Galaxy Z Flip 5: Samsung failed four times but finally making the "perfect" folding phone?

Anyway… Although, technically, Motorola’s Razr 2023 was the first phone with an all-screen top part of the back to leak out, this story focuses on the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is shaping up as the more anticipated offering, thanks to Samsung’s brand recognition. For the record, according to a recent leak, the Motorola Razr 2023 is expected to launch June 1, or about two months earlier than the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

But here’s why the Galaxy Z Flip 5 might soon become a very real alternative to a “normal” big phone like the Galaxy S23 Ultra… (you guessed it - it has a lot to do with the outer display (which I totally invented).

Galaxy Z Flip 5 coming to fix pretty much everything that’s wrong with the Z Fold 4? Now we're talking, Samsung!

The original Galaxy Z Flip was a groundbreaking device when it first launched in early 2022. Samsung took what was considered a “dream” and made it a reality - a normal phone that folds in half, or in other words, a modern flip phone.

That being said, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the original Galaxy Z Flip was a first-gen device that Samsung rushed out the door to make a statement (nothing wrong with that, I guess; although if you ask me, I’m not a big fan of half-baked devices). Funny enough, back then, Motorola also managed to beat Samsung to the punch, releasing the first foldable Razr in 2019.

• At $1,400, the original Galaxy Z Flip was super-expensive
• Battery life was lacklustre due to how inefficient Qualcomm’s 2020 chips were
• It didn’t bring a flagship-grade camera system
• It had a main display that was way too easy to scratch/damage

But another thing that stood out about Samsung’s first Galaxy Z Flip was the tiny display on the back of the device. Smaller than a fitness tracker screen, the rear display of the Flip was barely useful enough to justify its existence - it let you take a peek at your time, date, and control your music.

Fast forward to today, the latest Galaxy Z Flip 4 brings a far larger outer display. Good. However, despite the (literally) massive upgrade compared to the original, you could still argue that the Flip 4’s outer screen is far too small.

• For starters, the shape of the Fold 4’s outer display seems inappropriate; being positioned horizontally (if you’re holding the phone straight), the Galaxy Z Fold 4 doesn’t really let you frame your selfies/TikToks when using the rear cameras

• Of course, despite being larger, the outer screen of the Flip 4 is still… small; size matters here

• Last but not least, hardware doesn’t tell the full picture; the way the outer display of a foldable phone is utilized will depend on software - in other words, what the phone-maker lets you do and not do with that display

Oppo Find N2 Flip is what the Galaxy Z Flip 4 should’ve been (but it still has one huge problem)

So, speaking of outer displays and how well they are being utilized, there’s no way to skip bringing up the current industry standard - the Oppo Find N2 Flip and its huge outer screen, which apart from being far larger than the one in Samsung’s Flip, is also the right orientation.

The outer screen on the Oppo Find N2 Flip is almost as big as the main (and only) screen on the original iPhone from 2007; so it’s like having a mini iPhone mini attached to the back of your phone

However, even big outer screens on flip phones matter only when utilized properly. As you might know, as of now, Oppo doesn’t allow users to use the outer display of the Oppo Find N2 Flip simply as a smaller version of the main display, with the full functionality.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that this is a missed opportunity to give those who don’t want to use big displays all the time but still want to have full control of their device, instead a bunch of pre-assigned widgets. Oppo, come on?

Massive Galaxy Z Flip 5 outer display has the potential to change the way you use your phone; less noticeable crease and gap also coming

And that’s where the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (and Motorola Razr 2023) come into the picture. Basically, Samsung is late to the “big outer display game” but the company still has a chance to do it better/right, which is what really counts.

Imagine being able to use your large 6.8-inch screen at home for enjoying content, but also being able to fold your phone in half, walk out the door, and have the option to use your phone as a… mini version of it.

I’ve talked about it before, but the sheer convenience of not having to deal with a heavy phone, with a massive display which can barely be operated with one hand, is why I still choose to use an iPhone 13 mini as my primary device. And as mentioned above, Samsung (and Motorola) could finally give people like me the best of both worlds.

That’s, of course, if Samsung doesn’t go down the Oppo way and restricts what you can do with the all-screen back of the Flip 5, which would be a missed… Opportinuty. No need for applause.

A phone with the display size of the Galaxy S23 Ultra and that of an extra-mini iPhone? That might be… one of my dream form-factors, Samsung. Well, one of them.

Anyway, of course, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 isn’t simply expected to bring a revamped outer screen. We also expect:

• Greater performance and efficiency (longer battery life)
• An improved camera system (being able to better utilize the outer display as a viewfinder would make using your rear camera a joy)
• A less visible display crease (thanks to a new waterdrop hinge) and no or little-to-no gap when the phone is closed shut (bear in mind, we rely on leaks and rumors, so nothing is confirmed yet)
• The same $999 price, which could be considered a discount, given that prices generally going up right now