Galaxy Z Fold7 Camera: Specs, Tips and Fold7 vs Fold8 Ultra

Last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7 was the first of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones to feature a 200MP main camera, which Samsung says is the same sensor as on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here we look at its cameras, plus give tips on how to make the most of a folding phone’s camera, and compare the Galaxy Z Fold7 with the previous-generation Galaxy Z Fold6, this year’s Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra phones.

Priced at $1,999.99 in the US when announced on July 9, 2025, the Galaxy Z Fold7 started shipping on July 25, 2025. With the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra now available, it’s last year’s model. Image-quality comments are taken from the reviews linked at the end of this article.

Galaxy Z Fold7 camera specs

Samsung says images from the main camera are 44% brighter and capture four times the detail of the Fold6. Images are saved as 12MP files by default, but there is an option in One UI 8 (the software the Fold7 launched with) to capture at 50MP or even 200MP. Just tap the resolution option by the flash icon in Photo mode. Our 12MP vs 50MP vs 200MP guide explains when the bigger files are worth it.

What changed from the Fold6

Of the Fold6’s five cameras, Samsung’s own comparison chart indicates that three have been swapped out for the Fold7.

• The 50MP f/1.8 main camera has been upgraded to a 200MP f/1.7 shooter.
• The 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide has been replaced with another 12MP f/2.2 unit that can autofocus for macro photography and that Samsung says is 56% brighter in low light.
• The 4MP under-display camera has been scrapped in favour of a 10MP punch-hole unit with a 100° viewing angle that Samsung says is 25% wider and 2.5 times clearer.
• The 10MP telephoto and cover camera specs remain unchanged.
• According to SamMobile, 10-bit HDR recording is now the default instead of 8-bit, and Samsung lists Log recording for post-processing colour grading.
• While the Galaxy Z Fold6 weighed 239g and measured 12.1mm thick when folded, the Galaxy Z Fold7 tips the scale at just 215g and is only 8.9mm thick when folded, but that comes at the cost of S Pen support.

In DXOMARK’s camera rankings for foldables, the Fold7 lands in third place with a score of 145. Digital Camera World also praised the main camera, labelling it one of the best around on a foldable, but took issue with Samsung’s image processing. It noted in particular Samsung’s aggressive use of saturation and sharpening. If you're sticking with the Fold6, check out our Galaxy Z Fold6 camera guide for recommended settings.

How to shoot with a camera that folds

The Fold7’s hinge and second screen give it several neat camera tricks you can use.

With the phone unfolded, you can use the Cover Screen Preview option in the camera app to use the smaller display as a viewfinder for the rear cameras. Flip the phone around and you can take selfies using the superior 200MP main camera instead. TechRadar took a 200MP selfie on the Galaxy Z Fold7 using this method. Digital Camera World also rates the Galaxy Z Fold7 unfolded as a superb vlogging phone thanks to its stabilisation and pleasing, warm skin tones. You can use 1x zoom for solo shots and 0.6x to fit more people in the frame.

Samsung’s camera guide for the Galaxy Z Fold8 (which also has Cover Screen Preview) notes that you can use Cover Screen Preview to let people see what you see before you take their photo. This could help people who hate having their photo taken, as they’ll be able to adjust their pose and hair and find flattering lighting. Our portrait mode guide covers distance and background blur.

Flex mode can be used as a tripod. Another trick is to prop the phone up in Flex mode, which is half folded, on a table or wall for group selfies and stable videos. SamMobile demonstrated how to take group selfies without a tripod using Flex mode on the Galaxy Z Fold7, and Digital Camera World noted steadier ultrawide shots as well. Set a timer or activate Show palm (under Shooting methods in Camera settings) to take a photo by holding up your hand. Just be aware that laying the phone flat on its back may result in wobbly photos or videos as the camera bump can make it wobble on flat surfaces, as SamMobile discovered.

There’s no S Pen for precision work here, so you’ll be using your finger for any fine retouching, but Samsung’s Side-by-Side Editing tool (which displays your image and the edited version next to each other) makes the process easier, and the company’s Generative Edit tool can erase distractions (along with their shadows or reflections). We’d recommend using the 8-inch inner display for checking focus (zooming in on critical shots).

The 2x option is just the main camera cropped, but in poor lighting conditions Digital Camera World often found that image to be cleaner than shots from the 3x telephoto (and SamMobile reports similar quality out of the main camera at 3x to 5x). Autofocus kicks in when you get close to a subject and, according to Samsung, the phone will switch to the ultrawide automatically. Either way, you won’t have to think about lens switching too much when shooting close-ups.

Where the Fold7 camera falls short

• Zoom goes beyond 3x, but since there’s no 5x telephoto, anything past that point, including 10x and 30x, is a digital crop. Tom’s Guide thought the latter was soft, with the S25 Ultra offering far better performance in that area.
• Digital Camera World said colours and textures can lack clarity when using the 3x camera in low light, while SamMobile also noted that low light is not the 3x camera’s best friend.
• Digital Camera World said detail can get muddy when shooting with the ultrawide camera in dim conditions.
• Night shots using auto mode saw lights blow out, with reduced detail too, again according to SamMobile, although using Night mode is another matter. In situations like these, our Night mode guide can be helpful.
• SamMobile noted that although Samsung has made improvements in reducing shutter lag, there’s still room for improvement when photographing moving objects.

