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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which should you buy?

Two foldables with rather different core strategies. Which is right for you?
By

Published onAugust 13, 2024

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
MSRP: $1,799.00
Check price
Positives
Thinner and lighter than ever
Improved Tensor G4 with even more RAM
Better hinge and improved display
Negatives
Extremely high price
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
MSRP: $1,899.99
Check price
Positives
Thinner and lighter than previous Samsung foldables
Cover display finally a fully usable size
Great performance
Software optimized for foldable form factor
Seven years of OS and security updates
Negatives
Extremely high price
Cameras could be better
Display crease still visible
Only charges at 25W
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Porcelain color held in person's left hand showing the Android home screen
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

As expected, Google has officially unveiled the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The new phone brings plenty of upgrades to the table, but how does this new foldable phone compare to Samsung’s more established Galaxy Z Fold series? Let’s jump in and compare the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: At a glance

  • The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a faster, more powerful SoC when compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
  • The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a larger interior display and thinner design than the Fold 6.
  • The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has much faster wired charging and a slightly larger battery size.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Specs

Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Displays
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Exterior:
- 6.3-inch OLED Actua
- 60-120Hz refresh rate
- 1080 x 2424 resolution
- 20:9 aspect ratio
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Interior display:

- 8-inch LTPO Super Actua
- 1-120Hz refresh rate
-2076 x 2152 resolution
- Ultra Thin Glass
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Exterior:
- 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 2,316 x 904 resolution
- 23.1:9 aspect ratio
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Interior:
- 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 2,160 x 1,856 resolution
- Ultra Thin Glass
Processor
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google Tensor G4
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
RAM
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
16GB
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
12GB
Storage
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
256 or 512GB
No expandable storage
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
No expandable storage
Power
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
4,650mAh battery
45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging
No charger in box
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
4,400mAh dual-battery
25W wired charging
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
Wireless PowerShare
No charger in box
Cameras

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Exterior rear:
- 48MP Quad Wide, ƒ/1.8, 1/2" sensor
- 10.5MP Dual PD ultrawide,ƒ/1.8, 1/3.4" sensor, 23-degree FoV
- 10.8MP Dual PD telephoto,1/3.2" sensor, 23-degree FoV, 5x optical zoom (20x digital), ƒ/3.1

Exterior front:
- 10MP, ƒ/2.2, 87-degree FoV

Internal camera:
- 10MP, ƒ/2.2, 87-degree FoV


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Exterior rear:
- 50MP wide, 1.0μm, OIS, Dual Pixel AF, ƒ/1.8
- 12MP ultra-wide, 1.12μm, ƒ/2.2
- 10MP telephoto, 1.0μm, OIS, 3x zoom (30x digital), ƒ/2.4

Exterior front:
- 10MP ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm

Internal camera:
- 4MP, 2.0μm, ƒ/1.8
Connectivity
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
5G (mmWave + Sub6)
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11/be)
Bluetooth 5.3 (dual antenna)
Ultra-wide band chip
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
5G (mmWave + Sub6)
Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.3
NFC support
Ultra-wide band chip
Durability

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
IPX8
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
IP48
SIM
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Dual SIM (nano and single e-Sim)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Dual nano-SIM tray
eSIM support
Biometrics
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Fingerprint unlock
Face Unlock
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor
Software
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Android 14
(Will be among first to have Android 15 update)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Android 14
One UI 6.1.1
Safety features
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Satellite SOS (US only)
Emergency SOS
Crisis Alerts
Car Crash Detection
Safety Check
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Emergency SOS

Dimensions and weight
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Folded dimensions:
- 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5mm

Unfolded dimensions:
- 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1mm


Weight:
- 257g
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Folded dimensions:
- 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1mm

Unfolded dimensions:
- 135.5 x 132.6 x 5.6mm


Weight:
- 239g
Colors
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Obsidian, Porcelain
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint
- Samsung.com exclusives: Crafted Black, White, Peach
Warranty

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
7 years of OS updates and security patches
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
7 years of OS updates and security patches

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design, size comparison, and colors

Despite similar form factors, there are certainly some core differences between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. For starters, Samsung favors a boxier shape to its foldable, while the Pro Fold has a much more rounded aesthetic. Samsung’s camera bump is also very similar to the Galaxy S series, while the Pro Fold has a thicker and wider bump than the rest of the Pixel family.

Both Samsung and Google changed up their designs quite a bit from their respective predecessors. This not only includes new aspect ratios but also some major changes to the hinge. Samsung introduced a dual-rail hinge structure and a strengthened folding edge that should help improve durability. It even managed to secure an IP48 rating, giving it actual (limited) particle resistance for the first time, something the Pro Fold can’t claim with its IPx8 rating. Pro Fold also has a new hinge, which it calls a fluid friction hinge. This new design allows it to open flat with a nice snap that not only works better, it looks better too.

