Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Everything you need to know

Samsung's foldable remix of the classic flip-phone is back, with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 now available in Australia.

Here's everything Australians need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. 

• Z Flip 5 deals: Find the best price on the Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Z Flip 5 buying guide: Find out which retailers are offering the Z Flip 5

In 2023, Samsung has done managed to do us a solid and a dirty in one fell swoop. Sure, the prices haven't gone up for the models that are available, but Samsung has also axed the cheaper 128GB Galaxy Z Flip 5 model, essentially raising the minimum price of the flippable phone. 

Forgetting that tidbit, it's still far more affordable than the original Z Flip, which launched at $2,199 in Australia. 

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are all offering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 on 24 or 36-month plan. You can find those plans below.

If you want to purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 5 on a plan, Vodafone will cut $200 off the total cost of the handset if you stay connected for the full 24 or 36 months. Vodafone also offers a $300 trade-in bonus on your old devices if you sign up before the 14th of September 2023. 

Here's a breakdown of Vodafone's 36-month and 24-month Galaxy Z Flip 5 plans for the 512GB variant.

If you order the Galaxy Z Flip 4 through Optus, you'll get a bonus Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm) if you stick the plan out for its entire duration. 

Check out the selection of 36 and 24-month Galaxy Z Flip 5 plans on offer from Optus.

Like Vodafone, Telstra is also offering more bang for your trade-in when you purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Depending on the age, condition and model of the handset you trade in, you can score up to $1300 in bonus credit to put towards your Z Flip 5 purchase. 

Here's a breakdown of Telstra's 24 and 36-month plans for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 512GB. 

More evolution than revolution, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 still offers a smaller 3.4-inch cover display when folded and a larger 6.7-inch one when it's not.

However, where the design of the Z Flip 4 kept visual changes to a minimum, the follow-up is tinkering with the formula in more noticeable ways. Specifically, the Z Flip 5 has overhauled the design of the cover display to be more in-line with recent efforts by rivals like OPPO and Motorola.

The new cover display is larger, making the folded Galaxy Z Flip 5 a better fit for more apps than previous models have been.

In short, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has an overall form-factor that's almost identical to the Z Flip 4, but it offers enhanced utility when folded thanks to a bigger cover display.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 runs on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor found inside the Galaxy S23 plus 8GB of RAM.

Samsung has ditched the 128GB storage model this year, but hasn't included a 1TB option, unfortunately. We're not sorry to see the 128GB model go, but that does drive the minimum price for a Galaxy Z Flip phone up from $1,499 to $1,649 (256GB.)

As expected, Samsung also hasn't changed its mind when it comes to MicroSD storage expansion in it's flagship phones. 

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is powered by a 3,700mAh battery on par with the one found in the previous model. That's hardly something to celebrate, but it's not likely to be a step backward either.

In his review of last year's Galaxy Z Flip 4, Fergus Halliday found that "even with the bells and whistles enabled, I'd be able to comfortably make it to the end of a long day with the Z Flip 4." Not a bad innings, though the added screen real estate on the cover display could contribute to a faster battery drain. Time (and reviews) will tell.

In short, there's not much to write home about when it comes to the Z Flip 5's camera upgrades. It still features a dual-lens setup on the back that boils down to a 12MP main lens an a 12MP ultrawide lens. Like the Z Flip 4, there is also be a 10MP selfie camera on the inside of the device.

All things considered, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is pretty much on par with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 when it comes to smartphone snaps. If you're more serious about photography and don't mind giving up a foldable screen to get better optics you're probably going to be better served by the likes of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

Yes, every model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (and Z Fold 5) are 5G-capable. Long gone are the days of deciphering which flagship Samsung handsets can connect to the next-gen network. 

Still, Samsung's 5G connectivity is only one part of the arrangement, you still need a SIM provider that offers 5G, and enough 5G coverage in your area. 

To see where is 5G available in Australia, use the 5G coverage map below.

Click the big orange button, select your desired network provider from the dropdown (e.g. Telstra, Optus or Vodafone) and then use the (+) and (-) icons in the top-left corner of the map to navigate to your area.

There were a lot of devices revealed at the Galaxy Unpacked event this month. In addition to the Z Flip 5, there was also its more foldable counterpart, the Z Fold 5, and new Galaxy tablets and Galaxy smartwatches too. Thankfully, Samsung kept things simple this year. Each device, including the Z Flip 5, released on the 18th of August 2023 in Australia.