Technologies

Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Z Fold 6: Slimmer Body, Bigger Screens and Slightly Higher Price

Samsung’s new book-style foldable has big upgrades on its predecessor — so how do they stack up?

At Samsung Unpacked in July, the phonemaker introduced its most advanced foldable yet: the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It supersedes last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 with upgrades big and small (or rather, big and thin), but how exactly do they compare? Here’s the Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6 specs comparison.

Samsung has been releasing foldable phones for over half a decade now since the initial Galaxy Fold (no «Z» back then) launched in 2019, and the company has gotten pretty good at the newer smartphone format. Gone are the days of display and hinge durability issues; now, Samsung’s foldable phones are as reliable as their flat counterparts… though at $2,000, the Z Fold series’ prices are still high enough to put them out of reach of all but deep-pocketed enthusiasts.

The Z Fold 7 packs the latest Samsung upgrades and some design innovations, while the Z Fold 6 is still a powerful and capable device, leaving either a great choice for those who can afford them — just note the $100 difference in list price, as all those upgrades have led the Z Fold 7 to start at $2,000 while the Z Fold 6 starts at $1,900. Here’s how both foldable phones compare.

Design and display

Both the Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 6 follow the same broad design: a book-style foldable that has an outer screen to function more or less like a flat smartphone when folded closed. It can be unfolded to reveal its wider, more tablet-like inner display, providing more screen real estate for tasks, games and watching media.

The Z Fold 7, however, takes the Z Fold 6’s design and slims down its thickness so it takes up even less space in pockets or bags. The Z Fold 7 is 8.9mm when folded up, down from 12.1mm thick in the folded-up Z Fold 6. Likewise, when unfolded, the Z Fold 7 is only 4.2mm thick, down from the 5.6mm in the Z Fold 6. That’s even thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 5.8mm thickness, which commands an $1,100 price because of its own deliberately thin and light design.

While users may not see how much thinner the Z Fold 7 is unless they put it side by side with another phone, there are areas where it’s noticeably trimmed down — there’s hardly any bezel left around the top and bottom of the USB-C port. The new foldable comes in at 215 grams, which is about the weight of most flatphones and lighter than the Z Fold 6’s 239 grams.

Both foldables are IP48 rated for dust and water resistance, meaning while they may survive being dunked in water for at least 30 minutes (the «8» in that rating) they won’t protect against molecules smaller than 1mm (the «4» in that rating, lower than the «6» in most phones’ IP68 rating) — so keep either foldable away from dust and sand.

Read more: I Held the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It’s So Thin I Almost Forgot It’s a Foldable

The Z Fold 7 is overall slightly taller and wider than its predecessor, which results in bigger screens. The new foldable has a 6.5-inch AMOLED Full HD Plus (2,520×1,080 pixels) cover display, up from the 6.3-inch AMOLED Full HD Plus (2,376×968 pixels) cover display on the Z Fold 6. Both models have 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rates.

Similarly, the Z Fold 7 has a larger 8-inch AMOLED tablet-like (2,184×1,968 pixels) inner display compared to the Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch AMOLED tablet-like (2,160×1,856 pixels) inner display. Both also have 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rates.

Cameras

The Z Fold 7’s camera array is mostly unchanged from last year’s model, with one glaring exception: the 200-megapixel main camera, which it inherits from the Galaxy S25 Ultra that launched in January (and also made it to the Galaxy S25 Edge that arrived in May). While we haven’t had much time to try it out, the Z Fold 7’s main camera should take sharper photos than the 50-megapixel one on last year’s Z Fold 6.

On paper, the Z Fold 7’s remaining cameras seem otherwise identical to their counterparts on the Z Fold 6: a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and a 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the cover screen. The 10-megapixel camera on its internal display is now inside of a display cutout, moving away from the under-display camera that prior Fold phones used.

Both foldables shoot video in 8K at 30 frames per second.

Specs and battery

It’s not surprising that the Z Fold 7 gets a boost in specs over last year’s Z Fold 6. The most notable is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Z Fold 7, which is more powerful and efficient than the Z Fold 6’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The Z Fold 7 has the same internal storage options as its predecessor: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. But whereas the Z Fold 6 only offered 12GB of RAM for all three of those storage options, the new foldable kicks it up a notch by offering 16GB of RAM for its largest storage (the 256GB and 512GB are again paired with 12GB of RAM).

The Z Fold 7 has the same 4,400mAh battery capacity as last year’s Z Fold 6. But until we test out the new foldable, we won’t know whether its particular setup will result in more or less battery life — the slightly larger displays on the Z Fold 7 would suggest it would drain its battery faster, and prior testing with Snapdragon 8 Elite phones found they drained more power.

