Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the clear winner for raw power, camera versatility, and battery life. However, the Z Flip4's unique foldable design and compact form factor offer a distinct appeal for those prioritizing style and portability. It depends on your priorities!
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (6CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 10 | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 25 | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+) | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, One UI 7 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+ | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3700 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue, Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | SM-F721B, SM-F721B/DS, SM-F721N, SM-F721U, SM-F721U1, SM-F721W, SM-F7210 | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | $ 214.99 / C$ 334.00 / £ 219.00 / € 284.00 / ₹ 40,999 | € 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00 |
| SAR | 1.02 W/kg (head) 0.94 W/kg (body) | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 92h | Endurance rating 126h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.5 LUFS (Good) | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 685754 (v8) | 800001 (v9) GeekBench: 3913 (v5.1) GFXBench: 74fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
- Unique foldable design
- Compact and pocketable
- Stylish and eye-catching
- Reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life
- Less powerful processor
- Less versatile camera system
- More fragile than traditional phones
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system
- Long battery life
- Powerful performance
- Bright and vibrant display
- S Pen support
- Large and bulky design
- Higher price
- Less unique design
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display (1274 nits vs 919 nits), offering better visibility in direct sunlight. Both have excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the S23 Ultra's larger size and higher resolution provide a more immersive viewing experience. The Z Flip4's cover screen is a fun novelty, but limited in functionality.
Camera Comparison
The S23 Ultra's camera system is a major advantage. Its higher resolution main sensor, telephoto lenses, and advanced image processing capabilities result in superior photo and video quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Z Flip4's cameras are competent but lack the versatility and detail of the S23 Ultra.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra delivers noticeably faster performance than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Z Flip4. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S23 Ultra. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease.
Battery Life
The S23 Ultra offers significantly better battery life, with an active use score of 13:24h and an endurance rating of 126h, compared to the Z Flip4's 75h endurance rating. The S23 Ultra's faster charging (45W wired) also provides a quicker top-up.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4? Users who value a compact, stylish, and unique foldable design, and don't prioritize top-tier performance or camera capabilities. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Users seeking the best possible camera system, long battery life, and flagship-level performance in a premium package.