Google Fold vs. Samsung Fold: Which Folding Phone is Best

When it comes to foldable phones, Google and Samsung are leading the pack with their latest releases, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. 

The two companies have been the go-to choices for foldable phones since debuting their first models, the Google Pixel Fold in 2023 and the original Samsung Galaxy Fold in 2019, followed by a release yearly. With each new folding phone, Google and Samsung have pushed the boundaries of design and innovation. But which comes out on top in the Google Fold vs. Samsung Fold battle? 

Let's dive into the details to see how these transformative smartphones compare.

What Are Foldable Phones?

Foldable phones are smartphones with flexible displays that can be folded in half. They typically provide a larger screen when opened and a more compact form when closed.

There are generally two types of foldable phones, those that fold and those that flip:

1. Horizontal Fold: These devices open like books, revealing a larger internal screen when unfolded and a smaller external screen when folded. Note that both the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 open and close horizontally.
2. Vertical Flip: These phones fold vertically, like classic flip phones, but with a full touchscreen display that folds in half. When unfolded, they function like a standard smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series is an example of this design.

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What are the benefits of a foldable phone? They combine a smartphone's portability with a tablet's larger display size, making them a great choice for people who want more screen real estate for multitasking or watching videos while keeping the convenience of a smaller device when folded. 

So, how do the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 stack up?

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: The Latest Foldables

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold was announced alongside the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL on August 13, 2024 with shipping starting on September 4, 2024.

Contrary to how it may sound, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not its ninth version; it's only Google's second foldable phone. But this year, Google chose to align its branding with its popular Pixel 9 devices — hence the name change from the original "Google Pixel Fold." 

Meanwhile, Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in July 2024. As the name implies, it’s the sixth generation of the company's foldable smartphones.

Early iterations of Samsung's foldable phone had some issues. Reviewers of the first Galaxy Folds complained of broken screens and a collection of debris inside the hinges that built up over time.

However, with 6 generations under its belt, Samsung has polished and refined the hardware, introducing a new “Flex Hinge” with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The Z Fold series has also improved thanks to Samsung's additions to its software, such as the inclusion of Galaxy AI. 

But what exactly makes these two devices stand out in a sea of smartphones, and from each other?

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Specs and Details

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the two devices compare:

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We’ll examine the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 in detail below.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design and Display

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is thin or a foldable, measuring just 10.5 mm when closed, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6's 12.1 mm. As sizeable as it is thin, the Pixel features a massive 8-inch inner screen with a Super Actua Flex display that can reach an impressive peak brightness of 2,700 nits, making it 80 percent brighter than the original Pixel Fold—ideal for visibility in bright sunlight. 

The outer screen, protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, is 6.3 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio, which provides plenty of viewing space even when the phone is closed. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also has an IPX8 water resistance rating, which means liquid won't easily damage it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has benefited from Samsung's improvements to its design over the years and has become a more symmetrical and polished form.

It's thinner and 14 grams lighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, making it nearly as light as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The cover display has been slightly enlarged, and the 7.6-inch internal screen now features a less noticeable crease thanks to a new display layer and improved durability with its "Flex Hinge." 

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 also offers protection from the elements, with its IP48 rating guarding against dust, moisture, and liquids.

Both devices provide excellent viewing experiences, but the choice may come down to whether you prioritize a brighter, larger display of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or a more polished, lightweight design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Features and AI

Thanks to the Tensor G4 processor, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can run Google AI features like "Live Chat with Google Gemini," "Circle to Search," and photo and video editing tools like "Magic Editor" and "Video Boost."

Using the Fold's inner display, you can run split screen mode. This mode allows you to put two apps side by side and drag and drop images, links, and texts between them, much like you would with a laptop or computer. 

Like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 integrates AI features, but Samsung takes a slightly different approach. The focus with Galaxy AI is on generative AI for creative tasks, like "Photomoji" and "Sketch to Image." These tools are fun and innovative, though they might have limited use for day-to-day tasks. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also compatible with Samsung's S Pen stylus, allowing you to write on the screen like a notebook. 

However, one of the most valuable features of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the ability to translate languages in real-time using two screens. 

You can prop either phone on a table, and with the inner screen facing you and the outer screen facing someone else, their translation apps will show each of you a live translated version of what the other is saying.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Cameras

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a triple rear camera system with a 48 MP wide lens, a 10.5 MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus, and a 10.8 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. It also includes Super Res Zoom, which extends up to 20x, letting you capture detailed shots even from a distance. 

