Does the Galaxy Z Flip 5 Need a Screen Protector? | Yes — Keep the Factory Film

Yes — Samsung builds the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s foldable display with a factory protection film already applied, and that film should stay on for the life of the screen.

Peel it off and you’re not removing a cheap extra — you’re pulling at a layer Samsung engineered into the panel itself. The film sits on the 6.7-inch main display as part of its construction. The question isn’t whether you need protection — it’s how to leave the right protection alone and what to do when it wears out.

Below: why the factory film isn’t a normal screen protector, Samsung’s exact replacement procedure, what happens with the wrong protector, and when a third-party film makes sense.

Why the Factory Film Isn’t a Screen Protector

The film is part of the display assembly, not an accessory you can swap for tempered glass. Samsung treats it as a component of the foldable panel — the layer the phone shipped with — and its support documentation handles this as a display protection film replacement, not a screen protector upgrade. The kit exists because the film wears out, not so you can experiment.

That distinction matters. A rigid glass protector for a flat phone can’t bend with the hinge, can’t follow the foldable panel’s curve, and can interfere with touch response or camera cutouts if installed wrong. The main display measures 6.7 inches on the full rectangle (6.6 inches with rounded corners), runs Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 2640 × 1080, and refreshes up to 120 Hz. None of that hardware tolerates a stiff glass sheet on top.

How To Replace a Worn Galaxy Z Flip 5 Screen Protector

Samsung’s replacement film kit — two films, an applicator, a microfiber cloth, dust removers, a squeegee, and an installation guide — follows a precise sequence. The second film gives you another attempt if the first install goes wrong.

1. Unfold the phone and lay it main-screen-down on a soft, flat, non-slip surface.
2. Set the phone horizontally with the cover screen on the left.
3. Peel the adhesive-protection stickers off the applicator.
4. Line the applicator up with the lower-left corner near the cameras, then rotate until flush.
5. Wipe the display thoroughly with the microfiber cloth.
6. Dab remaining dust away with the dust remover.
7. Remove the labeled adhesive-protection sticker from the film.
8. Turn the film adhesive-side down and align its holes with the cameras, the camera hole, and the applicator. Keep the adhesive from touching the display early.
9. Press the adhesive into place, then squeegee from the center outward while peeling back the blue backing film.
10. Rotate the phone 180 degrees and repeat the squeegee pass on the second half.
11. Fold the phone closed, pull off the outer transparent film, and rub the edges with the microfiber cloth to close any gaps.

Success looks like: film sitting flat with no lifting at the edges, camera cutouts lined up cleanly, and no trapped bubbles at the fold after the phone closes. If a bubble survives the squeegee pass, lift that edge and re-lay it — that’s what the second film is for. Bubbles, lifting, and misalignment trace back to three causes: dust left on the panel, uneven squeegee pressure, or edges never rubbed down. Samsung’s instructions call out each one.

If you’d rather skip installation, a pre-cut film matched to the Flip 5’s main display is the safer third-party route — see the tested Z Flip 5 screen protector options before buying anything adhesive.

What To Avoid and Where the Limits Are

Samsung doesn’t advise beach or pool use, and the phone isn’t dust-resistant. No protector changes any of that.

Skip these moves:

• Peeling the factory film off to “start fresh” — you’re removing part of the display.
• Installing a rigid glass protector built for a flat phone.
• Layering an unapproved protector over the existing film.
• Using sharp tools, heavy pressure, or abrasive cleaners during installation.
• Buying a protector that blocks the hinge, the camera cutouts, or the fold line.

The Flip 5 is model family SM-F731 (regional variants like SM-F731B and SM-F7310), introduced in 2023. The protection-film question applies to every regional and carrier version, though replacement film availability varies by region — check Samsung’s support page for your specific model before ordering a kit.

The UK support page for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (SM-F731B) is the reference for model-specific documentation; Samsung’s protection film installation steps (Hong Kong) and the UK replacement guide spell out the kit contents and procedure.