Rumor mill: You know things aren't looking good for a product when company employees criticize it ahead of release. But such are the rumors surrounding the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which Samsung workers reportedly say has a "boring" design that is almost indistinguishable from the current Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are expected to launch in just over a month. In the case of the former, the rumor, which comes from prolific leaker Ice Universe, is that Samsung employees have been complaining about a design so similar to its predecessor that "it can't even be called the Galaxy Z Fold 4s."

"It can't even be called the Galaxy Z Fold4s"

– ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) June 13, 2023

We're used to seeing new phones that bear a striking resemblance to the previous-generation models, of course. But there will be some, if subtle, changes in the Z Fold 5's look, including the use of a droplet-style hinge that allows the center of the display to form a teardrop shape when closed. Not only should this enable the display to be folded completely flat, as opposed to having a slight gap like the Z Fold 4, but it also means a reduction in the crease visibility when the display is fully opened.

The center crease is probably the worst element of the Z Fold 4, which we loved apart from that issue and the high price. Reducing its visibility would definitely make the device more appealing, but Ice Universe believes that it will only be reduced by around 15%, which isn't a lot and means it will still be more prominent than those on other foldables – though it's worth noting that some say the crease in the Pixel Fold is even more pronounced than the one in the Z Fold 4.

Barring the lack of design changes, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to come with plenty of improvements. An IP5x dust rating is predicted, making it the first foldable to hold this certification, and previous leaks point to new camera sensors, a brighter screen, and, naturally, a more powerful SoC.