Samsung Galaxy S23+ vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Verdict
Samsung's flagship offerings target distinctly different users with dramatically different pricing. Galaxy S23+ delivers flagship performance in a traditional form factor with excellent 50MP main camera, 4700mAh battery supporting 45W charging, and 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display at 1750 nits brightness. Galaxy Z Fold 5 commands a $800 premium for its revolutionary dual-screen design: expansive 7.6-inch inner display, 12GB RAM standard, and innovative under-display camera, though it sacrifices battery capacity (4400mAh) and charging speed (25W). Both pack Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy and identical connectivity. S23+ excels in everyday performance, camera versatility with 8K video, and value proposition. Z Fold 5 justifies its cost through productivity features and foldable innovation rather than raw specifications. Standard smartphone users seeking flagship features should choose S23+. Early adopters wanting cutting-edge form factor prefer Z Fold 5 despite compromises.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
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
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
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 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 13, One UI 5.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 195 g | 253 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm | 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mm unfolded |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP cover, 4 MP under-display |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 10 MP 3x optical |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4700 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 7.6 inches inner, 6.2 inches cover |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2176 x 1812 inner, 2316 x 904 cover |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1750 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | 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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