The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 now features the same 200MP main camera sensor as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, representing a major upgrade for the foldable lineup. Here's a comprehensive comparison.
| Specification | Z Fold 7 | S25 Ultra | |--------------|----------|-----------| | Main sensor | 200MP, f/1.7 | 200MP, f/1.7 | | Sensor size | 1/1.3-inch | 1/1.3-inch | | Optical stabilization | Yes | Yes | | 8K video recording | Yes | Yes |
Samsung reports the Z Fold 7 captures images 44% brighter and 4x more detailed than the Z Fold 6, with shutter speeds up to 7x faster.
| Zoom Capability | Z Fold 7 | S25 Ultra | |----------------|----------|-----------| | Optical zoom options | 3x only | 3x and 5x | | Digital zoom quality | Good | Excellent | | Best for distance shots | No | Yes |
The S25 Ultra's dual telephoto system provides superior zoom performance, particularly beyond 3x magnification.
Both phones feature 12MP ultrawide cameras with autofocus, enabling excellent macro photography capabilities.
The Z Fold 7 replaces the previous 4MP under-display camera with a proper 10MP punch-hole camera:
| Camera Type | Z Fold 7 | S25 Ultra | |-------------|----------|-----------| | Main selfie | 10MP punch-hole | 12MP | | Quality improvement | Significant upgrade | Standard flagship |
The foldable design enables photography features unavailable on traditional phones:
| Scenario | Winner | |----------|--------| | Daylight photos | Tie | | Low-light performance | Tie | | Zoom beyond 3x | S25 Ultra | | Macro photography | Tie | | Selfies/video calls | S25 Ultra (slightly) | | Versatility | Z Fold 7 |
The Z Fold 7 now delivers flagship-quality photography matching the S25 Ultra for standard shooting scenarios. Choose the S25 Ultra if zoom photography is a priority; otherwise, the Z Fold 7's camera will satisfy most users while offering unique foldable advantages.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,899 for the 256GB model. Whether this price is justified depends on your specific use case and priorities.
| Configuration | Price | |--------------|-------| | 256GB | $1,899 | | 512GB | $2,019 | | 1TB | $2,259 |
The Z Fold 7 makes sense if you:
The Z Fold 7 is likely not worth it if you:
| Purchase Scenario | Total Cost | |------------------|------------| | Galaxy S25 Ultra + Galaxy Tab S9 | ~$2,400+ | | Galaxy Z Fold 7 (replaces both) | $1,899 | | Potential savings | $500+ |
Key advantages:
Notable compromises:
| Device | Starting Price | Key Consideration | |--------|---------------|-------------------| | Galaxy S25 Ultra | $1,299 | Best traditional Samsung flagship with S Pen | | iPhone 16 Pro Max | $1,199 | Best iPhone with superior ecosystem | | Galaxy Z Fold 6 | ~$1,400 (discounted) | Previous generation with S Pen support |
Ask yourself: "Will I use the inner display daily for tasks that genuinely benefit from a larger screen?"
If the answer is a confident yes, the Z Fold 7 offers unique capabilities worth the investment. If you hesitated, a traditional flagship likely provides better value for your use case.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 receives Samsung's most comprehensive software support: 7 years of OS upgrades and security updates, extending through 2032.
| Year | Android Version | One UI Version | |------|-----------------|----------------| | 2025 (Launch) | Android 16 | One UI 8 | | 2026 | Android 17 | One UI 9 | | 2027 | Android 18 | One UI 10 | | 2028 | Android 19 | One UI 11 | | 2029 | Android 20 | One UI 12 | | 2030 | Android 21 | One UI 13 | | 2031 | Android 22 | One UI 14 | | 2032 | Android 23 | One UI 15 |
Annual OS Upgrades:
Monthly Security Updates:
| Manufacturer | OS Updates | Security Updates | |--------------|-----------|------------------| | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 7 years | 7 years | | Google Pixel | 7 years | 7 years | | Apple iPhone | 5-6 years | 5-6 years | | OnePlus | 4 years | 5 years |
Samsung now matches Google's industry-leading support commitment.
