Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy Z Fold 5: will this summer be the time to upgrade?
Holding on to the Galaxy Z Fold 5? The Z Fold 7 may be prying it out of your hands
Intro
Samsung’s foldables are coming in hot this summer, and while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will likely continue to be the playful, fashion-forward option, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is where the real evolution is expected to happen.
Now, if you’re still holding on to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, you are probably still fine. That's a piece of futuristic tech that barely feels old in 2025. But the Fold 7 may be the time when Samsung makes an effort in pushing the big-screen foldable forward.
We’re hearing about meaningful changes this time: a sleeker body, better usability, maybe even a camera that doesn’t feel like a last-gen hand-me-down. So if you're wondering whether the Fold 7 finally makes a proper case for an upgrade, let's break it down.
Now, if you’re still holding on to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, you are probably still fine. That's a piece of futuristic tech that barely feels old in 2025. But the Fold 7 may be the time when Samsung makes an effort in pushing the big-screen foldable forward.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 expected differences:
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|
| Significantly thinner, likely 8.2mm when folded | Kind of chunky, at 13.4mm |
| Potentially a slightly wider aspect ratio inside | Squarish aspect ratio when unfolded |
| 6.5-inch cover and 8-inch internal screens Significantly thinner bezels | A 6.2-inch cover and 7.6-inch internal screens |
| Might feature a shallower display crease | Hinge was upgraded, but crease still present |
| 2,600 nits of peak brightness or more | 1,750 nits peak brightness |
| Triple rear camera (200MP+12+10MP), 10MP external and 4MP internal selfie cameras | 50MP+12+10MP, 10MP external and 4MP internal selfie cameras |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) with 12GB of RAM likely coming | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) with 12 GB RAM |
| 256GB and 512GB, as well as 1TB version likely available | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expected 4,400mAh+ battery | 4,400mAh battery |
| 25W wired and 15W wireless charging expected | 25W wired and 15W wireless |
| Android 15 and One UI 7 out of the box | Updated to Android 15 / One UI 7 |
Table of Contents:
Read more:
Design and Size
Finally folding into form
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 was lighter, flatter, and had a new hinge that finally folded flush—nice! But beyond that, it still felt... a bit chunky. The outer screen was too narrow, and that 13.4mm folded profile? Not exactly pocket-friendly, especially with its added weight.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7, though, is shaping up to be a real design refinement. Rumors point to a folded thickness of just 8.2mm. If true, we’re talking about a foldable that starts to feel like a regular phone in your hand and pocket.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7, though, is shaping up to be a real design refinement. Rumors point to a folded thickness of just 8.2mm. If true, we’re talking about a foldable that starts to feel like a regular phone in your hand and pocket.
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|
| Thickness 4-6 mm unfolded 8.2-12.2 mm folded | Thickness 6.1 mm unfolded 13.4 mm folded |
| Weight ~236 gr | Weight 253 gr |
We’re also expecting some screen growth. The cover display could stretch from 6.2 to 6.5 inches, and the inner screen may nudge from 7.6 to 8 inches. But the best part? The cover screen will likely get wider, not taller. That means no more typing like you’re trying to send a text on a TV remote.
Its bezels should also be thinner than the ones on the Fold 5, which are starting to get unsightly when compared to modern competitors. And yes, IP48 or better water resistance should still be there. Foldables aren't meant to swim — but they shouldn’t fall apart in the rain either.
Its bezels should also be thinner than the ones on the Fold 5, which are starting to get unsightly when compared to modern competitors. And yes, IP48 or better water resistance should still be there. Foldables aren't meant to swim — but they shouldn’t fall apart in the rain either.
Display Differences
Same panels, smarter proportions
If you liked the displays on the Z Fold 5, you’ll probably love what’s coming on the Fold 7. We’re still expecting Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels on both the inner and outer screens, each with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, high resolution, and insane peak brightness—2,600 nits or more.
But the real story here is shape and usability.
The cover screen getting wider means it should finally feel less claustrophobic when dual-thumb typing on it. And the inner screen may also shift slightly away from the square and more towards a widened aspect ratio, so it may be better for content consumption.
The cover screen getting wider means it should finally feel less claustrophobic when dual-thumb typing on it. And the inner screen may also shift slightly away from the square and more towards a widened aspect ratio, so it may be better for content consumption.
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|
| Cover screen 6.3-6.5 inches | Cover screen 6.2 inches |
| Main screen 7.6-8.0 inches | Main screen 7.6 inches |
Oh and yes, we might finally get a real solution to the crease. Multiple leaks hint that Samsung may have tamed that visible dip in the middle of the display. Will it disappear completely? Probably not. But if it becomes less annoying, that's still a win.
Performance and Software
Out with the old, in with the Elite
This is where things really start to split.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy—a great chip in 2023, still good for daily use, but already starting to show its limits in sustained performance and AI tasks. The Fold 7 will most likely be powered by the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which already proved its grit on the Galaxy S25 series.
