Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Is the $700 more for the foldable screen worth it?

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Is the $700 more for the foldable screen worth it?

The largest and most powerful iPhone on the market is challenged by the new Z Fold 5 with two screens.

folding behavior

Unquestionably, the Z Fold 5 from Samsung is the best option for those who want cutting edge technology; yet, the folding display and S Pen compatibility are pricey features. It's difficult to convince the ordinary user to buy the most costly iPhone 14 Pro Max since it costs $200 less than the Z Fold 5, which is the entry-level model.

Advantages

The folding display has improved greatly.

Fast performance inking is made easy with the S Pen.

Deficit

starts at $1,800 and is more likely to break

Apple's largest iPhone

Despite not having a foldable screen, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple's biggest and most powerful phone and ought to be the best option for the majority of users. It is more affordable initially, weighs around $700 less than the Z Fold 5, and is rather sturdy.

Advantages

Magnificent display (even if he stays still)

IP68 resistance to dust and water

Outstanding functionality and battery longevity

Deficit

not a foldable display; Lightning is used in place of USB-C

In brief

   Both the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 are high-end phones, albeit they vary in terms of shape and cost.

   The iPhone 14 Pro Max is a conventional single display design, but the Z Fold 5 is a folding phone with two screens.

   The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a distinctive display notch and a better quality display than the Z Fold 5, which has a bigger internal folding screen and the ability to utilize the S Pen.

If you're searching for a reasonably priced, foldable phone with two screens, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is among the greatest Android phones available. Conversely, the biggest and most powerful iPhone is the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Although it isn't foldable, it is much less expensive than the Z Fold 5 and has a fantastic 6.7-inch display.

In addition to variations in cost and functionality, the operating systems and hardware performance of these phones range significantly, as does their form factor. To ensure you get the greatest phone, let's examine the specifics in more depth and analyze the advantages and disadvantages.

Cost, Availability, and Details

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has an exorbitant price tag despite being one of the greatest folding phones available right now. A variant with 256GB of storage begins at around $1,800, and the price goes up to $1,920 for 512GB and $2,160 for 1TB. The Z Fold 5 is consistently available on Samsung's official website as well as independent stores like Best Buy and Amazon.

The 128GB edition of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is priced at a more reasonable $1,100. The price increases to $1,199 when you want to match the initial Z Fold 5 model with 256GB of storage. It costs $1,399 to double the capacity to 512GB, and $1,599 to double it again to 1TB. Even said, the most costly iPhone model is still around $200 cheaper than the original Z Fold 5. In addition to being sold on Apple's official website, third-party stores like Best Buy and Amazon also carry the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Although it seems that the latter store is now only selling reconditioned units, things might change.

create

Design-wise, selecting a phone is often a personal decision, but in this instance, there are two distinct form factors vying for your attention. The Samsung Z Fold 5 is a foldable phone with an exterior screen, an inside main screen, and a hinge mechanism that lets you fold the main screen on your own. In contrast, Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max is a more conventional phone with a display and a small chassis.

Though not everyone is a fan of folding designs, those who find the concept of a phone that can easily fold into a tiny tablet endearing should be won over. There is still some room inside to avoid harm from pieces and debris, but a redesigned hinge for this Z Fold generation removes portion of the phone when folded, allowing the two sides of the screen to stay closed without any discernible lag. Although a Galaxy phone may seem less durable than an iPhone because of all its moving components, it is really made to a high quality and is consistent with Samsung's high-end S-series hardware.

The Z Fold 5 is 67.1 mm x 155 mm x 13 mm when folded, and 130 mm x 155 mm x 6.1 mm when open. The dimensions of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, in comparison, are around 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85 mm. In addition, the Z Fold 5 weighs almost 253g more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which weighs 240g. Though it's not so thick that you won't ultimately get accustomed to it, you'll definitely notice the Z Fold 5 more when it's in your pocket.

If you buy the Z Fold 5 straight from Samsung, you may choose between an exclusive Gray and Blue color and the standard Ice Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream hues. The Z Fold 5 has an IPX8 certification for water resistance but not dust resistance, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max is available in Deep Purple, Gold, Silver, and Space Black as well as has an IP68 rating for water and dust protection.Nothing is in the way.

Present

The display is much the same as it was on the Z Fold 4 from the previous year, according to phones editor Will Sattelberg, who also noted that "the internal screen doesn't suffer suffering the same level of reflection that I experienced on the Pixel Fold." "As well as as a bonus, its maximum brightness setting has been raised to match what we've previously seen on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, making it perfect for outdoor use." For improved outside usage, the internal screen may now achieve 1,750 nits.

Additionally, Sattelberg pointed out that typing is a bit difficult on the thinner cover screen, which is 6.2 inches in size and has an OLED display with a resolution of 2316x904—at least when seen in portrait mode. The Z Fold 5 may be too tiny for heavy usage for people who like a traditional phone experience, but this will probably persuade you to utilize the inside display more often. As previously indicated, the OLED display and 7.6-inch internal folding screen have a resolution of 2176x1812, placing it in the middle between a phone and a tablet. Both of these stunning panels have refresh rates of 120 Hz, and the Z Fold 5's more square aspect ratio will be ideal for multitasking and certain tasks.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2796x1290, with a more conventional screen configuration. At 460 pixels per inch (ppi), it has a resolution that is noticeably greater than the Z Fold 5's 402 ppi cover screen and 374 ppi inner folding screen. With an outdoor mode, the screen can reach 2,000 nits of brightness, with 1,600 nits set aside for HDR content and 1,000 nits of regular brightness accessible at all times. For a smoother appearance, it may also reach a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

The Z Fold 5 excels in a several areas, including the S Pen. Together with the bigger internal display, the smaller pen makes for a high-quality inking experience that may be useful for taking notes, drawing diagrams, or just browsing your applications. A secure S Pen holder is included with some of the finest Galaxy Z Fold 5 covers for safekeeping.

