Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: So many reasons to upgrade

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 didn't bring major upgrades over its predecessor, the brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 7 completely flips that script. With a faster processor, thin and light design, and a standout main camera sensor, this might be the foldable upgrade you've been waiting for.

Unfortunately, it's also more expensive, so is the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a worthwhile upgrade over the last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 6? There may be enough changes to warrant an upgrade, although the price hike and a few feature similarities might make the decision tough. Let's break down all the ways the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 compare, and help you decide which one to buy or upgrade to.

For more news and information on Samsung’s latest foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Pricing and availability

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was officially unveiled at a Galaxy Unpacked event on July 9, 2025 in New York City. Pre-orders are open now for the device, with general availability set for later this month. The phone now starts at $1,999, which is an increase compared to the previous model It's available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations, and Silver Shadow, Blue Shadow, Jetblack, and Mint (Samsung exclusive) colorways.

Currently, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 starting at $1,899, with three different storage configurations available: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. It's available in Silver, Shadow, Pink, and Navy colorways. That price will likely see permanent discounts once the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is more widely available.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design and display

Looking at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 from afar, you might not notice a ton of changes compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung is retaining a similar design language, with flat sides and sharp corners. That said, the rear camera housing now borrows the oval-shaped design from the Galaxy S25 Edge. It's also thinner and lighter than the previous model.

The differences start with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offering a much thinner profile than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The foldable phone measures 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm when folded, making it the thinnest Samsung foldable to date. It's also lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, weighing in at 215 grams.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which measures 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6 mm, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a considerable improvement. The newer model is 26% thinner than the older one, and 24 grams lighter. This is a difference you'll notice in your hand or pocket.

The upgrades don't stop there. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 ships with a bigger main screen and cover screen. The foldable, inner panel grows to 8 inches this year, and it's an AMOLED 2X display. The cover screen is now 6.5 inches, and more importantly, has a 21:9 aspect ratio for the first time. Both displays will likely be more usable than ever due to these size changes.

By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 sports a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display with a variable refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz. On the outside, there's a 6.3-inch cover screen with the same specs, but higher pixel density.

It's also worth noting that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 supports the optional S Pen for the main display, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 7 forgoes S Pen support in favor of a slimmer profile.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Hardware and specs

Samsung is also bringing Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This upgraded processor is capable of handling more demanding AI tasks and features Qualcomm's best custom Oryon cores. It's superior to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip inside the current Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, both phones have the same 12GB of available memory.

Despite the delays associated with Samsung's One UI 7 rollout, Samsung is launching the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with One UI 8, based on Android 16. It's the first phone to debut with Android 16 out of the box, and also marks the first time a Samsung foldable is launching with the newest OS version.

The battery and charging specs are unchanged, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 featuring the same 4,400mAh capacity and 25W wired charging speeds. It's an underwhelming part of the Galaxy Z Fold 7's spec sheet for people hoping for faster charging and longer battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Cameras

For the past few generations, Samsung hasn't upgraded the camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold product line, aside from the Special Edition model. As of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 generation, the camera system still includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. However, this is finally changing with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Samsung equipped the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a brand-new 200MP main sensor, which could be the same sensor found on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition — a premium variant exclusive to China and Korea. The other sensors are unchanged, though, still remaining as a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto. This is an improvement, but the secondary lenses still leave something to be desired.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 also received a front-facing camera upgrade, as the main display now has a 10MP sensor just like the cover screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Worth the upgrade?

With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 costing even more than the pricey Galaxy Z Fold 6, it probably doesn't make sense to upgrade if you already have the current model. That being said, users of earlier Galaxy Z Fold models — or those trying to buy a Samsung foldable for the first time — might be pleased by the Galaxy Z Fold 7's major upgrades.

Another factor to consider is that following the Galaxy Z Fold 7's pre-order window, it's possible that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will become massively discounted. As such, if you're willing to compromise a bit, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could offer a better value proposition than the newer Galaxy Z Fold 7.