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My Galaxy Z Flip 5 Impressions After Using It for a Day

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s new cover screen makes a big difference even after just a day with the new phone.

The new Galaxy Z Flip 5 feels like the biggest upgrade to Samsung’s flip phone in years. And it’s all because of the clamshell phone’s giant new cover screen.

It’s only my first day using the Galaxy Z Flip 5, but it already feels like a major departure from the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The Z Flip 5’s spacious cover screen makes the foldable more purposeful when it’s closed. The external screen is no longer just for quick checks of your calendar or the weather; you can actually interact with apps and reply to messages from it.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a step forward for the Z Flip line, though Samsung isn’t the first to explore new uses for the cover screen. Motorola did the same with its new Razr Plus, which just launched in June. It’s difficult to tell which flip phone is better after such a limited amount of time with the Z Flip 5. But right off the bat, I can see how Samsung’s and Motorola’s approaches differ. 

Here’s a closer look at my first impressions of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover screen

The new cover screen has a lot of potential

The larger cover screen, which Samsung calls the Flex Window, feels intuitive and useful so far. It’s primarily designed for showing widgets, but you can also access a select number of apps. This felt limiting at first, considering you can run just about any app on the Razr Plus’ external display.

But after a little time with the Z Flip 5, I’m starting to see why this makes sense. Samsung is going for a curated experience that relies more heavily on widgets and notifications rather than full apps. 

While I enjoy having the option to open any app on the Razr Plus’ front screen, apps can look squished on a display that small. This applies to the Z Flip as well, which is likely why Samsung limits which apps are supported. However, Samsung says you’ll be able to use Samsung’s Good Lock launcher to run additional apps on the Z Flip 5’s cover screen.

Even though the cover screen doesn’t support every app, you can still reply to notifications from unsupported apps. For example, tapping a notification for a direct message I received on Instagram gave me the option to type a response. 

So far, I’ve been using the cover screen for basic tasks like scrolling through notifications, setting alarms and reading WhatsApp messages. As was the case with the Razr Plus, I had to go into the settings menu to grant apps access to the cover screen. 

At the time of writing, I didn’t see Spotify listed as an option for the external display, which is a shame since I loved propping up the Razr Plus with its front screen facing outward to quickly cycle between tracks. Since I’m traveling in South Korea right now, I’d also appreciate the option to access Google Translate on the external display. 

I’m interested to see what Samsung does with the new Flex Window cover screen. Right now both Samsung and Motorola provide a straightforward experience that involves cycling through a carousel of widgets, checking notifications and launching apps. But both cover screens feel like a halfway point between a smartwatch and a phone. They’re glanceable and compact like a watch, but also large enough for tapping, swiping and typing comfortably. That makes me think there are probably new ways to optimize software, apps and even accessories for this front display in ways we haven’t seen yet, whether that comes from Samsung or a competitor like Motorola. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 closed

Samsung closes the gap

The other major aesthetic change to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is its new hinge. When shut, both the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 close completely, with no gap near the hinge. But according to Samsung, this is more than just a cosmetic upgrade; it should also improve durability since there are fewer moving parts. Of course, we won’t know how true that is until people get their hands on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for an extended period of time.

So far, I really enjoy the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s more compact look. By comparison, the Razr Plus feels thinner and lighter and it also has a gapless hinge, so Samsung isn’t first in this regard. But there’s something about Samsung’s phone that feels a bit sturdier. Sometimes I have to give the top half of the Razr Plus a little extra push when opening it to get it to unfold completely. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 opens up straight without any extra effort. But it’s also important to keep in mind that I’ve had the new Z Flip for only a day. I used the Razr Plus over a couple of weeks, so there’s more wear and tear on it.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s main screen still has a crease, and it’s just as noticeable as the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. During my time in Seoul, I’ve been observing which phones are popular. And I see people using many more Z Flips compared with back home in New York. One way I’m able to tell whether a passerby is using a Galaxy Z Flip — even from a distance — is to see if the screen has a crease. It’s clearly a difficult challenge for any company making a phone with a folding screen, but I hope Samsung solves it in the near future.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 gets the same chip as the Galaxy S23 

Both the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 both run on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor as the Galaxy S23 series. I look forward to seeing how this impacts battery life and camera performance, since I noticed the Galaxy S23 series improve in both those areas.

My full review will have more tests and comparisons against the Galaxy Z Flip 4 to see how much of a difference the new chip makes. But so far, my battery has dipped from full down to 80% after roughly five and a half hours of use, which seems promising considering I had the adaptive brightness and high refresh rate settings turned on.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide cameras like the Z Flip 4, but Samsung added a new coating to help reduce lens flare. I haven’t had time to compare the Z Flip 5 against other phones, but here are some of my favorite photos taken in Seoul so far.

