Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 could be Samsung's first foldable phones to offer dust resistance
Foldable phones continue to get better but they are not as durable as conventional phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 are rated IPX8, meaning they are water resistant in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 meter for up to 30 minutes but they have not been certified for protection against dust. Their hinges have brushes that keep dust out but there is no guarantee that foreign substances won't get inside. This may change with the Fold 5 and Flip 5.
According to Twitter leaker @chunvn8888 who has a mixed track record, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 will be rated IP58 against water and dust. High-end slab phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra come with a rating of IP68, so even though Samsung's next bendable phones won't offer the same kind of dust protection as conventional phones, they will come pretty close and given the complicated design of foldable phones and the added costs associated with IP rating certifications, even IP58 is a big deal.
As noted by 9to5Google, this would make the Fold 5 and Flip 5 more resistant to water and dust than almost all other foldable phones.
Samsung's forthcoming foldable phones are also rumored to have a new hinge design that would allow them to fold flat. The Fold 5 is expected to be largely the same as its predecessor but the Flip 5 could have a larger cover display.
The devices will reportedly be lighter than the current generation and will be powered by the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that fuels the Galaxy S23 series.
Samsung is expected to reveal the phones a little earlier this year. Last year's iterations were unveiled on August 10 but this year's Unpacked event will seemingly take place on July 26 and that too in South Korea, so this would be the first time that a Samsung foldable is launched in the company's home country.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: