Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3: It’s time to open your wallets

When we look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3, it's evident that the high-end foldable has come a long way in the past two years. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 was one of the biggest upgrades that this series has received. It brought some major improvements that Samsung further refined with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 last year.

If you felt that last year's model didn't warrant an upgrade, then you may want to open up your wallets. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 stands tall in comparison to the 2021 model. There are significant cosmetic and functional upgrades that immensely enhance the user experience. The time to upgrade has arrived.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3: Flex Hinge eliminates the panel gap

Previous models have all had a noticeable gap between the two panels due to the limitations of the hinge. That has been addressed with the Galaxy Z Fold 5's new Flex Hinge. This new waterdrop-style hinge eliminates the gap so the two halves of the device shut completely flat.

Not only does this make the device look cleaner and more modern, it also yields dividends in its footprint. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is noticeably slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and at 253 grams, it's also 10 grams lighter than the 2021 model.

Samsung has also cleaned up the overall design. You get sharper lines and less curves which lend a more sophisticated look to the device. It looks very well put together.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3: Cameras are much better

The triple camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a significant upgrade over the 2021 model with its 50-megapixel wide sensor alongside the 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 10-megapixel telephoto camera. You also get a 10-megapixel selfie camera and a 4-megapixel Under Display Camera on the foldable display.

This is a substantial upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 3's camera setup that had three 12-megapixel sensors. The sensors are more capable and larger so they capture more light and provide improved clarity, particularly in low-light conditions. Samsung has also equipped the new device with enhanced AI algorithms to improve the quality.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3: Display panels are noticeably brighter

The brighter a display, the better your user experience will be, particularly when you're using the device outdoors. Even though the dimensions of both the cover and the internal foldable display are the same, the panels are significantly brighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5's foldable display is over 30% brighter while its cover display can reach a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. The elevated brightness will be the first thing you notice about the device when you switch. The panels have been improved overall so it's also going to appear more vibrant.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Z Fold 3: Better specs, more power

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is two generations ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 so you can imagine that vast difference in their specs and power. You get the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

The new chipset obviously has a lead in performance compared to the 5nm Snapdragon 888 powering the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Expect to notice a significant improvement in performance and power efficiency.

So, the question remains, should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5 if you own the Galaxy Z Fold 3? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only will you get the latest in mobile technology but it's packaged in a sleeker device that has no panel gap. You also re-up the software support for your device, so you'll be sure to receive new Android OS upgrades for four years down the line.

Go ahead and pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 5 from Samsung.com starting today. It will be released on August 11.

Samsung
Galaxy Z Fold 5

Select model SM-F946B SM-F946U SM-F946U1 SM-F946N SM-F946W SM-F9460 Buy Full specs

Samsung
Galaxy Z Fold 3

Select model SM-F926B SM-F926U SM-F926U1 SC-55B SCG11 SM-F926N SM-F926W SM-F9260 Buy Full specs

Image credit: Samsung