A photo from inside the Bongeunsa Temple grounds in Seoul near the Coex Center taken on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
A photo from inside the Bongeunsa Temple grounds in Seoul near the Coex Center taken on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
A photo from inside the Bongeunsa Temple grounds in Seoul near the Coex Center taken on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
A photo of the Starfield Library in the Coex Center's Starfield Mall.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 feels like a step in the right direction for Samsung’s flip phone. I’m not sure if gives people who aren’t already interested in flip phones a reason to buy one, but it’s on the right track.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs vs. Motorola Razr Plus, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Motorola Razr 2023

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Motorola Razr Plus Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G Motorola Razr 2023
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness Cover: 3.4-inch AMOLED (728 x 720 pixels); internal: 6.7-inch AMOLED (2,640 x 1,080 pixels), 1-120Hz Cover: 3.6-inch OLED (1,066 x 1,056 pixels); internal: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080) Cover: 1.9-inch AMOLED (512 x 260 pixels); internal: 6.7-inch (2,640 x 1,080 pixels) Cover: 1.5-inch, OLED (194 x 368 pixels); internal: 6.9-inch (2,640 pixels x 1,080)
Pixel density Cover: 306 ppi, Internal: 425 ppi Cover: 413 ppi, internal: 413ppi Cover: 302 ppi, internal: 425 ppi Cover: 282 ppi, internal: 413 ppi
Dimensions (inches) Open: 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 in; closed: 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 in Open: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.28 in; closed: 2.91 x 3.48 x 0.59 in Open: 2.83 x 3.3 x 0.67 in; closed: 2.83 x 6.5 x 0.27 in; hinge: 0.59 in (sagging) Open: 2.91 x 6.73 x 0.29 in; closed: 2.91 x 3.47 x 0.62 in
Dimensions (millimeters) Open: 71.88 x 165.1 x 6.89 mm; closed: 71.88 x 85.09 x 14.99 mm Open: 73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99 mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1 mm Open: 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9 mm; closed: 71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1 mm; hinge: 15.9 mm (sagging); Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35 mm; closed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8 mm
Weight (grams, ounces) 187 g (6.6 oz) 189 g (6.64 oz) 187 g (6.59 oz) 189 g (6.65 oz)
Mobile software Android 13 Android 13 Android 12/13 Android 13
Camera 12-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) 12-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) 64-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera 10-megapixel 32-megapixel 10-megapixel 32-megapixel
Video capture TBD 4K 4K 4K
Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
RAM/storage 8GB + 256GB/512GB 8GB + 256GB 8GB+ 128GB/256GB/512GB 8GB + 128GB
Expandable storage None None None None
Battery 3,700 mAh (dual-battery) 3,800 mAh 3,700 mAh 4,200 mAh
Fingerprint sensor Side Side Side Side
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack None None None None
Special features 5G-enabled, IPX8 water resistance, 25W wired charging, wireless charging, wireless power share, dual SIM IP52, 5G-enabled, foldable display, 30W wired charging, wireless charging IPX8, 5G enabled, foldable display, wireless charging, 25W fast charging IP52, 5G-enabled, foldable display, 30W wired charging, 5W wireless charging
US price off-contract $1,000 $1,000 $999 TBA
UK price £1,049 Converts to £780 £999 TBA
Australia price AU$1,649 Converts to AU$1,475 AU$1,499 TBA

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Apple, I’m (Sky) Blue About Your iPhone 17 Air Color

Commentary: The rumored new hue of the iPhone 17 Air is more sky blah than sky blue.

I can’t help but feel blue about the latest rumor that Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 17 Air will take flight in a subtle, light-hued color called sky blue.

Sky blue isn’t a new color for Apple. It’s the featured shade of the current M4 MacBook Air, a shimmer of cerulean so subtle as to almost be missed. It’s silver left too close to an aquarium; silver that secretly likes to think it’s blue but doesn’t want everyone else to notice.

Do Apple employees get to go outside and see a real blue sky? It’s actually vivid, you can check for yourself. Perhaps the muted sky blue color reflects a Bay Area late winter/early spring frequent layer of clouds like we typically see here in Seattle.

«Who cares?» you might find yourself saying. «Everyone gets a case anyway.» I hear you and everyone else who’s told me that. But design-focused Apple is as obsessive about colors as they are about making their devices thinner. And I wonder if their heads are in the clouds about which hues adorn their pro products.

Making the case for a caseless color iPhone

I’m more invested in this conversation than most — I’m one of those freaks who doesn’t wrap my phone in a case. I find cases bulky and superfluous, and I like to be able to see Apple’s design work. Also, true story, I’ve broken my iPhone screen only twice: First when it was in a «bumper» that Apple sent free in response to the iPhone 4 you’re-holding-it-wrong Antennagate fiasco, and second when trying to take long exposure starry night photos using what I didn’t realize was a broken tripod mount. My one-week-old iPhone 13 Pro slipped sideways and landed screen-first on a pointy rock. A case wouldn’t have saved it.

My current model is an iPhone 16 Pro in black titanium — which I know seems like avoiding color entirely — but previously I’ve gone for colors like blue titanium and deep purple. I wanted to like deep purple the most but it came across as, in the words of Patrick Holland in his iPhone 14 Pro review, «a drab shade of gray or like Grimace purple,» depending on the light.

