The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the company’s newest foldable phone, and it’s one of the best on the market. Samsung says that both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 meet durability expectations. They have Armor Aluminum frames, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection for the cover screens and back panels, and an IPX8 rating for water resistance.

In addition, Samsung has added an extra layer to the phone’s foldable displays that is said to offer improved shock dispersion. Zack Nelson aka JerryRigEverything, a popular YouTuber who tears down phones, has taken the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 apart and shown the company’s new shock dispersion layer.

Taking apart a foldable phone is difficult, as shown in JerryRigEverything’s video (linked above). After heating up the corners of the inner displays and removing the plastic bumper, Nelson found it difficult to remove the display from the frame without damaging it. 

Regardless, Nelson was able to remove the screen, revealing Samsung’s new shock dispersion layer. It appears to be a piece of black foam with circular cutouts. It is hard to understand how this works or if it will actually improve the phone’s durability. We may have to wait for a drop-test video to see how effective it is.

Nelson admitted that it is now obvious why Samsung does not talk much about the shock dispersion layer because it is not very exciting. Moreover, the hinge is another more talked-about upgrade this year, and JerryRigEverything found that it has a lot of moving parts.

Samsung explained in a video that the hinge has a dual rail structure that helps to diffuse external impacts. This is evident from the sheer number of screws, springs, and other small components that make up the three-part hinge. One of the main complaints about Samsung’s previous foldable phones was the hinge gap. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have made progress on this front and the phone can finally lay flat when it folded.

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