| Device | Update Support Period | |--------|-----------------------| | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 7 years | | Galaxy Z Fold 6 | 7 years | | Galaxy Z Fold 5 | 4 years | | Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 4 years | | Galaxy Z Fold 3 | 4 years |
Investment protection: The $1,899+ purchase remains current through 2032
App ecosystem access: Continued compatibility with applications requiring recent Android versions
Security assurance: Protection against vulnerabilities discovered throughout ownership
Feature additions: Access to new Samsung and Google capabilities via updates
Samsung's One UI updates historically deliver substantial feature additions:
The Z Fold 7 should continue gaining meaningful functionality throughout its 7-year support window, maximizing the value of the initial investment.
No, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not support the S Pen stylus. This marks a significant change from previous generations in the Z Fold lineup, which had offered S Pen compatibility since the Z Fold 3 in 2021.
Samsung prioritized achieving the phone's remarkably thin 4.2mm unfolded profile over maintaining stylus support. The S Pen requires a digitizer layer in the display to function, and this layer adds meaningful thickness to the device.
To create the thinnest Galaxy Fold yet, Samsung made several trade-offs:
There simply wasn't room for both the structural improvements and S Pen technology.
The phone physically lacks the hardware to detect stylus input of any kind. This means:
Be wary of products marketed as S Pen-compatible for the Z Fold 7. These are either misleading capacitive tips (which offer no real stylus functionality) or outright scams.
If S Pen functionality is essential to your workflow, consider these alternatives:
Samsung has stated that S Pen usage on previous Fold generations was relatively low, which factored into their decision to prioritize the ultra-thin design over stylus support.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 4,400mAh battery, delivering 6-7 hours of screen-on time under typical usage conditions. Here's a detailed breakdown of what to expect.
Typical Daily Use: 6-7 hours screen-on time
Heavy Use: 5-6 hours screen-on time
Light Use: 7+ hours screen-on time
| Testing Source | Measured Battery Life | |----------------|----------------------| | Tom's Guide | 10h 55m | | GSMArena Active Use Score | 11h 44m | | SamMobile (Aggressive Test) | 5h 36m |
Battery performance typically improves after 2-3 days as the phone's AI learns your usage patterns. For users with demanding schedules, a portable power bank is recommended for all-day reliability.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 features an IP48 water and dust resistance rating. While this provides meaningful protection, understanding its limitations is essential for keeping your device safe.
| Rating Component | Meaning | |-----------------|---------| | IP4X (Dust) | Protected against solid objects larger than 1mm | | IPX8 (Water) | Survives submersion up to 1.5m (5 feet) for 30 minutes |
Safe scenarios:
Situations to avoid:
The "4" rating means the phone resists particles larger than 1mm but does not provide protection against fine dust or sand. This is an inherent limitation of foldable phone designs due to the hinge mechanism.
Environments to be cautious in:
The complex hinge mechanism with its moving parts makes achieving full dust resistance (IP6X) extremely challenging. Samsung prioritized water resistance while acknowledging dust protection limitations. For a foldable device, IP48 represents significant engineering achievement.
For comparison, traditional flagship phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max offer IP68 ratings with better dust protection, but lack the Z Fold 7's versatile foldable display.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 features Samsung's most durable foldable design yet, with significant improvements to both hinge mechanics and display protection.
Third-Generation Armor FlexHinge:
The redesigned hinge allows the display to lie significantly flatter when open, reducing crease visibility compared to previous generations.
The flexible AMOLED display remains the most delicate component:
| Protection Feature | Details | |-------------------|---------| | Scratch resistance | Mohs level 2 | | Structural support | Grade 4 titanium lattice | | Factory screen protector | UTG material (50% thicker than previous) | | Warranty coverage | One free replacement in first year | | Additional replacements | $19.99 each through Samsung |
Critical warning: Samsung advises against replacing the factory screen protector with third-party alternatives, as this may compromise the folding mechanism and void warranty coverage.
