TheSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 5is a multitasking powerhouse of a phone, packing a 7.6-inch foldable main display with advanced software tools courtesy of One UI. WhileOneUI has brilliant featuresfor every Galaxy phone, the Z Fold 5 has new features that make it Samsung’s best foldable.
Whether you recently picked up a Z Fold 5 or are considering it for your next foldable, we collected the features that make it one of the best foldables on the market.
Multi window makes it easy to multitask
Foldables are often touted as productivity devices first, and the Z Fold 5’s Multi Window feature makes the most of the phone’s form factor. With Multi window, you can open up to five apps at once and store a selection of shortcuts to recent apps in a desktop-like taskbar for easy access.
You can open apps in split screen or pop-up view with Multi window. Opening an app in the split screen view splits your screen in half between apps. The pop-up view turns the app into a moveable window that you can rearrange to your liking. You can activate these modes by dragging apps to the left or right of your screen for the split-screen view or to the center for the pop-up view.
you may use Multi window without tweaking it, but you can customize it through the Settings app to activate some useful features. These include:
you may also toggle theMulti window for all appsswitch to force apps that aren’t designed for split-screen or pop-up view to use these.
Flex Mode makes controlling video calls and media a breeze
Flex Mode, introduced on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, kicks into action when you bend your Galaxy Z Fold 5’s display in on itself. Apps shift their controls to the bottom half, while the app stays on the top. It isn’t compatible with every app (and it can’t be forced on them like Multi-window), but it’s a handy tool when you’re tired of holding your phone.
The bottom screen also turns into a virtual trackpad with Flex Mode. It’s finicky but lets you move a cursor around the top screen like a laptop. You’ll find Flex Mode most useful for video calls and media apps like Netflix. You can prop up the phone and interact with the app’s controls without interfering with your conversation or video.
Pro mode helps you take better photos
The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s camera can’t compete with thebest camera phones, but Pro mode can help you mitigate its shortcomings whether taking regular, selfie, or telephoto shots. Pro mode is under theMoretab in the Camera app’s settings. Activating it displays settings for white balance, focus, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure on your viewfinder.
These settings can seem obscure if you’ve never handled a DSLR camera, so explore our guide onmanual camera settingsto understand what your Z Fold 5 can do.
The 120Hz refresh rate is perfect for gaming
Many Android phones offer high refresh rates, but the Z Fold 5’s 120Hz main screen is particularly special considering how much screen real estate you have to work with. The most significant application here is gaming. The Z Fold 5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is more than capable of handling demanding Android games, so setting that refresh rate to 120Hz means you can enjoy most games at a rock-solid 120fps.
you’re able to’t lock your Z Fold 5’s cover screen or main screen to 120Hz, but activatingAdaptivein the Display settings' Motion smoothness screen forces it as high as possible. Pair it with Androidgames that support high frameratesto make the most of the Z Fold 5’s dynamic AMOLED screen.
Forcing a higher refresh rate reduces the phone’s battery life.
Good Lock opens the door to a vast array of customization options
Good Lock isn’t a Galaxy Z Fold 5 exclusive app. It’spacked with fantastic featuresfor all Samsung phones. It’s a must-download for all Samsung owners, but there are a few unique modules for Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 owners.
The Good Lock app is composed of individual modules, and a few of these are designed to improve your Samsung foldable experience. There’s a lot to choose from, but here are a few of our favorites.
One Hand Operation Plus
This module makes it possible to use the Fold 5 unfolded with one hand. It creates gesture controls on the sides of your screen and an optional trackpad and mouse that you can control with your thumb. You can customize how this tool appears on your screen, including trackpad size, app exceptions, and gesture control locations.
While the S Pen stylus isn’t included with the Fold 5, it’s a great companion as you have plenty of screen real estate to write on. Pentastic adds considerable functionality to the S Pen and is a must-download if you write a lot on your Fold 5.
There’s a lot to love about the Z Fold 5
While Samsung got a headstart on modern foldable phones, there is a lot of competition in the folding phone market. If you aren’t sold on the Z Fold 5’s unique features, consider one of the otherbest Android foldables, like the OnePlus Open. Alternatively, if you’re hooked on OneUI, consider the cheaper but no less powerfulSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
