Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: some decisions will need to be made!

Intro

This summer, Samsung is offering not just one, but two top-tier smartphones that are fighting for your attention and your wallet. On one side, we have the innovative, foldable, productivity-focused Galaxy Z Fold 7. On the other, the traditional powerhouse with an elite camera system and S Pen support — the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Wait — did we just hear that the Z Fold 7 is now equipped with the same main camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra? Could this mean it’s actually the ultimate Samsung device? At a premium price of $2,000, it really should be. But here's the twist: it quietly drops support for the S Pen.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra builds upon years of evolution and refinement. Think Super Zoom, S Pen functionality, and a stunning large display. Trace its roots back, and you’ll find it’s essentially the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note — only now, 47 times more advanced thanks to modern innovations.

Two flagships. Two distinct visions. And only one pocket. Let’s find out which one fits better.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra expected differences:

Table of Contents:

• Design
• Display
• Performance
• Camera
• Battery
• Specs
• Summary

Read more:

• Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Main differences to expect
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: what's new?

Design and Size

Foldable vs Flat

Right off the bat: both are large phones — but they achieve that size in completely different ways.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the familiar flagship heavyweight — a rigid block of glass and titanium, tipping the scales at 218 grams, with its iconic boxy design. It features a 6.9-inch flat AMOLED screen and houses an S Pen inside. It feels familiar, yet refreshed thanks to this year’s bold redesign.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7, on the other hand, is Samsung’s ultimate folding marvel — literally. It’s now incredibly slim at just 8.9 mm when folded and has dropped weight to 215 grams. To put it in perspective, the S25 Ultra is 8.2 mm thick — a bit chunky by regular smartphone standards, but forgiven thanks to its packed feature set. The Fold 7, when closed, feels almost identical in thickness.

Another big improvement: the outer screen is now wider, finally ditching the awkward "remote control" aspect ratio of earlier models. It now uses a 21:9 ratio — same as today’s standard smartphones. And inside? An expansive 8-inch foldable AMOLED panel, slightly wider than before, ready to transform into a mini tablet.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra features Gorilla Armor on the front — a blend of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Samsung’s proprietary anti-reflective layer. It’s highly durable and resists those annoying micro-scratches that appear out of nowhere. The Z Fold 7 doesn’t get this upgrade — instead, it uses Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover screen (we’ll see how it handles glare), and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back.

In terms of water and dust resistance, the Z Fold 7 falls short of the S25 Ultra’s IP68 rating. It only has IP48 protection — meaning it’s water-resistant (thanks to what feels like Samsung’s secret engineering), but only dust-resistant against larger particles. Fine sand and dust can still sneak in through the hinge, so maybe leave it behind on that beach camping trip.

Display Differences

Flat screen or flexible fold — your call

This one’s simple: both devices boast stunning Dynamic AMOLED x2 displays. The real choice is whether you want one large screen or two different screens in one device.

S25 Ultra: One expansive 6.9-inch QHD AMOLED, completely flat (no curved edges), with adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. It’s arguably Samsung’s best display ever.

Fold 7: A vastly improved 6.5-inch outer AMOLED screen — now actually usable — and a huge 8.0-inch internal display that unfolds into tablet mode. Both run at 120Hz for smooth performance and match the Ultra with 2,600 nits peak brightness.

The Fold excels in multitasking, media immersion, and productivity. The Ultra wins in simplicity, S Pen integration, and having fewer moving parts — plus, a slight edge in camera capabilities, which we’ll dive into next.

Yes, no S Pen support on the Z Fold 7 — surprising, given the massive internal screen. But Samsung made a strategic choice. A few months ago, they tested a special edition Fold in South Korea — thinner, like the current model, but without S Pen support due to the digitizer taking up space. Turns out, users preferred the thinner, lighter version over one with stylus support. So here we are.

Display Measurements:

• Screen measurements
• Color charts

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