Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Which should you buy?

Flagships proceed to get higher yearly, however additionally they proceed to get larger and greater. This ever-increasing race to pack one of the best applied sciences right into a single cellphone has led us to telephones we will’t simply maintain and deal with. If you’re in search of compact telephones, your choices are fairly restricted. From the home of Samsung, the Galaxy S23 is without doubt one of the high selections for individuals who desire a small cellphone. But with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, we now have a brand new compact cellphone to sit up for.

Which small cellphone should you decide, although? In this comparability, we pit the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs the Galaxy S23 to evaluate which cellphone makes probably the most sense for small cellphone patrons.

Let’s begin with the elephant within the room. The greatest distinction between the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy S23 is that one is a foldable whereas the opposite just isn’t.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a clamshell foldable that seems as a tall smartphone however could be folded within the center for a smaller footprint. The Z Flip 5 has two shows — a small show on the skin and a big show on the within. On the opposite hand, the Galaxy S23 has just one compact show, with no folding trickery concerned.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the primary amongst Samsung’s clamshell-style foldables to get a larger-sized cowl show. Samsung now calls this the Flex Window, measuring 3.4-inch diagonally, although this show has an odd form to accommodate the rear cameras. This is a 60Hz Super AMOLED show with a decision of 720 x 748 pixels.

Since this cowl show is larger than what it was on its predecessors, customers can do loads of issues on it. You can test the climate, management music playback, compensate for the inventory market, test notifications, test your name historical past, and even reply to texts with a full QWERTY keyboard — all with out flipping the cellphone open. It’s not a whole substitute for the bigger internal show, however it reduces the necessity to maintain opening the cellphone for each small job.

When you do have to flip open the cellphone, you get entry to a big 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X show. This internal show has a 120Hz adaptive refresh charge and a decision of two,640 x 1,080 pixels. When opened, the Z Flip 5 has a tall facet ratio of twenty-two:9, making the cellphone simple to grip for its display-diagonal. The clamshell folding kind issue provides you the benefits of each a small cellphone and a big show.

There is a noticeable crease working horizontally by way of the center of the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It’s noticeable at off-angles; you can really feel it all through the day when you scroll up and down on the show.

On the Galaxy S23, there are not any such odd options. It’s a easy glass slab smartphone that we’re already acquainted with. There are not any deliberately folding components, creases, or secondary shows.

What you get on the Galaxy S23 is a 6.1-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge. It has a decision of two,340 x 1,080 pixels and a facet ratio of 19.5:9 which is broader and shorter than the Flip 5. It’s a compact smartphone that most individuals can maintain and use with one hand.

On the within, the 2 telephones are pretty related. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy S23 include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, the premier alternative of SoC for 2023. The “for Galaxy” branding means the chip barely differs from the common 8 Gen 2, providing larger peak CPU and GPU clock speeds. Both telephones even have the identical 8GB RAM choice.

There is a slight distinction in storage choices that Samsung presents. You should buy the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in 256GB and 512GB variants, whereas the Galaxy S23 could be bought in 128GB and 256GB variants.

Since there isn’t a microSD expandability on both cellphone, select the storage variant that can final you for the subsequent two-three years of possession. Note that Samsung doesn’t disclose its telephones’ RAM and storage sort specs.

If you care about defending your cellphone in opposition to the weather, the Galaxy S23 performs higher with its IP68 score, whereas the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has an IPX8 score.

The “8” signifies water resistance, with each telephones in a position to deal with recent water as much as 1.5m depth for as much as half-hour. Neither can deal with saltwater, although; water injury just isn’t lined below guarantee, so you’d nonetheless wish to keep away from water usually.

The level of distinction is in mud safety. The “6” after “IP” is the utmost rating for mud safety, that means the Galaxy S23 is dust-resistant. The “X” signifies a placeholder, that means the producer didn’t particularly take a look at the product. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 thus can’t be judged as dust-resistant, so we’d advise care and warning round sand, mud, and particles as there’s a risk that particles can enter the cellphone.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 depends on a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor residing within the energy button for biometric authentication. The Galaxy S23 depends on an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Both are nice for authentication, so which one is best would boil all the way down to your placement choice.

