, though, it goes horribly wrong. The slow shutter speed I’ve struggled with on the S23 Ultra remains on the Z Fold5, but it’s the propensity for it to randomly over-saturate blue skies that frustrates me.

What I don’t understand is why it’s so inconsistent. Alas, at least it gets it right more often than not (and the video performance is superb!).

6. It isn’t the best foldable out there

I love the Z Fold series and the Fold5 is, arguably, the best so far. As it should be. But it isn’t the best.

For me, that award remains with the Pixel Fold. The width of the external display and the camera quality and consistency win the day and all but eradicate any fears of dealing with big bezels and unknown long-term durability.

However, I also got my hands on the Honor Magic V2 recently, and that feels like a serious contender for the foldable crown. It doesn’t reach the UK until next year, but when it does, I can’t wait to put that super slim frame and gorgeous display to the test.

For Samsung’s Z Fold to become king, it needs to widen that cover screen and finally sort out the lingering camera issues.

…and why Apple won’t do this. Ever.

I’m fast drawing the conclusion that Apple is never going to launch a foldable smartphone. The presence of that crease alone is enough to put them off entirely, and the fix for it feels a very long way away.

Tim Cook is unlikely to be keen on cannibalising iPad sales, too, which is why I think it’s far more likely for Apple to wait it out, moderately iterate the iPhone and move to Vision Pro, once that tech becomes more digestible and affordable for the mass market.

Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know your thoughts about the Z Fold5 in the comments, please!

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