Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Camera Comparison

Camera Performance Comparison

• 📸 A camera test compares the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 against the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, focusing on video and photo capabilities.
• 💡 The Z Fold 7 is noted for finally bringing an "ultra camera" experience, aiming to compete with Samsung's own S25 Ultra and Apple's iPhone.

Video Recording Capabilities

• 🎥 All three phones were tested recording 4K 60fps video. The Z Fold 7 and S25 Ultra feature a 200-megapixel sensor and Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, promising similar color processing.
• 🚀 Both the Z Fold 7 and S25 Ultra offer a new "smooth zoom" feature for video, allowing for fluid transitions between focal lengths, a feature not natively present on the iPhone.
• 🔄 A standout feature for Samsung phones, including the Z Fold 7, is the ability to switch between front and back cameras during video recording without pausing, a capability lacking on the iPhone.

Zoom and Lens Capabilities

• 🔭 The Z Fold 7 retains a 3x zoom lens, which is considered a weakness compared to the 5x lenses on the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, limiting its long-range zoom performance.
• 📈 While the Z Fold 7 zooms up to 12x, the S25 Ultra can reach 20x and the iPhone 16 Pro Max up to 15x, offering significantly more reach.
• 🖼️ At 10x zoom, the 3x lens on the Fold 7 is noticeably less sharp than the 5x lenses on the competing devices.

Low Light and Ultra-Wide Performance

• 🌃 In nighttime shooting (4K 30fps), the iPhone 16 Pro Max and S25 Ultra show a noticeable advantage with their 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensors compared to the Z Fold 7's 12-megapixel sensor.
• 🔦 Nighttime zoom tests reveal that the Z Fold 7's software zoom is less sharp than the optical zoom capabilities of the iPhone and S25 Ultra.

Front Camera and Special Features

• 🤳 Front camera tests in 4K 30fps, including low-light scenarios, show varying color rendering, with the iPhone potentially being the most accurate.
• ✨ A surprising advantage for the Z Fold 7 is its ability to use the back cameras for selfies, enabling 200-megapixel selfies and LOG video recording on the front camera, a feature not available on the iPhone and currently not on the S25 Ultra's front camera.
• 🌡️ The iPhone experienced heat-up issues during testing, requiring it to cool down, while the Fold 7 and S25 Ultra maintained performance.

Overall Camera Verdict

• ⭐ The Z Fold 7 offers one of the best camera setups on a folding phone, marking a strong step towards an "ultra camera" experience, particularly with its main sensor and low-light performance.
• 🎯 However, the true "ultra" experience, especially regarding zoom, is still best represented by the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max due to their superior telephoto lens capabilities.
• 💰 Pre-order deals for Samsung devices are highlighted, offering significant savings and bonuses.