Galaxy S24 Ultra Vs Galaxy Z Fold7

Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Starting at

Refurbished price:£422.00

Versus £1,357.64 new

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Galaxy Z Fold7
Galaxy Z Fold7
Starting at

Refurbished price:£916.00

Versus £1,799.00 new

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Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, released in early 2024, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, which became available in mid-2025, represent distinct approaches to the premium smartphone experience. While both devices operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, their fundamental form factors — a traditional slab design versus an innovative foldable design — create significant differences in how users interact with them. This comparison will explore their core specifications and practical implications for daily use.

Scores

Durability

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, several factors contribute to their expected practical lifespan.

  • Release Timeline: The Galaxy S24 Ultra was released in January 2024, while the Galaxy Z Fold7 followed in July 2025. This difference means the Z Fold7 benefits from a later starting point for software support and hardware advancements.
  • Software Longevity: Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold7 are part of Samsung's commitment to providing seven years of major Android operating system updates and security patches. This extended support ensures that both devices will remain current with the latest features and security enhancements well into the future.
  • Durability Features: The S24 Ultra features a titanium frame and Gorilla Armor display for enhanced resistance to drops and scratches, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Z Fold7, as a foldable, incorporates an improved hinge design and typically carries an IP48 rating, offering protection against dust ingress and water submersion.

Year of Release

2024

2025

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

Yes

Performance

Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold7 are equipped with high-performance processors designed to handle demanding tasks and ensure smooth operation.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a current-generation processor that delivers robust performance for intensive applications, advanced gaming, and seamless multitasking. The Galaxy Z Fold7, being a later release, incorporates an even newer generation of flagship processor, providing a slight edge in raw computational speed and efficiency for future applications.
  • Multitasking Capabilities: While both devices offer excellent multitasking, the Z Fold7's larger, foldable internal display provides a distinct advantage for running multiple applications simultaneously in a more expansive and comfortable layout. Users report that the Z Fold7's large screen genuinely boosts productivity for split-screen apps and floating windows.
  • Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with a larger battery capacity, which users frequently praise for providing excellent endurance, often lasting through a full day of heavy use and sometimes longer. The Galaxy Z Fold7, with its dual-screen setup and slightly smaller battery, offers sufficient power for a day's use, though heavy users might find themselves charging more frequently.

Memory (GB)

12 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

The display experience is a primary differentiator between these two devices, offering distinct advantages based on user preference.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: Both phones utilize Dynamic AMOLED 2X display technology, known for vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast. The S24 Ultra features a single 6.8-inch flat display with a high resolution, providing sharp and detailed visuals. The Z Fold7 offers a dual-screen setup: a narrower cover display for quick interactions and a larger, foldable 8.0-inch main display that unfolds to offer a tablet-like viewing area with a high resolution.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices boast impressive peak brightness levels, reaching up to 2600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. They also feature adaptive refresh rates that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz, providing smooth scrolling and responsive interactions while optimizing power consumption.
  • Viewing Experience: The S24 Ultra's flat display is ideal for traditional smartphone use, offering a consistent and robust viewing surface. The Z Fold7's foldable main screen provides an immersive experience for media consumption, reading, and productivity, though the crease in the middle of the foldable display is still present, albeit less noticeable during actual use.

Resolution

1440 x 3120

1968 x 2184

Audiovisual

Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold7 offer advanced camera systems, though with different strengths and capabilities tailored to their respective designs.

  • Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a versatile quad-camera setup, including a 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, allowing for extensive zoom capabilities. The Galaxy Z Fold7 also includes a powerful triple-camera system, featuring a 200MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
  • Photography Performance: The S24 Ultra is recognized for producing detailed and vibrant photos across various lighting conditions, with its advanced telephoto lenses offering superior long-range photography. While the Z Fold7's cameras are capable of capturing high-quality images for everyday use, user feedback often notes that its overall camera performance, particularly in zoom and low-light scenarios, is generally a step below the S series Ultra models.
  • Video Recording and Front Cameras: Both devices support high-resolution video recording, including 8K at 30fps. The S24 Ultra has a 12MP front camera, while the Z Fold7 features a 10MP front camera on its cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera on its main foldable screen, which is primarily for video calls.

Miscellaneous

Beyond the core specifications, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience of these devices.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both smartphones support the latest connectivity standards, including 5G for fast mobile data, Wi-Fi 7 for high-speed wireless internet, and advanced Bluetooth versions for accessory connections. They both feature a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.
  • Biometric Security: The Galaxy S24 Ultra incorporates an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. The Galaxy Z Fold7 utilizes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which some users find to be equally fast and convenient.
  • Design and Handling: The S24 Ultra is a traditional slab phone with a premium titanium frame, offering a solid and familiar in-hand feel. The Z Fold7, while lighter than the S24 Ultra, is thicker when folded and unfolds into a wider, tablet-like device. Its unique form factor allows for a compact phone experience when closed and an expansive screen when open.
  • Stylus Integration: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features an integrated S Pen, which is convenient for note-taking, drawing, and remote control functionalities. The Galaxy Z Fold7 supports S Pen input on its main display, but the stylus is not integrated into the device itself and is sold separately. Some user reports indicate that S Pen support might even be missing from the Z Fold7.

Weight

232 g

187 g

Screen size (in)

6.8

8

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The choice between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold7 ultimately depends on individual priorities and how a user intends to interact with their device.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is frequently praised for its exceptional battery life, robust camera system with advanced zoom capabilities, and its durable, traditional smartphone design. Users appreciate its consistent performance and the integrated S Pen for productivity. Criticisms are less common but sometimes point to its size and weight for those preferring a more compact device.

The Galaxy Z Fold7 garners acclaim for its innovative foldable form factor, which transforms a standard smartphone into a large-screen tablet, significantly enhancing multitasking and media consumption. Users highlight its productivity benefits, allowing for multiple apps to run simultaneously with ease. Common concerns often revolve around the durability of the foldable screen over time, though improvements have been made, and the camera system, while capable, is generally considered less advanced than the S Ultra series. The absence of an integrated S Pen is also noted by some.

Users prioritizing a top-tier camera experience, maximum battery endurance, and a highly durable, traditional smartphone form factor with an integrated stylus will find the Galaxy S24 Ultra well-suited to their needs. Conversely, users who value an expansive, immersive display for productivity, media, and advanced multitasking, and are drawn to the innovative foldable design, may lean toward the Galaxy Z Fold7. Both devices offer a long software support lifespan, making them viable options for extended use. For those considering either of these advanced devices, exploring quality-assured refurbished options can provide an eco-friendly alternative.

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