Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra

When it comes to premium smartphones, Samsung has two major contenders that dominate attention in 2025the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. At first glance, putting these two phones side by side might seem odd. One is a traditional candy-bar style device while the other folds into a tablet-like powerhouse. But considering both sit at the very top of Samsung’s lineup, with a staggering $700 price gap, it’s fair to ask: is the extra cost of the foldable worth it?

Let’s break it down into design, durability, performance, cameras, displays, and real-world usability to see which one deserves your money.

Design

The S25 Ultra sticks with the tried-and-true slab design. It’s sleek, thin at 8.9mm, and looks every bit like a premium flagship. But here’s the surprising part: the Fold 7, when closed, is just 8.2mm thick. That means, at least in terms of size, the Ultra isn’t really thinner than its folding sibling.

In hand, the Fold 7 might actually feel more comfortable, thanks to its rounded edges and narrower front display. Using it one-handed feels natural, something you don’t usually associate with foldables. The Ultra, while elegant, is boxier and can dig into the palm a bit more. A case can fix that, but if you prefer using your phone naked, it’s something to consider.

Quick Table

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Cameras: Similar Yet Different

Both devices come with a 200MP main sensor, and in daylight, photos look nearly identical. But the differences show up in versatility.

• Z Fold 7: 10MP telephoto (3x optical), 12MP ultrawide
  
• S25 Ultra: 10MP telephoto (3x), plus a 5x optical zoom and a stronger 50MP ultrawide
  

The Ultra wins in zoom, offering up to 100x digital compared to the Fold’s 30x. Night photography also leans in favor of the Ultra, with slightly cleaner low-light shots. The front camera experience is also better on the Ultra, though Samsung ditched the under-display camera on the Fold this year, opting for a punch-hole again for better clarity.

For video, both shoot in 8K, but 4K at 30fps looked nearly the same. Still, the Ultra’s zoom lenses make it more flexible for serious photography.

Durability

This is where things shift. The S25 Ultra has a titanium frame and full IP68 water resistance. It’s been out for months and has already proven itself as a rugged daily driver. The Fold 7, on the other hand, comes with IP48 water resistance. While that’s impressive for a foldable, it still leaves dust as a potential threat. Its hinge is tighter and more advanced than older models, but the truth is, no one can say yet how well it will hold up over the years.

If reliability is your top priority, the Ultra is the safer choice.

Display Experience

The Fold 7’s magic is revealed when you open it up. The massive 8-inch inner display is a joy for reading, streaming, and multitasking. It feels like carrying a mini-tablet in your pocket. That said, not every app is optimized for such a big canvas. Some still just look like stretched versions of their phone layouts, which can be underwhelming.

Meanwhile, the S25 Ultra’s 6.8-inch AMOLED panel holds its own with a higher pixel density (498 PPI vs 368 PPI) and an anti-reflective coating that drastically cuts down on glare. Both phones share a peak brightness of 2600 nits, making them excellent in direct sunlight.

The Fold shines for multitasking; you can run up to three apps at once while the Ultra is limited to two. But realistically, most users won’t need three apps running side by side.

Performance and Software

Both are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset with 12GB RAM, so day-to-day use feels identical. However, thermal management tells a different story. The Fold 7 heats up faster, even with light tasks like taking photos. Under gaming or long sessions, it throttles sooner. The Ultra stays cooler and more consistent.

Software-wise, the Fold 7 has a slight edge right now as it ships with Android 16 and One UI 8, while the Ultra is still waiting for the update from Android 15. That will eventually balance out, but if you always want the latest out of the box, the Fold edges ahead at least temporarily.

When it comes to raw performance, the benchmark results tell an interesting story. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 clocks in at around 2,640,000 on AnTuTu v10, placing it ahead of 98% of smartphones tested. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra scores lower approximately 2,265,000 to 2,795,000 depending on the variant, with an average closer to 2,795,139 in some reports.

Digging deeper, Geekbench 6 tests show the Fold 7 delivering strong CPU numbers, with single-core scores reaching about 3,009 and multi-core roughly 9,385. That represents a notable improvement over the Fold 6. Meanwhile, while exact Geekbench figures for the S25 Ultra vary, real-world testing confirms the phone delivers impressive gaming performance and upper-tier graphics benchmarks though raw CPU numbers aren’t always highlighted.

In simple terms: On paper, the Z Fold 7’s benchmark scores are higher especially in standard tests like AnTuTu and Geekbench. That reflects its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite and optimized multi-core performance. But numbers don’t tell the full story. The S25 Ultra performs just as smoothly in real-world use like gaming, and benefits from better thermal control and consistent performance under load.

Battery and Charging

Battery life is a big win for the S25 Ultra. Its 5,000mAh cell easily powers through a full day of heavy use, while the Fold 7’s 4,400mAh battery struggles with intensive tasks. Add in the Ultra’s faster 45W charging compared to the Fold’s 25W, and you’ll spend less time tethered to a charger.

Both support 15W wireless charging, but only the Ultra feels truly “all-day reliable.”

The S Pen Factor

Samsung removed S Pen support from the Z Fold 7, which feels like a missed opportunity. The large inner display would’ve been perfect for note-taking or sketching. The Ultra, meanwhile, keeps the S Pen integrated, making it a better productivity tool.

Price: $700 Gap That Matters

At the end of the day, money matters. The Fold 7 is about $700 more expensive than the Ultra. That’s a huge premium just for a foldable design. Unless you’re someone who genuinely takes advantage of multitasking or enjoys the tablet-like display for reading and productivity, it’s tough to justify.

Which One Should You Buy?

For most people, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the smarter choice. It’s more durable, delivers better battery life, offers stronger camera versatility, includes the S Pen, and costs significantly less. It’s a reliable workhorse.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is more of a niche product. If you know you’ll use the bigger display for work or entertainment, or simply want the futuristic form factor, it’s an exciting device. But for the average buyer weighing value and practicality, the Ultra wins.

Final Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra debate isn’t about which is better, it’s about which is better for you. The Fold is innovation at a price, while the Ultra is refinement perfected. Both stand at the top of Samsung’s ecosystem, but unless the foldable lifestyle truly fits your needs, the Ultra remains the safer bet.

Interested in Galaxy S22 Plus vs Galaxy S25 Plus: Hands-On Comparison for Real Buyers then click.

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