Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
The Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the cheaper of the two at $1,199 versus $1,800, a difference of about $601. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra stands out for 100x space zoom with 10x optical telephoto, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is praised for thinnest and lightest galaxy z fold ever. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- →S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 if…
- →Thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold ever
- →7.6-inch foldable inner display
- →S Pen support
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
- 1440p 120Hz LTPO adaptive display
- 5000 mAh battery with all-day endurance
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g
- Snapdragon 888 can overheat under load
- S Pen sold separately, no silo slot
- Slow 25W charging for the class
- No charger or earbuds in the box
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
Pros
- Thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold ever
- 7.6-inch foldable inner display
- S Pen support
- Snapdragon 8 Elite performance
Cons
- $1800 starting price
- Only 25W wired charging
- Cover display crease still visible
- 239g is heavy
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 239 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Armor Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 150 x 68 x 10.9 mm (folded) |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 40 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP (cover), 4 MP (under display) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps |
| Periscope | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom | — |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.8 inches | 7.6 inches (inner), 6.2 inches (cover) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 3200 x 1440 | 2160 x 1856 (inner) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1500 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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