Alright, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G and the vivo X100 Pro. These two devices represent very different philosophies in the smartphone world, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is key to choosing the right one for your needs.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed look at how these two phones stack up, with an eye toward what these specs actually mean for you in your daily life.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G | vivo X100 Pro | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Foldable | Standard | The Z Flip3's foldable design offers unique portability and a cool factor, while the X100 Pro is a traditional slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 166 × 72.2 × 6.9 mm (unfolded) | 164.1 × 75.3 × 8.9 mm | Z Flip3 is slightly taller and thinner when unfolded, but the X100 Pro is more compact but thicker overall, making pocketability a key consideration. |
| Weight | 183g | 221g | Z Flip3 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | Both have large displays, with the X100 Pro's being a touch larger. |
| Resolution | 1080x2640 | 1260x2800 | X100 Pro has a noticeably sharper and more detailed display, providing a better viewing experience. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 426 | 452 | The X100 Pro offers slightly better clarity due to its higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | The X100 Pro's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast and deeper blacks than the Z Flip3. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, ideal for fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 3000 nits | The X100 Pro's display is much brighter, making it significantly easier to read outdoors in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 | Dimensity 9300 | The X100 Pro's newer chip provides significantly higher performance, handling heavy tasks with ease. |
| Antutu Score | 898,700 | 1,881,325 | The X100 Pro demonstrates a substantial performance lead, indicating faster overall operation and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | The X100 Pro's GPU is significantly more powerful, resulting in smoother and more detailed graphics performance in games and apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 12.2MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55" Sony IMX563 | 50MP, f/1.75, 1" Sony IMX989 | X100 Pro boasts a significantly larger sensor and higher resolution for better low-light performance and detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2" Sony IMX374 | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8" Samsung S5KGD2 | X100 Pro’s front camera captures more detail, has a wider aperture for better low light selfies, and also a larger sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, 1/3.06" Sony IMX258 | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | X100 Pro offers significantly higher resolution and a larger sensor for wider angle shots. |
| Telephoto + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.5, 1/2" Omnivision OV64B | X100 Pro has a dedicated telephoto and macro lens, enabling greater zoom and close-up capability. |
| Video | 4K@60fps, HDR | 8K@30fps, EIS | X100 Pro offers higher resolution video recording, with electronic image stabilization. |
| DxOMark Score | Main: 111 Photo: 118, Video: 110 | Main: 150 Photo: 149, Video: 145 | X100 Pro is a significantly higher rated camera with better photo and video performance. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 3300mAh | 5400mAh | X100 Pro's larger battery should provide significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | X100 Pro charges much faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Reverse Charging, 50W Wireless Charging | X100 Pro adds 50W wireless charging, offering added flexibility. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (max 14) | Android 14 (max 15) | X100 Pro offers the latest Android version, likely with more feature enhancements and longer support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7, Wi-Fi HaLow | X100 Pro has the latest standards, giving it faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.4 | X100 Pro has slightly improved connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | X100 Pro offers more comprehensive navigation with broader satellite support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256GB/512GB/1024GB | X100 Pro has a much larger selection and better top storage option. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | X100 Pro has more RAM providing improved multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | X100 Pro offers a more premium sound experience. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung offers more convenient biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Z Flip3 offers a more durable screen due to better screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Z Flip3 includes an additional barometer sensor. |
| ## 2. Key Insights |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G:
- Unique Design: The foldable form factor is its biggest selling point, offering a compact phone that opens up to a full-sized screen. It's a head-turner and feels incredibly premium.
- Portability: It’s very pocketable when folded and lightweight compared to the X100 Pro.
- Good Enough Performance: While not top-of-the-line anymore, the Snapdragon 888 still offers very good performance for most tasks.
- Solid Screen: The 120Hz display is smooth and vibrant for daily use.
- Trade-offs: Its battery life is middling, and its cameras lag behind the latest flagships. The foldable screen is also more delicate.
vivo X100 Pro:
- Top-Tier Performance: The Dimensity 9300 is a powerhouse, making this phone lightning-fast and future-proof.
- Exceptional Camera System: With its 1-inch main sensor and versatile lens setup, it excels in all conditions, earning high marks from DxOMark.
- Superb Display: The AMOLED panel is sharp, bright, and beautiful.
- Excellent Battery Life & Fast Charging: The large battery and super-fast charging mean you'll rarely be caught out with low power.
- Trade-offs: It’s bulkier and heavier than the Z Flip3, lacks the cool folding design, and its screen protection is unknown.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is best for:
- Fashion-conscious users who want a stylish and unique phone that stands out.
- Those who prioritize portability and a small form factor when the device is folded.
- Users who don't need the absolute best camera and are happy with "very good" performance for social media and casual photography.
vivo X100 Pro is best for:
- Photography enthusiasts who want a top-tier camera system that can excel in various scenarios.
- Power users who want the fastest performance possible for gaming, video editing, or other demanding tasks.
- Those who need excellent battery life and fast charging to keep up with their busy lives.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to help you decide between these two phones:
- How important is the foldable design to you? If you love the idea of a compact phone that transforms into a larger screen, the Z Flip3 is the only choice here. If a traditional slab phone is fine, consider the X100 Pro.
- How much do you care about camera quality? If photography is a priority, the X100 Pro is the clear winner due to its larger sensors, better lenses, and higher DxOMark score.
- What is your biggest concern: battery life or portability? If you want all-day battery, you should go for the X100 Pro. If you want the most compact device that fits in your pocket, Z Flip3 is the winner.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Social Media Creator: If you want something that is trendy and takes decent quality photos and videos, the Z Flip3 will do, but the vivo X100 Pro will produce much higher quality results in all conditions.
- For the Mobile Gamer: The X100 Pro is the better choice for intense gaming thanks to its superior performance, display and battery.
- For the Professional On-the-Go: The X100 Pro offers more reliable battery life, incredible camera performance, and a premium audio experience, making it a very complete professional phone.
- For the Casual User: It depends if you prefer the convenience of a foldable device or superior performance and cameras.
My Choice
If it was me choosing, I'd go with the vivo X100 Pro. While the Z Flip3's folding design is undeniably cool and innovative, the X100 Pro just ticks more boxes for my priorities. As a tech journalist, I need a device that can handle everything I throw at it – from heavy multitasking and resource-intensive apps to taking high-quality photos and videos for content creation. The superior camera system, much better battery life, and top-tier performance of the X100 Pro just make it a more practical choice. It is also more feature-rich with a newer Android and Wi-Fi version, premium audio and better GPS. I also prefer the classic phone format, over foldable phones since durability is a concern with the latter, and the increased brightness of the screen on the X100 Pro means I can actually use it outside! While the Z Flip3 is a neat design, it falls short on many metrics that are very important to me.
