The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the hottest phone on the market right now. But Samsung’s newest folding device Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also redefining the standards for cutting-edge smartphones. Let’s see the main differences and compare the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold 5.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold 5: Main Differences
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is new and exciting. It looks different with its tough titanium body and also has a special button you can customize, and the usual camera improvements.
Then, there’s Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5. It’s not a regular phone; it’s a foldable one. It’s like having a small tablet that you can fold up and put in your pocket. This new one is the best foldable Samsung has made so far, and it has some really cool upgrades.
So, which one is better? Let’s take a closer look to see which phone is the star of 2023.
Display
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max maintains its trusted formula with minimal changes. The 6.7-inch screen remains unchanged, delivering a vibrant display experience with smooth scrolling. Its screen brightness continues to meet the needs of most users.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: In a similar vein, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers a familiar experience with its screens. The outer screen measures 6.2 inches and provides a pleasant viewing experience, while the larger 7.6-inch inner screen, though slightly square in shape, impresses with its smooth functionality, adapting seamlessly to various tasks.
Camera Upgrades of iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold 5
iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera: The iPhone 15 Pro Max brings some impressive camera upgrades. Its main camera now boasts a 48MP sensor, though it defaults to 24MP for great photos. What’s really cool is that you can tweak the wide-angle camera to act like it’s at different distances, like 24mm, 28mm, or 35mm. There’s also a new Photonic Engine and Smart HDR for even better photos, and it can capture depth data with regular photos for improved portraits. But the real star is the 5X periscope lens, which uses clever tech to give you a 120mm zoom. It’s not as much as some other phones, but it’s more than the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Galaxy Z Fold 5 Camera: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 doesn’t introduce anything groundbreaking in the camera department, and that’s okay because it still has a solid camera setup. It sports a 50MP main camera with Dual Pixel autofocus, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a wide aperture of F1.8. It also has a 12MP ultra-wide camera with an F2.2 aperture and a 10MP telephoto camera offering 3X optical zoom with OIS. On the front, there’s a 10MP punch-hole camera on the external screen and a unique 4MP under-display camera on the internal screen, which cleverly disappears when not in use. While you can spot it if you look closely, it’s almost invisible in everyday use.
Performance and Software
iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max features 3nm A17 Pro chip, slightly faster than the A16 Bionic. This denser 3nm tech packs more transistors, providing about 10% improved speed. Battery life remains similar to the iPhone 15 Pro. Notably, it excels in graphics with a new 6-core GPU and hardware ray-tracing support, benefiting gamers.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, which we’ve already seen perform brilliantly on the Galaxy S23 series. Expect top-notch performance and efficiency here.
Storage capacity
For memory, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is rumored to have 8GB of RAM, a solid bump from the previous model, improving overall functionality. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts 12GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM, making it a multitasking champ. Storage-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and a massive 1TB option. On the other hand, the Z Fold 5 comes in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions, with no microSD card slot for expansion.
Battery life comparison of iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold 5
iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max packs a 4,422mAh battery, and despite expectations of improved efficiency with the new Apple A17 Pro chip’s 3nm process, Apple hasn’t extended battery life significantly. Battery estimates match those of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, so don’t anticipate a major endurance boost. Comprehensive battery tests will reveal the full picture. The iPhone 15 Pro Max retains its 20W wired charging, contrary to rumors of 35W support. MagSafe wireless charging is still supported.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is equipped with a 4,400mAh battery, offering decent performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s energy efficiency. It comfortably lasts a day, but your usage pattern will influence actual endurance, particularly regarding screen usage. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 supports up to 25W wired charging, providing a slight advantage. A full charge takes 80 minutes, with a 30-minute session yielding over half the battery.
Design
iPhone 15 Pro Max: The iPhone 15 Pro Max upgrades its design with a lighter and stronger titanium frame, replacing stainless steel. Slimmer screen bezels create an edge-to-edge look, and it adopts a punch-hole Dynamic Island design. A notable change is the removal of the mute switch, replaced by customizable Action Buttons similar to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. These buttons allow you to set functions like quick flashlight access and camera shortcuts, while silent and ring modes are still available. Additionally, it swaps the old Lightning cable for USB Type-C, potentially offering faster data transfer with USB 3.0, though charging speed remains similar.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 keeps its familiar look but boasts a major hinge improvement. When folded, there’s no gap between the panels, fixing a past issue. The crease on the screen remains, typical of foldable displays. Due to its foldable design, the Z Fold 5 is larger and thicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Folded, it measures 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4mm and expands to 129.9 x 154.9 x 6.1mm when open. It weighs 253g, lighter than its predecessor but slightly heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 221g, thanks to the titanium frame.
Color Options for iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Z Fold 5
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple offers four elegant metallic shades for the iPhone 15 Pro Max: Natural Titanium, Black Titanium, White Titanium, and Blue Titanium, all featuring a premium brushed titanium finish with a matte black backplate.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: The Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream colors. If you’re interested in Gray and Blue variants, you can exclusively find them on Samsung.com.
Final word
Both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy Z Fold 5, despite their differences, are top contenders in the super-premium phone category this fall. Apple retained the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s price levels from its predecessor, starting at $1,199. The Galaxy Z Fold 5, while still one of Samsung’s priciest offerings, also didn’t see a significant price increase, starting at $1,799.99. These phones cater to diverse preferences, with the iPhone focusing on traditional design and hardware improvements, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers innovation and novelty. This fall, they represent some of the most exciting options for those ready for a change.