Not only will this translate to faster performance, but also better battery efficiency and cooler thermals. Early whispers also suggest Samsung will keep the 12GB RAM baseline, with a possible 16GB variant if AI features demand more memory headroom, but we wouldn't bet on the upgrade just yet.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy—a great chip in 2023, still good for daily use, but already starting to show its limits in sustained performance and AI tasks. The Fold 7 will most likely be powered by the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which already proved its grit on the Galaxy S25 series.
Not only will this translate to faster performance, but also better battery efficiency and cooler thermals. Early whispers also suggest Samsung will keep the 12GB RAM baseline, with a possible 16GB variant if AI features demand more memory headroom, but we wouldn't bet on the upgrade just yet.
Software-wise, the Fold 5 shipped with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. It did get an Android 15 update this year, after months of delays — hopefully that was just a snag in the path to seamless updates from Samsung.
Meanwhile, the Fold 7 should arrive with Android 15 and One UI 7 out of the box, but some rumors suggested Android 16? That'd be... an interesting turn of events.
Both devices are expected to enjoy 7 years of software support, which is fantastic for future-proofing, but again — don't make us wait for months to get the next Android build, please.
Camera
The Fold finally grows a real eye
One of the biggest knocks on the Fold 5? The camera system. It borrowed the same 50MP main shooter, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3X telephoto from the Fold 4 — and while it was fine, it felt outdated for a $1,800 phone.
The Fold 7 might finally change that. Rumors suggest Samsung is packing in a new 200MP main sensor — the same monster seen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That would instantly leapfrog the Fold’s photography game from “pretty good” to “flagship-grade.”
The Fold 7 might finally change that. Rumors suggest Samsung is packing in a new 200MP main sensor — the same monster seen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That would instantly leapfrog the Fold’s photography game from “pretty good” to “flagship-grade.”
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|
| Main camera 200MP | Main camera 200MP |
| Ultrawide 12MP | Ultrawide 12MP |
| Telephoto 10MP 3X | Telephoto 10MP 3X |
| Cover selfie 10MP | Cover selfie 10MP |
| Internal selfie 4MP under-display | Internal selfie 4MP under-display |
The rest of the camera setup might remain the same, but that’s fine. A higher-res main sensor paired with Samsung’s aggressive image processing could finally make the Fold’s camera not just functional, but fun to use.
Battery Life and Charging
Still stuck in the slow lane
Here’s where Samsung still refuses to evolve.
Both the Fold 5 and the rumored Fold 7 pack around 4,400mAh of battery — give or take a few mAh. And neither one is pushing charging boundaries. The Fold 5 capped out at 25W wired and 15W wireless, and all signs point to the Fold 7 sticking with the same setup.
In 2025, that’s going to draw some ire — especially when foldables from China are pushing 100W+ charging and 6,000mAh silicon-carbon batteries.
The only silver lining? With a newer, more efficient chip, the Fold 7 might still outlast the Fold 5 on a single charge, even with the same capacity. But don't expect a two-day phone here.
Both the Fold 5 and the rumored Fold 7 pack around 4,400mAh of battery — give or take a few mAh. And neither one is pushing charging boundaries. The Fold 5 capped out at 25W wired and 15W wireless, and all signs point to the Fold 7 sticking with the same setup.
In 2025, that’s going to draw some ire — especially when foldables from China are pushing 100W+ charging and 6,000mAh silicon-carbon batteries.
The only silver lining? With a newer, more efficient chip, the Fold 7 might still outlast the Fold 5 on a single charge, even with the same capacity. But don't expect a two-day phone here.
Specs Comparison
Here's how the Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 will likely compare, based on rumored specs. Subject to change, of course, once the Z Fold 7 is official:
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 8.2 mm folded ~236gr | Size, weight 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mm (13.4 mm folded) 253gr |
| Screen 8.0" OLED internal, 120Hz, 2,600 nits 6.5" OLED external, 120Hz 2,600 nits | Screen 7.6" OLED, 120Hz, 1,750 nits 6.2" OLED, 120Hz, 1,750 nits |
| Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy 3nm | Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy 4nm |
| Versions: 12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5 | Versions: 12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras: 200MP main 12MP ultra 10MP 3X zoom 10MP front 4MP internal front | Cameras: 50MP main 12MP ultra 10MP 3X zoom 10MP front 4MP internal front |
| Battery: 4,400 mAh | Battery: 4,400 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 25W wired 15W wireless | Charging: USB-C 25W wired 15W wireless |
Also read:
Summary
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 was reliable, refined, and very Samsung. But if you skipped it hoping for something better, the Z Fold 7 might be your reward. A sleeker design, a flagship-level camera, and a much more powerful internal setup will keep the Z Fold 7 in the game. But will it help it stay ahead?
Some long-standing weaknesses remain. Charging speed is stuck in the past, and battery innovation continues to be MIA. But for anyone holding out for the right moment to fold, this might be it.
Some long-standing weaknesses remain. Charging speed is stuck in the past, and battery innovation continues to be MIA. But for anyone holding out for the right moment to fold, this might be it.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: