Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6: A Breakthrough in Camera Technology
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, launched at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, offers several groundbreaking camera improvements compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, the battery and charging speed haven't seen any significant breakthroughs.
Comparison table of specifications for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6
| Criteria | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Home screen | 8 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+ (2184 x 1968), 120Hz, 2600 nits | 7.6 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QXGA+ (2160 x 1856), 120Hz, 2600 nits |
| Secondary screen | 6.5 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+ (2520 x 1080), 120Hz, 2600 nits | 6.3 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, HD+ (968 x 2376), 120Hz, 2600 nits |
| Protective glasses | Ultra Thin Glass (Titanium Mesh Level 4), Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (both sides) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 12GB |
| Internal memory | 256GB/512GB/1TB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear camera | 200MP (f/1.8, OIS) + 10MP (f/2.4, 3x) + 12MP (f/2.2) | 50MP (f/1.8, OIS) + 10MP (f/2.4, 3x) + 12MP (f/2.2) |
| Selfie camera | 10MP (punched, 2.6x zoom) | 10MP (external display) + 4MP (under-display) |
| Battery | 4400mAh, 25W fast charging | 4400mAh, 25W fast charging |
| Operating system | One UI 8 (Android 16) | One UI 6 (Android) |
| Design | Thickness: 8.9mm (folded) / 4.2mm (unfolded), 215g, IP48 | Thickness 12.1mm (folded)/5.6mm (unfolded), 239g, IP48 |
| Color | Navy Blue, Mint Green, Metallic Black, Metallic Silver | Metal Grey, Rose Pink, Navy Blue |
| Other features | S Pen, AI (Audio Eraser, Circle to Search), improved hinge. | S Pen, AI (translation, photo editing), hinge |
Design: Thinner, Lighter, More Refined
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 sets a new standard with the thinnest and lightest design in the Z Fold series. Weighing 215g, the Z Fold 7 is lighter than both the Z Fold 6 (239g) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218g). When folded, it measures 8.9mm (compared to 12.1mm of the Z Fold 6), and when unfolded, it's only 4.2mm (compared to 5.6mm).
Samsung utilizes an improved teardrop hinge, new glass materials, and an Armor Aluminum frame, resulting in a luxurious feel and greater durability.
The Z Fold 7 continues the square, masculine style with four trendy colors: Navy Blue, Mint Green, Metallic Black, and Metallic Silver, compared to the three colors of the Z Fold 6 (Metallic Gray, Rose Pink, and Navy Blue).
The Z Fold 7's hinge produces a more noticeable crease, though not as completely seamless as some competitors. The IP48 dust and water resistance rating remains the same, but the Z Fold 7's build quality is superior thanks to Samsung's craftsmanship expertise.
Compare:The Z Fold 7 is thinner, lighter, more luxurious, and offers more color options than the Z Fold 6, providing a more comfortable grip and a more premium aesthetic.
Screen: Bigger, brighter
The Z Fold 7 boasts a larger 6.5-inch external display (FHD+, 2520 x 1080, 120Hz, 2600 nits) than the Z Fold 6 (6.3 inches, 968 x 2376), improving typing and operation experience. The 8-inch main display (QHD+, 2184 x 1968, 120Hz, 2600 nits) is larger than the 7.6-inch (QXGA+, 2160 x 1856) of the Z Fold 6, providing ideal display space for multitasking and entertainment.
In terms of durability, the Z Fold 7 uses next-generation Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) with a Grade 4 Titanium mesh for the main screen, combined with Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 (outer screen) and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (back).
The Z Fold 6 uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides. The Z Fold 7 removes the under-display camera, switching to a punch-hole design to improve selfie quality, although this may slightly affect the aesthetics.
Comparison: The Z Fold 7 has a larger, more durable, and brighter screen, delivering a superior visual experience compared to the Z Fold 6.
Performance: A leap forward with Snapdragon 8 Elite
The Z Fold 7 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, which is more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in the Z Fold 6 (AnTuTu score 1,641,264).
The new chip ensures smoother performance in demanding tasks such as video editing or playing high-graphics games. The Z Fold 7 offers 12GB/16GB RAM options and 256GB/512GB/1TB of storage, while the Z Fold 6 only had 12GB of RAM with similar storage options.
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The Z Fold 7's cooling system is improved with a larger vapor chamber, maintaining more stable performance than the Z Fold 6. Both devices maintain stable FPS during gaming, but the Z Fold 7 takes advantage of its larger screen and more powerful chip, especially in MOBA games.
Comparison: The Z Fold 7 excels in performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and improved cooling system, making it more suitable for demanding tasks.
Batteries and Charging: Optimized but not yet groundbreaking.
Both the Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6 have 4400mAh batteries, but the Z Fold 7 is optimized in both hardware and software, promising better battery life than the Z Fold 6's 12 hours. Both devices retain 25W fast charging, a weakness compared to competitors in the high-end segment.
Comparison: The Z Fold 7 has slightly better battery life thanks to optimization, but charging speed hasn't improved compared to the Z Fold 6.
Camera: A significant upgrade on the Z Fold 7
The Z Fold 7 marks a turning point with its 200MP (f/1.8, OIS) main sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, compared to the 50MP (f/1.8, OIS) on the Z Fold 6. The Z Fold 7's rear camera system includes:
- Main camera: 200MP (f/1.8, OIS).
- 10MP telephoto camera (f/2.4, 3x optical zoom).
- 12MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2).
- 10MP selfie camera (2.6 times better quality than the Z Fold 6).
The Z Fold 7 incorporates the ProVisual Engine, improving dynamic range, color, and night photography capabilities.
The Z Fold 6 has a 50MP + 10MP + 12MP camera setup, delivering sharp images but not matching the detail of the Z Fold 7. The Z Fold 7 also replaced the under-display camera with a punch-hole design.
Comparison: The Z Fold 7 camera surpasses the Z Fold 6 in resolution, image quality, and night photography capabilities.
Software: AI enhances the experience.
The Z Fold 7 runs One UI 8 (Android 16), optimized for large screens with AI features such as photo editing, real-time translation, Audio Eraser, and Circle to Search for games.
The Z Fold 6 uses One UI 6 (Android), which has AI features like translation and photo editing, but it's not as diverse as the Z Fold 7. Both support the S Pen and 7 years of software updates, but the Z Fold 7 offers a smoother multitasking experience.
Comparison: The Z Fold 7 excels with One UI 8 and more diverse AI features, better optimized for work and entertainment.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a comprehensive upgrade over the Z Fold 6, featuring a thinner and lighter design, a larger screen, a superior 200MP camera, more powerful performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and optimized software with One UI 8.
Despite the limited fast charging speed, the Z Fold 7 remains a top choice for users seeking a premium foldable flagship that meets all their needs, from work to entertainment.
The Z Fold 6 is still a powerful device, but the Z Fold 7 leads the way with groundbreaking improvements in the foldable phone segment.
