Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
The Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the cheaper of the two at $799 versus $1,800, a difference of about $1,001. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Samsung Galaxy S21 stands out for $200 price cut from s20 launched at $799, 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 if…
- →$200 price cut from S20 launched at $799
- →Lightweight and compact at 169 g
- →120Hz AMOLED with adaptive refresh
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
Pros
- $200 price cut from S20 launched at $799
- Lightweight and compact at 169 g
- 120Hz AMOLED with adaptive refresh
- Snapdragon 888 performance
- Eye-catching Contour Cut camera design
Cons
- Plastic (Glasstic) back panel
- FHD+ only, no QHD option
- No microSD card slot
- Slow 25W charging
- No charger included 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 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 169 g | 239 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Glasstic back | Armor Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | 150 x 68 x 10.9 mm (folded) |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP (cover), 4 MP (under display) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4000 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.2 inches | 7.6 inches (inner), 6.2 inches (cover) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2160 x 1856 (inner) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1300 | 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 | 5.0 | 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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