Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: How do the two foldables compare

Introduction

The foldable smartphone market is heating up, massively driven by Android OEMs the past few years releasing new innovations into the space. This year, in particular, has seen a lot of interest with the introduction around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google's first foray into the new category with its Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Both devices bring truly bleeding-edge technology, but how do they compare?

By design, display, performance, camera, battery life, and price, we delve deep into comparing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Design and Display

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold by Google is equipped with a 6.3-inch display of the cover OLED type, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. This display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. For a foldable, the device is nearly just about right in weight, coming in at 257 grams, and, when unfolded, there's a very nice 5.1mm in terms of slimness. The central highlight is the foldable screen—an 8-inch LTPO AMOLED with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and a peak brightness of a whopping 2700 nits.

In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 drops to be a bit more ultralight, with a 239 gram weight. It sports an unfolded 7.6-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2x display at 120Hz, with 2600 nits peak brightness. Jumping down its size like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold also has a 6.3-inch AMOLED cover display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.

The two smartphones provide eye experiences that are equally wonderful; the size and brightness of those displays differ slightly, thereby addressing the needs of different people out there.

Performance

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, on the other hand, runs under the hood on Google's latest Tensor G4 chip, along with the Titan M2 security chip, to ensure robust performance and security. It also features 16GB RAM alongside 512GB storage, making it a powerhouse both in multitasking and with storage-heavy tasks.

On the other hand, the slightly lesser-specced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 ships with 12GB of RAM but still with a top-flight Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Storage options on both have expandable capabilities of up to 1TB. Both of them run on Android 14 and are promised to get updates for seven years from now to stay current with the latest features and security patches.

Camera

The camera system for the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold responds to photography enthusiasts demanding the best picture quality from any scenario. With a dazzling 48MP main camera utilizing a large f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization, images are clearer, with more details, than they've ever been in lower-lighting conditions.

Lowering blur from hand shakiness reduces the chances of capturing shots clearly, given harder lighting conditions. This camera setup also includes a 10.5MP ultra-wide camera with a 127-degree field of view to help you take much bigger landscape or group scene shots in one go.

There's an equally potent 10.8MP telephoto camera that does 5x optical zoom shots without loss of detail, all of which help give a shot, supported by the technology of 20x Super Res zoom, which uses the magic of software to scale distant objects. On the front, a 10MP selfie camera well accommodated in the corner of the display snaps great self-portraits and super-clear video calls, assisting you in always looking splendid.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers another solution for taking pictures with a mobile device. Utilizing a 50MP main camera ensures images are of a higher resolution, thus creating sharp and vivid photos with added OIS. The ultrawide 12 MP camera features a 123-degree field of view for capturing similarly wide shots, although the detail is slightly lesser than on the camera of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The 10 MP telephoto lens features 3x optical zoom and is decent yet not reaching levels fans of either might appreciate with the Pixel. For selfies, Samsung includes a 10MP cover screen camera, guaranteeing convenience, and a 4MP under-display camera on the main screen, blending innovation with functionality, even if image quality may not be quite up to what the Pixel's front camera is capable of.

Battery

The battery performance in a smartphone can either make or break the experience, and the 4650mAh battery in this Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expected to be reliable all day long.

With such substantial battery capacity, the phone can uphold very intensive use, literally rocking from dawn till night, without having to take a charge during a given day. It supports 37W wired charging, meaning that in the rare situation when such a hefty battery actually gets low, it can be turned back into a working level pretty fast.

It's pretty low at 7.5W wireless charging power compared to other flagship models in the market, but at least it has the convenience of having a cable-free setup and is considered enough for those clutter-free enthusiasts. Wireless charging is efficient enough on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for overnight charging or casual topping up during the day, despite the lower wattage.

Now, of course, we've the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 which offers 4400mAh; however, it charges, even more, rapidly. Its wired 25W charging is not as fast as the Pixel, but at least it is some sort of quick-refueling conduit. And, important: the 15W wireless charge is about twice as fast as the Pixel's, offering a way to charge more quickly wirelessly.

As an addition, it features 4.5W reverse wireless charging that can indeed be of vast importance. A user can charge numerous accessories, from earbuds to even other phones off the Galaxy Z Fold 6's battery. This will mostly benefit people who use many devices daily.

