iPhone 16e vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a streamlined experience, the iPhone 16e emerges as the winner. Its 41-hour endurance and efficient A18 chip offer peace of mind. However, the Galaxy Z Fold7’s unique foldable display and multitasking capabilities make it a compelling choice for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 16e | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66, 71 - A3212, A3408 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3212, A3408 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, February 19 | 2025, July 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, February 28 | Available. Released 2025, July 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Ceramic Shield), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus Ceramic 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) | Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mmFolded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + multiple eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 167 g (5.89 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass, Mohs level 4 | Mohs level 1 |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1968 x 2184 pixels (~368 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.0 inches, 204.2 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) | Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) |
| OS | iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, 3D (spatial) audio | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS | - |
| Triple | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, Dolby Vision HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps (gyro-EIS), 10-bit HDR, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 10 MP, f/2.2, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | 25W wired, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4005 mAh | Li-Po 4400 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet Black, Mint |
| Models | A3212, A3409, A3410, A3408, iPhone17,5 | SM-F966B, SM-F966B/DS, SM-F966U, SM-F966U1 |
| Price | $ 384.65 / C$ 670.75 / £ 460.00 / € 534.00 / ₹ 51,499 | € 1,367.99 / $ 1,399.99 / £ 1,449.00 / ₹ 174,999 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.36 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.48 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) | 1.42 W/kg (head) 1.24 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 41:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | 40:28h endurance, 2000 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class B |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class A (210 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |
Apple iPhone 16e
- Exceptional battery life (41:00h endurance)
- Efficient A18 chip for smooth performance
- Proven durability of a flat display
- Lower peak display brightness
- Lacks wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
- Innovative foldable display for enhanced multitasking
- Significantly brighter display (1408 nits)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Slightly shorter battery life
- Potential durability concerns with a foldable screen
Display Comparison
The Galaxy Z Fold7 boasts a significantly brighter display at 1408 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the iPhone 16e’s 799 nits. While the iPhone’s display is still excellent, the Fold7’s brightness is a clear advantage. The Fold7’s foldable nature also provides a much larger screen area when unfolded, enhancing media consumption and multitasking. However, the crease inherent in foldable displays remains a consideration, and the iPhone 16e benefits from the proven durability of its flat panel.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera details, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, given Samsung’s history, the Z Fold7 likely features a more versatile camera system with multiple lenses and advanced computational photography features. The iPhone 16e will likely prioritize image accuracy and natural color reproduction. The absence of detailed camera specs necessitates a cautious approach; the image processing philosophies of Apple and Samsung are markedly different, catering to distinct user preferences.
Performance
Both devices utilize a 3nm process, but their CPU architectures differ significantly. The iPhone 16e’s hexa-core Apple A18 (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz) focuses on optimized performance per watt. The Galaxy Z Fold7’s octa-core Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) employs a more complex configuration, potentially offering higher peak performance in demanding tasks. The Oryon V2 cores in the Snapdragon 8 Elite are designed for sustained performance, but the iPhone’s A18 benefits from Apple’s tight hardware-software integration, potentially leading to smoother real-world responsiveness.
Battery Life
The iPhone 16e delivers an impressive 41:00h endurance, exceeding the Galaxy Z Fold7’s 40:28h. While the difference is marginal, the iPhone 16e’s 1000 charge cycles suggest superior long-term battery health. Both phones offer 30-minute 50% charging, but the Z Fold7 supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iPhone 16e. The active use score is nearly identical (11:53h vs 11:44h), indicating similar real-world performance under heavy load.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone 16e if you need a reliable, long-lasting smartphone with a focus on performance and ease of use. It’s ideal for users who value simplicity and don’t require the added complexity of a foldable device. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 if you prioritize multitasking, a larger screen real estate for productivity, and are willing to accept trade-offs in battery life and durability for a cutting-edge mobile experience.