Our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison is what you need if you are willing to shell out top dollar for one of the best Android phones out there.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is all about improving on one of the best foldable phones to date. You get a brighter, more durable 7.6-inch screen, a more accurate 50MP main camera, thinner bezels and a wider cover screen that’s easier to use. Plus, multitasking is top notch, complete with a new taskbar.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra remains one of the best camera phones, thanks to its 108MP ultra-clear sensor. You also get a built-in S Pen, 45W fast charging, and a 6.8-inch ultra-bright display with a sleeker design.
So which Samsung flagship is right for you? Here’s how the Galaxy Z Fold 4 stacks up against the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra specifications
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
Show | 6.2″ AMOLED (120Hz, 2316 x 904) / 7.6″ AMOLED (120Hz, 2176 x 1812) | 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED (3088 x 1440) |
CPU | Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (US), Exynos 2200 (UK) |
RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB |
storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
wide camera | 50 MP (f/1.8) | 108 MP (f/2.2) |
Ultra Wide Camera | 12 MP (f/2.2) | 12 MP (f/2.2) |
telephoto camera | 10 MP (f/2.4) | 10 MP (f/2.4) |
selfie camera | 10 MP (f / 2.2) / 4 MP (f / 1.8) | 40 MP (f/2.2) |
battery | 4400 mAh | 5000 mAh |
size | 6.1 x 2.6 x 0.55-0.62 inches | 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches |
Weight | 9.28 oz | 8 ounces |
Colors | Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy (Samsung.com only) | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Burgundy, Green |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra price
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra started at $1,199 when it launched in February, for the model with 128GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM, rising to $1,599.99 for the version with 1TB of internal storage and 12GB of RAM. . Of course, in terms of a phone, the S22 family is now middle-aged, so you can probably get a lower price with one of the best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals.
Starting at $1,799, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs $600 more than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. So you can get the S22 Ultra and the Google Pixel 6 for the same price as the new foldable. There are discounts available for the Fold, such as up to $1,000 with trade-in. Check out our how to pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 4 page for more.
The design and display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra
There’s a reason the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs so much more. It combines a small phone and tablet into one thanks to its innovative foldable screen design. Not only is this technology very expensive in itself, but it also requires a whole additional screen to be used when the device is in its folded state.
Closed, the Z Fold 4 has a 6.2-inch HD+ display with a slim 2316 x 904 resolution. When open, the internal screen is 7.6 inches with a 2176 x 1,812 resolution — a bit more square than the previous generation. Both use AMOLED technology and can refresh at 120Hz.
All this makes for an undeniably chunky device: 6.1 x 2.6 x 0.55 – 0.62 inches, tipping the scales at 9.28 ounces, even though the Z Fold 4 weighs slightly less than the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra follows the more traditional phone design we’re used to, with just one screen – a large 6.8-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 3088 x 1440.
In addition to being thinner and lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches, 8 ounces for reference), the S22 Ultra has another key feature. While both phones support the S Pen, the S22 Ultra not only includes one in the case, it clips neatly inside the phone when not in use.
The S Pen is sold separately for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and you need a special bag to carry it on the go.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 cameras vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra
Cameras were a weak point in Samsung’s previous Galaxy Fold devices, but the company upped its game with the Z Fold 4, which is essentially identical to the matrix found in the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus. The 50MP main camera is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide lens sensor and 10MP telephoto lens, with 3x optical zoom and 30x telephoto zoom.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra goes a step further, with a 108MP main lens (albeit with a 10MP drop in the ultra-wide lens). We’ll have to run some testing alongside to see if this provides a boost to photography that the average user will notice.
But the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has an edge when it comes to selfies, giving you a 10MP camera on the front and a 4MP under-display camera on the internal tablet. Gladly, you can also use the better quality rear cameras for selfies, if you are happy to use the front screen as a viewfinder.
By contrast, the S22 Ultra has only one selfie camera, albeit a very impressive one. It’s 40 megapixels and offers an 80-degree field of view.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 performance vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra
This is a clear win for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. While the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra features a first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 features the newer Plus version of the chip.
With top speeds of 3.2GHz, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 offers a 10% boost in performance over a regular chipset, but its real advantage may be in efficiency, as Qualcomm says it will use 30% less power.
And with 12GB of RAM on the standout Galaxy Z Fold 4, it’s safe to assume it’s a performance winner.
On Geekbench, which measures overall performance, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 achieved a multi-core score of 3,831, compared to 2,292 for the S22 Ultra. And in our video-editing test, which involves transcoding 4K video to 1080p in the Adobe Premiere Rush app, the Z Fold 4 took 45 seconds, which is slightly faster than the S22 Ultra’s 47 seconds.
Surprisingly, the S22 Ultra scored higher on the 3DMark Wild Life graphics test, reaching 57 fps to 53 fps for the Fold 4.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 battery vs Galaxy S22 Ultra battery
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra packs a larger 5,000mAh battery versus the Z Fold 4’s 4,400mAh — but the latter has a bigger screen for when you want a tablet pad.
Historically, the stamina on Samsung’s foldable devices has left it a bit undesirable. The Z Fold 3 lasted just 7 hours and 52 seconds in our test at 60Hz, with the same 4,400mAh capacity. For comparison, the S22 Ultra lasted 10 hours and 18 minutes under the same conditions.
But adopting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and the subsequent efficiency savings seemed to help tremendously, as the Z Fold 4 lasted 11 hours and 34 minutes in the 60Hz screen mode. We are still running tests and will report on adaptive mode.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra Software and Special Features
This is where the Galaxy Z Fold 4 really stands out. The Fold’s 7.6-inch main screen lets you run up to three apps simultaneously, and you can easily drag and drop content between windows. We also like the new taskbar that makes it easier to move between apps.
The Z Fold 4 also benefits from Flexible Mode, which places content at the top of the screen and controls at the bottom. This allows you to make hands-free video calls, take photos without a tripod, and more. And with Android 12L on board, there are more apps coming online that take advantage of the Z Fold 4’s larger panel.
The main special feature of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the S Pen, which allows you to take notes, draw, and more on the screen. And unlike the Z Fold 4, you can store the stylus in the phone when you’re not using it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy S22 Ultra overview
This is an odd confrontation, because by many measures the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra remains the better option. It features a brighter screen, superior camera performance and a built-in S Pen – all while being easier on the wallet.
But the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the most versatile flagship. It gives you a small phone and tablet in one, and the large screen built into the software makes it easy to multitask. It’s like having a computer in your pocket in terms of absolute productivity.
For most people, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be the phone to get due to its relative affordability and portability. But the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is impressive if you want to live with a larger design.