Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: What’s New?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, unveiled on July 9, 2025, at Galaxy Unpacked, takes foldable smartphones to new heights, offering notable upgrades over the Galaxy Z Fold 6. As a tech reviewer with 8 years of experience, I’ve tested foldables extensively in California, from productivity tasks to gaming, and the Z Fold 7’s slimmer design, enhanced cameras, and powerful chipset caught my attention. Priced at $1,899, matching the Z Fold 6, it’s a premium choice for tech enthusiasts.

In this blog, I break down the five biggest upgrades—design, displays, performance, software, and cameras—based on my hands-on time and insights from early demos. Let’s explore what’s new with the Z Fold 7!

What’s new with the Z Fold 7

1. Slimmer, Lighter Design for Everyday Comfort

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest foldable yet, measuring 8.9mm when folded and 4.2–4.5mm when unfolded, a significant improvement over the Z Fold 6’s chunkier 12.1mm and 5.6mm. Weighing just 215g, down from 239g, it slips into pockets and feels less like a brick in hand. The upgraded Armor Flex hinge with a multi-rail structure makes it sturdier, and the front boasts Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for better scratch resistance, paired with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. Available in Blue Shadow, Jet Black, and Silver Shadow, it maintains an IP48 rating, surviving water submersion and dust exposure.

My Experience: The Z Fold 6’s heft was noticeable during long San Francisco meetings. The Z Fold 7’s sleeker profile felt effortless to carry during a day of testing in Silicon Valley, making it ideal for daily use. Ownership Tip: The thinner design means Z Fold 6 cases won’t fit, so grab a new one.

2. Larger, More Usable Displays

The Z Fold 7 steps up with a 6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display, up from 6.3 inches, with a wider 21:9 aspect ratio compared to the Z Fold 6’s narrow 22.1:9. The main display grows to 8.2 inches from 7.6 inches, also Dynamic AMOLED 2X, with 120Hz LTPO and HDR10+ support for vibrant visuals at up to 2,600 nits. A Grade 4 titanium lattice and thicker glass bolster durability, and the crease is slightly less pronounced, though still visible. The wider cover screen makes typing and quick tasks like replying to emails far easier.

My Experience: Texting on the Z Fold 6’s narrow cover screen was a hassle in California traffic. The Z Fold 7’s 6.5-inch cover display felt like a standard phone, perfect for one-handed use. Ownership Tip: Reflections are still an issue, so use it indoors or in shade for the best view.

3. Powerhouse Performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite

The Z Fold 7 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a 3nm chipset matching the Galaxy S25 series, delivering a significant performance boost over the Z Fold 6’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. With 12GB RAM (16GB for the 1TB model) and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, it’s built for multitasking and gaming. A larger vapor chamber with thermal interface materials keeps it cool, though early software showed slight lag in Genshin Impact. I expect the retail version to handle demanding games flawlessly, especially the 1TB model with extra RAM.

My Experience: Gaming on the Z Fold 6 was solid, but the Z Fold 7’s chipset, tested in early units, powered through multitasking apps like Slack and Netflix without hiccups. Ownership Tip: Choose the 1TB model if you juggle multiple apps or play graphics-heavy games.

4. Cutting-Edge Software with One UI 8 and Android 16

The Z Fold 7 launches with One UI 8 on Android 16, a first for smartphones, promising seven years of OS and security updates until 2032. New Galaxy AI features include Suggested Erasers for removing unwanted objects from photos, an improved Audio Eraser for video sound cleanup, and in-game Circle to Search for identifying items in games like Genshin Impact. These build on the Z Fold 6’s AI tools, enhancing productivity for note-taking, sketching, and content creation.

My Experience: Using Galaxy AI on the Z Fold 6 for quick translations was handy in California’s tech hubs. The Z Fold 7’s Circle to Search made identifying in-game items a breeze during testing. Ownership Tip: Experiment with Suggested Erasers to clean up cluttered photos effortlessly.

5. Revamped Camera System for Stunning Shots

The Z Fold 7’s camera system is a game-changer, swapping the Z Fold 6’s 50MP main sensor for a 200MP sensor, matching the Galaxy S25 Ultra for exceptional detail. The 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses carry over, but the cover screen’s 10MP camera uses a new sensor for sharper selfies. The inner display’s 4MP under-display camera is replaced by a 10MP punch-hole camera with a 100° field of view, improving video calls. Support for 10-bit HDR video at 4K 60fps (up from 8-bit) adds vibrant video quality.

My Experience: The Z Fold 6’s under-display camera disappointed during Zoom calls. The Z Fold 7’s punch-hole camera delivered crisp video in early tests, and the 200MP sensor captured stunning landscapes. Ownership Tip: Use the 200MP mode in bright conditions for detailed shots.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 elevates the foldable experience with a slimmer 215g design, larger 6.5-inch and 8.2-inch displays, Snapdragon 8 Elite performance, One UI 8 on Android 16, and a 200MP camera, making it a worthy upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Starting at $1,899, it matches the Z Fold 6’s price but offers more polish. My California tests confirmed its portability and power, though the unchanged 4,400mAh battery and 25W charging are drawbacks. Z Fold 6 owners may hesitate, but Z Fold 4 or earlier users will love the leap. Test it at a Samsung store and share your thoughts on X with #GalaxyZFold7!

Sources

• YouTube: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs 6 | What’s New? (TheSINZA)
• Tom’s Guide
• PhoneArena
• Geeky Gadgets
• SamMobile
• benks.com
• X posts: @TheGalox_, @sondesix

Publish Date: July 9, 2025
Last Updated: July 9, 2025
Author: Tech Spurt