Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Z Fold 6: I tried both phones, and the difference is dramatic

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is arguably the biggest upgrade to its foldable phone lineup in years. In fact, it is the lightest book-style foldable available on the market right now. I went hands-on with the new Galaxy Z Fold 7, and this is the Samsung upgrade I’ve waited years for. The device is thin, light, and has a wider coverscreen, one that’s closer to a slab phone’s aspect ratio. 

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But these upgrades come with a price hike. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 will cost you $2,000 for the base variant. If you can get the last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 6 for less than $1,500, should you buy that device instead? Or, if you’re a Fold 6 user, should you upgrade to the new Galaxy Z Fold 7? I’ve used both, and here’s what you need to know about the two Samsung foldables.

Specifications

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 if…

1. You want the lightest book-style foldable

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs just 215 grams, which is significantly less than its foldable competitors and some mainstream slab phones. For context, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold weighs 257 grams, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 227 grams. Samsung’s own Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs 218 grams, and the thinnest folding phone, the Honor Magic V5, is 217 grams. In addition, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 0.1mm thicker than the Magic V5 (8.8mm vs. 8.9mm).

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The thin and light design is thanks to a redesigned hinge that also reduces the crease, putting the device on par with other foldables. Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most comfortable-to-hold folding phone I’ve held in a while. Despite the sharp hinge corners and flat sides, it feels great in the hand.

2. You need the best productivity experience on a phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold no longer compromises on display aspect ratios. The coverscreen now features a 21:9 aspect ratio on its 6.5-inch screen size, while the 8-inch inner display is perfect for running two apps side by side. Both screens offer a 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate and the vividness of an AMOLED panel.

Samsung said it has optimized more apps for a better full-screen experience. From Galaxy AI to Google Gemini and drag-and-drop, everything is better optimized on Fold 7’s One UI 8. I just got 30 minutes with the device, but I’m sure it’ll be a productivity powerhouse, thanks to Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite goodness under the hood.

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3. You want a long-lasting folding phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is promised to be supported with Android OS and security updates for seven years. The device comes with Android 16 out of the box, so it will be supported one year longer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. 

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One UI is one of the smoothest Android skins, and it should last at least five years before you have to consider changing your device. The new hinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protection provide added confidence to the user. The device should be better at dealing with accidental drops.

4. You want a better camera performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 sports the same primary camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You get a 200MP main sensor, which is touted to offer 2x optical-quality zoom. It is paired with a 12MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. 

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There’s an improvement to the front cameras, too. The 10MP coverscreen selfie shooter now features a 100-degree FoV as compared to 85-degree on Fold 6. Plus, the inner display has a punch-hole cutout, so you should get better video call quality.

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 if…

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1. You want an all-screen immersive experience

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 trades its under-display camera for a punch-hole cutout. This feature improves the camera quality, but also makes the folding screen less immersive than the Fold 6. 

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I loved reading and playing games on the last-gen Samsung foldable because it offered a more intuitive full-screen experience compared to other foldables. If you also enjoy the experience, you should stick to your Fold 6.

2. You are fond of S Pen

The S Pen situation on the Galaxy Z Fold series was always half-baked. You were required to add a case to stick an S Pen to your device. While I wasn’t a fan of this approach, many productivity-focused customers might use the S Pen to jot down notes or sketch on the expansive Z Fold’s display. 

If you’re someone who uses that capability, it might be a good idea to stick with your Galaxy Z Fold 6 because the new Z Fold 7 doesn’t support S Pen. The only Samsung flagship phone to support S Pen now is the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

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More generally, I love the upgrades on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I’m looking forward to using the device in the coming weeks. The phone offers a thin and light design, an upgraded camera setup, reduced creases, a better display aspect ratio, and a smooth UI. While I don’t have high hopes for the battery (given that it packs the same 4,400mAh cell as the Fold 6), I think the device will be one of the most loved Samsung phones in recent years.