Apple iPhone X vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone X and Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 represent different eras and philosophies at the same $999 price point. The iPhone X, released in 2017, offers a compact 5.8-inch OLED display with 625 nits brightness and the A11 Bionic processor with 3GB RAM. Its camera system delivers excellent results with dual 12MP sensors, OIS, and 2x optical zoom. Battery life is modest at 2716 mAh with 7.5W wireless charging. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 (2023) brings substantially more raw power with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 8GB RAM, and a massive 3700 mAh battery supporting 25W fast charging. Its innovative foldable design unfolds to 6.7 inches with 120Hz LTPO AMOLED technology reaching 1600 nits peak brightness. You also get 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E, and modern Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The trade-off is practicality: the iPhone X is a reliable daily driver from a mature ecosystem, while the Z Flip 5 sacrifices durability concerns (IPX8 vs IP67) and fold crease visibility for cutting-edge hardware and form factor novelty. For pure performance, camera quality, and modern connectivity, the Z Flip 5 wins decisively. For proven reliability and compact usability, the iPhone X aged reasonably well but feels dated by comparison.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone X if…
- →Revolutionary edge-to-edge OLED display design
- →Face ID introduced biometric innovation
- →Wireless charging support
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 if…
- →Much larger 3.4-inch cover screen allows full app use when folded
- →Compact pocketable flip form factor
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship chip
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone X
Pros
- Revolutionary edge-to-edge OLED display design
- Face ID introduced biometric innovation
- Wireless charging support
- Premium stainless steel and glass build
- Animoji with TrueDepth camera
Cons
- First-gen Face ID was slower than Touch ID
- Notch design was polarizing
- $999 starting price was unprecedented
- No headphone jack or adapter in box
- Fragile all-glass construction
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Pros
- Much larger 3.4-inch cover screen allows full app use when folded
- Compact pocketable flip form factor
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship chip
- IPX8 water resistance
- Stylish design with many color options
Cons
- Small 3700 mAh battery drains quickly
- Only 12 MP main camera, no telephoto
- Slow 25W charging
- Inner display crease still noticeable
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone X | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 13, One UI 5.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 187 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm unfolded |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2716 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.7 inches inner, 3.4 inches cover |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2640 x 1080 inner, 720 x 748 cover |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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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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