Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Verdict
Samsung's Z Fold 3 pioneered foldable technology with its 7.6-inch inner display and innovative form factor, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra decisively outperforms it across nearly every measurable dimension. Xiaomi's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 1-inch 50MP main sensor with superior optics, and 200MP periscope telephoto vastly exceed the Z Fold 3's aging Snapdragon 888 and modest triple camera setup. Battery capacity nearly matches despite smaller weight (5810mAh vs 4400mAh), while 90W charging obliterates the Z Fold's 25W. Display brightness (3200 nits vs 1200) and resolution (3200x1440 vs 2208x1768) favor Xiaomi significantly. At $800 less, the 15 Ultra delivers superior everyday performance, photography, and charging speed. The Z Fold 3's foldable flexibility offers unique utility but aging internals and cameras cannot justify its $1799 premium for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 if…
- →First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- →S Pen support on inner display
- →120Hz on both inner and cover screens
Buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if…
- →200MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom rivals Galaxy S25 Ultra
- →1-inch main sensor with Leica optics produces stunning photos
- →Titanium frame gives a premium, durable build
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Pros
- First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- S Pen support on inner display
- 120Hz on both inner and cover screens
- Under-display camera for seamless inner screen
- Multi-window multitasking
Cons
- $1799 is prohibitively expensive
- Heavy at 271 g
- Under-display camera quality is poor
- Same cameras as Fold 2
- S Pen not included and no storage silo
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Pros
- 200MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom rivals Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 1-inch main sensor with Leica optics produces stunning photos
- Titanium frame gives a premium, durable build
- 4K@120fps video recording is industry-leading
- 90W fast charging and 50W wireless on a huge 5810 mAh battery
Cons
- Heavy at 229 g and thick at 9.17 mm
- Very expensive at $999 with limited global availability
- HyperOS software experience lags behind iOS and One UI
- Camera bump is extremely large
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 | Xiaomi 15 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 11, One UI 3.1.1 | Android 15 (HyperOS 2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 271 g | 229 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm (unfolded) | 161.1 x 75.2 x 9.17 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.63, OIS (1-inch sensor) |
| Front camera | 10 MP (cover), 4 MP under-display (inner) | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 200 MP, f/2.6, 5x periscope optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.0, 128-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4400 mAh | 5810 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 7.6 inches (inner), 6.2 inches (cover) | 6.73 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, foldable | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2208 x 1768 (inner), 2268 x 832 (cover) | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz (both) | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 3200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm 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 |
Related Comparisons
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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