Galaxy Z Fold7 Camera vs S25 Ultra – The Honest Comparison

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I was standing in Times Square in New York last week, phone in hand, trying to capture the perfect shot of the glowing billboards at sunset. I'd just spent $1,900 on the Galaxy Z Fold7, and I was certain its camera would blow me away. Samsung had told me this was the first "Ultra" foldable – the same 200MP main sensor as the S25 Ultra, the same chipset, the same everything.

I snapped the photo. It looked... fine. Good, even. But something felt off.

Later that night, I pulled up the same shot taken by my friend's Galaxy S25 Ultra – a phone that cost nearly half as much. The difference hit me like a brick. His photo was sharper. More detailed. The colors popped in ways mine just couldn't match. The zoom was cleaner. The low-light performance was in a completely different league.

My $1,900 foldable had just been humbled by a phone that costs $924.99.

If you're reading this because you're frustrated with your Z Fold7's camera quality – especially compared to the S25 Ultra – take a breath. I've been exactly where you are. I've done the research, I've taken the photos, and I'm going to tell you exactly why this gap exists, what you can do about it, and whether you should actually care. Give me about 10 minutes, and you'll know the full story.

🚨 Your 3-Minute Reality Check

Before we dive deep, here's what you need to know right now:

• The main camera: is nearly identical – both phones share the same 200MP sensor. For standard wide shots in good lighting, you probably won't notice a difference.
• The zoom and ultrawide: are where the S25 Ultra destroys the Fold 7 – the S25 Ultra has a 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide, compared to the Fold 7's 10MP telephoto (3x zoom) and 12MP ultrawide.
• The under-display selfie camera: is a compromise – the Fold 7's 10MP internal selfie camera is hidden under the screen, which means lower quality than the S25 Ultra's 12MP punch-hole selfie camera.

The Day I Realized My Foldable Camera Wasn't "Ultra"

Let me take you back to the beginning. I bought my Galaxy Z Fold7 in September 2025, drawn in by Samsung's promise that this was finally the foldable that could do everything. The same 200MP main camera as the S25 Ultra. The same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The same AI processing power.

And for the first few months, I was happy. The camera was a massive upgrade from the Fold 6's 50MP sensor. Photos looked crisp, colors were vibrant, and I felt like I was finally getting flagship camera quality in a foldable.

Then I started paying attention. I'd see photos taken by friends with the S25 Ultra, and something was just... better. Sharper edges. More detail in the shadows. Zoom shots that looked like they were taken with a dedicated camera.

I went down the rabbit hole. I compared spec sheets side by side. I read every review I could find. And I discovered the uncomfortable truth: Samsung had given the Z Fold7 the same sensor as the S25 Ultra, but not the same optics.

One reviewer put it bluntly: "Samsung has used a slimmed-down version of the main camera lens for the Fold, likely the same one that featured on the S25 Edge". In other words, the Fold 7's main camera is physically thinner – because it has to fit inside a foldable body. And that thinness comes at a cost.

⚠️ A Word of Caution Before You Do Anything

Not every camera comparison is fair. The Z Fold7's camera is good – in many situations, it's excellent. But if you're a photography enthusiast who demands the absolute best, the S25 Ultra is the clear winner.

I'm sharing my honest opinion, not a guarantee. Your experience may vary depending on what you shoot and how you shoot it. When in doubt, test both phones side by side before you buy.

🔴 DISCLAIMER & DATA BACKUP WARNING

STOP. RIGHT. NOW.

Before you do anything – before you sell your Fold 7, before you trade it in, before you do anything drastic – back up your photos and videos.

Use Samsung Smart Switch on your computer. Connect your phone via USB-C, open Smart Switch, and create a full backup. Why? Because if you decide to switch phones, you never want to lose your memories in the process.

The Troubleshooting Playbook: From Safest to Most Effective

I've organized these solutions from the least risky (adjusting settings) to the most effective (accepting reality). Try them in order. Skip ahead at your own peril.

1. The Settings Tweak (Maximize What You Have)

Before you blame the hardware, make sure you're using the software to its full potential.

How to do it:

• Intelligent Optimization: Go to Camera > Settings > Intelligent Optimization and set it to "Maximum."
• Scene Optimizer: Turn on "Scene Optimizer" to let AI enhance your shots.
• Optical Zoom: For zoom shots, make sure you're using the 3x optical zoom – anything beyond that is digital zoom, which reduces quality.
• Night Mode: For low-light shots, use Night Mode – it's slow but effective.

