Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Vs. Z Fold 6: I Tried Both Phones, And The Difference Is Dramatic

Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 7

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is arguably nan biggest upgrade to its foldable phone lineup successful years. In fact, it is nan lightest book-style foldable disposable connected nan marketplace correct now. I went hands-on pinch nan caller Galaxy Z Fold 7, and this is nan Samsung upgrade I've waited years for. The instrumentality is thin, light, and has a wider coverscreen, 1 that's person to a slab phone's facet ratio. 

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

But these upgrades travel pinch a value hike. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will costs you $2,000 for nan guidelines variant. If you tin get nan last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 6 for little than $1,500, should you bargain that instrumentality instead? Or, if you're a Fold 6 user, should you upgrade to nan caller Galaxy Z Fold 7? I've utilized both, and here's what you request to cognize astir nan 2 Samsung foldables.

Specifications

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 if…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You want nan lightest book-style foldable

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs conscionable 215 grams, which is importantly little than its foldable competitors and immoderate mainstream slab phones. For context, nan Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold weighs 257 grams, whereas nan iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 227 grams. Samsung's ain Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs 218 grams, and nan thinnest folding phone, nan Honor Magic V5, is 217 grams. In addition, nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 is conscionable 0.1mm thicker than nan Magic V5 (8.8mm vs. 8.9mm).

Also: These are nan champion Prime Day 2025 Samsung deals I've recovered truthful far

The bladed and ray creation is acknowledgment to a redesigned hinge that besides reduces nan crease, putting nan instrumentality connected par pinch different foldables. Samsung's caller Galaxy Z Fold 7 is nan astir comfortable-to-hold folding telephone I've held successful a while. Despite nan crisp hinge corners and level sides, it feels awesome successful nan hand.

2. You request nan champion productivity acquisition connected a phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold nary longer compromises connected show facet ratios. The coverscreen now features a 21:9 facet ratio connected its 6.5-inch surface size, while nan 8-inch soul show is cleanable for moving 2 apps broadside by side. Both screens connection a 1-120Hz move refresh complaint and nan vividness of an AMOLED panel.

Samsung said it has optimized much apps for a amended full-screen experience. From Galaxy AI to Google Gemini and drag-and-drop, everything is amended optimized connected Fold 7's One UI 8. I conscionable sewage 30 minutes pinch nan device, but I'm judge it'll beryllium a productivity powerhouse, acknowledgment to Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite goodness nether nan hood.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 thickness

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

3. You want a long-lasting folding phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is promised to beryllium supported pinch Android OS and information updates for 7 years. The instrumentality comes pinch Android 16 retired of nan box, truthful it will beryllium supported 1 twelvemonth longer than nan Galaxy S25 Ultra. 

Also: Why I urge this Samsung tablet complete nan iPad Air - particularly astatine this price

One UI is 1 of nan smoothest Android skins, and it should past astatine slightest 5 years earlier you person to see changing your device. The caller hinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protection supply added assurance to nan user. The instrumentality should beryllium amended astatine dealing pinch accidental drops.

4. You want a amended camera performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 sports nan aforesaid superior camera arsenic nan Galaxy S25 Ultra. You get a 200MP main sensor, which is touted to connection 2x optical-quality zoom. It is paired pinch a 12MP ultrawide camera pinch autofocus and a 10MP telephoto camera pinch 3x optical zoom. 

There's an betterment to nan beforehand cameras, too. The 10MP coverscreen selfie shooter now features a 100-degree FoV arsenic compared to 85-degree connected Fold 6. Plus, nan soul show has a punch-hole cutout, truthful you should get amended video telephone quality.

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 if…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You want an all-screen immersive experience

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 trades its under-display camera for a punch-hole cutout. This characteristic improves nan camera quality, but besides makes nan folding surface little immersive than nan Fold 6. 

Also: Why I urge this $450 Google Pixel woody complete competing models from Samsung and OnePlus

I loved reference and playing games connected nan last-gen Samsung foldable because it offered a much intuitive full-screen acquisition compared to different foldables. If you besides bask nan experience, you should instrumentality to your Fold 6.

2. You are fond of S Pen

The S Pen business connected nan Galaxy Z Fold bid was ever half-baked. You were required to adhd a lawsuit to instrumentality an S Pen to your device. While I wasn't a instrumentality of this approach, galore productivity-focused customers mightiness usage nan S Pen to jot down notes aliases sketch connected nan expansive Z Fold's display. 

If you're personification who uses that capability, it mightiness beryllium a bully thought to instrumentality pinch your Galaxy Z Fold 6 because nan caller Z Fold 7 doesn't support S Pen. The only Samsung flagship telephone to support S Pen now is nan Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Also: Your Samsung telephone has concealed Wi-Fi settings that you should usage ASAP - really to entree them

More generally, I emotion nan upgrades connected nan Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I'm looking guardant to utilizing nan instrumentality successful nan coming weeks. The telephone offers a bladed and ray design, an upgraded camera setup, reduced creases, a amended show facet ratio, and a soft UI. While I don't person precocious hopes for nan artillery (given that it packs nan aforesaid 4,400mAh compartment arsenic nan Fold 6), I deliberation nan instrumentality will beryllium 1 of nan astir loved Samsung phones successful caller years.