Galaxy Z Flip5: Unveiling the Flex Window

Samsung promotes the Flip5 as the ultimate device for personal expression, featuring one notable upgrade that enhances this claim.

Like its predecessors, the Flip5 is designed for portability and, at first glance, appears nearly identical to the previous model. However, Samsung has succeeded in making it 2mm thinner when closed, which is impressive for such a compact device.

The most striking feature, aside from the appealing new color options, is the 3.4-inch super AMOLED 60Hz Flex Window display on the Flip5's cover. This replaces the smaller 1.9-inch display from the Flip4 and is the standout aspect of the new device.

This is a clever strategy from Samsung; the earlier 'Sub Display' on the Flip4 served its purpose for quick checks of time and notifications, but offered little beyond that. In contrast, the Flip5’s Flex Window nearly fills the closed lid and includes various features that essentially transform it into a fully functional smartphone display.

In addition to notifications, the Flex Window showcases new widgets (from both first- and third-party sources), maximizing the use of that extra screen space. Users can engage more with the Flex Window, including the ability to reply to messages using a full QWERTY keyboard. You can even stream content from apps like Netflix and YouTube on it.

It’s a fantastic display that will make the Flip5 a compelling upgrade for those with the Flip4. While the Flex Window does have its limitations, Samsung has successfully incorporated enough functionality without complicating the user experience, which is commendable.

One of the most exciting features of the Flex Window is the Selfie FlexCam, which takes full advantage of the 12MP wide and ultra-wide main cameras, providing a large display for selfies.

The remaining updates for the Flip5 are mostly minor, aside from the performance boost from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. There’s also an enhanced Flex Mode that offers more controls for media-related applications when the Flip5 is positioned half-open on a surface.

The internal display remains the same 6.7-inch unit found on the Flip4, which is excellent in its own right. As for battery life, Samsung claims it outperforms the Flip4, despite the addition of the Flex Window.

The Flip5 starts at £1,049, which is £50 more than its predecessor, and is available for order now. Samsung is also providing double the storage and offering up to £650 for trade-ins on old devices for a limited time.

Galaxy Z Fold5: The Complete Foldable Experience

Next, we have the Z Fold5, the latest version of Samsung's high-end foldable smartphone. It faces tough competition from brands like Google and Honor.

While the Fold5 may not feature as eye-catching an update as the Flip5's Flex Window, it does bring some noteworthy changes.

The most evident improvement is the new dual rail hinge, allowing the Fold5 to close completely flat, similar to the Pixel Fold. This might seem like a small detail, but it's a welcome enhancement for those who found the Flip4's partial closure unappealing.

During the hands-on session, it was mentioned that the Fold5's internal display is now on par with that of the S23 series, providing a brighter experience with a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, compared to the previous 1,300 nits.

The main display remains at 7.6 inches, but the Fold5 benefits from reduced bezels, resulting in a weight reduction of 10g and a thickness reduction of 2.4mm. While the difference might be marginal, the Fold is still among the most portable foldable smartphones available.

Like the Flip5, the Fold5 is also equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and features a 38% larger vapor chamber compared to the Fold4, enhancing cooling efficiency. This leads to performance gains of approximately 18% for the CPU and 32% for graphics.

Additionally, there are several operating system enhancements, such as an advanced taskbar, movable pop-ups and windows, and the capability to run four applications simultaneously on the screen (up from three on the Fold4).

The Flex Mode panel has improved media controls, mirroring the Flip5's capabilities, and the S Pen compatibility continues, with new cases introduced for secure storage of Samsung's stylus.

Unfortunately, if you were hoping for a wider Cover Screen, the Fold5 maintains the same 6.2-inch display as the Fold4 with identical specifications. However, you can still utilize the Cover Screen for selfies with the main cameras, and a dual preview mode is now available to help you frame your shots accurately on both screens when the Fold5 is opened.

In terms of the camera system, it remains largely unchanged from the Fold4, with only minor adjustments to pixel sizes. This is fine with me—I've always found the Fold4's photo capabilities to be outstanding.

The Fold5 has seen price increases across the board. The 256GB model is priced at £1,749, while the 1TB version reaches £2,049. Thus, it remains a premium device, but that was expected. Although it offers a modest update compared to the Flip5, the Fold5 is likely to remain competitive, especially among Samsung's dedicated customer base looking to upgrade from earlier Fold models.

Watch6 and Watch6 Classic: The Return of the Bezel

This year, Samsung introduces two new Galaxy wearables—the Watch6 and Watch6 Classic. Notably, the 'Pro' label has been removed from this lineup (though it will still apply to the Watch5 while supplies last).

Samsung describes the Watch6 as the "ultimate daily driver," while the Watch6 Classic is intended as a “timeless timepiece.” The latter likely refers to Samsung's decision to continue offering a round watch face, distinguishing the Galaxy Watch from the Apple Watch—a design I personally appreciate.

Significant updates have been made to Samsung's wearable, including 20% larger displays, improved OS performance, larger batteries, and, in the case of the Watch6 Classic, the return of the rotating bezel. This is fantastic for those who missed the physical bezel after its replacement with a digital one in the Watch5 (which many users criticized). Having experienced the rotating bezel firsthand, I can understand why it was so widely requested—it's an excellent way to interact with a smartwatch.

At the core of the Watch6 series is the Exynos W930 chip, which reportedly offers 18% faster clock speeds and a 33% increase in memory, boosting the Watch6's capacity from 1.5GB in the Watch5 to 2GB.

While there aren't any significant new sensors on the Watch6, the updated OS provides detailed sleep insights and personalized fitness coaching, including body composition feedback and custom heart rate zones.

Moreover, a variety of new watch faces have been introduced, which are visually appealing and make great use of the Watch6's circular design.

You can pre-order both wearables today, with prices starting at £289 for the 40mm Watch6 and reaching £369 for the 44mm version with LTE. The Watch6 Classic starts at £369 for the 43mm model and £459 for the 47mm variant with LTE.

Galaxy Tab S9 Series: Ready for Any Weather

Lastly, we were introduced to the Galaxy Tab S9 series, and I must admit, I've never used or owned a Samsung tablet before.

The series includes three sizes—the S9 (11-inch), S9+ (12.4-inch), and S9 Ultra (a massive 14.6-inch). The Ultra is incredibly large but undeniably impressive when held.

All models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, promising a 34% improvement in CPU performance and a 41% enhancement in graphics compared to previous versions.

What particularly piqued my interest is that the Tab S9 is the first Samsung tablet to receive an official IP68 water resistance rating—one of the few tablets on the market to offer such a useful feature. This is something I've wished for on the iPad, especially the ultra-portable iPad mini. Are you listening, Apple?

The S Pen also benefits from the same water resistance and now includes bi-directional charging via its magnetic attachment on the back of the Tab S9. Additionally, GoodNotes is set to be available on the Tab S9, which is the most popular note-taking application on iPadOS.

Depending on the model selected, the Tab S9's price ranges from £799 to £1,699. However, early pre-orders will receive a complimentary Slim Book Cover Keyboard and a year’s subscription to Disney+ through Samsung.

Conclusion

To stay updated on my comprehensive reviews of the new Samsung products, I recommend subscribing to my YouTube channel. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these new releases, so please share your comments below!

Before you leave

Join my Substack newsletter for insights on becoming a successful and fulfilled online creator!

Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on July 26, 2023.