Why I Didn't Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the Z Fold 5 in 2024
Just Came Out. a New Year, a New Flagship from Samsung – That's Two Reasons to Consider Freshening Things Up…Life's Quirky Like That – You Gotta Keep It...
just came out. A new year, a new flagship from Samsung – that's two reasons to consider freshening things up…
Life's quirky like that – you gotta keep it interesting, and try new things. At least I constantly feel that way.
I only just bought my iPhone 15 three months ago, and already I've switched to a different phone, but it's not the new Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though that was the plan initially.
I'm finally switching away from the iPhone…
…And I definitely needed a bigger reason than the S24 Ultra to do that switch, because I've been picking mostly fruit-based phones for the last three years. With that in mind, switching back to Android was never going to be a smooth transition, in part due to the fabled Apple walled garden.
Jumping from my iPhone 15 to the Galaxy S24 Ultra just doesn't feel like enough, because at the end of the day, it's basically me going from one flagship slab to another, while losing a lot of the Apple-only apps and features that I use on the daily.
The iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 Ultra aren't that different, if you think about it – just two major companies' predictable, safe annual upgrades meant for the masses. Nothing wrong with that, but nothing overly-exciting either.But the Galaxy Z Fold 5… now that's a phone capable of converting any tech fan into an Android user, no matter how much they love their iPhone.
Unlike its predecessors, the Z Fold 5 is ready to bring people over to the Google side with no regrets, because it's finally an absolutely polished folding phone, following four generations of trial and error.
It feels premium, about as weighty as an average flagship, folds flat, unfolds without creaking, with a big, flexible screen that still manages to feel pretty hard to the touch, and thus – seems like it should last.
Choosing a modern Z Fold no longer feels like a crapshoot, now that you can definitely tell that this thing is built to last. Will it start tearing? Will it go kaput after the first time that I inevitably drop it? According to Samsung, and everyone who publicly tested its durability – it appears that – nope, it should be good for a long while.
So I chose the Z Fold 5 over the Galaxy S24 Ultra. But it wasn't just my need for justification that made me ignore the S24 Ultra.Must Read
Believe it or not, where I live, the Z Fold 5 is actually a few petty bucks cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra
As I mentioned earlier, I was initially eyeing the Galaxy S24 Ultra when it came out, planning to buy that slab powerhouse instead. But luckily I first did a little price check on all Samsung flagships, and lo and behold – here in Europe I can actually get the Z Fold 5 for less than what an S24 Ultra costs at launch. Insane!
Over here the S24 Ultra starts at about $1,462, while the Z Fold 5 starts at about $1,451. So yeah, 11 bucks cheaper! I don't know if I'm supposed to blame import taxes or local markups.
Regardless – are you kidding me? Of course I'd rather get the cool folding phone! So yeah, price played a role in my choice, and I'm actually pretty thankful for it, because I feel like I would have regretted an S24 Ultra purchase pretty quickly, considering I just bought an iPhone 15 only 3 months ago, while a Z Fold 5 actually feels like a major leap that I can stand behind.
For reference for our US-based readers, in the States the S24 Ultra starts at a much cheaper $1,299, while the Z Fold 5 goes for $1,799, unless you catch a deal or discount.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
