Galaxy S25+ Vs Galaxy Z Fold4

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, released in early 2025, represents a modern flagship smartphone with a traditional form factor, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, launched in late 2022, offers a unique foldable design. These devices cater to different user preferences, primarily distinguished by their display configurations and overall user experience. Both run on the Android operating system, offering access to a wide ecosystem of applications and services.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S25 Plus was released in February 2025, making it a relatively new device. The Galaxy Z Fold4, on the other hand, was released in August 2022, positioning it as an older model in Samsung's lineup.
• Software Support: The Galaxy S25 Plus launched with Android 15 and is expected to receive up to seven major Android OS upgrades, ensuring extended software longevity. The Galaxy Z Fold4, which shipped with Android 12L, was promised four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, meaning it will likely receive updates up to Android 16 and security patches until 2027. This difference means the S25 Plus will benefit from newer features and security for a longer duration.
• Physical Durability: The S25 Plus features an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Z Fold4 also uses an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ for its cover screen and back panel, but its main foldable display uses Ultra-Thin Glass. It carries an IPX8 water resistance rating, but lacks an official dust resistance rating due to its folding mechanism. The foldable design of the Z Fold4 introduces different considerations for screen protection compared to the rigid display of the S25 Plus.

The performance capabilities of these two devices reflect their respective generations of hardware and design philosophies.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S25 Plus is equipped with a current-generation processor, either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite or an equivalent Exynos chipset, depending on the region. This hardware provides a significant boost in processing speed and efficiency, allowing for smooth handling of demanding applications and intensive multitasking. The Galaxy Z Fold4 is powered by a previous-generation processor, which, while capable for its time, offers less raw performance compared to the S25 Plus.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: Both devices come with 12GB of RAM, which supports efficient multitasking. However, the newer processor in the S25 Plus contributes to overall snappier system responsiveness and faster app loading times, particularly noticeable in graphically intensive games or complex productivity applications. The Z Fold4's performance is still robust for everyday tasks and many demanding apps, but the S25 Plus offers more headroom for future software and applications.
• Storage Options: The S25 Plus offers internal storage options of 256GB and 512GB, utilizing UFS 4.0 technology for faster data transfer speeds. The Z Fold4 provides 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options, using UFS 3.1, which is slightly slower than the newer standard. Neither device supports expandable storage via microSD cards.

The display experience is a primary differentiator, with one offering a traditional large screen and the other a versatile foldable panel.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a single 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, offering a consistent viewing experience. The Galaxy Z Fold4 provides a dual-screen setup: a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display and a larger 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display. The Z Fold4's main screen unfolds to offer a tablet-like canvas, while the S25 Plus provides a more conventional, rigid smartphone display.
• Resolution and Brightness: The S25 Plus boasts a QHD+ resolution, resulting in sharp and detailed visuals, with a peak brightness of up to 2600 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. The Z Fold4's main display has a resolution of 2176 x 1812 pixels, and its cover display is 2316 x 904 pixels, both offering good clarity. While the Z Fold4's displays are bright, the S25 Plus generally offers higher peak brightness.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices feature adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The S25 Plus's LTPO technology allows its refresh rate to scale down to 1Hz, contributing to power efficiency. The Z Fold4's displays also offer variable refresh rates for power optimization.

Both smartphones offer capable camera systems, though the S25 Plus benefits from newer software enhancements and potentially updated hardware.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP wide-angle main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. The Galaxy Z Fold4 also has a triple rear camera system, comprising a 50MP wide-angle main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
• Photography Performance: The S25 Plus integrates a 'Pro Visual Engine' and AI-based enhancements for improved object recognition, color reproduction, and low-light performance in both photos and videos. The Z Fold4's camera system, while strong for its release, may not benefit from the same level of advanced computational photography features as the newer S25 Plus. Both are capable of capturing detailed images in good lighting, with the S25 Plus likely offering an edge in challenging conditions and with digital zoom.
• Video Recording and Front Cameras: Both devices support 8K video recording, with the S25 Plus capable of 8K at 30fps and the Z Fold4 at 8K at 24fps. For selfies, the S25 Plus has a 12MP front-facing camera. The Z Fold4 offers a 10MP camera on its cover display and a 4MP under-display camera on its main foldable screen, with the cover camera generally providing better quality for selfies.