What I found: These tweaks helped, but they couldn't close the gap entirely.

2. The "Use the Rear Camera for Selfies" Trick

This is the single best tip for Z Fold7 owners who care about selfie quality.

How to do it:

• Unfold: Unfold your phone and use the rear cameras to take a selfie.
• Preview: The phone will show a preview on the cover display.
• Full Power: You get the full power of the 200MP main sensor for your selfies.

Why it works: The Fold 7's internal under-display selfie camera is only 10MP and, like all under-display cameras, sacrifices quality for invisibility. Using the rear cameras gives you S25 Ultra-level selfies.

3. The Third-Party Camera App (Sometimes Better)

Samsung's stock camera app is powerful, but some users prefer third-party options.

How to do it:

• Download Apps: Download GCam (Google Camera) ports or ProShot from the Galaxy Store.
• Manual Controls: Experiment with manual controls to get the most out of the hardware.

What I found: Third-party apps can sometimes produce better results, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

4. The Expert RAW Workflow (For Serious Photographers)

If you're a photography enthusiast, shoot in RAW and edit manually.

How to do it:

• Download Expert RAW: Download Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store.
• Format: Shoot in RAW format.
• Editing: Edit in Lightroom or Snapseed.

Why it works: RAW files contain more data than JPEGs, giving you more flexibility in post-processing.

5. The Honest Reality Check (Accept the Trade-Off)

Here's the brutal truth: the Z Fold7's camera is not as good as the S25 Ultra's. And it never will be – because the Fold 7 has to be thin enough to fold.

The trade-off: You get a tablet-sized screen that fits in your pocket. In exchange, you give up the best camera hardware Samsung can offer. That's the deal.

What the data shows: DxOMark's February 2026 rankings put the S25 Ultra at 151 points and the Z Fold7 at 145 points. That's a six-point gap – significant in the world of camera testing.

When to accept it: If you're a casual photographer who mostly shoots in good lighting, you won't notice the difference. If you're a photography enthusiast who shoots zoom, low-light, or ultrawide frequently, the S25 Ultra is the better choice.

💰 Repair Cost Table: What If You Actually Have a Hardware Defect?

If your camera quality is genuinely broken – not just "not as good as the S25 Ultra" – you might need a repair. Here's what that costs as of July 2026.

Repair Option	Estimated Cost (USD)	Notes
Camera module replacement (Samsung Service Center)	$150 – $300	Depends on which camera module failed
Camera module replacement (third-party)	$100 – $250	May use aftermarket parts
Samsung Care+ (deductible)	$99	If the camera is covered under accidental damage
Full device replacement (out of warranty)	$1,000+	Not recommended – just buy a new phone

My advice: Before you pay for a repair, make sure your camera is actually broken – not just "not as good as the S25 Ultra." Most camera complaints are about quality expectations, not hardware defects.

📋 Diagnostic Table: Match Your Symptoms to the Right Fix

Symptoms	Most Likely Cause	Jump to Solution
Photos look fine but not as sharp as S25 Ultra	Slimmed-down optics on Fold 7	Settings Tweak → Honest Reality Check
Zoom photos are blurry beyond 3x	Fold 7 lacks periscope telephoto	Honest Reality Check
Ultrawide photos lack detail	Fold 7 has 12MP ultrawide vs S25 Ultra's 50MP	Honest Reality Check
Selfies look soft or washed out	Under-display camera is a compromise	Use Rear Camera for Selfies
Photos are genuinely blurry or malfunctioning	Hardware defect	Repair Cost Table
Low-light photos are noisy	Smaller sensor or software processing	Expert RAW Workflow

🛡️ How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fold 7 Camera

After coming to terms with the camera trade-off, I made peace with my Z Fold7. Here's what helped:

• Focus on strengths: I focus on the Fold 7's strengths. The massive inner screen is incredible for reviewing photos, editing on the go, and showing off shots to friends.
• Use rear cameras: I use the rear cameras for selfies. The 200MP main sensor takes stunning selfies when I flip the phone around.
• Stop pixel-peeping: I stopped pixel-peeping. Unless I'm printing photos or cropping heavily, the differences are barely noticeable.
• Carry a mirrorless camera: I carry my mirrorless camera for serious photography. No phone – not even the S25 Ultra – can replace a dedicated camera for professional work.

🔍 Technical Analysis: Why the Z Fold7's Camera Can't Match the S25 Ultra

Let's be honest about what's going on here.

The main camera: nearly identical, but not quite.

Both phones share the same 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 sensor. The aperture is the same (f/1.7), the focal length is the same (24mm), and the sensor size is the same (1/1.3").

But – and this is the key – the Fold 7 uses a "slimmed-down version of the main camera lens". The optics are physically thinner because they have to fit inside a foldable body. The result? "The S25 Ultra, with its larger lens array, shows slightly sharper details at the very edges of the frame".

The ultrawide camera: a massive downgrade.

Specification	Z Fold 7	S25 Ultra
Ultrawide resolution	12MP	50MP
Aperture	f/2.2	f/1.9
Field of view	120°	120°

That's a huge difference. The S25 Ultra's 50MP ultrawide captures dramatically more detail, especially in the corners of the frame.

The telephoto camera: the biggest gap.

Specification	Z Fold 7	S25 Ultra
Telephoto 1	10MP, 3x optical zoom	10MP, 3x optical zoom
Telephoto 2 (periscope)	None	50MP, 5x optical zoom

This is where the S25 Ultra completely destroys the Fold 7. The Fold 7 has no periscope telephoto lens – meaning anything beyond 3x zoom is digital zoom, which heavily degrades quality. The S25 Ultra, meanwhile, can shoot at up to 50MP at 5x zoom.

The selfie camera: a necessary compromise.

Specification	Z Fold 7	S25 Ultra
Cover display selfie	10MP	12MP
Internal selfie	10MP (under-display)	N/A

The Fold 7's under-display selfie camera is a technological marvel – but it's also a compromise. Hiding the camera under the screen means less light reaches the sensor, resulting in softer, less detailed images.

The verdict: One reviewer summed it up perfectly: "The camera is simply Ultra, we've lived to see it and finally the flagship got the best Samsung had to offer". But that "Ultra" camera belongs to the S25 Ultra, not the Z Fold7.

The bigger picture: The Z Fold7 "is not focused as a camera-first phone". It's focused on productivity and the foldable experience. The S25 Ultra is focused on photography. They're different devices for different priorities.

My honest opinion: The Z Fold7's camera is the best Samsung has ever put in a foldable. It's a massive upgrade over the Fold 6. But it's not, and never will be, an S25 Ultra replacement. If you want the absolute best camera, buy the S25 Ultra. If you want a tablet that folds into a phone, buy the Z Fold7 – and accept the camera trade-off.

Difficulty rating for "fixing" this problem: 1/10 – because there's nothing to fix. The camera is what it is. The only "fix" is adjusting your expectations or buying a different phone.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (To Calm Your Nerves)

Is the Z Fold7's camera actually bad?

No. It's a great camera. It's just not as good as the S25 Ultra's. For most casual users, the difference is barely noticeable.

Why does the S25 Ultra take better photos if they have the same sensor?

The S25 Ultra has better optics (a larger lens array), a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom. The Fold 7 has a slimmed-down main lens, a 12MP ultrawide, and no periscope zoom.

Can a software update fix the camera gap?

Partially. Samsung could improve image processing, but the hardware differences – especially the missing periscope zoom and lower-resolution ultrawide – can't be fixed with software.

Should I buy the Z Fold7 or the S25 Ultra?

If you care about camera quality above all else, buy the S25 Ultra. If you want the foldable experience and can accept a slightly worse camera, buy the Z Fold7. The price difference is significant – $1,699 for the Fold 7 vs. $924.99 for the S25 Ultra.

Is the under-display selfie camera really that bad?

It's not bad – it's just not as good as a traditional punch-hole camera. It's a necessary compromise for a full-screen foldable.

Should I wait for the Z Fold 8?

Possibly. Samsung is rumored to be working on a "foldable Ultra" that could close the camera gap. But no one knows when – or if – that will happen.

🏁 Final Thoughts: What I Wish I'd Known

Looking back, there are three things I wish someone had told me before I bought my Z Fold7:

• The camera is good: but not "Ultra" good. Samsung's marketing made it sound like the Fold 7 had the same camera as the S25 Ultra. It doesn't. The hardware differences are real.
• The trade-off is worth it: for me. I use the big screen every single day. I'd rather have the foldable experience and a slightly worse camera than a traditional phone with a perfect camera.
• Use the rear cameras: for selfies. It's a game-changer. The 200MP main sensor takes stunning selfies – just flip the phone around and use the cover display as a viewfinder.

If this guide saved you from a panic attack or an unnecessary return, bookmark it and share it with anyone else who might be struggling with the same question. We Z Fold7 users have to look out for each other.

Got a question I didn't answer? Drop a comment below – I reply to every single one.