Galaxy Z Flip 5 Vs iPhone 15: Complete Review and Price Comparison

The Z Flip5 vs iPhone 15 debate is a battle between Samsung's best foldable yet and Apple's latest iPhone. Both smartphones are flagship models boasting high-end specifications and performance. The significant differences are design, operating systems, and processor chips. 

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy is a flip phone, which means it has primary and secondary screens with other cool features you'd expect from a foldable. Furthermore, the Z Flip5 is powered by Android and One UI and is packed with the best of Samsung's ecosystem. It is one of the Recommended Android Coolest phones.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 is a regular slab-shaped phone, running on Apple's unique iOS, with maximum access to the Apple ecosystem as well. When comparing the Z Flip5 vs iPhone 15, try not to attach it to the popular Android vs iOS battle because both phones synchronize excellently in their respective ecosystems. Moving on, let's compare the vital factors to find out which is best for you. We'd begin with the difference in design. 

Design and Build

The iPhone 15 maintains the conventional cuboid design build that Apple has used since its first iPhone. The front and back faces are with rounded corners and some attractive refinements. Both faces are made with Corning-made glass to protect the screens. Furthermore, the frame is made of lightweight Aluminum. 

Around the frame, you'll find the power and volume buttons, SIM tray, silent button, mic, speakers, and the USB type C port. Yes! Apple has ditched the lightning port. This iPhone has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, and Apple advertises that it is safe in 6m of water for up to 30 minutes. You can also choose between the Black, Green, Yellow, Pink, and Blue color options.

Regarding design, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 combines the early 2000s flip-phone tech with today's full-screen phones. Like most older flip phones, it has two screens and folds using a hinge. The primary screen is the unfolded version and has access to all functions on the phone, while the secondary screen at the back allows you to perform some important functions without flipping it open. 

The front and back screens are also protected by Corning-made glass. Meanwhile, the frame is made of Armor Aluminum with remarkable drop and scratch resistance. Across the frame, you get the fingerprint scanner, power and volume buttons, stereo speakers, mic, and USB-C port. The Z Flip5 has a water and dust resistance rating of IPX8. It is advertised to stay unfazed in up to 1.5m water depth for 30 minutes. The available color options are Mint, gray, blue, green, yellow, Graphite, Lavender, and Cream.

Dimensions

When folded, the Z Flip 5 measures 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 inches, but it expands to 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches when unfolded. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 has a standard dimension of 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches. Both weigh 187 and 171 grams, respectively. 

The Z Flip5 is bigger and heavier than the iPhone 15. Therefore, if portability is a priority for you, you'd want to consider the iPhone. Although there is a minor weight difference, the Galaxy's fold feature makes it easy to carry around. 

Options and Prices

The iPhone 15 pricing varies based on storage options. You can get the 128GB for about $617.99, the 256GB for $$710.99, and the 512GB costs about $969.99 on Amazon. Furthermore, Apple offers a series of payment plans you can take part in if you purchase directly from their online store. You can buy it through a mobile provider like Verizon, AT&T, or other third-party retailers. The prices differ slightly across stores.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will set you back about $999 for the base model with 256GB of internal storage. The 512GB option adds $200, which is $1,199 if you buy directly from Samsung. It's also available via mobile providers and third-party retailers like Amazon and BestBuy, with minor price variations.

We cannot compare the Z Flip5 vs iPhone 15 based on pricing until we consider what they offer. So, let's check out the specifications. 

Camera

The Z Flip5 is not Samsung's best in terms of photography. It can capture decent pictures and 4K videos, but it is nothing to be compared with the iPhone 15. 

The Samsung Galaxy flip phone has a dual camera setup at the rear and a single selfie 10MP wide camera lens in front. This comprises a 12MP wide camera lens as the main and a 12MP ultrawide camera. Both front and back cameras can capture 4K videos with up to 10x magnification. However, zooming in sacrifices image quality, which worsens when capturing low-light images. 

In the case of the iPhone 15, you also get a dual camera setup at the rear and a single selfie camera in front. The rear setup comprises a 48MP wide and 12MP ultra wide sensor with a Dual-LED dual-tone flash. A 12-MP wide sensor is mounted at the front as a selfie camera.

In terms of camera capacity, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 vs. iPhone 15 comparison favors the latter. Its two camera systems can shoot 4K videos in cinematic mode and support Dolby Vision HDR10 capture. You can also adjust the focus of photos taken in Portrait mode to get good image quality. The video recordings of both devices also contribute to their good graphical performance.

Display Panels

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 sports two display panels. The main display panel is a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. It has a screen resolution of 2640×1080 pixels and a peak brightness level of 1,750 nits. This screen supports HDR10+ and has a screen-to-body ratio of 85.9%. 

