iPhone 15 vs Z Flip 5 vs Z Fold 5: Comparing specs, price, cameras

The dust has settled on Apple's big iPhone 15 blowout extravaganza. Let's see how the newest iPhone stacks up against Samsung's best foldables.

That's right, it's time to compare the iPhone 15 to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. There's not likely to be a bad choice in the bunch, but these are three pretty different devices that serve a variety of needs. Here's how their specs, cameras, and overall value compare to one another.

iPhone 15 vs. Z Fold 5 vs. Z Flip 5: Specs

As always, when getting a new phone, nothing matters more than the specs. You need to make an informed decision based on how good the display is, what kind of processor the phone has, and how many photos of your pets can fit in its internal storage. Here are the basic specs for the three phones:

• iPhone 15: 6.1-inch display with 60Hz refresh rate

• iPhone 15: Apple A16 Bionic processor

• iPhone 15: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options

• Z Fold 5: 7.6-inch AMOLED inner display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Z Fold 5: 6.2-inch AMOLED outer display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Z Fold 5: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor

• Z Fold 5: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage

• Z Flip 5: 6.7-inch AMOLED inner display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Z Flip 5: 3.4-inch cover display with 60Hz refresh rate

• Z Flip 5: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor

• Z Flip 5: 256GB or 512GB storage

Let's start with the displays because that's where the differences are going to be the most noticeable. There's no getting around it: Apple loses here. The iPhone 15's display is almost certainly totally fine for everyday use, but a 60Hz refresh rate on a flagship phone in 2023 is borderline unacceptable. It is the cheapest of the three phones (more on that later), but it's still not a great look for Apple.

Samsung's options are much better. Both phones sport silky smooth 120Hz refresh rates and very large, very useful foldable displays that can do all sorts of fun multitasking trickery that the iPhone can't do. That's the good stuff.

Other than that, these three phones are on relatively equal footing. Z Fold 5 is the only one that offers a 1TB storage option, but the storage capacities of all three phones are pretty decent overall. We can't really render a verdict about performance without getting our hands on the iPhone 15 first, but Apple is always reliable in that regard, and both Samsung phones also have excellent performance.

So, really, this is about displays, and the most expensive of the three phones naturally wins.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

iPhone 15 vs. Z Fold 5 vs. Z Flip 5: Cameras

The differences are more stark when it comes to cameras. Check this out:

• iPhone 15: 48MP main rear lens and 12MP ultra-wide lens

• Z Flip 5: 12MP ultra-wide lens and 12MP wide angle lens

• Z Fold 5: 50MP wide lens, 12MP ultra-wide lens, 10MP telephoto lens

Based purely on megapixel numbers and counting lenses, the Z Fold 5 should have the best camera array of the bunch. However, without thorough testing of the iPhone 15's photographic prowess, it's hard to say definitively whether or not that's actually true. Regardless, the winner is definitely not the Z Flip 5.

One thing to consider here is that Apple generally has a better reputation for its smartphone cameras than Samsung does, and there's no reason to believe the iPhone 15 camera won't be great. We'll hand this to Samsung for now, but with a bit of an asterisk on it.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, but don't be surprised if the iPhone 15 is great too

iPhone 15 vs. Z Fold 5 vs. Z Flip 5: Price and verdict

Price is the easiest one of these categories to evaluate. it's simple math, folks:

• iPhone 15: Starts at $800

• Z Flip 5: Starts at $1,000

• Z Fold 5: Starts at $1,800

If the competition here is strictly about which phone is cheapest, Apple obviously wins. That said, there's more nuance to consider. These are very distinct phones from one another; the iPhone is a traditional smartphone, while the Z Flip 5 has a kind of influencer-centric clamshell design and the Z Fold 5 can unfold into a miniature tablet.

In other words, whichever phone has the best value can depend entirely on what you plan to do with it. Do you just want a phone for texting friends, idly checking Instagram, and occasionally taking photos for social media? The iPhone 15 is probably the way to go. But if you want something that's eye-catching and attention-grabbing, maybe you should opt for the Z Flip 5. And if you want an absolute powerhouse for gaming, reading, and watching videos, there's no better option than the Z Fold 5.

Apologies for not choosing a clear-cut victor, but in this case, that's really not appropriate. Sometimes the best smartphone is in the eye of the beholder.

Winner: Whatever works best for you (but probably the Z Fold 5 on its merits)