Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs S25 Ultra: Foldable or Slab Flagship?
Two MKBHD 2025 award winners from Samsung: Z Fold 7 won Best Foldable; S25 Ultra was runner-up Phone of the Year. They're priced $600 apart and answer different questions about what a flagship phone should be.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung · 2025 · From $1899
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Round wins
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: 2 · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5 ·Ties: 1
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7.9-inch inner AMOLED, 6.5-inch outer AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Camera | 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
| Starting price | $1899 | $1299 |
| Released | 2025 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Inner display size
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Z Fold 7: 8.0-inch inner display. S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch. Z Fold 7 is closer to a small tablet.
Camera
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 200MP main + 5x periscope + 3x + ultrawide. Z Fold 7: 50MP main + 50MP 3x + 12MP ultrawide. Samsung's slab wins on zoom and resolution.
Performance
TieBoth Snapdragon 8 Elite. Functionally identical.
Battery
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 5,000 mAh, 8+ hours screen-on. Z Fold 7: 4,650 mAh across two displays, 5–6 hours. S25 Ultra wins.
S Pen
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra has integrated S Pen. Z Fold 7 supports S Pen Pro (sold separately, no integrated housing).
Multi-app productivity
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Z Fold 7's 8-inch inner display handles three-app multitasking that no slab can match.
Pocketability
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra is much more pocketable. Z Fold 7 is essentially two stacked slabs in pocket.
Price
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: $1,299. Z Fold 7: $1,899. Slab is $600 cheaper.
Final verdict
Buy the S25 Ultra unless you'll genuinely use the Z Fold 7's tablet-sized inner display daily. The S25 Ultra wins on cameras, battery, S Pen integration, and saves $600. The Z Fold 7 (Best Foldable) is for buyers who want a phone-tablet hybrid and can afford the premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Z Fold 7 or Galaxy S25 Ultra: which to buy?
S25 Ultra (runner-up Phone of the Year 2025) for most buyers — better cameras, longer battery, $600 cheaper. Z Fold 7 (2025 Best Foldable) only if you'd actually use the tablet-sized inner display.
Is a foldable worth $600 more than a slab?
Only if you'll use the inner display daily for productivity, video, or reading. For phone-first use, slab flagships are the more rational pick.
Which has better battery life?
S25 Ultra by ~2 hours of screen-on time. Z Fold 7 powers two displays which is the trade-off.