iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Showdown: Which flagship phone can win?
If you’re going for the best phones money can buy, you’ll usually look at things around $1,000. Apple’s next flagship isn’t too far off at this point, which is why it’s worth looking into the iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. These two flagship phones will compete at around the same price point, but they’re a lot different than you might think.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 was launched not too long ago, and in our review, we said it has the biggest upgrades we’ve seen so far in the series. This is mainly due to the added benefit of its Flex Window external screen, better camera performance, and longer battery life – which proves to us that it is one of the best foldable phones out there.
Meanwhile, rumors continue to mount as we expect Apple to unveil the new iPhone 15 series sometime at an Apple event in September. With the iPhone 15 Pro in particular, it’s shaping up to be a powerhouse complete with an updated premium design, USB-C connectivity, an all-new action button, upgraded camera sensor, and more. Consumers may be more inclined to hold on to the iPhone 15 Pro, especially if the rumor of Apple raising the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max turns out to be true.
In this battle between iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, we will explore how these two phones compete against each other.
iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Specifications
| Row 0 – cell 0 | iPhone 15 Pro (Rumored and Presumed) | Galaxy Z Flip 5 |
| an offer | 6.1 inch OLED | 6.7 inches FHD+ (2640 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | up to 120 Hz |
| CPU | A17 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 second generation |
| storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | 256GB/512GB |
| rear cameras | 48MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 12MP 3x telephoto | 12 MP main + 12 MP ultra wide |
| front camera | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Price and availability
Rumors have pointed to September 12/13, 2023, which is the date when Apple is expected to hold its annual fall iPhone event. And that’s when we’ll likely get our first official look at not just the iPhone 15 Pro, but the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, and 15 Pro Max as well. If this is indeed the time when Apple will hold its event, we will most likely see the release of the iPhone 15 Pro the following week on September 22/23.
As for pricing, this is where things get suspicious since there are rumors that Apple will increase its price. At the very least, we could see an additional $100 premium, which would make its starting price $1,099.
There’s no doubt that foldables are more expensive than average smartphones, but it’s refreshing to see that Samsung kept the Galaxy Z Flip 5 at the same $999 price point. Having that wow factor of being a foldable phone, its value is further backed by its excellent performance and utility. It was first introduced on July 26, 2023, and later released on August 11, 2023.
iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Design and Display
These two couldn’t be more different from each other. One of the biggest things you have to decide when considering these two flagships is whether you prefer a traditional phone or a foldable phone. Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has more moving parts, its durability over time may come into question.
Samsung has improved the Z Flip 5’s design in several ways to assure us that it will last a long time. For starters, it features an all-new hinge design that brings the two halves of the phone together when closed. It’s also incredibly durable, with a metal-meets-glass construction. And yes, it still offers some protection against water thanks to IPX8.
Another aspect to think about about their designs is the utility offered by foldable style folding devices. Not only is the Z Flip 5 compact and easier to store when closed, but we found its various flexible modes to be very useful. For example, we love how we can simply place it on a flat surface and watch a video without having to prop it up. Even better, we can take selfies using the better rear cameras, instead of having to use the lousy front camera that you usually use with a standard smartphone.
The iPhone 15 Pro will have a somewhat similar design language as before, but Apple is improving it in a way that will likely make it feel like a more premium device. This is because it is supposed to have a sturdier titanium alloy frame and a return to rounded edges for improved ergonomics. Other design changes for the iPhone 15 Pro include a new programmable action button and switching from lighting to USB-C.
If last year’s iPhone 14 Pro is any indication, we suspect the iPhone 15 Pro will continue to offer an IP68 rating, which means it will be designed with dust and water resistance. This is the extra peace of mind you’ll have in case you accidentally take a dip in the pool while your iPhone is still in your pocket.
One of the expected changes we’re excited about with the iPhone 15 Pro is that it may have smaller bezels. And the leaks indicate that Apple has reduced the frame to 1.55 mm, which would be a significant improvement compared to the 2.1 mm frame found in the iPhone 14 Pro at the present time. That should be welcome if Apple doesn’t change anything else with its expected 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display.
There is still room for improvement with the brightness of the OLED panel; The iPhone 14 Pro peaked at 1,448 nits. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s 6.7-inch FHD+ (2640 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2x display delivered a more blinding rating of 1,504 nits in our testing.
