Samsung continues its small iterative upgrade cycle, resulting in solid but bland flagships across its lineup. While the new Galaxy S25 Ultra is dubbed as one of the best Android flagships you can buy in 2025, it offers few advancements compared to its predecessor, especially in terms of design and unique features.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is in a similar position, as the company failed to catch up and stay competitive. In contrast, other major manufacturers caught up and innovated on Samsung’s best foldable smartphone. However, there are reasons why you might consider the S25 Ultra over the Galaxy Z Fold 6. We’re here to look at the small details so that we can see the big picture.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is available from Samsung.com, carriers, as well as other online and offline retailers. On the official Samsung website, the device comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage configurations, each retailing for $1,300, $1,420 and $1,660, respectively. The device comes in seven colors, with three exclusive to Samsung.com.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is more expensive than its predecessor, starting at $1,900 for the base 256GB model. The 512GB and 1TB models retail for $2,019 and $2,259, respectively, and all three variants are offered in five colors, and two are exclusive to Samsung.com. All normal colorways are available at Amazon, Best Buy, other carriers, and offline stores.

The new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra looks nearly identical to its predecessor, primarily because Samsung hasn’t changed much in the design for several years. The Galaxy S25 series looks nearly identical to the Galaxy S22 series, launched in 2022. For some, that’s a big problem. For others, it’s perfectly acceptable.

While we agree that if something isn’t broken, it doesn’t need fixing, it’s becoming repetitive to see the same design and the same incremental upgrades year over year. The same could be said about the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which hasn’t changed much since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 series.

You’ll see major design enhancements on both devices that make them easier to handle, slimmer, and more rugged. However, we’re waiting for bigger upgrades and customization options. Samsung also removed the fun colors, leaving behind an array of light, pale color tones that look anything but fun.

In terms of design changes, Samsung made the Galaxy S25 Ultra slightly narrower and thinner, making it easier to hold and operate. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, like the S25 Ultra, has a slightly larger display, making the overall usability easier and more pleasing to the eyes. The Fold 6 is still narrow compared to other foldables, but at least Samsung is on the right track.

The two devices vary when compared side-by-side, as the S25 Ultra is taller, wider, and thinner at its 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm measurements. The Fold 6 measures 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm when closed, and 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6 mm when opened.

The S25 Ultra has a more rugged display, thanks to the new Gorilla Glass Armor 2 panel that has an anti-reflective coating. The Fold 6 lacks those premium features on both displays. The Ultra is also more rugged, thanks to its IP68 certificate. The Fold 6 has an IP48 certificate, which, although it is rated for a similar water resistance level, it’s not as resilient against dust, which could also damage the hinge components.

In terms of design, the device with fewer moving parts almost always comes out as a winner, and that’s the same time around. However, despite the lack of enhancements and major changes, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains one of the best and most rugged foldable flagships you can buy today, even if it’s falling behind in advancements compared to the competition.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a 6.9-inch QHD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It supports the usual HDR10+ standards and has a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display and a 7.6-inch main panel that tops out at 2,600 nits of peak brightness.

The S25 Ultra takes the edge here thanks to its anti-reflective panel. While the Fold 6 has a slightly larger cover screen, it’s still a bit narrow. Some will like this, while others will prefer a standard-sized display that can be found on other devices, such as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or OnePlus Open.

In terms of display technology, it’s practically the same amazing panel that’s used on both models. You’ll hardly have an issue with the size of either device. The image quality will always be perfect, whether you’re watching movies, scrolling away on TikTok, or playing games. However, the Fold 6 makes for a better mobile gaming experience, and the large screen makes the on-screen buttons enjoyable and easy to operate.

The Galaxy S25 series launched with the One UI 7 update, based on Android 15. It comes with the latest Galaxy AI features to make life easier and more manageable. Given Samsung’s good reputation for software support, we might see these trickle down to older flagships and the foldable lineup in the coming months.

While some may remain exclusive to the latest flagships, they could appear on older devices. The software update is another thing that hasn’t changed. Samsung continues to promise seven years of OS and security updates across its lineup for the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series of smartphones.

As for performance, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, will outperform the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, apart from benchmarks, you’ll have difficulty seeing a real-life difference when gaming or using your favorite apps.

Gaming for long periods will likely be better on the S25 Ultra, but the Fold 6 will hold up as well without breaking a sweat. Both smartphones will perform well under full loads, and you’ll have a great experience on either device, regardless of the task.

Those wanting the latest features and the best performance will likely go with the S25 Ultra, but those looking for a fun and more versatile form factor with just as good an experience will be more than happy with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the 5,000mAh battery that’s been used in the Ultra line since 2021. While the size is adequate, it’s starting to look small compared to the competition’s offerings with up to 6,000mAh capacity.

While we’re still testing our review unit, we can tell that the S25 Ultra is supposed to last as long as its predecessor, or maybe even longer, thanks to the more advanced chip inside. This should result in about a day’s worth of power, with only power users requiring a top-up to keep the lights on during the day.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can last about the same on a single charge, with power users and more demanding tasks requiring a top-up. The phone has a 4,400mAh cell inside, which is plenty for the cover screen. Still, it can quickly deplete when the main screen is used throughout the day.

The charging isn’t great on either of these devices. The S25 Ultra supports 45W wired, 25W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Fold 6 is stuck at 25W wired, 15W wireless, and the same 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

In a world where many phones support 60W and faster charging technologies, it’s not enough to top up an expensive flagship that takes over an hour. The S25 Ultra at least supports Qi2-compatible accessories to make wireless charging easier.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a similar setup to the one it used on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, consisting of a 200MP f/1.7 wide, a 50MP f/1.9 ultrawide, a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP f/3.4 periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The Fold 6 also uses a similar setup to its predecessor, including a 50MP f/1.8 wide, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

In terms of numbers, the Galaxy S25 Ultra wins here as it has a more versatile and better camera setup, not to mention a better periscope telephoto sensor for higher-quality zoom shots.

While we’re evaluating the camera performance of the S25 Ultra, we can confidently say that the Fold 6 captures decent photos. They have plenty of detail, great colors, and good performance in most lighting conditions. However, don’t expect it to be identical to a $1,200 flagship smartphone, as it falls short in that department.

That’s not to say it’s bad. It’s just not as competitive when viewed side-by-side. Samsung is limited by space, preventing it from equipping its highest-end and most expensive devices with a true flagship camera, and it shows. If the camera is something that you care about, you’ll likely have to wait for our full review of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you don’t mind the unique form factor and a below high-end camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it’ll still capture beautiful photos.

Based on the above details, you might see an ongoing trend. Samsung hasn’t changed much for several years, and it’s starting to feel too repetitive and iterative year over year to see marginal improvements. While neither of these two phones particularly stands out – since the competition has almost caught up with Samsung – the Galaxy S25 Ultra will likely remain a solid contender and one of the best Android flagships in 2025.

It has a top-of-the-line chipset, a large and beautiful display with an anti-reflective coating that’s a must – after you get used to it – and a competitive camera experience. It doesn’t have the biggest battery or the fastest charging speeds, but it’s still one of the better options you can choose from.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is in a similar position. It doesn’t excel at everything, but it supports the S Pen, giving you the option to use the stylus on the big inner display. It makes note-taking, sketching, and drawing enjoyable and comparable to doing those tasks on a tablet or a phone. It has plenty of power to use your favorite apps, games, and anything you want. It has a decent camera but a slow charging speed. If the unique form factor and features are all you care about, this may be a better option than a standard bar-type smartphone.