The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not only a vastly improved device compared to the original Pixel Fold, but also a real challenger to Samsung in the battle for the best foldable smartphone.
Don’t get me wrong, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a very impressive device in its own right, and we really liked it when we tested it for our review, but with a complete redesign, a new Tensor G4 chip, and other upgrades, it looks like Google is trying to take foldables to the next level with the launch of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Here’s how the Pixel 9 Pro Fold beats the Galaxy Z Fold 6:
@tomsguide ♬ Original Sound – Tom’s Guide
Bigger Display
That’s not to say that the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch display is small, but it certainly looks tiny next to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google’s device also comes with a massive 8-inch internal screen, which is the largest display on any phone.
We loaded the Tom’s Guide site on both phones and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s screen is noticeably more immersive, and the extra screen real estate gives the Pixel 9 Pro Fold the advantage when running two apps side-by-side.
We haven’t tested the phones in our lab yet, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s main panel also looked brighter. Both foldable phones have 6.3-inch front screens, but we like that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s is wider, making it easier to use with two hands.
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Slim design
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold measures 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches unfolded and 0.4 inches thick folded, making it the thinnest smartphone you can buy in the U.S. Compare that to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which measures 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches unfolded and 0.47 inches folded.
If you want a foldable phone that feels like a normal phone when closed, every inch counts. At 9.1 ounces, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold may be lighter than the original 10-ounce Pixel Fold, but the Z Fold 6 is even lighter at 8.4 ounces.
More compelling AI features
This is of course subjective, but I’m more excited about the AI features on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold than the Galaxy AI features on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
For example, “Add Me” combines AI and augmented reality to let you add someone to a photo after it’s been taken, so you can place that new person in a group shot. The Pixel Screenshots feature is also really cool, letting you use natural language to look up information and create calendar entries on the fly from information found on things like concert posters, saving you a ton of time.
The Pixel Studio feature wowed me with its ability to quickly create AI-generated images with text prompts on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and you can also edit existing photos with text prompts using a Magic Editor feature called Reimagine.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 also has some very cool AI features, such as sketch-to-image conversion, but it works best with the S Pen, which costs extra.
Better cameras
There’s a caveat to this claim: we need to thoroughly compare the cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but based on what I know so far, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is going to be the phone with the better camera.
Firstly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a more powerful telephoto zoom of 5x versus 3x on the Z Fold 6. It also has a sharper 10MP in-display camera versus the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 4MP.
Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers Night Mode for videos as well as panoramic photos, a feature that’s missing on Samsung’s foldables.
Lower price
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold isn’t cheap, but at least Google didn’t raise the price: It starts at $1,799 for 256GB of storage, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899, meaning you’ll pay an extra $100 for Samsung’s foldable phone.
You’re sure to find cheaper prices on Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold pre-orders and Galaxy Z Fold 6 sales, but generally speaking, Google’s devices are the better deal.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a few advantages over the Pixel 9 Pro Fold: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is likely faster (we’re waiting for full benchmarks of the new phone), it’s also lighter, and the Z Fold 6 benefits from built-in S Pen support. Some people might prefer a narrower front display that makes the device slimmer when closed.
But overall, we think the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a force to be reckoned with, and it may even overtake Samsung’s flagship foldable smartphone. Stay tuned for the full showdown.