However, the iPhone's display notch—dubbed "Dynamic Island"—is no longer simply a blank spot on your screen. It is capable of displaying scores and song names, handling AirDrops, transferring across applications, and much more. Only the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max variants have it; it functions somewhat like a little cover display that is integrated into the main screen.

applications

While the iPhone ships with Apple's iOS 16, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with Android 13 with Samsung's One UI 5.1.1 customisation. Though there is a lot more information available in our detailed comparison post between Android 13 and iOS 16, both are good operating systems with pros and cons of their own. I've spent years using the operating system extensively, so there shouldn't be any significant obstacles for inexperienced users to overcome. Although switching between platforms is not too difficult, those with vested interests in one ecosystem may choose to stay with what they are familiar with.

For those who like personalizing their phones, Android 13 is unquestionably a superior option. You're also seeing the finest of Samsung's phone-specific tweaks with One UI 5.1.1. Although Apple's iOS 16 isn't as configurable, a system with more locks is usually more secure.

Not to be overlooked is the impending release of iOS 17 and Android 14. The public release of Android 14 (with a little delay to allow Samsung to release their version) is scheduled for August 2023, while iOS 17 is scheduled for September 2023. Both operating system versions are now undergoing testing.

camera

The Z Fold 5's camera configuration remains unchanged from Samsung's previous version, meaning that it continues to lag behind high-end alternatives like the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It doesn't mean it can't take excellent pictures, but iPhone users who base their decision on camera technology may prefer to stay with it.

On the rear of the Z Fold 5, three lenses are arranged in a row. An f/1.8 aperture on the primary 50MP camera is complemented by an f/2.4 aperture on the 3x telephoto lens at 10MP and an f/2.2 aperture on the ultrawide lens at 12MP. A hole-punch camera with a 10MP sensor and an f/2.2 aperture is located below the display on the front of the phone, next to another 4MP camera.

Three lenses are also included on the rear of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Most of the work will be done by the primary 48MP sensor with an f/1.78 aperture, but it will be supported by two additional lenses: a 12MP telephoto (f/2.8 aperture) and a 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2 aperture). The front of the iPhone has a sizable notch that holds a 12MP (f/1.9) TrueDepth selfie camera with FaceID functionality.

With its LiDAR scanner, Apple is a leader in yet another field. It may be utilized for more professional applications including 3D scanning as well as virtual/augmented reality, in addition to helping to produce high-quality night images.

The battery and display

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU from Qualcomm, together with 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage capacity, are now features of the upgraded Galaxy Z Fold 5.Was. With eight cores and a clock speed of up to 3.2 MHz, this mobile CPU can tackle any task that is thrown at it. It can power DeX for a setting more akin to a desktop computer than a phone, play games, and multitask. There shouldn't be any shocks since this CPU has shown its worth time and time again.

The 4,400mAh battery in the Z Fold 5 is somewhat bigger than the 4,323mAh battery in the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and throughout our testing, we saw "all day, but barely" performance. Moreover, the phone has a 25W maximum charging capacity, which is a little unexpected considering its starting price of $1,800. The maximum capacity of a Qi wireless charger is 15W when utilizing one. See our selection of the top Galaxy Z Fold 5 accessories to peruse some more charging choices.

Apple powers the iPhone 14 Pro Max with its A16 Bionic processor. It comes with six cores and six gigabytes of RAM. Apple's processor wins out in terms of pure CPU power, yet you may find that Qualcomm's chip performs better while gaming. While the Z Fold 5 isn't very sluggish, the iPhone might operate a little more quickly in daily situations. Despite having a somewhat lower capacity, the battery life is outstanding, and you should be able to go for a full day or more between charges. The maximum power output for the iPhone 14 Pro Max is 15W when using a MagSafe charger, 7.5W when using a Qi wireless charger, and 20W or more when using a cable charger.

Regarding capacity, none of the phones support reading microSD cards. Over the phone's lifespan, you'll have to choose how much storage you could need, although possibilities go up to 1TB. The Z Fold 5 has a starting storage capacity of 256GB, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has an extra 128GB available.

Which mobile device is best for you?

The software, cameras, performance, and battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max undoubtedly vary from one another, but the form factor will undoubtedly be the deciding factor in the end.

A few years ago, folding phones were just a pipe dream. Even today, however, rare devices like the stunning Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 remain. The primary barrier is the exorbitant price tag, but there are other factors to take into account when selecting a new foldable form factor. To use your phone correctly, for instance, do you really want to keep it on all the time? And are you willing to cope with the potential for more harm from moving parts? The Z Fold 5 is among the greatest phones available, but not everyone will be a good fit for it. Having said that, those with large budgets will love the Z Fold 5's feature set, folding form, and support for styluses.

If you're not willing to shell out a lot of money for the Z Fold 5, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max ought to be a fantastic substitute. Although it isn't as ostentatious as the Z Fold 5, it is the biggest and most powerful iPhone available right now. Even when it's not folded, its 6.7-inch screen will wow you every time you switch it on. It's strong and has an amazing battery life. As long as they can operate iOS, this iPhone ought to be a fantastic choice for the majority of consumers, especially because it costs around $700 less than the Z Fold 5.