Pros can be bold, too

Maybe the issue is too many soft blues. Since the iPhone Pro age began with the iPhone 11 Pro, we’ve seen variations like blue titanium (iPhone 15 Pro), sierra blue (iPhone 13 Pro) and pacific blue (iPhone 12 Pro).

Pacific blue is the boldest of the bunch, if by bold you mean dark enough to discern from silver, but it’s also close enough to that year’s graphite color that seeing blue depends on the surrounding lighting. By comparison, the blue (just «blue») color of the iPhone 12 was unmistakably bright blue.

In fact, the non-Pro lines have embraced vibrant colors. It’s as if Apple is equating «pro» with «sophisticated,» as in «A real pro would never brandish something this garish.» I see this in the camera world all the time: If it’s not all-black, it’s not a «serious» camera.

And yet I know lots of pros who are not sophisticated — proudly so. People choose colors to express themselves, so forcing that idea of professionalism through color feels needlessly restrictive. A bright pink iPhone 16 might make you smile every time you pick it up but then frown because it doesn’t have a telephoto camera.

Color is also important because it can sway a purchase decision. «I would buy a sky blue iPhone yesterday,» my colleague Gael Cooper texted after the first rumor popped online. When each new generation of iPhones arrive, less technically different than the one before, a color you fall in love with can push you into trading in your perfectly-capable model for a new one.

And lest you think Apple should just stick with black and white for its professional phones: Do you mean black, jet black, space black, midnight black, black titanium, graphite or space gray? At least the lighter end of the spectrum has stuck to just white, white titanium and silver over the years.

Apple never got ahead by being beige

I’m sure Apple has reams of studies and customer feedback that support which colors make it to production each year. Like I said, Apple’s designers are obsessive (in a good way). And I must remind myself that a sky blue iPhone 17 Air is a rumored color on a rumored product so all the usual caveats apply.

But we’re talking about Apple here. The scrappy startup that spent more than any other company on business cards at the time because each one included the old six-color Apple logo. The company that not only shaped the first iMac like a tipped-over gumdrop, that not only made the case partially see-through but then made that cover brilliant Bondi blue.

Embrace the iPhone colors, Apple.

If that makes you nervous, don’t worry: Most people will put a case on it anyway.

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Astronomers Say There’s an Increased Possibility of Life on This Distant Planet

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers are working to confirm potential evidence of life on a distant exoplanet dubbed K2-18b.

Astronomers are nearing a statistically significant finding that could confirm the potential signs of life detected on the distant exoplanet K2-18b are no accident.

The team of astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, used data from the James Webb Space Telescope (which has only been in use since the end of 2021) to detect chemical traces of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), which they say can only be produced by life such as phytoplankton in the sea. 

According to the university, «the results are the strongest evidence yet that life may exist on a planet outside our solar system.»

The findings were published this week in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and point to the possibility of an ocean on this planet’s surface, which scientists have been hoping to discover for years. In the abstract for the paper, the team says, «The possibility of hycean worlds, with planet-wide oceans and H2-rich atmospheres, significantly expands and accelerates the search for habitable environments elsewhere.»

Not everyone agrees, however, that what the team found proves there’s life on the exoplanet.

Science writer and OpenMind Magazine founder Corey S. Powell posted about the findings on Bluesky, writing, «The potential discovery of alien life is so enticing that it drags even reputable outlets into running naive or outright misleading stories.» He added, «Here we go again with planet K2-18b.Um….there’s strong evidence of non-biological sources of the molecule DMS.»

K2-18b is 124 light-years away and much larger than Earth (more than eight times our mass), but smaller than Neptune. The search for signs of even basic life on a planet like this increases the chances that there are more planets like Earth that may be inhabitable, with temperatures and atmospheres that could sustain human-like lifeforms. The team behind the paper hopes that more study with the James Webb Space Telescope will help confirm their initial findings.

More research to do on finding life on K2-18b

The exoplanet K2-18b is not the only place where scientists are exploring the possibility of life, and this research is still an early step in the process, said Christopher Glein, a geochemist, planetary researcher and lead scientist at San Antonio’s Southwest Research Institute. Excitement over the significance of the research, he said, should be tempered.

«We need to be careful here,» Glein said. «It appears that there is something in the data that can’t be explained, and DMS/DMDS can provide an explanation. But this detection is stretching the limits of JWST’s capabilities.»

Glein added, «Further work is needed to test whether these molecules are actually present. We also need complementary research assessing the abiotic background on K2-18b and similar planets. That is, the chemistry that can occur in the absence of life in this potentially exotic environment. We might be seeing evidence of some cool chemistry rather than life.»

The TRAPPIST-1 planets, he said, are being researched as potentially habitable, as is LHS 1140b, which he said «is another astrobiologically significant exoplanet, which might be a massive ocean world.»

As for K2-18b, Glein said many more tests need to be performed before there’s consensus on life existing on it.

«Finding evidence of life is like prosecuting a case in the courtroom,» Glein said. «Multiple independent lines of evidence are needed to convince the jury, in this case the worldwide scientific community.» He added, «If this finding holds up, then that’s Step 1.»

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