Regarding software program, the expertise is almost equivalent on both cellphone (barring the options reserved for the duvet show). Both telephones launched with One UI based mostly on Android 13. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with One UI 5.1.1, which is barely newer than One UI 5.1 on the Galaxy S23. Both telephones have been up to date to One UI 6 based mostly on Android 14.

Both telephones will obtain 4 main Android OS updates and 5 years of safety updates from their launch date. Since the Flip 5 is a later launch, it’s promised to get a few safety updates greater than the Galaxy S23, however this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker to most individuals.

In its folded state, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a tiny cellphone. It measures simply 85.09 x 72 x 15mm, which could be very pocketable.

In its unfolded state, although, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a tall cellphone. It measures 165 x 71.9 x 6.9mm, considerably taller and barely wider than the Galaxy S23’s 146.3 x 70.8 x 7.6mm dimensions. The S23 is barely thicker, although, and since it doesn’t fold, it additionally feels extra stable and assured within the hand.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is heavier at 187g, in comparison with the Galaxy S23’s 168g weight.

If measurement is your main consideration, you’d have to resolve whether or not you desire a cellphone that’s all the time compact (Galaxy S23) or if you’d like a big show with the portability of a smaller kind issue (Galaxy Z Flip 5).

As for the design, there’s a stark distinction between the 2, primarily due to the shape issue. You can see a commonality within the design language that makes each of them Samsung telephones, however far more of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is occupied by a show.

The cameras on the 2 telephones have a good bit of distinction. Samsung is constrained by the foldable kind issue on the Flip 5, so the corporate can’t herald a few of the higher digicam tech it has been utilizing on the Galaxy S23.

For starters, the first digicam on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a 12MP sensor with an ƒ/1.8 aperture, 1.8μm pixel measurement, OIS, and Dual Pixel autofocus. In comparability, the Galaxy S23 has a 50MP sensor with an ƒ/1.8 aperture, 1.0μm pixel measurement, OIS, and Dual Pixel autofocus. The pure pixel measurement could look smaller, however the Galaxy S23 makes use of quad-binning to mix 4 pixels into one bigger pixel, outputting 12.5MP photos.

On the Galaxy S23, we get vibrant, vibrant photos with crisp particulars, and the Flip 5 displays related conduct. Generally, the variations between the S23’s and the Flip 5’s digicam setup can be greatest noticed in decrease lighting circumstances. In conditions with ample gentle, common customers will usually haven’t any complaints from both cellphone.

The ultrawide digicam on the 2 telephones is the same 12MP sensor with a 123° FoV and ƒ/2.2 aperture. The distinction is in pixel measurement, with Galaxy Z Flip 5 producing 1.12μm pixels whereas the Galaxy S23 produces 1.4μm pixels.

Compared to the first on the respective telephones, the ultrawide produces a paler coloration palette with softer particulars and the standard wide-angle distortion on the edges. Between the 2 telephones, the Galaxy S23’s ultrawide once more has the higher hand over the Flip 5’s ultrawide as lighting turns into sub-optimal.

Where the Galaxy S23 has a transparent win is the telephoto digicam as a result of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 doesn’t have one in any respect.

On the Galaxy S23, you get a 10MP telephoto digicam with ƒ/2.4 aperture and 1.12μm pixel measurement. It is able to 3x optical zoom and as much as 30x digital zoom. Details are nice at 3x and bearable at as much as 10x, so you’d doubtless wish to stay inside this zone for one of the best outcomes.

For the entrance digicam, there’s a 12MP sensor with an ƒ/2.2 aperture and 1.12μm pixel measurement on the Galaxy S23. In comparability, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 10MP sensor with an ƒ/2.2 aperture and 1.22μm pixel measurement.

You’d be hard-pressed to select a winner between the 2 units of telephones for the entrance digicam, as the pictures are normally excellent. There is a few room for enchancment in portrait mode, although.

Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a foldable with a big outer show, you can successfully flip the cellphone round and use the first rear and ultrawide cameras on your selfie wants. In such conditions, you’d get a greater outcome than the Galaxy S23’s entrance digicam.

For video, the Galaxy S23 can shoot 8K 30fps and 4K 60fps from its main rear digicam. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is restricted to 4K 60fps solely from its main rear digicam. There isn’t loads of benefit in capturing at 8K, although. Further, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s distinctive kind issue makes it simple to carry like a camcorder, serving to with longer-duration capturing.

Overall, the Galaxy S23 nonetheless retains a lead in high quality and flexibility over the Galaxy Z Flip 5. An excellent telephoto digicam is an underrated characteristic, and it helps with framing and positioning.

If you’re selecting a cellphone for its digicam prowess, we’d give factors to the Galaxy S23 over the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Despite the bigger expanded kind issue, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a smaller 3,700mAh battery, in opposition to the Galaxy S23’s 3,900mAh battery. Combined with the larger expanded show, you’d normally worsen battery life on the Flip 5 than the S23 until you resign your self to working the cellphone completely by way of the entrance show.

On the Galaxy S23, we may end days with 40% battery remaining, and normally final a day and one other close-half on a full cost. With the Flip 5, we may final nearly a day, and one other quarter if we stretch it, with about 4 hours of screen-on time.

As for charging, each the Flip 5 and the Galaxy S23 share the identical charging specs. Both telephones assist 25W wired, 15W proprietary wi-fi charging, and 10W Qi wi-fi charging.

A USB Power Delivery PPS charger will take 80 minutes to cost up the Galaxy S23 totally, and about 75-80 minutes to totally cost the Flip 5 regardless of the smaller battery.

Both telephones additionally assist 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging to cost equipment. However, neither cellphone comes with a charger within the field.

Pricing is the place the Galaxy S23 flexes its muscle groups. The cellphone prices $800 for the 128GB variant, whereas the comparable 256GB variant retails for $860. In comparability, the 256GB variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available in at $1,000, whereas the 512GB variant is much more costly at $1,120.

For its worth, the Galaxy S23 affords a wonderful bundle. Considering all of the areas the place it trumps the Flip 5, it’s shocking to see the decrease pricing. If you’re prepared to accept a decrease storage variant, the worth distinction is a neat $200, which additional ideas the already-titled spec sheet within the S23’s favor.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 launched on July 26, 2023, with pre-orders starting on the identical day. The cellphone went on open sale on August 11, 2023, within the US. We’ve seen the worth dip throughout gross sales season, however no deep or lasting reductions can be found for the cellphone but since it’s nonetheless comparatively new in its product lifecycle.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy S23 are stable smartphones with spectacular specs that should enchantment to the typical consumer.

That being mentioned, the cellphone you should desire is dependent upon a simple query: Do you desire a foldable cellphone? If the reply is sure, then the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the plain alternative. You should go for the Galaxy S23 if the reply isn’t any.

For of us wanting a compact smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s folded kind issue would really feel attractive. But there are a good variety of compromises alongside the way in which. You can’t use the cellphone’s total performance by way of the duvet display screen, so you might want to continuously open up the cellphone to make use of it. In its unfolded state, the Flip 5 is a big cellphone and can’t be referred to as compact.

Thus, the Galaxy S23’s kind issue makes it good for these wanting a compact cellphone, as no circumstances are connected to its compactness.

Overall, the Galaxy S23 wins out on the spec sheet. It has a barely higher life, higher mud resistance, and a significantly higher digicam system. The cherry on the cake is that it’s cheaper too, so you spend much less for a superior expertise.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a good cellphone, however you have to be dedicated to attempting out the foldable kind issue to understand what it brings to the desk. There are some comparative compromises to make vis-a-vis the Galaxy S23, however foldables are the speak of the city as of late.

If you wish to have a cellphone in your hand that stands out from the ocean of glass slab smartphones, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the proper cellphone.