With similar prices, but very different vibes, these two phones will definitely have some people wondering: which one is right for me?
Samsung has been at the forefront of foldable phones — from the big and expensive Fold series to the more “normal” style Flip phones. Bringing a foldable to the masses, the company introduced the modern clamshell that folds to become more compact. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 can be viewed as the more affordable type of a foldable phone. Admittedly, it can’t give you the almost-tablet experience of a Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it does let you touch the flexible screens of tomorrow.Apple, on the other hand, gives you the base iPhone 14 and then… just more iPhone — Plus, Pro, Pro Max. They all serve the same basic purposes, but have added bells and whistles. Some may call them boring, others may feel comfortable with their familiarity and predictability.In any case, is your smartphone self more adventurous or more mundane? Still trying to figure it out? Let’s see if the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has what it takes to pull you away from an iPhone 14!
We can’t really go on without noting that one of these phones folds — with no extra pressure needed. However, the Galaxy Z Flip’s clamshell form factor only assures that it can get in a more compact shape to fit more types of pockets. Once its unfolded — it’s pretty much a regular smartphone, and a tall one at that.Still, this comes with some pros and cons. The good thing? You can slap the phone shut to end calls, you can keep it half-folded so it props itself up for video calls or selfies (or… *shudder* TikTok videos), and you still have a tiny screen on the outside to get your notifications and even perform quick replies with simple swipes and taps.The bad — your choice in cases will be a bit more limited, as manufacturers are trying to figure out what exactly to wrap around a phone that’s basically two halves. And if you want a screen protector, you can only go for the extra-thin plastic ones.But hey, at least the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is available in a plethora of different color combinations — you can use Samsung’s Bespoke Studio to customize your purchase and choose separate colors for the shells and the exposed hinge element of the phone.The iPhone 14 is… well, obviously an iPhone — a soft rectangle with flat sides, glass back, and vibrant paintjob options. You are free to pick from 5 different iPhone 14 colors, which you can match up with different cases for added effect. Obviously, being the most popular phone brand on the planet — it does have a plethora of cases and protectors to pick from, plus MagSafe accessories that can be pretty cool and useful.In terms of screens, we have an OLED panel on the iPhone 14, which is still capped at 60 Hz refresh rate. That’s kind of a low blow in 2022, even for a “non-Pro” phone at the $800 mark. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has the Samsung Dynamic AMOLED 2X, which hits 120 Hz — a much smoother and pleasing experience. And yes, Samsung is on top of its screen game, and this display is bright and vibrant. Now, both screens have their own cons. Most obviously, the iPhone still has “the Notch” that houses its Face ID array. Let’s be fair, most iPhone users have either learned to live with it or never saw it as an issue in the first place. The Z Flip 4 still has a shallow crease across the middle, you know — due to having a fold there —, and it still is a soft material, which Samsung may call “super-thin glass”, but it’s easy to dig into it with a fingernail or something hard-ish. So, while the foldable is novel, it still has its disadvantages.And since we are on the topic of durability, the iPhone 14 is fully dust- and water- protected with a high IP68 rating. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has IPX8, which is extremely impressive for a foldable phone with a hinge. It means it can survive splashes and submersion of up to 1.
