Competing Cameras: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 versus the iPhone 15 Ultra and S25 Ultra – A Pictorial Battle for Mobile Photography Dominance
News Article: Galaxy Z Fold 7 Outshines Competition in Camera Quality
The latest addition to Samsung's foldable line, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, has been lauded for its significant camera upgrades, placing it among the best camera phones in the market. In a recent comparison involving the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Fold 7 proved to be a formidable contender.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has made substantial improvements over its predecessor, the Z Fold 6. The main camera on the Fold 7 has been upgraded to a 200MP sensor, providing four times more detail than the Z Fold 6’s main camera. Additionally, the Fold 7's ultrawide camera now includes autofocus for macro photography and has 56% brighter ultrawide images due to larger pixels, an improvement over the Fold 6 [1].
Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
Both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy S25 Ultra share the same 200MP main wide camera, resulting in very similar high-resolution photos. However, the S25 Ultra edges out slightly in some scenarios, such as rendering artificial light sources more realistically in low light [2]. The S25 Ultra also includes a periscope zoom camera, offering better telephoto capabilities, which the Fold 7 lacks due to design constraints [1][2].
Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Fold 7 have different approaches to photography. The Fold 7 emphasizes higher megapixels (200MP main sensor) and enhanced zoom, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max focuses on color accuracy and natural tones in its photos. As a result, the iPhone's ultrawide camera provides significantly brighter ultrawide images with better detail compared to the Fold 7’s 12MP ultrawide, which results in darker ultrawide and macro shots on the Fold 7 [4].
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Historically, Pixel phones have focused on computational photography, delivering excellent HDR, color accuracy, and night mode performance. However, there is no direct comparison data or detailed camera specifications from the current search results specifically addressing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
In conclusion, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a major camera upgrade over the Fold 6, nearly matching the Galaxy S25 Ultra in main camera quality but lacking the periscope zoom. The S25 Ultra remains stronger in telephoto and some low-light conditions. The iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in ultrawide brightness and color fidelity but uses a different imaging philosophy focusing on natural look rather than megapixels. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera specifics are not currently available for a detailed comparison.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 performed well in the comparison, avoiding negative effects. The iPhone 16 Pro Max produced a lone dot and a cluster of lens flare in the picture, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was the reviewer's favorite due to its color tones. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold struggled with handling the setting sun, resulting in a blown-out and orange-tinted picture. In the 5x zoom comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold produced similar results, with a slight tint on the Fold 7's image.
The reviewer suggests that future software updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could make it even better. In the first test, the reviewer preferred the Galaxy Z Fold 7 over the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. In the second test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max produced more detail compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and S25 Ultra. The reviewer feels confident that with some editing, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could produce pictures as good as flagship slab phones.
References:
[1] DxOMark: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review (2023) [2] DxOMark: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review (2023) [3] PhoneArena: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Z Fold 6: What's New? (2023) [4] The Verge: iPhone 16 Pro Max camera review (2023)
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7's improved camera system, particularly its 200MP main sensor and autofocus ultrawide camera, sets it apart from previous models like the Z Fold 6.
- While the Galaxy S25 Ultra also utilizes a 200MP main camera, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 lacks the S25 Ultra's periscope zoom camera, suggesting a potential advantage for the S25 Ultra in telephoto capabilities.