Galaxy Z Fold7 vs Fold8 Ultra and Fold8

The Fold8 Ultra is the direct successor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7, according to SamMobile. The wider Galaxy Z Fold8, meanwhile, is a cheaper and lighter Galaxy Z Fold with a less complex camera setup.

The biggest improvements Tom's Guide noticed with the Fold8 Ultra compared to the Fold7 were outside of photography: better battery life, faster charging and a less-noticeable crease. Camera upgrades included the APV video codec for 8K video recording and support for Cine LUT, a colour-grading tool. In Tom's Guide's tests, the Fold8 Ultra's main camera captured more detail in daylight, took brighter and sharper photos at night and, like the Fold7, took poor photos on its 3x camera.

If you've got your eye on the regular Fold8, know that it takes a step backwards in terms of photography: its main camera is limited to 50MP, and it lacks a telephoto camera and Samsung's Flex mode. If your Fold7 is still up to snuff, you can safely pass on upgrading. Our Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra camera guide covers both 2026 models in detail.

Galaxy Z Fold7 vs S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra

The 200MP f/1.7 main camera is shared by the S25 Ultra and the Fold7, as is the 10MP 3x camera. Where the Ultras edge ahead is that they both include 50MP cameras for ultrawide and 5x telephoto, with an even brighter main camera on the S26 Ultra.

If you mostly take pictures with your phone’s 1x to 3x zoom cameras, you won’t notice much of a difference between the S25 Ultra and the Fold7’s cameras. That’s because Tom’s Guide took more than 200 photos with both phones and found that the Fold7’s camera was only noticeably worse when zoomed in past 3x. The S25 Ultra took photos with better HDR and light control, and its ultrawide camera took noticeably brighter images than the Fold7’s.

But if you like taking pictures at concerts or of wildlife or sports, or you want the S Pen or a phone you can take to the beach, we recommend the S25 Ultra (or the S26 Ultra, whose f/1.4 main camera Samsung claims is 47% brighter than the S25 Ultra’s, and which earned a DXOMARK score of 157, versus 145 for the Fold7). On the other hand, if you’d like to use your phone’s rear cameras for selfies, take advantage of Flex mode or just want a big screen to edit photos on, we recommend the Fold7. Our S25 Ultra camera guide and S26 Ultra camera guide show what each Ultra does best.

S Pen, water resistance and camera protection

Samsung confirms S Pen isn’t supported on the Fold7, and the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra don’t support it either. Samsung’s spec sheet for the US lists S Pen support as No. Samsung tells Android Central the Galaxy Z Fold7 “does not include S Pen support this time around.” According to TechRadar, Samsung ditched the digitiser layer to help make the display thinner, meaning you won’t be able to use an S Pen, although a basic capacitive stylus will still work. If you regularly use an S Pen to edit photos, consider an S25 Ultra or S26 Ultra instead.

An IP48 rating means the Fold7 is water resistant, not waterproof. It can survive submersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes under lab conditions, but Samsung advises against beach or pool use, so don’t take it swimming. It isn’t dust-proof either (the 4 in IP48 means protection against solid intrusions larger than 1mm), so leave it at home if you’re planning on shooting at the beach. The IP68 rating on the Ultra phones makes them the better beach cameras.

TechRadar found the Fold7 tips at an awkward angle when you put it down camera side first. Fold7 cases with raised lips around the camera can help protect the protruding lenses. Alternatively, get a glass protector for your lenses. Just make sure it’s designed for the Fold7, ideally with individual rings for each lens, and keep it as clean as possible. If you’re seeing more flare or ghosting around lights when shooting at night, try removing it and comparing results.

Is the Galaxy Z Fold7 worth it in 2026?

The Fold7’s zoom performance past 3x and low-light performance on its non-primary cameras aren’t the best. However, the primary camera is flagship-level, the ultrawide has impressive macro capabilities, and there are unique photography opportunities afforded by the foldable form factor that you can’t get on a slab phone. So, depending on who you are and what you’re willing to pay, the Fold7’s camera could be good enough for you.

• The Galaxy Z Fold7 is a great pick for anyone who wants a big-screen foldable with a great camera for people shots (at 1x to 3x zoom), selfies and photo editing. Look out for a price drop now that the Fold8 Ultra is out.
• The camera upgrades are big enough to warrant an upgrade for photography-focused Fold6 or older owners, especially with the new 200MP main, autofocus ultrawide and 10MP inner display cameras.
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra if you don’t mind dropping $2,099 for a foldable with better low-light photography, a 50MP ultrawide camera, a bigger battery and faster charging speeds.
• If you’re shooting at zoom focal lengths, want the S Pen or need IP68, an S25 or S26 Ultra makes more sense than a Galaxy Z Fold7.
• Skip the regular Fold8 if the camera is your priority, as it lacks features like Flex mode and a telephoto lens.

Frequently asked questions