What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
A flagship foldable can take photos close to a top conventional flagship in many everyday situations, but the slab phone usually wins when you need stronger zoom or more flexibility across camera tasks. In a direct comparison of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Fold7 performed well for ordinary scenes; the S25 Ultra had the edge in tested HDR and light control, long-range zoom, some macro shots, and front-camera selfies. That is a model-specific verdict, not a rule for every foldable.
How close are their main cameras?
On paper, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy S25 Ultra share a 200 MP main camera. Samsung says the Fold7’s wide-angle camera is the same camera found in the S25 Ultra. That is a manufacturer specification claim, not proof that the phones produce identical images: optics, focusing, image processing, and shooting conditions still affect the result. Samsung Mobile Press describes the Fold7’s 200 MP camera.
In Tom’s Guide’s comparison, which covered more than 200 photographs, the S25 Ultra produced sharper detail in a tested low-light main-camera image. The review also reported better HDR and light control across multiple shot types. Those are observations from that review’s samples, not results from a standardized laboratory test or a guarantee for every scene. Tech Advisor likewise found the phones broadly similar in many everyday situations.
Where does the S25 Ultra pull ahead?
Zoom and distant subjects
The clearest difference is reach. Tech Advisor lists a similar 10 MP, f/2.4 3x telephoto specification for both phones, but the S25 Ultra adds a 50 MP 5x periscope telephoto. In that comparison, the Ultra’s 5x image showed more detail, and its photos stayed cleaner at higher zoom. Tom’s Guide also identified magnification beyond 3x as the Fold7’s main camera gap.
If you regularly photograph wildlife, sports, stage performances, or distant travel details, the S25 Ultra is the safer choice between these two. A dedicated longer-reach camera gives you more useful detail than simply cropping a 3x shot, especially as magnification rises.
HDR, exposure, and night scenes
Tom’s Guide found the S25 Ultra handled HDR and light control better across multiple types of shots in its comparison. Tech Advisor also observed that the S25 Ultra’s ultrawide retained somewhat more detail at night, although its daylight ultrawide images looked very similar to the Fold7’s.
Rank #2
- [Powerful and Versatile 3-Axis Foldable Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphones.]More powerful than any other smartphone gimbal, works well and compatible with iPhones and most Android phones.Smart XE phone gimbal is equipped with versatile compatibility of smartphones. Suitable for vlogging, live-streaming, selfie, hiking, and sports scenarios. One-Click video button effortlessly switchs between horizontal and vertical portrait mode for quick TikTok video or YouTube shorts.
- [Portable Foldable Design, Compact and Lightweigh]Palm-size 3-axis foldable gimbal with a net weight of only 0.78pounds, but can carry a 250-gram payload. Innovative focus wheel and zoom slide empowers you to shoot like a professional filmmaker photographer, even without complicated filmmaking skills, with adjustable focus speed and 3 brushless motors that increase power to stabilize most big-screen smartphones and create smooth and steady video shots.
- [All-day Long Video Creation] 2600mAh big-capacity battery enables up to 10 hours of continuous shooting, making it perfect for food photography, beauty live-streaming, vlogging, YouTube and TikTok video creation. One-click video button to effortlessly switch from horizontal mode to vertical portrait mode, rapidly taking your TikTok shots in just a flash. Born for filmmakers, vloggers, TikToker, IGTV, and YouTuber to shoot professional videography.
- [AI Face Track 4.0 ]Guestual Control in our Intuitive AOCHUAN APP: Easily take any kind of shooting mode, including panorama, wide-angle, cinematic and movie mode, live-streaming, time-lapse, and motion-lapse, and optimize your phone's native camera settings. Tutorial videos available on our integrated app, product videos and YouTube channel.
- [SMART 7.0 Anti-Shake Smooth ]Equipped with the enhanced powerful brushless motors and 7.0 generation anti-shake algorithm for smooth and steady video output for professional videography. Start now to be a professional videographer with AOCHUAN SMART XE gimbal stabilizer. Package and support includes AOCHUAN SMART XE gimbal (phone not included), tripod, USB-C charging cable and user manual.
Close-ups depend on which camera you use
Macro is not a single, apples-to-apples feature here. The Fold7 gained macro focusing through its ultrawide camera, letting you get close with that lens. Tech Advisor found that the S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto could focus much closer for telephoto macro photographs. That gives the Ultra a different close-up option and can change the framing without placing the phone as close to the subject.
What does the Fold7 do well?
Everyday photos
For ordinary daylight scenes and many common frames, reviewers found the Fold7 close enough to the S25 Ultra that the small differences may matter less than the phone’s form factor. If your usual subjects are people, meals, pets, or nearby street scenes rather than distant action, the Fold7 can deliver strong results without matching the Ultra in every camera specialty.
