Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special vs. Z Flip7 FE: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Foldable Lineup

Samsung continues to refine its foldable technology, offering distinct experiences with the Galaxy Z Fold Special and the Z Flip7 FE. The Z Fold Special aims for uncompromising performance and a tablet-like experience, while the Z Flip7 FE prioritizes portability, battery endurance, and a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects the core differences to help you determine which foldable best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For power users and multitasking enthusiasts, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special emerges as the winner, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. However, the Z Flip7 FE’s exceptional 37:03h battery endurance and impressive 1444 nits brightness make it the superior choice for those prioritizing all-day use and a more compact form factor.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special	Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE

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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66	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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 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	2024, October 21	2025, July 09
Status	Available. Released 2024, October 24	Available. Released 2025, July 25

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame	Plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions	Unfolded: 157.9 x 142.6 x 4.9 mmFolded: 157.9 x 72.8 x 10.6 mm	Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mmFolded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)	· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + multiple eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight	236 g (8.32 oz)	187 g (6.60 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Mohs level 1
Resolution	1968 x 2184 pixels (~367 ppi density)	1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size	8.0 inches, 205.3 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)	Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)	10-core (1x3.2GHz Cortex-X4 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.6GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.95GHz Cortex-A520)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)	Exynos 2400 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 750 (1 GHz)	Xclipse 940
OS	Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1	Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 16GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	200 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF	-
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps, HDR10+

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 2.0µm Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm	10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps

Sound
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.3, A2DP, LE	5.4, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.2, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	25W wired, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless	25W wired, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4400 mAh	4000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White
Models	SM-F958N	SM-F761B, SM-F761B/DS, SM-F761U1, SM-F761U
Price	About 1870 EUR	€ 763.35 / $ 599.99 / £ 699.00 / ₹ 89,999
SAR	0.66 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body)	0.84 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.84 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body)

EU LABEL
Battery	-	37:03h endurance, 1700 cycles
Energy	-	Class B
Free fall	-	Class A (210 falls)
Repairability	-	Class C

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special

Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Likely more advanced camera system
Larger display for immersive content consumption

Potentially shorter battery life
Higher price point
Less portable due to larger form factor

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE

Exceptional battery endurance (37:03h)
Bright and vibrant display (1444 nits)
More affordable price

Less powerful processor (Exynos 2400)
Smaller display
Potentially less capable camera system

Display Comparison

The Z Flip7 FE boasts a remarkably bright display, peaking at 1444 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Z Fold Special’s display specs aren’t provided, its larger form factor suggests a focus on immersive content consumption. The Z Flip7 FE’s compact size necessitates a smaller screen, but the high peak brightness compensates for the reduced surface area. Both devices likely utilize dynamic refresh rate technology to balance smoothness and power efficiency, though the Z Fold Special may benefit from LTPO for more granular control.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the Z Fold Special’s positioning as a premium device, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing capabilities. The Z Flip7 FE, while capable, likely prioritizes convenience and social media-friendly image quality. The absence of details suggests neither phone features a particularly groundbreaking camera setup, focusing instead on reliable performance in various lighting conditions.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipset: the Z Fold Special utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), while the Z Flip7 FE is powered by the Exynos 2400 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s CPU configuration – 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520 – provides a slight edge in single-core performance compared to the Exynos 2400’s 10-core setup. The Exynos 2400’s additional cores may offer benefits in heavily multi-threaded tasks, but the Snapdragon’s architectural advantages generally translate to superior overall responsiveness and gaming performance. Both chips are built on a 4nm process, suggesting comparable efficiency, but the Snapdragon’s optimized architecture likely results in better thermal management under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Z Flip7 FE truly shines in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 37:03h of usage and a 10:09h active use score. While both devices share the same 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging capabilities (with 4.5W reverse wireless), the Z Flip7 FE’s superior battery life mitigates any charging speed differences. The Z Fold Special, with its larger display and more powerful processor, will likely require more frequent charging, despite the identical charging wattage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special if you need a device that can replace both your phone and tablet, demanding top-tier performance for demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, and extensive multitasking. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE if you prefer a highly portable, stylish device with exceptional battery life, ideal for social media, communication, and everyday use without the premium price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2400 in the Z Flip7 FE tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?

While the Exynos 2400 is a capable chip, it's known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under sustained load. The Z Flip7 FE’s compact form factor may limit its cooling capacity, potentially leading to thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, for casual gaming and everyday tasks, the Exynos 2400 should perform adequately.

❓ How does the 1700 battery cycle count on the Z Flip7 FE impact long-term battery health?

Samsung’s claim of 1700 battery cycles suggests the Z Flip7 FE’s battery is designed for longevity. This means the battery is expected to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1700 full charge cycles. This is a significant advantage for users who plan to keep their device for several years.

❓ Is the performance difference between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Exynos 2400 noticeable in everyday tasks?

For typical smartphone usage – browsing, social media, streaming – the performance difference between the two chips is unlikely to be significant. Both processors are more than capable of handling these tasks smoothly. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s advantage becomes more apparent in demanding applications like video editing, graphic-intensive games, and multitasking with numerous apps open simultaneously.

❓ What kind of user would benefit most from the Z Fold Special's larger screen?

Professionals who frequently work with documents, spreadsheets, or presentations will greatly benefit from the Z Fold Special's larger screen. The ability to view and edit content side-by-side significantly enhances productivity. Similarly, users who enjoy immersive media consumption, such as watching videos or playing games, will appreciate the larger display.