The best thing about the Z Flip 5 is how Samsung has greatly improved the external display, by designing a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display for it. We’ve found it to be a huge boost because it can run surprisingly full apps, along with better framerates for selfies and vlogging.
iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Cameras
Hypothetically, we suspect that the iPhone 15 Pro will inherently have an edge in the camera department as it is rumored to feature an all-new sensor to support the triple camera system. Rumors point to a new 48-megapixel main camera sensor that’s roughly an inch wide with a possible “triple-stack” design, which will simply allow for brighter, more colorful photos. We already know that the iPhone 14 Pro is one of the best camera phones ever, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the performance was bumped up with the iPhone 15 Pro.
Another reason why the iPhone 15 Pro is the best camera phone is that it benefits from a telephoto zoom lens. Although it looks as if it will be the same 3x optical zoom lens as before, it will still be complemented by the main and wide-angle cameras – which will cover the entire range.
In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 12MP dual camera setup. It lacks a telephoto camera, but as we noted earlier, its foldable design offers a myriad of ways to take hands-free photos and videos. We found this particularly pleasing with selfies, and even better in low-light situations – something we saw in our comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr+.
For those who post Instagram videos or TikTok videos, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the tools and utilities to get them hooked. However, it will be interesting to see if the iPhone 15 Pro can drive better results from its new cameras.
When it comes to video, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 records at up to 4K and 60fps. We’ve seen how they provide wide dynamic range for high-contrast scenes, so that highlights aren’t overly exaggerated against dark shadows. On top of that, we simply love how Flex Mode transforms it in a way that gives us a camcorder style handle.
The iPhone 15 Pro’s video specs are still largely unknown, but we imagine it’ll still peek at 4K resolution and 60fps. That is, unless the new silicon shows us something new.
iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Performance
iPhone 15 Pro could be the phone that will introduce the world to the 3nm process through the A17 Bionic chip, which would usher in a new era of mobile processors. There are huge opportunities that can be unlocked with this new chip, but it should prove to be a beast in terms of performance. There’s a strong chance this will widen the gap between the iPhone 14 Pro powered by the A16 Bionic compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor powering the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Don’t get us wrong, the Qualcomm chip handles all the essential tasks, while also proving its worth in the graphics processing department. We hardly experienced much stuttering or lag while playing action-intensive titles through both screens on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
But despite its impressive performance, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 fell behind on almost all of our synthetic benchmark tests — including video rendering using Adobe Premiere Rush. Given the repeated wins that should accompany Apple’s A17 Bionic chip, we suspect it will fare better than the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Battery life and charging
Apple does not need to increase the battery size of the iPhone 15 Pro, especially if the A17 Bionic is expected to offer better battery efficiency than its predecessor. We’ve already seen how the iPhone 14 Pro outperformed the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in our battery benchmark test – 10 hours 13 minutes, against the Z Flip 5’s 9 hours 53 minutes.
With that in mind, the iPhone 15 Pro will almost certainly beat Samsung in the battery life department again. However, we’re curious to see if USB-C connectivity will finally give your iPhone the fast charging it deserves. This is because the iPhone 14 Pro is currently stuck on slow 20W wired charging. Switching to USB-C can finally top it up, which would be nice since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has faster 25W wired charging.
Wireless charging is likely to be identical here since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 tops out at 15W wireless charging – while the iPhone 14 Pro gets the same 15W wireless charging thanks to MagSafe. We’ll likely see an increase in the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Predictions
These two couldn’t be more different from each other. Not only do they beg the timeless question of iOS vs Android, but they undoubtedly attract specific users. Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a foldable phone, it offers users an extra tool that you won’t get with the iPhone 15 Pro. In addition, there are more functions that can be unlocked with the flexible exterior window cover screen.
There’s no doubt that foldable phones like the Z Flip 5 are attractive, but when it comes to performance and raw quality, it’s hard to overlook what the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to offer. We’ve already detailed how its predecessor excels in certain areas, such as its easy-to-use telephoto zoom camera, longer battery life, and outstanding processing performance.
There is no doubt that the iPhone 15 Pro will unleash a barrage of features when it is announced. Seriously, it’s a flagship in every sense of the word, but the last remaining piece of the puzzle will be its price. We hope it stays at the same $999 price point, since that would be a compelling reason to choose it over Samsung’s foldable phone.
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