Rank #3
- A premium foldable smartphone featuring an 8.0" Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display, 6.5" cover display, 200MP main camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, 4,400mAh battery, and a slim 215g design.
Rear-camera selfies with the cover screen
The S25 Ultra has a dedicated 12 MP autofocus selfie camera. Tech Advisor found it sharper than the Fold7’s 10 MP fixed-focus front cameras. But the Fold7 offers a useful alternative: use its cover screen to frame a self-portrait with the rear cameras. That can produce a better rear-camera selfie more conveniently than using the front camera, provided you are comfortable holding and framing the unfolded or folded phone that way.
Which camera fits your photography?
| Photo task | Better fit | What the comparison found |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday main-camera photos | Close call; Fold7 may be enough | Both share a 200 MP main-camera specification, and reviewers found substantial similarity in many ordinary scenes. The S25 Ultra showed sharper detail in a tested low-light image. |
| Distant subjects and zoom beyond 3x | Galaxy S25 Ultra | It adds a 50 MP 5x periscope telephoto; reviewers found better detail at 5x and cleaner results at higher zoom. |
| Ultrawide in daylight | Close | Tech Advisor reported very similar daylight results. |
| Ultrawide at night | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Tech Advisor observed somewhat better retained detail. |
| Macro close-ups | Depends on framing | The Fold7 focuses for macro through its ultrawide; the S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto can focus closer for telephoto macro. |
| Front-camera selfies | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Its dedicated 12 MP autofocus camera was sharper in Tech Advisor’s comparison than the Fold7’s 10 MP fixed-focus front cameras. |
| Selfies using rear cameras | Galaxy Z Fold7 | Its cover screen can help frame a selfie with the rear camera system. |
Does this verdict apply to all foldables?
No. Camera systems vary by model, and some foldables have longer optical zoom than the Fold7. In Tom’s Guide’s separate Pixel 10 Pro Fold versus Fold7 comparison, the Pixel had a 5x telephoto versus the Fold7’s 3x; the reviewer reported more detail in a tested 10x scene and more accurate color in a tested night photo. That comparison illustrates variation among foldables; it does not establish how the Pixel compares with the S25 Ultra.
Rank #4
- FLEXIBLE FILMING RIG: ABS cage can be extended for two-handed grip, collapsed for a compact one-hand configuration, or folded to be used as a stand
- FITS ANY PHONE: Adjustable phone holder opens up to 3.3" wide, capable of accommodating Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones
- 1-YEAR WARRANTY: We’ve got your back! Our products are designed to ease your technical woes, not add to them. Our friendly US-Based support team is here to help
- ROOM FOR ACCESSORIES: 4 cold shoe mounts allow for a variety of LEDs, mics, and other attachments to be added, while 4 1/4" threaded mounts enable rig to be secured on tripods and other stabilizers
- FEATURES: Foldable Frame, 2x Hand Grips, 4x Cold Shoes, 4x 1/4" Threaded Mounts, Adjustable Smartphone Holder,
How to choose
- Choose the S25 Ultra if you often need long optical reach, photograph distant action or wildlife, want its tested HDR and light-control advantages, or prefer a sharper dedicated front-camera selfie.
- Choose the Fold7 if its folding design is valuable to you and most of your photos are everyday scenes, or if taking rear-camera selfies with cover-screen framing suits your habits.
- Compare the exact models if you are considering another foldable. The Fold7’s zoom limitation should not be generalized to every phone with a folding screen.
The available comparisons are hands-on reviews rather than a controlled, standardized camera test with a published aggregate score. Treat the results as useful evidence about these specific models, not a universal ranking of foldables against slab phones.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SPLIT THE VIEW. MULTITASK¹ TO THE MAX: Productivity never felt this powerful. Use up to three apps¹ at once on the expansive inner screen of Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. You’ll enjoy plenty of space to work, play, connect and more.
- MULTITASKING MADE SMARTER WITH AI: Stay one step ahead with AI² that suggests which apps you might need next. Then view those multiple windows side by side on the large screen of your Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
- ANY SHOT, ALL THE DETAILS: Dive into the details of any image with our best camera on a foldable smartphone. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra boasts a 200MP camera — and an upgraded 50MP Ultra Wide lens — for both stunning wide shots and extreme close-ups.
- ELITE CHIPSET. FLUID GRAPHICS: Experience what’s possible with our most advanced Galaxy Z Series processor. From immersive gaming and speedy multitasking to the latest Galaxy AI³ features, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 keeps everything running seamlessly.
- THE BATTERY YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR: It’s the battery you’ve been wanting in a foldable cell phone. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra packs a powerful ultra-sized⁴ battery in an ultra-slim design. Plus, with Super Fast Charging 2.0⁵, charge up faster than ever before.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
