You can buy the S25 Ultra's largest storage option for less than the Z Fold 6's base model.
At the frontier of premium mobile technology, Samsung has placed two distinct visions of the modern smartphone side by side — one a refined and powerful slab, the other a shape-shifting device that blurs the line between phone and tablet. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are not truly rivals so much as answers to different questions about how we want to carry the world in our pockets. For most people, the S25 Ultra offers more capability for less money, but the Z Fold 6 speaks to those who believe the future of personal computing is something that unfolds.
- The S25 Ultra arrives with a meaningfully faster chip, four versatile cameras, and a two-day battery — all at a lower starting price than its foldable sibling.
- The Z Fold 6's battery drains fast under real-world pressure, losing 11 percent in 30 minutes of gaming and 18 percent during a one-hour video call, making it a device that demands a charger nearby.
- Samsung's pricing gap is stark: the S25 Ultra's largest 1TB model costs less than the Z Fold 6's base configuration, shifting the value calculus heavily toward the slab.
- The Z Fold 6 fights back with its 7.6-inch open display and the ability to run three apps simultaneously plus a floating fourth window — a multitasking experience no traditional phone can replicate.
- Both phones are backed by seven years of software updates and Galaxy AI, anchoring either choice as a long-term investment rather than a fleeting purchase.
Samsung's two flagship offerings for 2025 occupy genuinely different spaces in the premium market. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a traditional slab with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 folds open from a 6.3-inch cover screen into a 7.6-inch tablet. Both cost serious money, but they are built for different kinds of people.
The S25 Ultra is lighter and thinner — 218 grams at 8.2 millimeters — compared to the Z Fold 6's 239 grams and 12.1 millimeters when closed. The S25 Ultra also comes with a stylus included, while the Z Fold 6 requires a separate purchase. Processing power tilts firmly toward the S25 Ultra, which runs an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip Samsung claims is 30 percent faster in CPU performance, 40 percent faster in neural processing, and 37 percent faster in graphics than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Z Fold 6.
The camera gap is equally significant. The S25 Ultra fields four rear cameras — including a 200-megapixel main sensor and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom — while the Z Fold 6 manages three, with an ultrawide that struggles in low light and zoom performance that disappoints beyond 3x. Battery life compounds the difference: the S25 Ultra's 5,000 mAh cell can last two full days, while the Z Fold 6's 4,400 mAh battery is a one-day device that charges more slowly at 25 watts versus the S25 Ultra's 45 watts.
On software, both phones run One UI with seven years of updates and Galaxy AI features, though the S25 Ultra adds newer tools like Now Bar and Now Brief. The Z Fold 6 retains a real advantage in multitasking, supporting three simultaneous apps plus a floating window on its open display — something no flat phone can match.
Price tells the final story. The S25 Ultra starts at $1,300, and its 1TB model costs $1,420 — less than the Z Fold 6's $1,439 base price. For most buyers, the S25 Ultra is the clearer choice. The Z Fold 6 remains the best foldable available, but its higher cost, shorter battery life, and slower charging make it a compelling option only for those who genuinely need — and love — the foldable form factor.
Samsung has released two flagship phones that occupy different corners of the premium market, and choosing between them requires understanding what you actually want from a device. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a traditional slab phone with a 6.9-inch display, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a foldable that transforms from a 6.3-inch phone into a 7.6-inch tablet. Both cost serious money, but they're built for different kinds of users.
The S25 Ultra weighs 218 grams and measures 8.2 millimeters thick. The Z Fold 6 is heavier at 239 grams and thicker when folded at 12.1 millimeters, which matters if you carry your phone in a pocket or use it one-handed for extended periods. The S25 Ultra's display is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with 3,120 by 1,440 resolution, a 1 to 120 hertz refresh rate, and 2,600 nits of peak brightness. When the Z Fold 6 opens, its main screen reaches 7.6 inches with 2,160 by 1,856 resolution, the same refresh rate, and matching brightness. The Z Fold 6's cover screen is smaller at 6.3 inches. Both phones have excellent displays, but the S25 Ultra comes with an included stylus while the Z Fold 6 requires a separate purchase.
Where the S25 Ultra pulls decisively ahead is processing power. It runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a chip that Samsung has overclocked slightly beyond the standard version. According to Samsung's claims, this processor delivers a 30 percent faster CPU than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that powers the Z Fold 6, a 40 percent faster neural processing unit, and a 37 percent faster graphics processor. The S25 Ultra also includes improved cooling with a new thermal interface material and a larger vapor chamber. The Z Fold 6 is no slouch—it handles everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking without overheating—but it simply can't match the raw performance of the newer chip.