Connectivity-wise, the Z Fold 7 has the edge with its Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support, which are newer and more advanced than the Z Fold 6’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

But there’s still one area where the Z Fold 7 remains painfully behind the times: charging. The foldable still has 25-watt maximum charging, which is pretty dismal and borderline embarrassing in 2025 for a phone of this price — even the flawed OnePlus Open that launched in 2023 had faster 67-watt charging, which filled that foldable from dead to 76% in half an hour. As a point of comparison, last year’s Z Fold 6 (also 25 watts) recharged just over 40% in 30 minutes.

Both phones also have Qi wireless charging. Samsung is selling magnetic cases for the Fold 7 that add compatibility with Qi2 wireless chargers and other magnetic accessories.

Software, support and AI

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launches with Samsung’s One UI 8 and Android 16 out of the box, which is an improvement over the Z Fold 6 arriving with Android 14. Yes, despite being a year apart, Samsung’s biggest foldable will arrive with the newest version of Google’s mobile operating system, which the software giant surprise-dropped back in June months ahead of its usual release window.

While this is obviously a big win for the new foldable to not have to wait weeks or months for Android 16, it’s also a longevity upgrade: Samsung is once again promising seven years of software and security updates for the Z Fold 7, which means it should get annual upgrades until 2032. But while the Z Fold 6 has the same number of upgrades, one of those was Android 15 that came out later in its launch year — meaning it should only get upgrades until 2030.

Both folding phones get the full suite of Samsung’s Galaxy AI features as well as Gemini access. From Google’s Circle To Search to erasing objects in photos, there’s a range of little tools and tricks. But because the Z Fold 7 gets more years of Android updates (and has a newer processor), it could get more Galaxy AI features in the future.

Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6

	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Cover display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.5-inch AMOLED, 2,520×1,080p, 1-120Hz refresh rate	6.3-inch AMOLED; 2,376×968 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate
Internal display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	8-inch AMOLED, 2,184×1,968p, 1-120Hz refresh rate	7.6-inch AMOLED; 2,160×1,856 pixels;1-120Hz variable refresh rate
Pixel density	Cover: 422 ppi; Internal display: 368ppi	Cover: 410 ppi; Internal: 374 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	Open: 5.63 x 6.24 x 0.17 inches; Closed: 2.87 x 6.24 x 0.35 inches	Open: 6.04×5.21 x0.22 in; Closed: 6.04×2.68×0.48 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	Open: 143.2 x 158.4 x 4.2mm; Closed: 72.8 x 158.4 x 8.9mm	Open: 153.5×132.5×5.6mm; Closed: 153.5×68.1×12.1mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	215g (7.58 oz.)	239g (8.43 oz)
Mobile software	Android 16	Android 14
Cameras	200-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto), 10-megapixel (cover screen, selfie)	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto)
Internal screen camera	10-megapixel	4-megapixel (inner screen under-display); 10-megapixel (cover screen)
Video capture	8K at 30fps	8K
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM/storage	12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 16GB + 1TB	12GB + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage	No	None
Battery	4,400 mAh	4,400 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Yes	Side
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	No	None
Special features	One UI 8, 25W wired charging speed, Qi wireless charging, 2,600-nit peak brightness, Galaxy AI, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, IP48 water resistance	IP48 rating, 25W wired charging, wireless charging + powershare, 3x optical zoom (up to 10x digital and 30x Space Zoom with AI Super Resolution tech)
US price starts at	$2,000 (256GB)	$1,900 (256GB)
UK price starts at	£1,799 (256GB)	£1,799 (256GB)
Australia price starts at	AU$2,899 (256GB)	AU$2,749 (256GB)

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 23, #395

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 395.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has one of those crazy purple categories, where you wonder if anyone saw the connection, or if people just put that grouping together because only those four words were left. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Fan noise.

Green group hint: Strategies for hoops.

Blue group hint: Minor league.

Purple group hint: Look for a connection to hoops.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Sounds from the crowd.

Green group: Basketball offenses.

Blue group: Triple-A baseball teams.

Purple group: Ends with a basketball stat.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is sounds from the crowd. The four answers are boo, cheer, clap and whistle.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is basketball offenses. The four answers are motion, pick and roll, Princeton and triangle.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is triple-A baseball teams. The four answers are Aces, Jumbo Shrimp, Sounds and Storm Chasers.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ends with a basketball stat. The four answers are afoul, bassist, counterpoint and sunblock.

