Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 14 Plus delivers reliable performance and excellent camera quality in a traditional form factor, while Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 represents cutting-edge innovation with its transformative foldable design. Display-wise, the Z Fold 5 dominates with a 120Hz AMOLED panel and massive 7.6-inch inner screen versus the 14 Plus's 60Hz OLED display, though the iPhone excels in color accuracy and outdoor brightness at 1200 nits. Performance metrics heavily favor Samsung's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which outpaces the A15 Bionic in raw power, while the iPhone's ecosystem integration and software optimization provide smoother real-world usage. Camera capabilities differ meaningfully: the Z Fold 5 features a superior 50MP main sensor with 3x optical zoom, but the iPhone 14 Plus produces more naturally processed images. Battery endurance slightly favors the Z Fold 5 at 4400mAh, though both require daily charging under heavy use. Price represents the critical differentiator: at $899 versus $1800, the iPhone 14 Plus offers substantially better value and practicality for most users, while the Z Fold 5 appeals to early adopters willing to pay premium pricing for experimental technology.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Plus if…
- →Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- →Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- →Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 if…
- →Slimmer hinge with zero-gap fold eliminates the gap seen on Fold 4
- →Large 7.6-inch inner display for multitasking and productivity
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship performance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Pros
- Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
- Photonic Engine improves low-light photography
- MagSafe ecosystem for accessories and wireless charging
Cons
- 60Hz display feels outdated compared to ProMotion models
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto camera — only dual lens system
- Notch instead of Dynamic Island
- 12 MP camera resolution unchanged from previous generations
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Pros
- Slimmer hinge with zero-gap fold eliminates the gap seen on Fold 4
- Large 7.6-inch inner display for multitasking and productivity
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship performance
- IPX8 water resistance
- Four years of OS and five years of security updates
Cons
- Very expensive starting at $1799
- Heavy at 253 g
- Visible crease on inner display
- Slow 25W charging for a premium device
- Under-display camera is noticeably lower quality
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 14 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 16 | Android 13, One UI 5.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 203 g | 253 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.80 mm | 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mm unfolded |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, autofocus | 10 MP cover, 4 MP under-display |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP 3x optical |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4325 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 7.6 inches inner, 6.2 inches cover |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2176 x 1812 inner, 2316 x 904 cover |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz + 4x1.82 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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