Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Is it 2004 again ? Flip phones are back , and they ’re the double-dyed portmanteau of retro and futuristic . There ’s a beautiful nostalgia about the clamshell form , with its closing snap and Star Trek - like flip exposed . But at the same time , the engineering that appropriate for a full screen to bow almost seamlessly in the middle is clearly some sort of futuristic black magic .
Of all the sassy insolent phones currently uncommitted , theSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 5is one of the most polished and capable . Samsung has take on the burden of bringing the folding smartphone into the mainstream , and the results are some of the finest pieces of technology we ’ve ever ascertain . If you ’re consideringa flip sound , then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has to be at the top of that inclination .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
But it ’s not the only smartphone on that list . There are many exceptional devices for sale at the import , and there are many rationality you might prefer one of those or else of Samsung ’s latest . Here are five phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
A telephone does n’t have to close in ordering to go up against the Galaxy Z Flip 5 , as some can count as competitors plainly by being — in a word — exceptional . TheSamsung Galaxy S24 Plusis one such gimmick , with the middle child of the S24 range being a truly splendid smartphone and a solid alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
The Galaxy S24 Plus does n’t fold in one-half — at least , not without a considerable amount of force and voiding your warranty — but it ’s very much still worth considering . The new flavorless sides are light to grip , and they give the phone a svelte and refined spirit . The 6.7 - column inch AMOLED 2X show is as large as the Z Flip 5 ’s show and has the same dynamic 120Hz refresh rate , too — but the S24 Plus has a sharper 1440p resolution and a higher maximum brightness of 2,600 nits .
carrying out on both phones will be strong and fast , but the S24 Plus ’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is doubtless the faster of the two processor . While both have the same storage pick , the S24 Plus also has more RAM at its disposal , giving it a little bit of an sharpness when multitasking and juggle apps . Battery lifespan kick in the S24 Plus a massive advantage , though . Whereas the Z Flip 5 can just about make it through a individual day , the S24 Plus ’s battery can make it through a heavy Clarence Day with electric battery to spare . Take it a bit easier , and the earpiece can emphatically stretch to last two days , which is really exceptional for a flagship phone .
We have n’t even bring up the S24 ’s camera , which is head and shoulders above that offered by the Z Flip 5 . While the Z Flip 5 ’s twofold - television camera system is a good set of taw , it ca n’t compete with the three crystalline lens on the back of the S24 Plus .
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus may seem like an odd alternative to a flip phone , but dive into the eyeglasses and read the followup , and you ’ll see it ’s a truly fantabulous smartphone that betters the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in almost every way . Plus , it start at the same $ 999 monetary value , mean both equipment are on an equal basis . If the lure of a arresting earpiece is something you ca n’t resist , then this is the proficient alternative selection . If close down is a must though , well , look into out this next option .
Motorola Razr Plus
While Samsung is undoubtedly the most prominent player in the foldable scene , there are other manufacturers worth regard . Motorola has a strong foldable pedigree , having made the fabled Razr , and it ’s great that the company has chosen to make a full - throated issue at the advent of folding smartphones . TheMotorola Razr Plusis Motorola ’s best , most powerful impudent speech sound , and it ’s the gimmick to consider if you want a similar fold earpiece to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
The first thing to note isthe Razr Plus is gorgeous . Flip phones are of course quite good - looking , but Motorola has contain it to another tier with a option of sheer colorways and the comprehension of a vegan leather back on sure model . The flexible joint is n’t as stiff as the Z Flip 5 , which entail it wo n’t sit undetermined in as many position — but it also means it ’s easier to leaf undecided and closed , which may appeal to you more .
The cover screen is the biggest remainder , though . It ’s 3.6 inches orotund and packs in a 144Hz refresh rate . But it ’s not how it look that makes the remainder ; it ’s what it can do . There ’s a utilitarian “ panels ” organization here for accessing entropy , but it also runsanyAndroid app as well . Yes , any Android app will run on the Razr Plus ’s cover screen . That ’s a big deal , and whileyou can do the same thing on the Z Flip 5 , it ’s not as straight a process as it is on the Razr Plus . The computer software is also a cleaner affair , and you wo n’t incur it ’s anywhere well-nigh as declamatory a departure from Android as Samsung ’s One UI .
All of this means the Razr Plus is just a adept smartphone than the Z Flip 5 , right ? unluckily , no . It has some downsides , and they could be dealbreakers for you . The barrage fire is a petty weak , lasting just about a single day , and the cameras are nowhere near the quality Samsung is open of . Despite being a phone with a $ 1,000 price ticket , it ’s also only running the Snapdragon 8 + Gen 1 , a flagship chip from 2022 . Granted , it ’s still a herculean piece of silicon , but for four figures , you should expect more .
Thankfully , you do n’t have to , as it ’s common to find this earphone at a hearty price reduction now . A $ 700 cost is fairly common , and you ’ll probably see deeper deduction during sale . These terms drops make it a much more tempting packet , and a very strong rival for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
Motorola Razr (2023)
The Motorola Razr Plus is useable at a strong bank discount , but that does n’t mean there are n’t more saving that can be had . TheMotorola Razr ( 2023)is the cheaper variation of the Razr Plus , and while that means you lose a few of the newspaper headline features , you still get a fold phone at an even lower price . How modest ? The Razr ( 2023 ) debuted at $ 700 , with a launch discount toll of $ 600 . These days , it’snot uncommon to find it for just $ 500 , making it a very attractive option for those who need a turn up phone at a deal price .