The additional screen at the back of the phone is used when folded. It features a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display panel with a 720 x 748 pixels screen resolution. It occupies half of the phone’s back and is practical. You can receive calls on it and view important information like weather updates and incoming notifications. Additionally, it lets you access an on-screen keyboard to perform quick tasks without opening your phone. Both screens are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

On the other hand, the iPhone 15 boasts a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display panel with a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. Its 6.1-inch screen resolution is 1179 x 2556 pixels, with a 19.5:9 ratio. The screen has 2,000 nits of peak brightness and a screen-to-body ratio of 86.4%. It is remarkably bright, supports Dolby Vision, and motion is as fluid as possible. Also, it is protected by Ceramic Shield Glass. 

The iPhone 15 does not have a second screen, but it has Apple's Dynamic Island, introduced with the iPhone 14 models. It is a patch at the front where the selfie camera is located that expands or contracts depending on what it displays. Similar to the Z Flip5's second screen, it shows details like tickets, flights, and taxi rides and can control music and a lot more. However, it cannot perform as many functions. 

Display Verdict

The Z Flip vs iPhone 15 debate here depends on your preference. The iPhone 15 screen is sharper and brighter, making it ideal for gamers, photographers, and designers. Meanwhile, the Z Flip5 has a larger main screen, which makes it better for binge-watching. Also, the second screen makes it suitable for people who often find themselves in situations where they'd rather not interact fully with their phones.

Processor and Performance

The Z Flip5 runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor chip for Galaxy. This version is slightly more powerful than the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. It comprises eight CPU cores and throttles when under load. The phone will run the most demanding games and apps smoothly but is not ideal for video editing. It is also perfect for everyday tasks like video calls and texting. 

Apple's iPhones are famous for superb performance, and the iPhone 15 is not left out. The phone runs on the Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) processor chip, which has six CPU cores, Apple GPU (5-core graphics), and a 16-core Neural Engine. It has two high-performance cores that use 20 percent less power and four high-efficiency cores. Hence, the processor is fast and power-efficient. 

Another way to look at this is that the processor is as fast as some of Apple's M2 chips used in MacBooks. This GPU is vital for editing videos using apps like LumaFusion, which is one of the Best iPhone apps for YouTubers. Furthermore, you can play demanding mobile games on the iPhone 15, and they will run and look excellent. Also, everyday tasks like phone calls, web browsing, and video chats are guaranteed smooth and won't get your phone heated up. So, it is perfect for your daily needs and can even take on hefty work without crashing. 

Regarding processor speed and power, the iPhone 15 is miles ahead with excellent performance. Therefore, it is your best bet if you want a powerful phone for heavy-duty applications. However, the Z Flip5 supports USB 3.2 transfer speeds of up to 20GB/s, while the iPhone is stuck at 10GB/s. So, if file transfer speed is your priority, you may want to consider the Samsung Galaxy flip phone. 

Software Platform

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with Android 13 (upgradable to Android 14) and Samsung's One UI 6.1. Samsung has built a thriving ecosystem based on Google's open-source platform. The One UI is well-tailored to facilitate the phone's flip function. Unfolding the phone activates the main screen, while the rear screen supports the always-on display feature. The transition between both screens is as smooth as can be. 

Alternately, the iPhone 15 ships with Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 17 (upgradable to iOS 17.4). This version is smooth, secure, and reliable. It features many exciting improvements, like the StandBy mode. With this, you can keep the always-on display active and put custom widgets on the lock screen. It is similar to the functions of the secondary display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. You can make the most of this feature by using a MagSafe wireless charger to top up your phone. 

Also, since iOS is designed peculiarly for iPhones, iPhone apps can only be downloaded via the App Store. Hence, they are safe and fitted to run perfectly on iPhones. 

In summary, the Z Flip5 vs iPhone 15 comparison ends as a tie regarding the software platform. The way to go, in this case, comes down to personal preference.

Charging Options and Battery Life

The Z Flip5 gets power from a 3,700 mAh Li-Po non-removable battery. Its battery power can work continuously for up to 20 hours. You can choose between USB-C and Qi wireless charging. The charging ratings are 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless. Additionally, the wired charging is advertised to go from zero to 50% in only 30 minutes. 

Similarly, the iPhone 15 uses a non-removable battery. This version has a Li-Ion 3349 mAh battery that works continuously for up to 23 hours. The available charging options are Wired, 15W MagSafe Wireless, 15W Qi2 Wireless, and 4.5W reverse wired. The Qi2 wireless charging requires that you update your phone to at least iOS 17.2. Also, the wired charging is the fastest, advertised to go from zero to 50% in half an hour. 

In summary, the iPhone is the favored choice in terms of battery as it gives you three extra hours of video playback. Additionally, Apple has adopted the USB-C rather than their proprietary Lightning connector. You can also get any compatible charging pad to charge the device wirelessly.

Let's Wrap It Up…

We've checked out the most important factors in Z Flip5 vs iPhone 15 to determine which is better. In terms of performance, pricing, and camera quality, the iPhone 15 is better. It's the ideal choice for you if you can do without the accessibility of an Android smartphone. Moreover, the Apple ecosystem is sufficient and consistently enhanced to accommodate more integrations. On the other hand, the Z Flip5 is perfect for you, considering all the niceties that come with its two screens and flip-ability. It also delivers excellent performance and makes the most of the Android ecosystem.