Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro: What’s the smarter $1,099 buy in 2025?

By Aleksandar Anastasov

Updated: Sep 12, 2025, 7:22 AM

1comment

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.

Side-by-side comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 in a half-open position and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro.

Intro

Foldable phones have gone from niche experiments to refined flagships, and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the latest proof. With a bigger cover display, better durability, and deeper Galaxy AI integration, it’s Samsung’s most polished clamshell yet.

Apple, meanwhile, is yet to release its first foldable phone, but the new iPhone 17 Pro brings notable upgrades to the Pro line. This includes a new forged aluminum design with Ceramic Shield 2 on the back and front, a triple 48 MP camera system, faster charging and longer battery life, and more.

Both of these phones start at $1,099, which begs the question, but with the Z Flip 7 you pay for portability and the foldable form factor, while the iPhone 17 Pro gives you for all-around performance and reliability. So what exactly do you gain and lose when you pick one of the two?

$1119 ⁹⁹

$2119 ⁹⁹

$1000 off (47%)

Trade in your old phone and save up to $1,000 on Samsung's best foldable phone yet. You also get six months of free Google AI Pro with your smartphone purchase.

Buy at Samsung

$619 ⁹⁹

$1219 ⁹⁹

$600 off (49%)

If you're after a premium flip phone with a large cover display and multiple Galaxy AI features, consider the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Right now, the smartphone is available at Samsung for up to $600 off with trade-ins. Alternatively, you can buy it for $150 off with Samsung Instant Savings.

Buy at Samsung

$0 /mo

$30 ⁵⁵

$31 off (100%)

The powerful iPhone 17 Pro is finally here! You can now get the new Pro with an upgraded design and a brilliant display for as low as $0.00/mo. at Verizon. You must set up a new line on an Unlimited Ultimate plan and trade in a device to take advantage.

Buy at Verizon

$2 ⁷⁷ /mo

$33 ³³

$31 off (92%)

The impressive iPhone 17 Pro Max is available at Verizon. Right now, you can save up to $1,100 on the premium device when you activate a new line and trade in an eligible device. The promo is only available with an Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Buy at Verizon

Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro differences:

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Foldable clamshell	Forged aluminum unibody
IP48 dust and water resistance rating	IP68
6.9" AMOLED, 60-120Hz	6.3" LTPO OLED, 1-120Hz
Secondary, cover 4.1" display	No secondary display
Exynos 2500 (3nm) chip	A19 Pro chip
12 GB RAM	12 GB RAM
512 GB maximum storage	1 TB maximum storage
Dual rear cameras (50 MP + 12 MP), 10 MP selfie	Triple 48 MP rear cameras, 18 MP selfie
4,300 mAh battery	~3,900 mAh stacked battery
25W wired, 15W wireless charging	40W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless charging
Supports reverse wireless charging	Does not support reverse wireless charging
One UI 8 + Galaxy AI	iOS 26 + Apple Intelligence
$1,099 starting price for 256 GB	$1,099 starting price for 256 GB

Table of Contents:

Design
Display
Performance
Camera
Battery
Specs
Summary

What this comparison is all about

Image credit — Apple

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 maintains its compact clamshell DNA but makes meaningful refinements. The hinge is now sturdier with a reduced crease, and the cover display was enlarged to 4.1 inches, making it better for reading messaging, navigation, and Galaxy AI tools.

The main display unfolds to 6.9 inches, but durability remains a weak point for Samsung's clamshell foldable, as it still uses Ultra Thin Glass that’s much more fragile compared to the iPhone 17's Ceramic Shield 2. The Z Flip 7 also carries a weaker IP48 rating, which means it is splash and dust resistant, but not waterproof.

The iPhone 17 Pro has moved from titanium to a forged aluminum unibody frame with Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and back. Ceramic Shield 2 is rated as three times more scratch-resistant than the previous generation. Apple also redesigned the rear with a new horizontal camera bar, setting it apart visually from both older iPhones, although it is a bit of a divisive change.