Technologies

Amazon’s Delivery Drivers Will Soon Wear AI Smart Glasses to Work

The goal is to streamline the delivery process while keeping drivers safe.

Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is developing new AI-powered smart glasses to simplify the delivery experience for its drivers. CNET smart glasses expert Scott Stein mentioned this wearable rollout last month, and now the plan is in its final testing stages.

The goal is to simplify package delivery by reducing the need for drivers to look at their phones, the label on the package they’re delivering and their surroundings to find the correct address.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

A heads-up display will activate as soon as the driver parks, pointing out potential hazards and tasks that must be completed. From there, drivers can locate and scan packages, follow turn-by-turn directions and snap a photograph to prove delivery completion without needing to take out their phone.

The company is testing the glasses in select North American markets.

Watch: See our Instagram post with a video showing the glasses

A representative for Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

To fight battery drain, the glasses pair with a controller attached to the employee’s delivery vest, allowing them to replace depleted batteries and access operational controls. The glasses will support an employee’s eyeglass prescription. An emergency button will be within reach to ensure the driver’s safety.

Amazon is already planning future versions of the glasses, which will feature «real-time defect detection,» notifying the driver if a package was delivered to the incorrect address. They plan to add features to the glasses to detect if pets are in the yard and adjust to low light.

Technologies

First Partner to the Stars: Muon Space Adopts Starlink Lasers for Millisecond Data Transfer

By integrating Starlink’s mini laser technology, Muon Space will eliminate ground station bottlenecks to build a high-speed, real-time network in orbit.

Satellites firing lasers at each other in space sounds like science fiction, but it’s happening right now, as terabytes of data quickly pass across the Starlink network. Muon Space satellites are set to adopt the technology, enabling a near future when they transfer data as easily as we access the internet on the ground.

This week, Muon announced it will incorporate Starlink’s mini laser technology into its upcoming Halo spacecraft, with the first outfitted satellite going up in 2027. Starlink satellites communicate with each other using lasers, creating a mesh network in low-Earth orbit, or LEO. The tech supports 25Gbps connections between satellites at a range of up to 4,000 kilometers. Higher data speeds are available at shorter distances.

Muon Space will be the first company outside of Starlink parent SpaceX to use the mini laser technology on its satellites.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Satellites typically suffer from bottlenecks like latency when communicating with ground stations, and lag when traveling between them.

«Most of the Earth observation and analytics in space have been constrained at a systems level by this little straw of connectivity, which gets pinched most of the time and only gets connected once in a while,» Muon Space’s president, Gregory Smirin, told CNET.

With the mini laser technology, Muon satellites will join the Starlink network for real-time data access and high-bandwidth streaming. Muon says latency gets reduced to milliseconds. It also noted that data is end-to-end encrypted to maintain the security of customer information.

The Starlink “mini laser” shown in today’s video will connect third party satellites and space stations into the Starlink constellation. The mini laser is designed to achieve link speeds of 25 Gbps at distances up to 4000 km, and was recently successfully tested in orbit on a… pic.twitter.com/8nW37CRp7s

— Michael Nicolls (@michaelnicollsx) August 25, 2025

Normally, this kind of announcement is intended to excite Muon’s existing and potential corporate customers, but the broader implications of the technology will also be felt by everyday people. Smirin equated the adoption of the mini laser technology on satellites to the shift from the days when people connected to the internet using dial-up modems to the always-on access that’s prevalent today.

«Even in 2027, you’re going to start to see the impact of this kind of persistent connectivity on services that will be visible to individuals,» Smirin said. «Space is becoming a ground truth enabler.»

For example, Muon Space is the hardware supplier behind FireSat, the system of satellites developed in conjunction with Google and the Earth Fire Alliance to locate and track wildfires from space. In July, the companies released the first FireSat images from an initial protoflight satellite in orbit for testing.

Smirin explained that reducing latency will help operators track a fire’s direction and progress. He cited this year’s wildfires in Los Angeles, when the winds and smoke prevented aircraft from flying overhead to make accurate observations. With FireSat, you could get that information on an ongoing basis, enabling responders to better establish perimeters for personnel and equipment.

«We’re providing five to ten times the capacity that the rest of the new space industry is providing, so this is a massive step forward,» he said.

Smirin said the company is confident in the technology. After all, these are the same terminals Starlink uses to operate its global mesh network. «It’s operating today for everyone, and it’s reliable, and now it’s about bringing that capacity to organizations outside of Starlink.»