Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.
At $1,800, the Galaxy Z Fold is not cheap. So, you’ll want to protect your investment. Here are the best Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases you can buy right now to keep your new phone safe and sound!
Samsung is an obvious first place to go when looking for a case, and its eco-leather case is a great option if you want a case that's as conscious of ecological issues as you might be. Each eco-leather case is partially made from environmentally-friendly materials like corn, as well as recycled plastics. You might expect that mix to be abrasive, but it isn't, and the eco-leather case is soft and offers plenty of grip for your fingers. Coverage extends all the way around the device, though it's important to note there's no protection for the phone's spine, and that area will be exposed when the phone is closed.
While coverage is good, protection is a little lacking, and that's especially galling when you consider how expensive this case is. $80 is a lot, even amongst the higher end of premium cases. Still, it looks great, and cares about the planet.
Despite the new hinge allowing it to fold fully flat, there's no doubt the Z Fold 5 is a thick beast when folded — so why add to that with your case? Ringke's Slim case offers good protection without adding to your device's bulk, and crucially, also comes with a completely clear option, so you also don't need to hide away your phone's style to get protection. Especially important to anyone to ordered the gorgeous Icy Blue variant.
Of course, that slim profile comes with a downside, and it does mean protection is going to be lower than thicker cases. It also lacks protection for the Z Fold 5's spine, so expect that area to pick up scratches as your device ages. But even with that in mind, this case is still a great choice, helped a lot by its great price.
Clear cases can also be rugged, and there are few better at making dependable cases than UAG. The Plyo case is completely clear and has a slim profile, while also being tested to military standards for drop protection. A shock-absorbing TPU core combines with a hard polycarbonate (PC) backplate to offer a great blend of hard and soft protection, and UAG has also added corner airbags and an elevated edge to stop your device from resting on surfaces.
The downsides? There are a few. Spine protection is lacking, and the case is definitely on the more expensive side for a case. However, the protection standards speak for themselves, even if the spine is exposed. A great choice if you want a clear case with protection and don't mind spending a little more to get the combination together.
A lot of cases lack protection for the Z Fold 5's spine, and therefore, it's all-important hinge. That's not the case for Zagg's Bridgetown, which proudly wears its hinge protection as one of its defining features. Despite the full protection, it's slim and lightweight and doesn't skimp on drop protection, offering protection against drops of up to 10 feet.
That's a long way, and it's always good to know your phone is safe against some pretty high drops. There's a holder for your S Pen, and it has a built-in antimicrobial treatment as well. The style is minimalist and subtle, so it's perfect for everyone except those who like a bolder fashion statement as a case. It's certainly on the expensive side, but offers a lot for the money.
The Z Fold 5 takes up a lot of space in a pocket, and even quite a few bags, so you can be forgiven for looking for some items you might be able to leave behind. Your wallet or purse can be added to that list, thanks to the VRS Design Terra Guard Modern GO case. It might be a mouthful to mention, but this case has a backpack compartment that's large enough to fit two credit card-sized items, so you can take payment cards, travel tickets, and even some folded bills with you. Protection is good, thanks to a rugged design that puts a strong shell between your phone and the world, the elevated edges around the camera lenses and screens, and the additional protection for the spine.
It's on the more expensive side, though, especially if you want the optional S Pen compartment as well (which adds another $3 onto the price), and the style is incredibly bland. We think VRS were going for minimalist, but they definitely hit "boring" instead. But even with some very boring looks, this case is an excellent choice for a wallet case.
Spigen had better stop innovating on classic designs, because these names are getting a little bloated. The Tough Armor Pro P is Spigen's latest case for the Z Fold 5, and despite the long name, it's an excellent case. Spigen's usual strong protection is included, as you would probably expect, and it comes with spine protection included as well. That spine protection fulfills a triple role too, as it opens up into a compartment to store your S Pen, and acts as a kickstand as well when opened. That's a lot, and it's good, because the hinge protection does add a lot of additional bulk onto the back of the device, and Spigen has made the most of that.
It's not perfect by any means. The price is sky-high, and the rugged protection means some larger USB-C cables may have trouble fitting into the USB-C port for recharging. But those caveats are relatively small when compared to how good this case is at keeping your Galaxy Z Fold 5 safe.
Style is important, and you don't get much more stylish than Torro's premium leather wallet case. Each case is handcrafted in the U.K., using premium top-hide cow leather from the U.S. that's been minimally treated to better preserve the natural softness and luxury of the material. It looks and feels great, but its high points only begin there. There's room for three credit cards in the cover, and the cover folds into a stand, too, so you can use the entirety of that huge screen.
Speaking of the huge screen, though, there is a problem with Torro's case. Unlike other cases, which clip onto both sides of the Z Fold 5, this case only attaches to one side. While the cover keeps the other side safe when closed, it means half of your phone is exposed when open, especially when using the stand. When most of the point of a case is to keep a phone safe this is a glaring issue, but one you may be able to swallow for this luxurious case at a great price.
Caseology's Parallax is one of our favorite case choices simply because, well, it looks really good. While it's not obnoxious with its design, Caseology hates boring, so it's taken a personal mission to make its cases interesting by adding artistic twists using movement, textures, and lines. The Parallax has a 3D textured effect that looks like it pops out of the phone, and it looks incredible. But good looks aren't all it has going for it. A dual layer construction gives it protection against bumps, drops, and scratches alike, while the elevated edges keep it away from potentially harmful surfaces.
It's slim and lightweight, but that does mean it lacks protection for the spine and hinge, so be careful not to scratch that area when you're using it. Otherwise, though, this is an excellent case at a very tempting price.
Do you appreciate having a phone grip integrated into your case? Then this one from lisade should do the trick. It is made with a soft-touch silicone material, so it adds extra grip and the slim profile still offers durable protection.
The back features an integrated strap that you can slip your fingers into for a better grip on your device when using it, especially for phone calls.
This slim case offers everyday protection from scratches and scuffs. The colors that it comes in, which are black, dark blue, and dark green, are sleek, elegant, and professional looking. The case also has a hidden kickstand for hands-free viewing, an S Pen holder, and it even includes a replacement S Pen that matches the case itself. Overall, it's a minimalistic and affordable case that throws in some nice extras.
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient & Medieval History, which obviously makes him a shoo-in to write about technology for a living. He currently contributes to the Mobile section on Digital Trends, with a particular emphasis and expertise on exploring the weirder side of smartphones, from tiny rugged phones to massive gaming phones. You'll most often find him seeking out leaks and rumors on upcoming devices, and playing with a variety of new apps for both Android and iOS.
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, and her byline has appeared on sites like iMore, MakeUseOf, AppAdvice, Lifehacker, MacLife, and more. While her speciality has been all things Apple, especially the iPhone, she loves technology in general. Before the iPhone, she enjoyed seeing the latest innovations in the mobile space, from BlackBerry to the Palm Pre. Though she's been using an iPhone for the past 14 years, she is open to dabbling with Android and other mobile platforms, which is why she's here at Digital Trends.
Christine's other interests include mechanical keyboards (the superior typing experience), mobile photography, lots of coffee, food, Star Wars, a lot of animated series, and gaming. She's also based in Southern California, so she takes advantage of this by being a Disneyland passholder. If she isn't writing, chances are high that you'll find her at Disneyland with her husband and daughter.
You can find Christine on Mastodon.
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