Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy Z Flip 5: Which should you buy?

The newly announced Samsung Galaxy S24 is one of the most pocket-friendly phones on the planet, but even it faces stiff competition from one of the best foldable phones around, the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Despite distinct form factors, both phones offer similar pricing and experiences. Which is the better pick? We briefly explore how these two great Android phones fare in this Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy Z Flip 5 comparison.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is relatively small by today’s standards, measuring 147 x 70.6 mm and is 7.6 mm thick. It also features a relatively modest-sized 6.1-inch display. These factors make it one of the most pocketable candy bar phones, but it can’t compete with the Z Flip 5.

When folded, the Flip 5 is significantly smaller at 85.09 x 72mm but notably thicker at 15.1 mm. While I find the Z Flip 5 reasonably comfortable in my pockets, its thickness is noticeable. Unfolded, it is quite a bit larger than the S24 due to its 6.7-inch display, measuring 165.1 x 71.9 mm. It also has a slightly thinner profile at 6.9 mm.

Then there’s the Galaxy S24 Plus, which has the same display size as the Flip 5 and yet retains a slightly smaller blueprint when compared to the unfolded Flip, measuring 158.5 x 75.9 with a thickness of  7.7mm.

When it comes to the hardware inside, the S24 and S24 Plus are nearly identical outside of screen, body, and battery size. The S24 Plus also has 4GB of additional RAM, bringing the total up to 12GB, and slightly faster 45W charging. The Z Flip 5 isn’t too dissimilar from either of these phones here either, though the latter two boast a faster Snapdragon Gen 3 processor and some differences in storage configurations. Still, the most notable difference aside from the SoC is the camera.

The Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus have essentially the same camera hardware as their predecessors, which performed better than the Z Flip 5 in our camera tests last year. While we haven’t thoroughly tested the S24 cameras yet, we can expect it to deliver an experience at least on par with, if not better than, the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus. If photography is important to you, the Galaxy S24 is going to be the better choice, though we won’t be able to say by how much until we have more time with the Galaxy S24 camera.

While all three phones offer hardware capable of a great day-to-day experience, there’s more to consider than just specs. Samsung introduced Galaxy AI exclusively for the S24 series, offering features like real-time live translations during calls, transcription assistance, chat assistance, note summarization, and more. You also can store all data locally if you prefer, though it’s worth noting that while some of the functions can be performed on-device with no connection, others will require the cloud.

Samsung seems to be aiming for an AI-centric experience, similar to the Google Pixel 8, but with more powerful hardware on board. This could pose a challenge for Google in the future, though the Mountain View giant is rumored to be working on more powerful chips to address this in the future.

In terms of software support, the Galaxy S24 matches the Pixel’s seven-year policy, whereas the Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers four years of OS updates and five years of patches. If software support is essential to you, the S24 is the better choice.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 may lack the fancy AI features and extended update promise of the Galaxy S24 series, but it still offers a powerful phone with a unique folding design. Apart from the design and enhanced pocketability, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s standout feature is the Flex Window on its front. It allows you to quickly access functions like changing songs, checking the weather, and controlling your smartphone through widgets without opening and unlocking your phone. While it’s more convenient than on a candy bar phone like the Galaxy S24, it’s tied closely to the phone’s design.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus were officially announced on January 17 and are available for pre-order now. You’ll even get a $100 discount and a free upgrade to the next highest storage tier if you pre-order between now and January 30, as the S24 family will officially go on sale on January 31. The Galaxy S24 will start at $799.99 for the 128GB base model, with a more expensive 256GB version priced at $859.99. The Plus will cost a bit more, starting at $999.99 for the model with 256GB of storage or $1,119.99 for the 512GB model.

In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 was launched in August 2023 with a retail price of $1,000 for the 256GB model and $1,120 for the 512GB version. Since then, it has gone on sale several times, sometimes with a price tag very close to the S24’s retail price.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is undoubtedly the best value and the most practical choice for most users. It comes at a $200 lower price, features a faster processor, introduces new AI capabilities, boasts an improved camera, and offers a superior update policy. If you seek a powerful phone and aren’t concerned about foldability, the Galaxy S24 is a no-brainer.

If the smaller display and size of the S24 are not to your liking, consider the Galaxy S24 Plus ($1119.99 at Samsung) or Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Samsung), which come at higher costs but address these concerns.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 carries a certain cool factor with its unique foldable design. While it may come at a slightly higher price, it offers a comparable experience except the features mentioned above, and it can fold in half, which sets it apart. The Z Flip 5 is also ideal for those who value pocketability but dislike small screens, as its unfolded 6.7-inch display is much larger than that of the standard Galaxy S24.

You can’t go wrong with either phone, but the Galaxy S24 series is objectively a more powerful device despite a cheaper starting price. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is only worth it if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance and some features in exchange for its unique design.