Samsung Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S23 is the latest from Samsung and also represents the best that the company has to offer. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, awesome camera setup, IP68 rating, and gorgeous 6.1-inch display are all highlights, and it comes at a lower price compared to the Z Flip 4.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is best for those experimenting with form factors. The folding display adds a ton of versatility and class, though the camera setup and performance won’t match that of the S23. It also costs more, making it a harder sell to those happy with a more traditional design.
Samsung’sGalaxy S23andGalaxy Z Flip 4are among thebest Android phonesyou can buy, even though the Flip 5 has since replaced the Flip 4. Despite the fact these are both Samsung phones, there are significant differences between them.
The S23 is the smallest of Samsung’s latest flagship series and is outfitted with the superb Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Z Flip 4 is a radically different device, acting as a traditional smartphone until you fold it in half. Which Samsung phone is right for you? Let’s find out.
Price, availability, and specs
The Galaxy S23 starts at $800 for 128GB of storage, and it’s available worldwide from Samsung, carriers, and all major retailers. You can pay more for extra storage, but all variants have 8GB of RAM.
The Flip 4 launched at $1,000, but now that theFlip 5has replaced it, you’ll frequently find it discounted. It starts at 128GB, and it’s available worldwide from most carriers and retailers.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 gets its name from the folding design that essentially cuts the phone in half when folded. You can tuck it into a pocket quite easily, and the outside of the phone has a secondary cover display that shows important information without having to open the phone. When the phone is open, however, it looks a lot like any other standard device with a 6.7-inch display, albeit with a line along the back where the hinge is installed.
This is Samsung’s third generation attempt at the Z Flip (the Z Flip 5G was counted as the second-gen), and the hinge has been refined to be less prominent and to have a smoother action. The Z Flip 4 weighs a bit more than the Galaxy S23, and it’s also considerably thicker when it’s folded over. Unfolded, it’s actually thinner than the new S23.
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is more of a classic flagship phone without the extra hinge down the middle. It has a smaller 6.1-inch display, weighs less than the Z Flip 4, and, to be honest, looks a lot like the Galaxy S22. In ourSamsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ hands-on, Editor-in-Chief James Peckham noted that “the look and feel of these handsets are more refined in 2023, with a smoother edge to each phone.” If you’re looking for more information about what has changed between generations, be sure to have a look at ourSamsung Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22comparison.
The Galaxy S23 is the most compact of the refreshed series, and those with smaller hands will likely have an easier time handling it (at least when the Z Flip 4 is unfolded). It also has an IP68 rating that covers water and dust, while the Z Flip 4’s IPX8 rating only protects against water. If you’re often taking your phone into the field, that extra protection from the S23 will likely come in handy. There are plenty of moving parts in the Z Flip 4, and it’s not exactly cut out for a hard life where it’s often in contact with dust and detritus. The S23 also uses the newGorilla Glass Victus 2with extra scratch resistance for its display. We still recommend checking out thebest Galaxy S23 casesor thebest Galaxy Z Flip 4 casesto save your investment from any damage.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is available in Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, and Blue colors. A Bespoke Edition also exists, allowing you to mix and match different panel colors. Our guide onwhich color Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 you should buyhas more information.
The Galaxy S23 has more options, including Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender, with exclusive colors like Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red available as official Samsung store exclusives. Both phones offer facial recognition, and both have fingerprint readers. The Galaxy S23’s reader is implemented below the display, while the Z Flip 4 has a reader on the side for easier access when folded.
The Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch AMOLED 2X display with FHD+ resolution (425 ppi), adaptive refresh rate that can reach 120Hz, 1,750 nits of peak brightness, and a flat design without curved edges. It’s a beautiful screen that’s free of creases or other artifacts of a folding design. As mentioned, the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is included for the best protection possible. It’s the best option out of the three new S23 phones if your hands are on the smaller size.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a primary 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X display with an FHD+ resolution (426 ppi) and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, though its peak brightness reaches only up to 1,200 nits. It’s a gorgeous screen, but it might not work as well with smaller hands. It also won’t work as well on extremely bright days, and you’ll notice a crease through the screen where the hinge lies. It’s almost invisible if you’re using a dark background, but appears more if you go with a light background. This crease will undoubtedly annoy some people, but most users get over it.
