When it comes to making a high-end phone, Samsung is no exception. People think the best phones are the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and they're right. Both of these phones have great screens, powerful processors, and great cameras. For their shapes, they are the best of the best.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a more traditional phone, but the Z Fold 4 is in many ways the future of smartphones because it can be folded and used as both a phone and a small tablet. These two phones are some of the latest and best Samsung phones you can buy right now. But which one should you choose? It probably depends on what you want to do with the phone. Let's see how they are different so you can make up your mind.
Battery and charging
Both phones have good-sized batteries that should last most people all day. Based on our testing, you should be able to use the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for around five and a half hours. Even so, the Z Fold 4's battery is 600 mAh smaller than that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
That's a 13% difference, which you'll probably notice if you use it often. The Z Fold 4's interior screen will also use more power due to its size, so don't expect it to last forever. Samsung's 45W super fast charging technology gives the Galaxy S23 Ultra another advantage when it comes to fast charging.
But while that seems better than the Z Fold 4's 25W, it won't make a big difference in charging time. Also keep in mind that neither phone comes with a charger. You will need a PD PPS USB charger to get the best charging times.
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How does software work?
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 uses the Snapdragon8+ Gen 1, while the S23 Ultra uses the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On paper, it looks like the S23 Ultra Gen 2 is the clear winner. But the chipsets are both so powerful that you probably won't notice much difference in everyday tasks. In other words, both of these phones are great and can handle anything.
Last year, the S22 Ultra tended to heat up a bit more than the Z Fold 4 during intensive work. We haven't spent enough time with the S23 Ultra to know if this is true with the new chipset, but we hope the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 can handle heat a little better.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 initially shipped with Android 12L, but it has since been updated to Samsung's One UI 5, which is Android 13 with a Samsung skin. The S23 Ultra comes with One Ui 5.1 and Android 13, so neither phone is missing any major software updates at the moment.
Both phones will be supported for the next few years, as they will get four major operating system updates and five years of security updates. Since the Galaxy S23 Ultra was just released in 2023, it makes sense that it would get one more OS update than the Z Fold 4.
Camera
You would think that since the Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs more, it would have the better camera. But this is not the case. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has proven itself to be the best camera phone on the market. Its main camera has improved this generation, which largely explains its victory.
The best thing about the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new 200MP wide-angle camera. It uses pixel binning to improve its performance in low light and fine details. The Galaxy Z Fold 4's 50MP camera uses the same technology, but it doesn't go as far.
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Size comparison
When you hold the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the S23 Ultra, they feel very different. Due to its construction, when the first is folded, it is twice as thick as a typical smartphone. But it is much narrower in this state. The Galaxy S23 Ultra could be the opposite of what it is now.
It's one of the thinnest phones on the market, but it's also one of the widest, making it difficult to use with one hand. The Z Fold 4 is thicker and heavier than the S23 Ultra, but when you open it, the screen is 60% larger than on the S23 Ultra. There's also a clear weight difference between the two best Samsung phones.
Even though the Galaxy S23 Ultra weighs 233 grams, it is still 30 grams or 12% lighter than the Z Fold 4. Although that doesn't seem like much, it makes a difference. Additionally, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can hold an entire S Pen while staying under this limit. If you want to use a stylus with the foldable, you'll need to bring it separately.
Price difference
Both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 4 are widely available in the US on all major carriers, but neither is cheap. A Galaxy S23 model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs $1,200.
The price increases even more if you choose a model with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB or 1 TB of storage. The cheapest configuration of the Z Fold 4 costs a whopping $1,800, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The good news is that both phones work with 5G (both sub-6 and mmWave), so you should be able to use the fastest speeds in your area. For this reason, these two phones are some of the most powerful 5G phones available today.
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Which model to use?
Both phones are perfect for people who need a powerful smartphone to get through their daily lives. Both devices have enough power, so you won't need more of either. So the model you choose will depend on how much money you have and what you like.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the cheaper option, but it also has fewer features and is easier to use. If you think you won't always need a small tablet in your pocket or bag, but still want a big, powerful phone, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a good choice.
On the other hand, the Z Fold 4 might be worth a shot if you can afford it and like the idea of always having a tablet-like experience with you. Whether you like multitasking with as much screen real estate as possible or just think foldable phones are cool, you might like how the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is less traditional and more fun.