The 2022 comparison: iPhone 14 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Shortly after the iPhone 14 launched, many longtime iPhone users are wondering whether they should switch to Samsung, often with the innovative Galaxy Z Flip 4 in mind. I compare the two head to head as a decision aid. At launch, the Z Flip 4 cost €1,099 and the iPhone 14 cost €999. On some points one device gets the nod, on others both do.

Design and materials

Criterion	iPhone 14	Galaxy Z Flip 4	Advantage
Size	71.5 mm wide, 7.8 mm thick	unfolded 165.2 × 71.9 × 6.9 mm, folded 84.9 mm long and 17.1 mm thick	both (the Flip is hard to beat when folded)
Weight	172 g	187 g	iPhone
Glass	Ceramic Shield	Gorilla Glass Victus Plus	both
Frame	Aluminum	Armor Aluminum, somewhat sturdier	Z Flip 4
Protection rating	IP68, dust- and waterproof	IPX8, not dust-protected	iPhone

Display, performance and speakers

The iPhone 14 has a 60 Hz OLED. The Z Flip 4 has a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED with adaptive 120 Hz. Why Apple sticks with 60 Hz is a mystery to me. On top of that, there is a 1.9-inch AMOLED outer display, which can’t be compared.

The iPhone 14 has the A15 Bionic with 6 GB of RAM, and the Z Flip 4 has the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with 8 GB of RAM. Both run without stutters. But the A15 is no longer the latest chip; the Pro models have the A16. Advantage here: Z Flip 4. The stereo speakers sound good on both, so there is no winner here.

Battery and charging

The iPhone’s battery is much smaller than the Z Flip 4’s 3,700 mAh, but thanks to 60 Hz it apparently lasts up to a day and a half. With the Z Flip 4, I get through the day just fine, but that’s it. Advantage: iPhone. For charging, the Z Flip 4 has 25 watts. Neither device really charges fast, but the iPhone takes much longer. The iPhone also still has Lightning, while Samsung has been using USB-C for years. I find it cumbersome to carry an extra cable with the iPhone. Advantage: Z Flip 4.

Camera

The iPhone 14 has a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 12.2-megapixel ultra-wide camera, video in up to 4K at 60 frames per second, and Cinematic mode. The Z Flip 4 has a 12-megapixel main camera and UHD video at 60 frames per second, so it is almost identical. In return, it offers modes like portrait video and Director’s View.

The decision was hard for me. The Z Flip 4 often oversaturates images, while the iPhone is more reliable when you just point and shoot. In my view, the iPhone has the edge, but that is a matter of taste. Advantage: iPhone.

Ad: In the middle of the video, there is an ad break for the sponsor Casetify, which makes cases from recycled smartphone cases.

Innovation

The Z Flip 4 offers an incredible amount of innovation, while little has changed with the iPhone 14 since the iPhone 13 or 12:

• the folding mechanism, which makes the device very handy and serves as a tripod
• split screen, which I use often and miss on the iPhone
• reverse wireless charging, which means I don’t have to carry a charging cable for my watch
• the outer display as a preview for the main camera, which lets you take selfies in good resolution

On top of that come the customizable interface, the Bespoke Edition with colors of your own choosing, and the always-on display. With a nearly identical recommended retail price (RRP), that has to count, because there is a lot of development work behind it. Advantage: clearly the Z Flip 4.

Resale value

Here the iPhone has the edge. Prices barely fall, and after two years you can sell it for about 70% of the purchase price, depending on condition. In the end, that makes it cheaper, which I think is justified, because with Apple you buy the brand as well. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 came out in August, and after two months it was available new from a retailer on eBay for about €750 to €800, a price drop of over 30%. Advantage: iPhone.

Verdict

It was a close head-to-head race. In the end, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 wins for me because of all the innovation work. That is my personal opinion, and others may have different criteria.

• Z Flip 4: if innovation, split screen, reverse wireless charging and USB-C matter to you.
• iPhone 14: if camera reliability, battery and a good resale value matter more to you.