TL;DR
After carrying the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a week, the author found meaningful improvements over earlier foldables — a lighter build, a wider cover screen and improved multitasking — but it still commands a steep premium compared with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. For most buyers the S25 Ultra remains the pragmatic choice thanks to better battery life, more versatile cameras, stronger speakers and lower effective prices.
What happened
The author spent a week using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to assess whether its book-style foldable form justifies the higher cost versus the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Z Fold 7 impressed with a thinner, lighter design (215g; 8.9mm folded) and a wider 6.5-inch cover screen that reduces the need to unfold for everyday tasks. One UI 8 introduced improved multitasking (including a 90:10 layout) that makes the internal 8-inch display more useful for productivity. However, the Fold still trades off in several areas: it has a smaller 4,400mAh battery, weaker speakers that sound hollow, and — despite a better primary sensor in 2025 — it doesn’t match the S25 Ultra’s overall camera versatility. Performance is similar on both phones (Snapdragon 8 Elite family), but durability concerns inherent to folding designs — hinge, potential dust ingress and a more fragile inner display — remain. Pricing differs sharply: the Z Fold 7 lists around $2,000, while deals can put the S25 Ultra under $1,000.
Why it matters
- Foldables are approaching mainstream usability: thinner, lighter designs and larger cover screens can remove the previous daily friction of carrying a book-style fold.
- Software improvements (One UI 8 multitasking) make the internal display on a foldable more productive for multitasking and content editing.
- Key trade-offs remain: battery capacity, camera flexibility, speaker quality and long-term durability still favor a traditional flagship slab.
- Price and carrier financing materially shift the purchase calculus — monthly plans can make a $2,000 foldable easier to try, while slab deals keep high-end phones more affordable.
Key facts
- Author carried the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a week to compare it directly with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- Galaxy Z Fold 7 dimensions/weight when folded: about 215g and 8.9mm thick.
- Z Fold 7 displays: 6.5-inch cover screen and an 8.0-inch internal display.
- Z Fold 7 battery: 4,400mAh; S25 Ultra battery: 5,000mAh.
- Both phones run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite-class silicon (Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy noted).
- One UI 8 introduced improved multitasking on the Fold; the author cites a 90:10 layout as useful.
- S25 Ultra offers more camera versatility and is recommended for photography enthusiasts.
- S25 Ultra retains S Pen support; the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not have S Pen support.
- The Z Fold 7 lists at roughly $2,000; the S25 Ultra can be found for under $1,000 in some deals.
- Foldable design still carries durability considerations: hinge, potential dust ingress and a more fragile inner display compared with a traditional slab.
What to watch next
- Whether carriers continue to offer aggressive monthly financing that narrows the price gap between foldables and flagship slabs — not confirmed in the source.
- Long-term real-world durability and hinge reliability of the Z Fold 7 compared with traditional slabs as more users adopt it — not confirmed in the source.
- How Samsung further evolves One UI multitasking and fold-specific software features across future updates and devices — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Foldable (book-style): A smartphone design that opens like a book to expose a larger internal display, offering a compact folded mode and an expanded unfolded mode.
- Cover screen: The external display on a foldable phone used for routine tasks when the device is folded, so users don’t have to open the main display.
- One UI: Samsung’s Android software interface and feature set; One UI 8 is the version referenced with updated multitasking capabilities.
- S Pen: Samsung’s stylus accessory that supports handwriting and precision input on compatible Galaxy devices.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite: A high-end Qualcomm system-on-chip (SoC) used in flagship Android phones for CPU, GPU and AI performance.
Reader FAQ
Is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 worth the extra money?
The author says it’s a complicated choice: the Fold 7 is a strong first foldable for many users, but the S25 Ultra remains the wiser pick for most due to battery, camera and speaker advantages.
Which phone has better battery life?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the larger 5,000mAh battery and generally better battery performance compared with the Fold 7’s 4,400mAh pack.
Does the Z Fold 7 support the S Pen?
No. The S25 Ultra retains S Pen support; the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does not have S Pen support.
Are foldables more fragile than slabs?
Foldables have improved durability compared with earlier generations, but they still have a hinge and an inner folding display that present different risks than a traditional slab.
I used the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7; here's why you'd pay more By Stephen Radochia Published 11 minutes ago When Mitsubishi made your first cellphone,…
Sources
- I used the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7; here's why you'd pay more
- Here's why I'd buy a Galaxy Z Fold 7 now instead of …
- The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is finally cheaper than …
- Galaxy Z Fold 7 v Galaxy S25 Ultra Review – video Dailymotion
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