Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Shows Samsung Is Losing the Foldable Phone Race

Google has wrapped up its Pixel 9 series announcement event, and arguably the most impressive member of the event was the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold – you didn’t expect that, did you?

This is only Google’s second attempt at a foldable Pixel phone, but it already outdoes the Samsung Fold, now in its sixth generation, in a number of key features.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold6 comparison

In fact, we can confirm that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has generally superior internal hardware to the Galaxy Z Fold6, suggesting that the Korean company may be feeling complacent about the lack of global competition. Well, here’s some great competition that will arrive in seventeen countries around the world.

Better aspect ratios

The main issue users have had with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series is the aspect ratio of the displays – especially the cover display. Samsung has improved this a bit recently, but the bottom line is that the cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold6 is very narrow compared to any modern smartphone.

By contrast, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 6.3-inch cover display with a standard 20:9 aspect ratio. As a bonus, it’s also a 1080p panel, while the Z Fold6’s display is a few pixels smaller at 968p.

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The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s foldable display is larger (207.4 cm2 vs. 185.2 cm2), has a higher resolution, and a near 1:1 aspect ratio, making it better suited for multitasking. Multitasking is what book-shaped foldable phones are typically bought to do.

Thinner, if heavier

Google has shrunk the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to an impressive size. Folded, it’s just 10.5mm thick, which is pretty close to a regular phone, and significantly thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold6 (12.1mm) and the OnePlus Open (11.7mm). When unfolded, the Pixel is just 5.1mm thick — just a little thicker than its USB-C port.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a thin phone

Fortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is much lighter – 18 grams to be exact – which is no small feat. On the other hand, a book-shaped foldable is the kind of device you’d expect to feel a bit hefty, while thinness is what you generally feel more in everyday use.

Google has made the Pixel 9 Pro Fold water-resistant, too, though you won’t be going swimming with either phone.

More RAM and better cameras

The Galaxy Z Fold6 uses the 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which will likely have the upper hand in performance over the new Tensor G4. The clock speeds on both chipsets suggest this, though we’ll know for sure when we complete our full review of the new Tensor.

However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with 16GB of RAM, a step up from the 12GB of RAM in the Galaxy Z Fold6. More RAM means more apps can run in the background and an overall boost in responsiveness.

Foldable phones make it difficult to fit advanced camera hardware, as these flagship foldables attest. However, on paper at least, the foldable Pixel has an advantage here too. The Galaxy Z Fold6’s main camera has a larger sensor and a slightly wider lens. But the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a telephoto camera that’s nearly twice as far (112mm vs. 66mm), and autofocus on the ultra-wide camera.

Bigger battery, but better battery life?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a slightly larger (~6%) 4,650mAh battery, though charging speeds are somewhat disappointing on both phones. The actual battery capacity has yet to be tested, so this is probably more of a feature than a confirmed one.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 is still the mainstream option

The fact that the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a better overall hardware package is unlikely to cause the Galaxy Z Fold6 to lose too much sleep on its own. The Galaxy Z Fold6 will beat the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by a mile, and not just because it’s more widely available. Samsung’s foldable phone has more polished multitasking and supports the S Pen. It also has some degree of dust protection. And you’re likely to find a better deal on the Galaxy Z Fold6 if you shop off Samsung’s website.

But it’s unfortunate that a company that wasn’t known for its high-end devices has been overtaken by a company that rose to the top spot globally thanks to its great devices. It’s true that Samsung has increasingly focused on the software side and building an ecosystem, which is commendable, but it shouldn’t forget what made it the dominant force in the smartphone market. Not to mention in a relatively new field where there’s a lot of room.

Because between the latest Google Fold and the long-awaited release of foldable phones from Chinese companies with their most impressive devices, it risks stepping out of a niche it has worked hard to create.