Apple iPhone X vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The Verdict
iPhone X delivers a premium flagship experience with its iconic OLED display, exceptional camera system, and seamless iOS ecosystem at a lower entry price. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 represents cutting-edge innovation with its foldable design, larger 7.6-inch inner display, superior 120Hz refresh rate, and more powerful Snapdragon 888 processor with 12GB RAM. While the Z Fold 3 offers revolutionary hardware and 5G connectivity, its $1799 premium pricing, heavier 271g weight, and still-immature foldable technology make it niche. iPhone X remains the more practical choice for mainstream users seeking reliability and longevity. However, for early adopters wanting transformative mobile technology, the Z Fold 3's innovative form factor and performance advantages justify its cost. Recommendation: Choose iPhone X for proven excellence and value; select Galaxy Z Fold 3 only if foldable functionality excites you and budget allows.
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 Fold 3 if…
- →First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- →S Pen support on inner display
- →120Hz on both inner and cover screens
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 Fold 3
Pros
- First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- S Pen support on inner display
- 120Hz on both inner and cover screens
- Under-display camera for seamless inner screen
- Multi-window multitasking
Cons
- $1799 is prohibitively expensive
- Heavy at 271 g
- Under-display camera quality is poor
- Same cameras as Fold 2
- S Pen not included and no storage silo
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone X | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 11, One UI 3.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 271 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP67 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 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 (cover), 4 MP under-display (inner) |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2716 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 7.6 inches (inner), 6.2 inches (cover) |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, foldable |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2208 x 1768 (inner), 2268 x 832 (cover) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz (both) |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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