The phone's exterior matches flagship durability standards:
Independent durability testing reveals:
For users concerned about durability, Samsung offers Samsung Care+ extended protection plans that cover accidental damage.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, unchanged from the previous generation. Here's a complete breakdown of charging capabilities and practical implications.
| Method | Power Output | Time to 50% | Time to Full | |--------|-------------|-------------|--------------| | Wired (USB-C PD) | 25W | ~30 minutes | ~90 minutes | | Wireless (Qi) | 15W | ~45 minutes | ~2+ hours | | Reverse wireless | 4.5W | N/A | Emergency use only |
Important: No charger is included. A USB-C Power Delivery adapter rated 25W or higher is required for maximum speed.
| Device | Wired Charging | Price Point | |--------|---------------|-------------| | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 25W | $1,899+ | | Galaxy S25 Ultra | 45W | $1,299+ | | iPhone 16 Pro Max | 27W wired / 30W MagSafe | $1,199+ | | OnePlus 13 | 100W | $899+ |
The Z Fold 7's charging speed trails most 2025 flagships, including Samsung's own Galaxy S series.
Samsung hasn't officially addressed this limitation, but contributing factors likely include:
25W charging works well for:
Situations where faster charging would help:
The 15W wireless charging is compatible with all Qi-certified chargers. Samsung-branded wireless chargers deliver the full 15W output; third-party chargers may vary.
Reverse Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) is suitable for:
For optimal charging speed, consider:
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 launches with One UI 8 on Android 16, featuring Samsung's most comprehensive Galaxy AI suite yet. Here's a complete overview of the new capabilities.
The flagship AI feature is deep multimodal Gemini integration:
Screen Sharing:
Camera Sharing:
Circle to Search now includes gaming-optimized features:
AI Results View:
The 8-inch display enables more effective AI-assisted workflows than traditional smartphones.
Now Brief Personal Assistant:
Now Bar (Cover Display Access):
| Feature | Capability | |---------|------------| | Live Translate | Real-time translation during voice and video calls | | Chat Assist | Response suggestions and thread summarization | | Note Assist | Meeting note summaries and action item extraction |
Audio Eraser:
Generative Edit:
| Component | Performance Improvement | |-----------|------------------------| | NPU (AI processing) | +41% vs. previous generation | | CPU | +38% vs. previous generation | | GPU | +26% vs. previous generation |
These improvements deliver noticeably faster AI response times and smoother real-time processing for features like translation and generative editing.
For users interested in exploring AI capabilities across Samsung devices, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers similar AI features in a traditional smartphone form factor.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung's thinnest and lightest foldable phone, with dimensions that rival traditional flagship smartphones.
| Measurement | Z Fold 7 | |-------------|----------| | Unfolded thickness | 4.2mm | | Folded thickness | 8.9mm | | Weight | 215g | | Cover display | 6.5 inches | | Inner display | 8 inches |
| Specification | Z Fold 7 | Z Fold 6 | Difference | |--------------|----------|----------|------------| | Unfolded thickness | 4.2mm | 5.6mm | 1.4mm thinner | | Weight | 215g | 239g | 24g lighter | | Hinge size | 27% thinner | — | Significantly reduced |
| Device | Thickness | Weight | |--------|-----------|--------| | Z Fold 7 (unfolded) | 4.2mm | 215g | | Z Fold 7 (folded) | 8.9mm | 215g | | iPhone 16 Pro Max | 8.3mm | 227g | | Galaxy S25 Ultra | 8.2mm | 232g |
The unfolded Z Fold 7 is thinner than both major competing flagships, and it weighs less despite featuring two displays and a complex hinge mechanism.
Samsung achieved these dimensions through several innovations:
Reviewers and users consistently report:
The slim profile required compromises:
| Feature | Impact | |---------|--------| | S Pen support | Removed (digitizer eliminated) | | Battery capacity | Unchanged at 4,400mAh | | Thermal performance | Some warmth during intensive tasks |
Most reviews conclude that improved portability outweighs these compromises for everyday use.
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