We test each phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our results in an initial review that is periodically updated in case of new software updates, or to compare them to new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
![The author holds the Z Flip 5 to take a photo.](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/a433890bd88bca0fd3e47bff0c01d93cf5fe294c/hub/2023/08/07/f57744cb-12e6-46c8-a0ca-09a3af980199/z-flip-5-review.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has much of the same camera hardware as the Z Flip 4. But the new chip brings some improvements when it comes to image processing.
Photography
Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, which is why we take photos and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We're trying out all the new camera modes, such as ProRes Log Video that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, or the Magic Editor photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 8 series.
Battery life
Battery tests are performed in different ways. We evaluate how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use and rate its performance during more focused sessions of video calling, media streaming, and gaming. We also run a video playback test, as a simple, repeatable measure of pure battery life, which is not always included in the initial review but sometimes added later in an update.
Performance measurement
We use benchmarking apps to measure each phone's performance, as well as our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. It is worth noting the appearance of the graphics and animations. Are they smooth? Or are they late or stuttering? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as how quickly the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
![A man holding an iPhone 14 Pro outdoors on a secluded hillside](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/77e355ceca2daabf0732ef48349f8386803f929c/hub/2022/11/14/a2efd1f1-cd67-4ecd-a243-cf75336ffc2c/p1001076.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Emergency SOS might be one of the most important features available on any phone this year.
We perform CPU-intensive tasks like editing photos, exporting videos, and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to warrant an upgrade from older models.
Read more: How we test phones