Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Flip 4 during its Unpacked event in the summer of 2022. This phone features a foldable display that allows it to be transformed into a compact device. This makes it ideal for those who like large screens but do not like to have large items in their pockets. If you buy the Galaxy Z Flip 4, don’t forget to protect it with a case. You don’t want the shiny phone to break! On the other hand, we have the iPhone 13, which Apple introduced in the fall of 2021.
It features a familiar design and offers no innovation. Instead, if you decide to buy the iPhone 13, take a case as well to avoid potential accidents. Apple’s most popular phone is the perfect barometer for judging whether the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is among the best phones or whether it remains reserved for the collective of the best foldable.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Apple iPhone 13
Design
Design is one of the first aspects we consider when deciding to purchase a new device. It is true that this aspect is mostly subjective. However, we can make some objective observations and compare the design of the two devices. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the iPhone 13 follow two distinct schools of thought when it comes to design. They have some similar elements, but they are mainly different-looking phones. We will now try to analyze these elements as much as possible to help you understand what each has to offer in terms of design and construction. Ultimately, the final word is up to you.
For starters, both phones offer a slim build and a dual rear camera system, with different lens placement. However, perhaps the most notable distinction is the hinge placed in the middle of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. In fact, this Samsung phone is foldable. In fact, this Samsung phone folds in half and is an intentional feature, unlike the infamous Bendgate of Apple’s iPhone 6. The iPhone 13 offers six different colors that beat Samsung’s four. However, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a Bespoke Edition, which allows users to customize different parts of the device and choose from multiple colors. Apple tends to stick to what users find familiar. Samsung is more adventurous when it comes to this. So, obviously, design and construction are in favor of the latter company.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 might be a small square object in its closed position, but it folds into a full-sized phone. In fact, its 6.7-inch display is more comparable to the iPhone 13 Pro Max screen than the 6.1-inch iPhone 13. Both screens are AMOLED, so they have equally vivid and accurate colors. However, the iPhone 13’s screen is slightly sharper, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 compared to the Samsung’s 2640 x 1080. Given the size difference, this translates into a density of 460ppi for the iPhone and 426ppi for the Flip 4. This is a rather subtle difference.
More important is the issue of screen refresh rate, with the 120 Hz of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 doubling the 60 Hz of the iPhone 13. This means that the Flip 4 has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This means that the Flip 4’s main screen scrolls content twice as smoothly as the iPhone’s, benefiting web content and some fast-acting games.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has another trick up its sleeve in the form of a second display that sits on the outside of the phone, although it has rather limited use. This tiny 1.9-inch Cover Display has a resolution of 260 x 512 and a refresh rate of 60 Hz and is mostly useful for head-up notifications when the phone is closed (a problem that the iPhone 13 does not need to solve) and as a viewfinder for superior selfie shots.
Performance
When measuring performance, several factors must be considered. These include memory, processor, and operating system. After all, more RAM does not always equate to a smoother experience, as in the case of the iPhone 13 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The latter, despite having twice as much RAM, cannot offer the same performance as the former. Although the latter has twice the RAM, it does not have the same performance as the former. iOS is objectively not as resource-hungry as the Android OS. Not to mention that Android OS is more problematic than iOS as an operating system. However, some users cannot tolerate the additional limitations of iOS. We are not here to discuss which mobile OS is superior, as this is a personal choice for you to make.
When looking at benchmarks, the Snapdragon is slightly better than the Apple A15 Bionic in games and graphics. Otherwise, the A15 Bionic dominates the single- and multi-core performance tests. Overall, therefore, the Apple chipset scored higher. However, is the difference in performance between the two phones remarkable enough to make a difference? Probably not. Both phones are capable of performing everyday tasks admirably. Likewise, the two devices can run virtually all mobile games in development. So, if you have no preference in terms of operating system, I don’t feel it’s worth taking this round.
Cameras
Both phones use a pair of 12MP cameras: one for normal shots and the other for ultra-wide shots. In both cases, the manufacturer has increased the size of the main sensor compared to previous models. For the Galaxy Z Flip 4, this means a 65 percent increase in brightness compared to the Flip 3, while the iPhone 13’s sensor absorbs 47 percent more light than the iPhone 12’s. Relative to each other, the Flip 4’s main sensor appears to be slightly larger, with 1.8 µm pixels compared to the iPhone 13’s 1.7 µm. Samsung’s system also benefits from better OIS (optical image stabilization) and VDIS (digital video image stabilization) capabilities than before.
The iPhone 13 shoots phenomenal images in a wide range of lighting conditions, no doubt thanks to the advanced sensor stabilization system, taken directly from the previous year’s expensive iPhone 12 Pro Max. As for the Flip 4, it doesn’t have the iPhone’s wide dynamic range but makes up for it with better detail, better low-light capture, and more creative shooting modes, especially considering the FlexCam mode, which takes advantage of the phone’s foldable form factor.
Battery
Since both devices last a full day on a single charge with average use, let’s consider other aspects of the battery. As for ports, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a USB Type-C, which is more universally adopted and used. The iPhone 13, on the other hand, has an older proprietary Lightning port. Both do their job, but the former is simply superior. If you use devices from other popular brands, they are likely to have a USB Type-C port. So, buying the iPhone 13 would mean carrying around an additional cable. Alternatively, you could switch to wireless charging, but this is slower and consumes battery power more quickly.
Both phones support Qi wireless charging, and the iPhone 13 is also compatible with MagSafe. Most importantly, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 supports reverse wireless charging. This means that you can use the phone as a wireless charging base for another phone or accessory. This feature is currently absent on all iPhone models. As a result, Samsung wins this round. Reverse wireless charging is a key and essential feature at this point. With the latest AirPods supporting the Qi and MagSafe wireless charging standards, it would make sense for Apple to support them through our iPhones as well. We can only hope to see this welcome addition introduced on new iPhone models sooner rather than later.
Final Words
These are two classy flagship phones, but Samsung will have to do everything to match the simple and functional excellence of the iPhone 13. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, launched around the same time as the iPhone 13, failed to compete with Apple’s champion because of mediocre battery life and an inadequate camera system for such a high price. Has the Galaxy Z Flip 4 caught up over the past year? It has improved, but it is still unclear, partly because despite its relative affordability, the Z Flip 4 is still one of the most expensive phones on the market.
