Samsung’s commitment to folding has two surnames: Flip, the phone most oriented to the ‘on-foot’ consumer, and Fold, the large folding oriented to productivity and the business world. With the launch of its fifth generation of these phones, the South Korean manufacturer reinforces its commitment to this world, where competition is intensifying, with the aim of turning the Fold 5 into the fashionable phone in the business world and the ultra-premium segment.
To do this, Samsung has launched a mobile that, in general terms, can be called a continuist, but that offers a significant novelty that is obvious: its new hinge. This element allows the phone to be closed without there being any space between the screens, which makes it more comfortable, compact and secure, within its possibilities, since, with its two 7.6-inch screens, it is impossible for it to be a mobile that goes unnoticed in the pocket.
Beyond the hinge, the new folding generation incorporates the new Snapdragon8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, an adapted version of the Qualcomm product designed to maximize the performance of the Samsung terminal and its rich ecosystem. For the rest, the device is very continuous and remains the same in several fundamental elements for the experience such as the cameras, where it maintains its triple rear camera with a 12MP ultra-wide angle, a 50 wide angle and a 10MP telephoto with a 3X optical zoom, reaching 30X digital zoom. Added to the mix is a 10 MP front camera to which is added one under the 4 MP screen, or the battery and fast charging. In this section, it should be noted that, as is becoming more and more common, the charger is not included in the box and must be purchased separately.
The company has put three versions on the market (256GB, 512GB and 1TB), with starting prices of 1,909, 2,029 and 2,269 euros, respectively, which represents a jump of 120 euros in the price of the most basic model compared to the previous generation. As for customization options, the terminal is available in black, cream and ‘glacier blue’.
As for its durability, the brand guarantees that the phone can resist 200,000 folds in five years of use, about a hundred a day if the average is done, a more than reasonable figure given that the exterior screen allows you to solve most of the tasks routines that are done with the telephone.
As is the case with this type of device, battery consumption depends a lot on how much time the phone spends folded, consuming much less when the external screen is used, and how much time it spends open. In case of not very intensive use of the two screens, the battery can last two days. In the opposite case, and the one that should be more frequent for those who bet on a phone with these characteristics, the terminal can still reach the end of the day without problems even if, for example, video is played for several hours.
In terms of user experience, generation after generation Samsung is polishing details that allow the Fold5 to get closer and closer to a terminal that can well replace the computer and tablet during part of the working day. First of all, the ‘wrinkle’ of the fold between the two screens is still noticeable to the touch, but in dark tones and while watching movies and series it is practically imperceptible.
The large surface that the two screens allow make the Fold an ideal device for multitasking lovers, with great flexibility when configuring the distribution of windows. In addition, one of Samsung’s successes for this generation is the new cover with the integrated S Pen (which only works on the two internal screens) and which allows this accessory to be carried very comfortably, although it is another of the additions that They are not included with the purchase of the terminal.
On the negative side, many applications are not optimized for the space provided by the two screens. Especially significant is the case of apps like Instagram in which the vertical video is played in the middle of the two screens, leaving a lot of unused space. In the case of video games, whose performance is one of the terminal’s strong points, the controls do not adapt perfectly in some cases either, causing you to have to force your hand a bit, although it is not a general aspect either. On the other hand, the 7.2-inch outer screen is somewhat uncomfortable when writing on its edges.
Despite these little buts, Samsung has met its goal with the new Fold, putting on the market a more than solvent terminal aimed at a very specific audience with few but successful innovations. Now, it remains to be seen how the company manages to evolve the terminal with a view to the following launches to continue justifying its high price and defending its throne from the ever closer competition from Chinese manufacturers.