Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: What we know so far

Right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is Samsung’s newest high-end flagship device. But that’s set to change in January, when the Samsung Galaxy S25 family launches.

As per usual, Samsung will be releasing at least three handsets (with the rumored Galaxy S25 Slim potentially arriving later), but it’s the Galaxy S25 Ultra model that will give the Fold a run for its money. Here’s what we know so far.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 specs

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 price

Starting at $1,899, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is comfortably one of the most expensive handsets around. Samsung would tell you that’s because it’s both a tablet and a phone in one, which is kind of true, but doesn’t make the initial outlay much easier to swallow.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be cheaper, but there are rumors of a possible price hike vs. the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s $1,299 starting price. That's thanks to the costs associated with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see a $1,349 or even $1,399 MSRP when the S25 Ultra is revealed in January, but we hope this rumor is false and the price stays at $1,299.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 design and display

If the slew of leaks are to be believed, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will look a lot like the previous generations, albeit with slightly more curved edges. That means we’re expecting a similar 6.8-inch, 120Hz, AMOLED screen (possibly 6.9 inches if one iffy rumor is to be believed) with a QHD resolution.

The main selling point of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is that it has two AMOLED screens, and is able to seamlessly shift from a 6.3-inch smartphone to a 7.6-inch mini tablet.

Both panels have a 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth animations and offer 2,376 x 968 and 2,160 x 1,856 resolutions respectively. That leads to slightly strange aspect ratios of 22.1:9 and 20.9:18, but you can’t argue with the flexibility,

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a beast of a phone, tipping the scales at 8.4 ounches (239 grams), and the S25 Ultra likely to weigh similar to its predecessor’s 8.1 ounces (232 grams).

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 performance and special features

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is set to be powered by the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite — a chipset that didn’t exist when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 was released. It uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, which is no slouch, but can’t compete with the Snapdragon 8 Elite benchmarks we’ve seen so far.

While the Z Fold 6 achieved Geekbench 6 scores of 2,172 and 6,901, the Snapdragon 8 Elite reference device managed 3,212 and 10,318. In the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited graphical test, it achieved 150.9fps — a big increase on the 121.8fps that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy scored.

The new chip is also likely to be more energy efficient which, combined with the 600 mAh larger battery, should give the Galaxy S25 Ultra a big advance on the Z Fold 6, which lasted 10 hours and 35 minutes in our web-browsing test.

Rumor has it that the S25 Ultra will also have a version with 16GB RAM for the first time since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. That will certainly help with Galaxy AI, and whatever new tricks Bixby may be bringing to the artificial intelligence party.

Finally, while both phones support Samsung’s excellent S Pen stylus, only the S25 Ultra will have one in the box. Additionally, the optional S Pen on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 doesn’t dock inside the phone itself, requiring it to be carried loose, or attached to a special case.

So while the larger canvas of the Z Fold 6 will likely be better for doodling and note taking, the actual management of the S Pen itself — plus the added cost of getting one — prevent it from being a slam dunk for the foldable.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 cameras

On camera performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to have the edge. Samsung has historically stuffed its Galaxy Ultra handsets with the latest camera tech, and the S25 version looks set to see two key improvements with the 12MP ultrawide lens being upgraded to a 50MP version and the telephoto lens receiving a variable aperture for improved zooming.

That would make the full quad camera array very competitive indeed, with a 200MP main sensor, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide snapper.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 simply can’t compete with those specs. Not only is its ultrawide the same 12MP sensor as the S24 Ultra, but it’s missing the 5x zoom periscope lens altogether.

Though for self-portraits, it does maintain a slight edge: not only does it have two selfie cameras for folded and unfolded states, but you can also use the superior rear cameras while using the second screen as a viewfinder.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 outlook

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra looks set to comfortably beat the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in a number of key areas, with a newer processor, more RAM and a better camera array. While still very expensive, it’s also likely to be a whole lot cheaper.

But what you’re paying extra for with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is flexibility, and the device has it in spades. Very few handsets give you the experience of a phone and tablet in one, and with added S Pen compatibility, it’s a brilliant foldable for power users.

Nonetheless, if you’re jealous of the added speed of the S25 Ultra, you may want to hold off and wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which will likely arrive in Summer 2025.