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Thickness Unfolded: 6.9 mm Folded: 14.9 mm	Thickness 8.75 mm ---
Dimensions Unfolded: 165.1 × 71.9 mm Folded: 85.1 × 71.9 mm	Dimensions 150.0 × 71.9 mm
Weight 187 g	Weight 206 g

Suffice to say, the iPhone is more durable thanks to its materials and IP68 water resistance, but the Z Flip 7 when it comes to portability thanks to its foldable design. It also offers unique perks like the cover display and the ability to sit upright as you video record yourself.

Display Differences

Image credit — Apple

The main 6.9-inch AMOLED on the Z Flip 7 supports a 60-120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, and it comes with an improved Ultra Thin Glass that's supposed to be more durable. The 4.1-inch cover display is the biggest yet on a Flip, as it lets you use some apps without unfolding the phone. Although it still leaves more to be desired, as you don't have full app functionality like you do on the Razr's from Motorola. As for brightness, it can reach a peak of 2600 nits, making it one of the brightest foldables on the market.

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro uses a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED with ProMotion (1–120Hz), Always-On Display, and HDR support. Peak brightness has been increased to 3000 nits, giving it a slight edge over the Flip 7. Of course, Apple’s panel is flat and tougher, which make it a more reliable display by default.

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Size Main: 6.9" AMOLED, 120Hz Cover: 4.1" AMOLED, 120Hz	Size 6.3" 1-120Hz ProMotion
Brightness 2600 nits (peak)	Brightness 3000 nits (peak)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro: What’s the smarter $1,099 buy in 2025?

The iPhone 17 series benefits from a seven-layer anti-reflective coating.

It is not as advanced as what you get on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but as YouTuber MrWhoseTheBoss shows in a direct comparison, it reduces reflections far better than the iPhone 16 series.

Biometrics remain unchanged, with Face ID being the method for the iPhone 17 Pro, and a fingerprint scanner for the Z Flip 7.

Performance and Software

Galaxy AI vs Apple silicon

Image credit — Apple

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Exynos 2500 (3nm) in most regions, paired with 12 GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage (256 GB or 512 GB). Samsung emphasized on AI features this year, like Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist, and Interpreter Mode, many which work directly on the cover screen.

The iPhone 17 Pro introduces the A19 Pro chip (3nm N3P), with improved efficiency and a stronger GPU for pro apps and games. It comes with 12 GB of RAM, starts at 256 GB of storage, and has a new vapor chamber cooling system that should help it sustain high performance for longer.

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Chip Exynos 2500	Chip A19 Pro
Process 3nm	Process 3nm
RAM, Storage 12/256 GB 12/512 GB --- LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage	RAM, Storage 12/256 GB 12/512 GB 12/1 TB LPDDR5X RAM NVMe storage

Both run their latest software: One UI 8 with Android 16 on the Z Flip 7, and iOS 26 on the iPhone 17 Pro. Samsung is currently ahead of Apple when it comes to AI integration, while Apple offers features like Call Screening, Live Translate, Visual Intelligence, Smart Replies.

Camera

The biggest reason to avoid foldables

Image credit — Apple

You are getting a very different camera experience depending on which one you go for.

Apple’s triple-48 MP system should offer much better image quality compared to the dual camera system on the Z Flip 7. Now that even the telephoto camera has 48 MP, the iPhone will have better consistency across all focal lengths. In fact, you get optical image quality at both 4x and 8x zoom now, and early samples show a significant jump in image quality from the new telephoto camera compared to last year's sensor.

The 17 Pro also comes ahead when it comes to video features, like the ability to shoot in ProRes Log, ProRes RAW, Dolby Vision HDR, 4K120, and other perks like Genlock sync.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Official Sample Photos

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Main 50 MP, f/1.8 23 mm 1/1.57" sensor size	Main 48 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.28" sensor size
Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/3.2" sensor size	Ultrawide 48 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/2.55" sensor size
Telephoto None	Telephoto 48 MP, f/2.8 5X zoom 1/2.55" sensor size
Selfie 10 MP, f/2.2	Selfie 18 MP Center Stage, f/1.9

The front camera system on the iPhone 17 has also been redesigned as well. The iPhone 17 Pro introduces an 18 MP Center Stage selfie camera with a square sensor, offering flexible portrait and landscape orientation without rotating the phone. It automatically widens the field of view when more people enter the frame, and stabilization improvements make for smoother 4K HDR video calls and vlogs. That said, the Z Flip 7's unique form factor allows the use of the two rear cameras to be used for selfies, making it better suited for that purpose.

In short, while the Z Flip 7 delivers enough camera capability for casual use, the iPhone 17 Pro pushes into professional territory with higher-resolution sensors across the board, more advanced stabilization, and serious zoom capabilities. It also has the broadest set of video tools in the industry.

Front Camera Detail

17 Pro - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro: What’s the smarter $1,099 buy in 2025?

16 Pro - Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro: What’s the smarter $1,099 buy in 2025?

< 17 Pro 16 Pro >

Photographer and YouTuber Tyler Stalman captured this side-by-side, and the iPhone 17 Pro comes out ahead with cleaner detail and far less noise compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.

Image credit — Apple

It is not just the reduced noise, however, as there is more detail all around.

Apple is also adding Dual Capture video for the first time, allowing recording from the front and rear cameras at the same time. Although, this is a feature Samsung’s Galaxy phones have offered for years.

There is one limitation, though, and it is that Dual Capture saves as a single file, so the front camera view cannot be removed after recording.

Battery Life and Charging

Bigger cell vs better efficiency

Battery life has long been a weak point for foldable phones, and Samsung addressed it with a 4300 mAh cell in the Flip 7. It also supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging for accessories.

The iPhone 17 Pro still doesn't have reverse wireless charging, but it comes with faster 40W (enough to juice it up 0-50% in about 20 minutes) wired and 25W wireless charging. Apple has also improved the battery life, making the 17 Pro reach Up to 33 h (30 h streamed) video playback.

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Battery 4,300 mAh	Battery ~3,900 mAh
Charging speeds 25W wired 15W wireless charging USB-C 3.2	Charging speeds 40W wired 25W wireless charging USB-C 3.2

Specs Comparison

Here's a quick overview of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs iPhone 17 Pro specs:

Galaxy Z Flip 7	iPhone 17 Pro
Size, weight Unfolded: 165.1 × 71.9 × 6.9 mm Folded: 85.1 × 71.9 × 14.9 mm 187 g	Size, weight 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm --- 206 g
Screen 6.9" OLED 4.1" cover screen 120Hz main display	Screen 6.3" OLED - 120Hz
Processor Exynos 2500 3nm	Processor A19 Pro 3nm
Versions: 12/256 GB 12/512 GB - LPDDRX5	Versions: 12/256 GB 12/512 GB 12/1 TB LPDDRX5
Cameras: 50 MP main 12 MP ultra - 10 MP front	Cameras: 48 MP main 48 MP ultra 48 MP 5X zoom 18 MP front
Battery: 4,300 mAh	Battery: ~3,900 mAh
Charging: USB-C 25W wired 15W wireless	Charging: USB-C 40W wired 25W wireless (Qi2.2)

Summary

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 and iPhone 17 Pro represent two very different visions of a flagship.

Samsung offers a stylish foldable that’s fun to use, with its big cover screen and comprehensive Galaxy AI features. But it compromises on camera quality and is still not the best choice when it comes to durability.

Apple delivers a traditional design, but one packed with pro hardware: a triple-48 MP camera system, more durable build, faster charging, and class-leading video features.

If you want a phone that folds into your pocket and doubles as a mini accessory, the Flip 7 is Samsung’s most refined clamshell yet. But if you’re looking for the most consistent and reliable flagship experience (especially for photography and performance) the iPhone 17 Pro is the safer, stronger bet.

It will be interesting to see how the two compare in terms of chip performance, so stay tuned for our test results. We will also be comparing display, battery, and camera test results soon.

View Full Bio

Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.

Read the latest from Aleksandar Anastasov