What do you end up losing for the discount ? The most obvious loss is that of the 3.6 - in cover display . rather , the Razr has a much smaller 1.5 - in display that sit at one death of the phone while folded . It ’s still an OLED panel , but there ’s not a huge amount of room to work , so it ’s largely just for the clock , widgets , and notifications — though the inclusion of the mascot , Moo , is fun and much appreciated . The privileged exhibit is a roomy 6.9 column inch , and it has the same 144Hz refresh rate as the Razr Plus , which is a nice bonus .
rather of an older flagship flake , the Razr has a midrange chip , the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 . It ’s a good chip shot , chug its way through all of our mental test , and held up well when compared to the Snapdragon 8 + Gen 1 in the Razr Plus . The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Z Flip 5 is objectively more potent again , and you may notice a lowly difference in performance . But when you ’re looking at half the cost , that ’s a diminished smasher to run .
The camera is in force enough for the price you ’re paying , and the barrage lasted a square day with some change left over . Two days does seem beyond it , but that ’s okay . The 30W charging is n’t as ripe now as it was at launch , but it ’s still more than satisfactory and debauched than a bit of flagship phones . Wireless charging comes in at a paltry 5W , though , which is achingly slow .
Yes , you only get three yr of software accompaniment , and that ’s more like two now , but that was standard when the phone was unloosen and forgivable as a issue . With a price that ’s often found at just $ 500 and can fall off even lower at cut-rate sale periods , it ’s hard to find a folding phone that ’s a better deal than this .
Google Pixel 8 Pro
One thing a few of these alternatives have in common is a photographic camera that ’s not a stopper . Do n’t get us wrong ; a lot of them are skilful , but it ’s remove the camera was n’t the focus . That ’s very much not the case with theGoogle Pixel 8 Pro , which has one of the best phone cameras you’re able to buy for a price similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
To be alone average , it ’s not that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a bad television camera — it has a very adequate to couple of rear - facing shooters , and you ’re likely to be quite happy with most of what it bring about . But it ’s not the match of the Google Pixel 8 Pro , which call for some of the best photos you ’ll see from a smartphone . The 50MP main lense takes some outstanding distillery , while the 48MP ultrawide lens and 5x optical zoom genus Lens also wreak extremely well . If take in a great camera is crucial to you , then the Google Pixel 8 Pro has to be on your list of alternatives , particularly at a like cost to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
The performance is solid , thanks to Google ’s Tensor G3 processor . Though the battery and charging speeds are n’t bang-up , the gorgeous video display helps to pull ahead back some major points . It ’s a 120Hz 6.7 - inch OLED board , and this year , it gets much bright , peaking at 2,400 nits .
Another feather in its pileus is how clean the computer software is . Pixel phones have one of the purest forms of Android you ’ll find anywhere , and that ’s very much a positive . Of of course , that ’s because Google create Android , and that also means Pixels will get Android updates faster than any other smartphone on the market . The update disk is exceptional , too , with Google anticipate seven years of financial support for the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8 .
The price is the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 , as advert , so really , all you ’re losing is the flip - power of the Samsung speech sound . The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a stellar smartphone and an all - around raise for the Z Flip 5 , to the point where Samsung ’s folding is only really worth debate if you really want a folding telephone . And well , if a folding phone is what you need , why not also consider the biggest , baddest foldaway of all ?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
If you want a folding Samsung phone , why not go all out ? The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 may not be in the same price reach as the Z Flip 5 , but good lord , it ’s a stunning phone and an unbelievable slice of applied science . If a folding earpiece is what you need , then the Z Fold 5 has that in spades .
We ’ll start with the obvious difference : the displays . The Z Fold 5 is formed of two exhibit : an out covering fire display that mensurate 6.2 column inch and an privileged display that fold out to a monolithic 7.6 inches . It ’s a pad of paper in smartphone form , and a good tablet at that . Using a phone like the Z Fold 5 come in down to the activity at the meter . Browsing social media ? You ’ll probably use the covering display for that . Watching videos or reading a Word ? Then the large inner display is the one you need , and it ’s first-class for those special cases . The Z Fold 5 is the phone you ask if you ’ve ever wished your pad could close into a pocket .
Some elements are similar . They both have the same CPU , for one thing . Both have barrage lives that are … satisfactory one - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. involvement , even if they ’re not peculiarly peculiar . And obviously , both have Samsung ’s One UI software and the same update promise . The Z Fold 5 does have a mass more tv camera at its disposal , include an extra genus Lens in the posterior and an under - display camera ( UDC ) beneath the inner display . Putting the UDC to one side because it ’s not great , the Z Fold 5 is the stronger of the two when it make out to taking picture show , but largely because of its extra versatility .
Really , you ’ll buy the Z Fold 5 because you opt the physical body factor over that of the Z Flip 5 . Want a phone you may fit into even the most shallow pockets and miss the clamshell phone of yesteryear ? Then the Z Flip 5 should draw you in . But if you ’re a media - lover , gamer , or avid reader , then the Z Fold 5 ’s tablet - corresponding video display should be the one you hunger . But there ’s a catch here , and it ’s the Mary Leontyne Price . While the Z Flip 5 embark on from $ 999 , an already high price , the Z Fold 5 comes in at an eye - watering $ 1,799 . That ’s a pot of additional money and a great rationality why you should see at the other option on this tilt if you do n’t have a lot of money to spare .