The camera systems tell a similar story. The S25 Ultra has four rear cameras: a 200-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x zoom, plus 100x Space Zoom capability. The Z Fold 6 has three rear cameras: a 50-megapixel main, a 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide. In practice, the Z Fold 6's ultrawide produces muddy, low-quality images, particularly in dim light, and zoom performance outside of 3x magnification disappoints. The S25 Ultra's cameras, by contrast, promise sharper night photography and more detail across the board.
Battery life reveals the fundamental trade-off between these devices. The S25 Ultra packs a 5,000 milliamp-hour battery that should easily last two full days of use, possibly three with light usage. Samsung claims up to 31 hours of video playback. It charges at 45 watts wired, 15 watts wireless, and supports reverse wireless charging, reaching full capacity in around 70 minutes. The Z Fold 6 has a 4,400 milliamp-hour battery—the same capacity as its predecessor—and it's a one-day device. Gaming for 30 minutes drains 11 percent of the battery; a one-hour video call consumes 18 percent. Screen-on time hovers around five hours without gaming. Charging takes roughly 80 minutes at 25 watts, with 15 watts wireless charging available. Neither phone includes a charger in the box.
Software is largely equivalent. The S25 Ultra runs One UI 7 on Android 15, while the Z Fold 6 runs One UI 6.1.1 on Android 14. Both receive seven years of software and security updates. Both include Galaxy AI features, though the S25 Ultra adds new tools like Now Bar and Now Brief. The Z Fold 6 excels at multitasking, allowing three simultaneous apps on the open screen plus a floating fourth window, but some of One UI's notifications feel intrusive.
Price is where the S25 Ultra's advantage becomes undeniable. It starts at $1,300 for 256 gigabytes, with the 512-gigabyte model currently available at the same price and the 1-terabyte variant at $1,420. The Z Fold 6 begins at $1,439 for 256 gigabytes and climbs to $2,260 for 1 terabyte. You can buy the S25 Ultra's largest storage option for less than the Z Fold 6's base model. The S25 Ultra launches on February 7, while the Z Fold 6 is available now from multiple retailers. For most buyers, the S25 Ultra offers superior value: a lighter device, a more powerful processor, better cameras, longer battery life, faster charging, and an included stylus. The Z Fold 6 remains the best foldable phone available, excellent for multitasking and content consumption on a massive screen, but its weaker battery performance, slower charging, and higher price make it a harder sell unless you specifically want a foldable form factor.
Notable Quotes
The Z Fold 6 is still one of if not the best foldables on the market and we'd be more than happy to own either of these devices.— Digital Trends review
The Z Fold 6's massive screen is great for editing photos, gaming, and multitasking, even if the battery life, slow charging, and lack of stylus let the device down.— Digital Trends review
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the S25 Ultra win if both phones get the same software updates and Galaxy AI?
Because the S25 Ultra is cheaper and does more with that extra power. You're paying less for a faster processor, better cameras, and a battery that actually lasts. The Z Fold 6 is brilliant if you want that tablet screen, but it's asking you to pay more for less.
But the Z Fold 6's screen is bigger when it opens. Doesn't that matter for the people who want it?
It absolutely matters for those people. If you're editing photos, gaming, or multitasking constantly, that 7.6-inch display is genuinely useful. The problem is the battery can't keep up with what the screen demands. You're carrying a heavier device that needs charging by evening.
What about the stylus? The Z Fold 6 doesn't come with one.
That's a real difference. The S25 Ultra includes the S Pen, which is useful for notes and sketches. With the Z Fold 6, you're buying the stylus separately if you want it at all. It's another $100 or so out of pocket.
Is the Z Fold 6 actually bad, or just worse than the S25 Ultra?
It's not bad. It's genuinely the best foldable on the market. The cameras are serviceable, the multitasking is excellent, and the build quality is solid. But it's expensive for what it delivers, and the battery life is the real problem. One day of use is limiting.
Who should buy the Z Fold 6 then?
Someone who specifically wants a foldable and doesn't mind the battery trade-off. If you're a content creator who needs that big screen for editing, or if you just love the form factor, it's worth it. But if you're just looking for the best flagship phone, the S25 Ultra is the obvious choice.
Both get seven years of updates. Does that change the calculus?
Not really. By year seven, you'll want a new phone anyway. The updates are nice insurance, but they don't justify paying more for a device with worse battery life and slower charging.