Though the capacity of the batteries is marginally lesser, based on faster charging technology, Samsung has designed the Z Fold 6 at par or even an excellent variant in view of the overall battery performance compared to the predecessor and other models available.

Price

Pricing in itself forms a huge part of the value proposition for a flagship smartphone, so predictably both the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 have premium price tags to match their advanced features. And while it has a slightly more accessible starting price, at Dhs. 7,499, compared to Samsung's often astronomical figures for headline features, the Z Fold 6 seems overall to be a generally better and stronger overall package for anyone who really does want to try the sort of bleeding edge of foldable technology without necessarily having to essentially pay top-end in the end. This is further augmented by long-term player status in the Foldables space that Samsung enjoys, imparting some reliability and refinement MTBF-wise to the user's experience as well.

There's no other way to look at it: In a class completely its own, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold retails for Dhs. 7,859, and it's at the high end, staying up there with regards to camera performance and its ability to work seamlessly with software. However, the slightly more justifiable premium of this model can certainly be ascribed to AI-focused functions, a supercharger camera system, and a polished user experience under deep Android clustering.

If you are one of those users giving more importance to photography, flawless software updating, and specially the Google experience, then it may stay worth all that extra premium. It's all about user preference at the end; which one stays more aligned to individual needs and expectations: the slightly economical price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the added features of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Table Comparison

Conclusion

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold leading foldable phone goes head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, with both brands boasting advantages. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold would have an advanced camera system as its truest unique feature, designed to appeal to photography enthusiasts and those who like taking premium images in multiple light conditions.

Its larger battery also provides long periods of operation, thus being ideal for people interested in having devices with operational times that last the whole day without frequent recharging. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a more positive design when it comes to both portability and handling. Samsung has also made sure that your experience is amped up with more charging alternatives, so you are always fully on the go. This makes the Z Fold 6 a strong player for users who are on the lookout for convenience and the finest trends in designs.

In the end, your decision on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be specific to your needs or budget. If you need it for its photographic prowess and long life on a single charge, then Pixel 9 Pro Fold it is. If to you, that means a sleek and lightweight design with advanced charging features—the Galaxy Z Fold 6—no doubt will turn out as per your expectations. Both are hardcore premium offerings that really push the gauge far in regard to what can be done in covering grounds of a foldable—either remains a worthy life-investment option.

FAQs

1. Which one of them has a better camera—Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold stands out for its advanced camera system, equipped with a superior main sensor and improved zoom, ideal for photography enthusiasts who want image quality and versatility.

Powered by software from Google, computational photography advances the photo experience to render rich details and vivid colors where lighting conditions are difficult. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a very good camera setup, though it's overshadowed by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in camera innovation and software updates, two crucial concerns for mobile photographers.

2. What is the difference in capacities between the batteries of Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4650mAh battery, which is slightly larger than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6's 4400mAh. Now, that's not a very big difference, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is likely to perform just a little better in the battery-life department, allowing users to put off recharges a bit longer.

The extra capacity can be particularly beneficial for those who utilize the device's demanding features, such as its high-refresh-rate display and advanced camera system. While both devices offer solid battery performance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's larger battery provides a slight advantage in endurance.

3. Is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6?

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is notably lighter, at 239 grams, compared to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which weighs in at 257 grams. This difference is minor, but it may eventually take a lot of matter toward the tendency to use devices for a longer period of time.

This is a lighter design for the Z Fold 6, which adds more comfort to the hand and allows great portability without really losing on durability and performance. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is thus more ergonomic for users who seek a smoother, lighter design for its possible foldable phone.

4. Are a water-resistant characteristic of both phones the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6?

Yes, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 both have an IPX8 water resistance rating. What this sums up to is that for each of them, you are likely able to submerge them in up to about 1.5 meters of water for almost half an hour, with no negative effects.

This feature allays any fears in the user, that accidental spills or short immersion of foldable phones won't compromise the functionality of the phone. The most noteworthy benefit will be for people using their devices in kitchens or outdoors.

5. Which of these foldable phones is the best value for money?

Value for money is slightly better with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, particularly for users interested in a top-level foldable experience but wanting not to spend much. While the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is very impressive in its respective camera and battery enhancements, the Z Fold 6's balancing premium features and a lower starting price make it a very compelling option for investment in foldable technology.

Samsung's big ecosystem and a lot of support of their devices make the value proposition airtight as well, ensuring the user gets a very comprehensive experience for their investment.