5 Android Phones You Should Consider Buying Instead Of The Samsung Z Fold 7

1 week ago

Samsung showed its latest harvest of foldable devices this week, pinch nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 showing its worthy astatine nan apical of nan heap. It gets immoderate notable improvements pinch a re-engineered hinge, a stronger interior show pinch ultra-thin solid and titanium reinforcement, and it's nan lightest Fold yet.

Also: Everything announced astatine Samsung Unpacked: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, Watch 8 Series, more

It's besides nan astir costly Z Fold successful Samsung's catalog, and nan institution removed S Pen support, which is judge to disappoint hard-core stylus fans. If you were readying to prime up nan Z Fold 7, you would beryllium wise to see a fewer of these alternatives earlier you click that bargain button. Here are your champion options connected nan marketplace correct now - and why.

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Samsung has possibly nan champion alternative, particularly if you'd for illustration to enactment wrong its ecosystem, pinch past year's Galaxy Z Fold 6. You whitethorn miss nan marginally slimmer hinge and improved interior show of this year's upgrade, but past year's exemplary addressed 1 of my semipermanent complaints by bringing nan screen surface into a much modular smartphone facet ratio.

For stylus fans, you'll bask still having afloat S Pen Fold Edition support arsenic well.

Also: I tried Samsung's $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 - it made my foldable telephone look outdated

While past year's exemplary isn't a immense discount erstwhile purchased done Samsung's store, it's apt that retailers will beryllium willing successful moving aged inventory retired to make room for nan newest release, and pinch that whitethorn travel immoderate steep discounts.

Amazon's Prime Day sales, for example, presently person past year's unlocked exemplary connected waste correct now for $1,149 without nan request to waste and acquisition successful an aged instrumentality aliases motion up for a costs scheme to fastener it in. On apical of that, you'll use from different six years of package and information updates, keeping nan instrumentality applicable for years to come.

2. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

As a Pixel fan, I admit Google's return connected foldables pinch nan Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which feels successful immoderate ways for illustration nan Z Fold 7's calmer, much thoughtful cousin. Google's 2nd foldable to day has beautiful, level edges, an unmistakably Pixel-shaped camera module, and a redesigned 6.3-inch screen show that feels for illustration a modular smartphone erstwhile folded.

Google's spirit of Android is free of Samsung's trading cruft, and early OS updates are practically guaranteed to deed this instrumentality connected motorboat day. Not to mention, those updates will proceed for different six years, bringing nan instrumentality each nan measurement to Android 22.

Also: The champion Android phones to bargain successful 2025

Photography remains Google's calling card, and nan Fold version features a coagulated 48-megapixel main sensor, mixed pinch Google's Tensor-driven computational pipeline, which delivers fantabulous photographs successful some daylight and low-light scenarios.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is simply a coagulated all-around prime for a fewer 100 dollars little than nan Z Fold 7. Amazon Prime Day has nan telephone connected waste for $1,399, truthful now is nan cleanable clip to jump.

3. OnePlus Open

OnePlus Open folded unfastened connected power yellowish background

OnePlus keeps proving it tin play successful nan large leagues erstwhile it spots a inclination worthy chasing. The OnePlus Open debuted successful October 2023, yet its roomy outer show group a standard, and its super-fast 67-watt SuperVOOC charging still impresses.

I was capable to bring nan artillery from quiet to afloat successful astir forty-five minutes, a feat that makes Samsung's unchanged 25-watt strategy look positively sluggish by comparison.

Also: OnePlus Open Apex Edition hands-on: Easily nan best-looking foldable telephone I've seen

Street prices plaything from clip to time, dipping to around $1,500 pinch trade-in incentives, and you tin bargain pinch assurance knowing OnePlus has ruled retired nan release of a 2025 successor. The company's shorter package update promise, however, is worthy noting, considering this is an older device.

Four years of level upgrades and 5 years of information patches limit semipermanent worth compared to nan Z Fold 7, but for anyone who wants accelerated charging and a well-executed fold without paying 2 grand, nan Open remains a compelling pick.

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Not everyone chasing Samsung's foldable harvest wants a tablet-sized telephone successful nan thenar of their hands. The Galaxy Z Flip 7, besides conscionable announced, offers nan latest hinge design, a larger and overmuch much useful 4-inch screen display, and a starting value of astir $900 less. You still get nan restitution of being connected nan cutting separator of foldable exertion while redeeming a ton of rate successful nan process.

Also: I tried nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 - these 3 features make it worthy upgrading to

It's besides acold easier to pouch arsenic nan Flip continues to zero successful connected ergonomics. One-handed usage feels earthy because nan halfway of gravity sits person to your palm, and nan stubbier creation unfolds into a accepted smartphone alternatively than a mini tablet.

Samsung moreover beefed up nan hinge's particulate guidance to an IP48 rating, meaning mini specs of particulate and ungraded will person a difficult clip making their measurement into those moving parts. If you crave Samsung's foldable early but garbage to haul a tablet everywhere, nan Z Flip 7 is an fantabulous choice.

5. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Don't get maine wrong, foldables are cool because they are different, but often what you are paying for much than thing other is that unsocial design.

If, connected nan different hand, you person plentifulness of money to driblet connected a smartphone that tin grip almost everything else, conscionable get nan Galaxy S25 Ultra, 1 of my favourite smartphones of 2025. You tin moreover get 1 caller correct now during Amazon Prime Day for $1,069, a 25% discount.

Also: Why I urge nan Samsung S25 Ultra complete competing Android phones (and it's $250 off)

The level titanium framework is acold much apt to past a driblet onto actual compared to nan Fold's aluminum frame. Samsung's camera engineers person saved their champion hardware for nan Ultra flagship, on pinch dual telephotos that are guaranteed to hit nan Z Fold 7's output.

Throw successful immoderate of Samsung's best-performing artillery endurance to day pinch its 5,000mAh capacity, and you person a telephone that's built for users who garbage to compromise. Oh, and you'll still person that embedded S Pen hiding wrong nan frame.

Don't get maine wrong, Samsung deserves nickname for pushing folding displays moreover further into nan mainstream, but nan playing section continues to go ever much competitive. Evaluate really you usage a telephone time successful and time out, past prime nan instrumentality that aligns pinch those habits.

Follow my latest tech reviews and projects crossed societal media. You'll find maine connected YouTube at YouTube.com/@JasonHowell, connected X (formerly Twitter) at @JasonHowell, and connected Instagram at Instagram.com/thatjasonhowell.