Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Phantom Black 256GB

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a foldable flagship that's still worth buying in 2025, especially refurbished. Its 7.6-inch inner display is excellent for multitasking and media, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 keeps things running smoothly. Battery life and camera quality are the main trade-offs, but at prices as low as $460, it's one of the cheapest ways into a big-screen foldable.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside the Z Fold 5 is still a very capable chip. It's not the newest silicon on the block, but in our database it lands in the 86th percentile for performance among foldables, which translates to one of the better performers you can get without jumping to the latest generation. Day-to-day stuff is smooth. App switching, split-screen multitasking, and even heavier tasks like video editing or gaming all hold up fine. The 12GB of RAM helps a lot when you've got three apps open on that big inner screen.

Benchmarks put this phone well above average for its category. It's not going to beat a 2025 flagship with a newer chip in raw numbers, but the gap is smaller than you'd think in real-world use. The UFS 4.0 storage is fast, so app launches and file transfers feel snappy. The 120Hz refresh rate on both displays keeps everything feeling fluid. For a phone that's now a generation old, the performance is honestly a non-issue for most people.

Compared to the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025, the Z Fold 5 takes a completely different approach. The Razr is a flip phone that folds down into something pocketable, while the Z Fold 5 opens up into a mini tablet. If you want a big screen for productivity and media, the Fold wins. If you want something compact and stylish, the Razr is the better call. The Razr also has a newer chip and likely better battery life relative to its smaller screen.

Against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Z Fold 5 loses on camera quality and battery life, but wins on sheer screen real estate. The Pixel's camera is in a different league, and the iPhone's battery will outlast the Fold by a wide margin. But neither of those phones can unfold into a 7.6-inch display. The OnePlus 13 is a closer performance match and has much faster charging, but again, no foldable screen. If you're choosing between these, it really comes down to whether the folding form factor matters more to you than camera and battery.

Value is where the Z Fold 5 gets interesting. New, this phone was expensive. Refurbished, it's a different story. We're seeing prices ranging from $460 to $1,334 across five listings on Newegg, which is a massive spread. The cheapest options are Grade B and B+ units, while Grade A and A+ units command more. If you're okay with a few cosmetic imperfections, the lower end of that range is a genuinely good deal for a foldable with this feature set. The best deal we're seeing is the $460 Grade B unit, though you'll want to check the condition notes carefully. For context, a new flagship slab phone like the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Pixel 10 Pro XL will run you well over $1,000, and neither of those folds into a tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a foldable flagship that sits in a weird spot in 2025. It's not the newest foldable anymore, but it's still one of the most polished big-screen folding phones you can buy, especially now that refurbished units are flooding the market at prices way below what this thing launched at. We're talking a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The hinge is flatter, the gap is gone, and it's IPX8 water resistant, which is still rare in the foldable world.

People searching for this phone usually want to know if a foldable is actually worth it, or if the Z Fold 5 is still good in 2025. The short answer: yes, if you want a tablet that folds into a phone. The 7.6-inch inner display is the whole point here. It's great for reading, multitasking with split-screen apps, watching video, and light gaming. The cover display is still narrow at 6.2 inches, which some people love for one-handed use and others find cramped for typing.

At the refurbished prices we're seeing, this is one of the cheapest ways into a big-screen foldable. But it's not a no-brainer. Battery life is the weakest link, and the camera system, while solid, isn't quite at the level of a dedicated flagship slab phone like the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Skip the Z Fold 5 if battery life is a dealbreaker for you. The 4400mAh battery is small for a phone with two screens, and 25W charging is slow by 2025 standards. Heavy users who stream video or game on that big inner display will be reaching for a charger by late afternoon. Camera enthusiasts should also look elsewhere. The camera system is good, but the Pixel 10 Pro XL or iPhone 16 Pro Max will give you noticeably better photos. And if you don't actually need a foldable screen, a traditional flagship slab phone will give you better battery, better cameras, and a lighter build for the same or less money. The OnePlus 13 is a strong alternative if you want fast charging and top-tier performance without the folding gimmick.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5? If you want a big-screen foldable and you're shopping refurbished, yes, this is one of the best values out there. The inner display is the star, and it's still one of the best foldable screens you can get. Performance is strong, the build is solid, and IPX8 water resistance gives you peace of mind that most foldables don't.

But if battery life is a priority, look elsewhere. The 4400mAh cell is small for a phone with two screens, and our data shows battery life is the weakest area here, landing in the 73rd percentile. That's not terrible, but it's not great either. And if you're a camera person, the Z Fold 5's camera system is good but not best-in-class. For everyone else, especially at refurbished prices, this is a lot of phone for the money.