When you fold the new Pixel shut you’ll notice it’s a bit thinner than Samsung’s Fold 6 at just 10.5mm vs 12.1mm, making it the thinnest foldable available in the US. On the flipside, it’s 18g heavier than Samsung’s foldable. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also slightly larger all around when compared to the Fold 6, likely due to the slightly larger 8-inch internal display and its differing aspect ratio. In folded form, the Fold Pro is 155.2 x 77.1 versus 153.5 x 68.1 for the Fold 6. Unfolded you’ll see a similar story, with the Pro Fold at 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1mm, versus 135.5 x 132.6 x 5.6mm.

If you like customization and are hoping for a lot of color choices, the Fold 6 takes the lead here coming in Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint, and a few Samsung.com exclusives such as Crafted Black, White, and Peach. Meanwhile, the Pro Fold will come in just Obsidian or Porcelain.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Features

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold held in person's left hand in an open state showing Android home screen on inner display
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Starting with processing power, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an advantage here thanks to its beefy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, which packs more raw power than the new Google Tensor G4 chip. Despite Qualcomm’s inroads with AI performance, Google’s chip still looks to lead here. The Pro Fold also has more RAM at 16GB versus the 12GB found onboard Samsung’s foldable. Part of that is because Google dedicates a certain (unspecified) portion of RAM to running Gemini multi-modality, which ensures an even smoother AI experience.

Both phones should handle anything you throw at them with ease, but the Fold 6 might be a bit better for mobile gaming and similar use cases. You’ll also get more storage with the Fold 6, as it comes in either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB configurations. Google offers the former two sizes but doesn’t have a 1TB model at all.

We already talked about displays a bit, but there’s one more thing to address. Unlike Samsung’s foldable, the Pixel Fold opened up in landscape by default, but the Pro Fold makes the welcome shift to portrait mode. This makes it easier for apps to adjust without giving us the ugly black bar approach we often saw with the Pixel Fold.

Google pushes AI harder than ever with its new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while the Fold 6 is more of a raw powerhouse.

Moving on to battery life, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a slightly bigger battery at 4,650 mAh versus 4,400 mAh. Until we have time to test the Fold Pro in-depth, we can’t say for sure if the bigger battery equates to better battery life, but you should hopefully get a full day’s use out of either. If you do manage to run the battery down fast, the Pro Fold at least has decently fast wired charging speeds at 45W versus 25W on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Samsung and Google both have three cameras on the rear, in addition to an internal camera and a front cam. The actual specs are quite different here, but until we have more time with the two devices, it’s too early to say how the experience compares. We can tell you the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a new ultra-wide sensor with a 127-degree FoV and support for Macro Focus. It also has a slightly higher megapixel count at 10.8MP versus 10.5MP. The rest of the sensors remain the same as the original Pixel Fold.

Another big difference between Samsung and Google is their software approach. Samsung tends to take a heavier hand, while Google favors a cleaner, minimalist approach. While Google might favor cohesion and simplicity in its design, it doesn’t mean the Pro Fold doesn’t pack some serious new software improvements in addition to returning features like split-screen multitasking. Here are just a few of the highlights:

  • A rebuilt Panorama mode with all-new interface.
  • New Magic Editor features, including auto framing and the ability to change backgrounds entirely.
  • Made You Look: a feature that lets you put a silly view up for your child to see when you want to snap a picture, that way they look directly at the phone for a better shot.
  • Gemini Live: This lets you have a live, free-flowing conversation with Gemini using natural language.
  • YouTube Multi-View lets you watch four live streams at once. What’s less clear is if this is for YouTube proper, or just YouTube TV.
  • Satellite SOS: Later this year the Pixel 9 series will be the first to have satellite SOS support. The service will eventually cost, but you’ll get free access for two years.

As you can tell, AI is a particularly big deal for Google here. To that end, it’s giving Pro Fold users a whole year of Gemini Advanced for free, alongside a 2TB Google One Drive membership.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Price and availability

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Porcelain color, standing on a table in its folded state
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Starts at $1,799

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Starts at $1,899.99

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 went on sale back in July with a price of $1,899.99 for the base model. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold undercuts Samsung’s foldable a little bit at $1,799, with pre-orders starting on August 13.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Porcelain color folded at 90 degrees standing on table
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is perfectly suited for today’s power user with its beefy Qualcomm processor that is great for gaming, tinkering, and light productivity. Then again, Google’s increased RAM will ensure its AI game is even better than ever, even if its processor isn’t quite as powerful. It comes down to what you care more about. Another important factor is how you feel about Google’s vision for Android compared to Samsung’s. Some prefer Google’s clean, simple approach, while others love that Samsung has so many features that you’re still discovering new ones months after you’ve bought your new phone.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which is the better buy?

480 votes

Truth be told, you can’t go wrong with either foldable. Both have seven years of software support and pack so many meaningful improvements compared to their predecessors.

See price at Amazon
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Improved design
8-inch folding display
Seven years of software updates
See price at Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Thinner and lighter
Sizeable cover display
Great performance
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