Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 leak just ‘confirmed’ IPX8 waterproof design and new hinge

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This rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 design upgrade could see it leapfrog the competition

galaxy z flip 4 in hand
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

We expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 to come later this year and already it seems that it could be a noticeable upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. Now that it’s tipped to get a design gamechanger that could see it leapfrog the competition.

According to prominent leaker Ice Universe, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is set to adopt the same waterdrop hinge that we've seen rumored for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. These hinges not only replace the existing ones from past generations but also provide a significant upgrade. Their shape allows the phone to withstand more folding and opening than its predecessors, but also significantly decreases the visibility of the crease in the phone’s foldable screen. 

This isn’t the first time we had heard rumors of this waterdrop hinge — which Samsung refers to internally as a “dumbbell” hinge. Leaker Ross Young had been claiming since last December that Samsung would announce a new hinge for the Z Flip 5. Now with Ice Universe providing “confirmation” it seems highly likely that Samsung is bringing this new hinge to both of its foldable phones. 

Samsung’s waterdrop hinge to remain waterproof

Of course, Samsung isn’t the only one to use a waterdrop hinge. The Oppo Find N2 notably uses its own waterdrop hinge design and it's one of the ways Oppo’s foldable phone is superior to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Image of Samsung's patented water drop hinge design

(Image credit: Naver)

But here’s the catch — Oppo’s design leaves the phone less waterproof than many of the best phones. The Find N2 is only rated at IPX4, meaning it is only resistant to water splashes. Samsung’s foldables are currently the only ones on the market that have the coveted IPX8 rating, which means the phone can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.

Based on Ice Universe’s tweet, it looks like Samsung has found a way to adopt the superior waterdrop hinge design of its competitors, without letting in any additional water. If that proves to be the case, Samsung will have a serious advantage over the competition — likely keeping it atop our list of the best foldable phones. Especially if Samsung comes through on the rumored camera upgrades for its next generation of foldables. 

Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan
Senior Streaming Writer

Malcolm McMillan is a senior writer for Tom's Guide, covering all the latest in streaming TV shows and movies. That means news, analysis, recommendations, reviews and more for just about anything you can watch, including sports! If it can be seen on a screen, he can write about it. Previously, Malcolm had been a staff writer for Tom's Guide for over a year, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), A/V tech and VR headsets.

Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.