Galaxy Z Flip5 Vs Google Pixel 7

Galaxy Z Flip5
Galaxy Z Flip5
Starting at

Refurbished price:£266.76

Versus £1,145.61 new

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Google Pixel 7
Google Pixel 7
Starting at

Refurbished price:£140.99

Versus £649.99 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 (released in August 2023) and the Google Pixel 7 (released in October 2022) offer distinct approaches to the modern smartphone experience. While both operate on the Android platform, the Z Flip5 stands out with its innovative foldable design and secondary cover screen, contrasting with the Pixel 7's traditional slab form factor and emphasis on computational photography and a streamlined software experience.

Scores

Durability

When considering the longevity of these devices, both offer substantial software support, though their physical designs present different durability considerations.

  • Software Updates: The Galaxy Z Flip5 is committed to receiving four generations of Android OS upgrades, extending its support through Android 17, alongside five years of security updates until 2028. The Google Pixel 7 also offers five years of OS and security updates from its release, ensuring a comparable period of software relevance.
  • Physical Durability: The Z Flip5 features an IPX8 water resistance rating, allowing submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for 30 minutes, and its cover screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. However, its main foldable screen uses a plastic film and has a visible crease, which some users note as a potential point of fragility. The Pixel 7 boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and uses Gorilla Glass Victus for its display, offering robust protection in a non-folding design.
  • Repairability: The foldable nature of the Z Flip5 introduces complexities in repair, particularly concerning the main display. The Pixel 7, with its conventional design, generally presents a more straightforward repair process for common components.

Year of Release

2023

2022

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

Yes

No

Performance

Both smartphones deliver capable performance for daily tasks, but their underlying hardware and user experiences differ in specific areas.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy Z Flip5 is equipped with a current-generation processor designed for high performance, enabling smooth handling of demanding applications and multitasking. The Pixel 7 utilizes Google's custom-designed processor, which is optimized for artificial intelligence tasks and provides a responsive experience for everyday use and Google's unique software features.
  • Battery Usage: The Z Flip5 houses a 3,700mAh battery, which users generally report as sufficient for a full day of moderate use, though heavy usage may require more frequent charging. The Pixel 7 comes with a larger 4355 mAh battery, but some users have noted that its battery life can be inconsistent, with heavy use sometimes leading to earlier depletion compared to other devices in its class.
  • Storage and Responsiveness: Both devices offer 8GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for multitasking and app switching. Storage options for both include 256GB and 512GB for the Z Flip5, and 128GB and 256GB for the Pixel 7, catering to different user needs for digital content.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

The display experience is a primary differentiator between these two devices, with the Z Flip5 offering a unique foldable form factor and the Pixel 7 providing a traditional, high-quality flat screen.

  • Main Display Technology: The Galaxy Z Flip5 features a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X main screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, providing clear visuals and good color accuracy.
  • Brightness and Clarity: The Z Flip5's main screen reaches a peak brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The Pixel 7's display can achieve up to 1000 nits typical brightness and 1400 nits peak brightness, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor environments. Both support HDR for enhanced contrast and color depth.
  • Unique Screen Features: A key feature of the Z Flip5 is its 3.4-inch Super AMOLED cover screen, which allows users to access widgets, notifications, and quick functions without unfolding the device. The Pixel 7 offers a completely flat display, which some users prefer for a consistent touch experience.

Resolution

1080 x 2640

1080 x 2400

Screen type

Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X

AMOLED

Audiovisual

Both smartphones offer strong camera systems, but they excel in different aspects, catering to varying photography preferences.

  • Rear Camera Setup: The Galaxy Z Flip5 features a dual-camera system with a 12MP wide-angle lens (with OIS) and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The Pixel 7 also has a dual-camera setup, consisting of a 50MP wide-angle lens (with OIS) and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.
  • Photography Performance: The Pixel 7 is widely praised for its computational photography, delivering consistently excellent photos, particularly in challenging conditions like low light, and offering features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. The Z Flip5's cameras are considered good for everyday use, producing sharp details and vibrant colors, and benefit from the foldable form factor for unique shooting angles and hands-free selfies using the main cameras.
  • Video Capabilities and Audio: Both devices support 4K video recording at 30 or 60 frames per second. The Pixel 7 includes features like Cinematic Blur and Cinematic Pan for video. The Z Flip5 also offers HDR10+ video recording. For audio, the Pixel 7 provides loud and clear stereo speakers, while the Z Flip5 also features stereo speakers for media consumption.

Main camera

12 megapixels

50 megapixels

Front camera

10 megapixels

10.8 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements distinguish the user experience of these two devices.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both the Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Google Pixel 7 support 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 (Z Flip5) or 5.2 (Pixel 7). The Z Flip5 uses a USB Type-C 2.0 port, while the Pixel 7 features a faster USB-C 3.2 port. Neither device includes a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Biometric Security: The Z Flip5 incorporates a capacitive fingerprint sensor located on the side power button for quick and secure unlocking. The Pixel 7 utilizes an under-display optical fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication. Both also offer face recognition.
  • Design and Handling: The Z Flip5's foldable design allows it to be significantly more compact when closed (85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1mm), making it highly portable. When unfolded, it measures 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm and weighs 187g. The Pixel 7 has a more traditional smartphone form factor, measuring 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm and weighing 197g, offering a solid in-hand feel.

Weight

187 g

197 g

Screen size (in)

6.7 /3.4

6.3

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Google Pixel 7 cater to different user priorities, each offering a compelling smartphone experience. Users frequently praise the Z Flip5 for its innovative foldable design and the utility of its larger cover screen, which allows for quick interactions without opening the device. The ability to use the main cameras for high-quality selfies and unique shooting angles is also a common highlight. However, some users express concerns about the long-term durability of the folding screen and its visible crease, as well as the battery life, which, while adequate for many, may not satisfy heavy users.

Conversely, the Google Pixel 7 is consistently lauded for its exceptional camera performance, particularly its computational photography capabilities that produce impressive results in various conditions. Its clean Android experience and robust software support are also strong points. Criticisms often revolve around its battery life, which some users find to be mediocre, and the performance of its in-display fingerprint sensor, which can sometimes be inconsistent. Some reports also mention occasional heating during intensive tasks.

Users prioritizing a compact, stylish device with a unique form factor and the convenience of a large external display for quick tasks may find the Galaxy Z Flip5 to be an excellent fit. Its design also appeals to those who enjoy creative photography angles. On the other hand, individuals who value a top-tier camera experience, a pure Android interface, and consistent software updates will likely gravitate towards the Google Pixel 7. Both devices are available as quality-assured refurbished options, providing an eco-friendly alternative for consumers.

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