There’s also an AMOLED cover screen on the outside of the Z Flip 4 that lets you check notifications or look through your camera without opening the phone. It’s sized at 1.9 inches with a 260x512 resolution. It’s a nice addition that makes using the phone easier, but it’s also an extra drain on the battery.
Software and performance
The Galaxy S23 was upgraded to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor for a nice boost to speed. Compared to the Z Flip 4’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, there are more performance cores with higher clock rates, as well as a boosted Adreno 740 GPU with better gaming performance. That’s not to say the Z Flip 4 isn’t quite snappy in its own right; it just won’t quite measure up to the S23.
you may get the Z Flip 4 with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, while the S23 comes with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage space. That extra room for data is a win for the Z Flip 4, as you’ll have to upgrade to the S23+ or S23 Ultra if you’d like 512GB or 1TB of maximum storage, respectively.
The Galaxy S23 recently got updated to Android 14 withOne UI 6, which brings a redesign of the quick settings panel, along with all of Google’s additions to Android 14. The Z Flip 4 is still on Android 13 and One UI 5.1.1 for now, but it should get the update to One UI 6 soon. Both phones were promised four Android upgrades with a fifth year of security patches. So, the S23 will receive Android 17 as its last update, while the Flip 4 will end its days on Android 16.
Battery life
In ourSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review, Stephen Schenck was able to go a full day of relatively light use (minimal gaming and video streaming) with about 30% remaining battery at the end of the day. In ourS23 review, battery life was a pleasant surprise over the previous small S series phone, with it easily making it through the day. However, it occasionally needs a mid-day power boost on an intensive Disney park day.
The Z Flip 4 received 25W Fast Charging support, which significantly reduces charging time. And while the Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra received Super Fast Charging 2.0 with up to 45W support, the S23 uses the same 1.0 implementation as the Z Flip 4. Both phones also support Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare. Be sure to check out thebest Samsung Galaxy S23 PPS chargersfor the quickest charging solutions.
The Z Flip 4’s folding design doesn’t leave as much space for cameras, and those who love shooting photos with their phone will no doubt appreciate what the Galaxy S23 has to offer. Starting with the Z Flip 4, it has two rear-facing cameras installed next to the cover display. The ultra-wide is set at 12MP with f/2,2 aperture and 123-degree FOV, while the wide-angle camera is set at 12MP with dual-pixel autofocus, f/1,8 aperture, and optical image stabilization (OIS). The selfie camera is set at 10MP with f/2.4 aperture and 80-degree FOV.
The Galaxy S23 has a 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide with f/2.2 aperture, and a 10MP telephoto cam with f/2.4 aperture and OIS. Its 3x optical zoom is accompanied by a 30x Space Zoom for serious magnification, whereas the Z Flip 4 tops out at a 10x digital zoom. Many of the extra features surrounding the camera are the same due to them coming from the Galaxy family. you’re able to expect HDR (or Super HDR in the case of the S23), Nightography, Director’s View, and more in both phones; however, the S23 is the phone that will shoot the best photos possible.
Which phone is right for you?
The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are some of thebest Samsung phones— and indeed thebest 5G phones— on the market today, but you only want one.
The fact that the Z Flip 4 costs more than the Galaxy S23 doesn’t do it any favors, and most people who just want a great phone with all the latest goodies from Samsung will be happy with the new flagship. The S23 is also more compact and lightweight, making it a better choice for those with small hands. Add on the fact that the S23 has a newer and faster processor, larger battery capacity, and fewer moving parts that might fail, and you have a phone that should appeal to a ton of people.
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is best for those who want the best performance, best camera setup, excellent battery life, and non-folding design. It costs less than the Z Flip 4 and should be the right choice for most people.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is much better suited for those who want to experiment with form factors and don’t mind paying more for the folding mechanism. TheZ Flip 4 isn’t for everyone, but those who can look past the small display crease and don’t mind having an inferior camera will no doubt love the versatility and overall design. Just be careful: if you’re not buying it at a good discount, you may be better served by the more recent Z Flip 5.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is an outstanding phone, but not everyone will want to sacrifice performance and camera quality for the folding display. It has a smaller battery than the S23 and also costs more, no doubt making it less of a must-have than the new Samsung flagship.