Also, the Pixel's cameras support optical and electronic image stabilization on wide and telephoto lenses, which will improve the quality of your shots even in bumpy conditions.

However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn't just rely on hardware. It comes with Google AI-driven features, such as the unique "Add Me" function that combines two photos to include everyone (even the person taking the photo) in the shot and the "Made You Look" feature, which adds playful animations to grab children's attention during photos.

While the Galaxy Z Fold 6's camera setup is similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, there have been some meaningful enhancements. The improved 12 MP ultrawide sensor, which now supports 2x optical-quality zoom, and the main camera's 50 MP sensor, which has an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, will help capture sharp and colorful photos.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6's telephoto lens offers a 10 MP sensor with 3x optical zoom. It extends to a 30x digital zoom, which provides added flexibility when capturing distant subjects compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This means that while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a higher optical zoom range, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides a higher digital zoom. 

While the Galaxy Z Fold 6 may not have as many AI photography tricks as the Pixel, its hardware upgrades, particularly its ultrawide and telephoto capabilities, provide versatility for anyone primarily using their smartphone camera for pictures and video. 

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Price and Storage Options

In terms of price and storage options, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a more straightforward choice with two configurations: 256 GB for $1,799 or 512 GB for $1,919. It also has a limited color selection with two options: Porcelain (tan) and Obsidian (black).

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at a slightly higher price of $1,900 for the 256 GB model but offers more storage flexibility with a 512 GB version at $2,020 and a 1 TB option for $2,260. It also has more variety in color choices than the Pixel 9 Pro. You can pick between Navy, Pink, and Silver Shadow, with additional exclusive options available on their website. 

In short, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides more choices for users who need extensive storage or want more personalization in color options, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold may appeal to those looking for a slightly more affordable option with sizeable storage capacity.

Whether you’re interested in a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold or a Samsung Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, Navi can help. ​​

Our free and unbiased Phone Deal Finder below can show you the best phone deals for either device based on your current trade-in and other criteria.

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Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: The Previous Generation

While the newest foldable phones are in the spotlight, the previous generation — Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and original Google Pixel Fold — still offers solid performance and a slightly cheaper price point.

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Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Design and Display

Both the Galaxy Fold 5 and the Pixel Fold were impressive when they first launched. 

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED 2X outside screen and a 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X internal display, both supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. Like the Fold 6, it is compatible with Samsung's S Pen stylus.

The Google Pixel Fold offers a slightly smaller 5.8-inch OLED external display and a 7.6-inch internal display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Performance

The Pixel Fold uses Google's Tensor G2 chip, designed to optimize performance and AI features on Google's ecosystem of devices.

Under its hood, the Galaxy Fold 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, a powerful processor for its time. 

Both phones offer 12GB of RAM, which helps provide smooth multitasking and performance. 

However, Samsung provided more storage flexibility, with options up to 1 TB, while Google capped it at 512GB — which may be enough for most people, but some might prefer more options.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Cameras

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has the same camera setup as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 — a 50 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide, and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. It also sports a 10 MP selfie camera on the outer cover and a 4 MP under-display camera for video calls.

On the other hand, the Google Pixel Fold offers a 48 MP main camera, 10.8 MP ultrawide, and a 10.8 MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom. For selfies, it includes a 9.5 MP front camera and an 8 MP on the inner display. Not too bad for Google’s first time making a foldable phone. 

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Current Price

While Google no longer directly sells the original Google Pixel Fold, it can still be found used or refurbished on eBay, Amazon, and other online stores. Samsung still offers the Galaxy Z Fold 5 on its website for $1,800.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Which Folding Phone Is Best?

Ultimately, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 edges out the Pixel Fold thanks to its larger screen, S Pen support, and storage options. It’s also still available on Samsung's website, which makes it easier to purchase than the Google Pixel Fold. But $100 more will get you the newer Galaxy Z Fold 6, which may be the better choice at that price. 

If you can find the Pixel Fold at a lower price than a Fold 5, it would be a great option. 

The Bottom Line

Foldable phones are quickly becoming more than specialty devices — they are proving to be practical options for people who enjoy large screens but don't want to sacrifice portability. 

Other foldable phones, like the OnePlus Open, are also appearing on the market, and there are rumors that Apple may be working on a foldable iPhone for release in the near future — which means foldable phones are likely here to stay.

Where does that leave us with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6? Whether you prioritize cutting-edge AI, camera quality, or a sleek design, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are undoubtedly two of the most unique phones on the market. 

While you can’t go wrong with either, the slightly lower price of the Google Pixel 9 Pro may be enough to sway many people.