Yesterday, Samsung officially announced its latest folding devices – the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5. Being someone who has a keen interest in compact folding devices, I knew it was time for a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 comparison.
You see, while I find folding phones intriguing and have longed to switch to one, I am yet to find one that ticks all the boxes for me. I currently use the Galaxy S23, a compact premium flagship that I have found to be outstanding. Does the new Z Flip5 measure up to it to sway me into finally making the switch? Not quite. Let me share the details of my comparison with you.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Comparison Table
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|
| Released August 2023 | Released February 2023 |
| 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED display, 1080 x 2640 pixels Cover Display: 3.4″ Super AMOLED, 720 x 748 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) | 6.1-inch Super AMOLED display, 1080 x 2340 pixels, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Closed: 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm Open: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm | 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm |
| 187g | 168g |
| Plastic front, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back, Amor aluminum frame | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back, Amor aluminum frame |
| Nano-SIM and eSIM, 5G | Nano-SIM and eSIM, 5G |
| IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes) |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| 8GB RAM, 256GB, 512GB storage | 8GB RAM, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB storage |
| 10MP selfie camera | 12MP selfie camera |
| 12 MP OIS + 12 MP ultrawide rear camera 4k video | 50 MP OIS + 10MP telephoto OIS, 3x optical zoom + 12 MP ultrawide rear camera 8k video |
| Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Side fingerprint sensor | Front fingerprint sensor |
| 3700mAh battery | 3900mAh battery |
| 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging. | 25W fast charging, PD 3, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging. |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Similarities
At the very core, these two smartphones are similar. The most notable shared feature is the processor: they both use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Also, they both have 8GB RAM. For storage memory, they both have 256GB and 512GB options, but the S23 also has a smaller 128GB storage option. They both do not have an expandable memory card slot.
As far as software is concerned, they both run One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 OS. They both have armor aluminium frame and can survive being dunked in water of up to 1.5 meters in depth for a period of 30 minutes max.
Both of them lack a 3.5mm headphone jack port. In addition, they share the same 15W fast charging, 5W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Also, both are 5G phones, support eSIM technology, NFC, and have stereo loudspeakers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: The Differences
The most notable difference is that while the Galaxy S23 is a slab, the Galaxy Z Flip5 folds in two, or opens up, depending on how you see it (OnePlus has something to say about that). When closed, the Galaxy flip5 has a smaller display than the S23, and when opened up, its display is bigger than the S23’s. I call it eating your cake and having it.
The Samsung S23 has a more advanced, capable camera system that includes a telephoto lens. While the Flip5. sports a 12-megapixel main lens, the S23’s main lens is a superior 50-megapixel sensor. The selfie cameras are different too – 10-megapixels for the Flip5 and 12-megapixels for the S23.
While both devices are premium in build – the Flip5 has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection only on the cover screen. The internal display does not enjoy the same protection. The Galaxy Z Flip5’s fingerprint scanner is located in the power button on the side, while the Galaxy S23 has its located under the display.
I mentioned earlier that they both are water resistant, but what of dust? While the S23 is resistant to dust, the Flip5 is not. As such, using it in locations with plenty of dust carries some risk.
The last major difference is in battery capacity and charging. The Galaxy S23’s battery is 200mAh bigger capacity than the Flip5’s. While both support 25W fast charging, the Z Flip5 lacks Power Delivery 3.0, a feature that the S23 supports.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: The Winner Is….
As far as these two devices are concerned, the only reason to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is that it folds (or opens). It has the same features as the S23 in many other cases, but it is also bested by the Galaxy S23 in certain departments. Those departments include ingress protection, photography and videography, as well as battery capacity and charging versatility.
The outcome of this Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 comparison is clear: unless you absolutely must have a folding phone, Samsung galaxy S23 is the better smartphone. I won’t trade camera superiority and those other superior features for the ability to fold a phone in my pocket.
Did I mention that the lowest configuration of the Galaxy Z Flip5 costs $1,000, while the lowest configuration of the Galaxy S23 costs a mere $640? It isn’t time yet for me to drop my slab for a folding device. It looks like I am going to hold on to the Samsung Galaxy S23 (see my review) for a while.