Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: This is the foldable you should get

A Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 face-off will determine which notebook-style foldable phone you should consider, since these are the two most widely available models. And given the features Google and Samsung have packed into their respective phones, it figures to be quite a battle.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 currently sits near the top of our best foldable phone rankings — only Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 flip phone ranks higher — thanks to powerful performance and an innovative design. For years, Samsung has set the standard for notebook-style foldables, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the best one that the phone maker has built yet.

Google may have gotten into the foldable market later than Samsung, but its Pixel Fold models have improved rapidly. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the latest version, and it improves upon its predecessors with an even more durable design, better battery life and Google's usual array of AI-powered features.

With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold now available, we've tested and reviewed both phones. Here's how the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 match-up shakes out based on our head-to-head comparison of each device.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Specs

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Price and availability

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is now in stores, joining the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which began shipping back in July. You'll pay less for Google's phone, as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799. That's $200 less than the Galaxy Z Fold 7's $1,999 starting price.

Both base models feature 256GB of storage. You can even upgrade to the 512GB version of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for $1,919, which is still $80 less than the base model Galaxy Z Fold 7. A 512GB Z Fold 7 will set you back $2,119 and the 1TB version costs $2,419 — $300 more than a 1TB Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design

Comparing the design of these two phons is a study in contrasts, as the 6.1 x 3 x 0.43-inch Pixel 10 Pro is wider and thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when folded shut. The differences become even more apparent when you unfold the two phones, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 4.2mm thin, compared to 5.2mm for the Pixel.

Samsung also delivers a lighter foldable at 7.5 ounces. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold tips the scales at 9.1 ounces.

Google can at least claim to have the more durable of the two phones, as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first foldable to offer IP68 water and dust resistance. Not only can the Pixel survive a dunk in water, but it can keep fine particles out of the interior of the phone. With an IP48 rating, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 can stand up to water, though it's vulnerable to finer bits of dust.

Still, I'll defer to my colleague Mark Spoonauer, who's toted around both phones. He prefers the more slender design of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as it can slip easily into a front pocket. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is relegated to the back pocket.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 7

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Display

In terms of display sizes, both phones offer similar panels. The main display on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8 inches, as does the Pixel 10 Pro's interior screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a slightly larger cover display — 6.5 inches vs 6.4 inches — but the Pixel 10 Pro's exterior panel is slightly wider, making it easier to type on.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold proved to be brighter in our testing. While the Galaxy Z Fold 7's main display registered a reading of 2,245 nits on our light meter — certainly bright enough to see outside — the Pixel 10 Pro Fold beat it with a 2,566-nit reading.

That brightness gives the edge to the Pixel 10 Pro when comparing displays, though in Samsung's favor, the Galaxy Z fold 7 captures more of the color spectrum and displays those colors more accurately, according to our testing.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Cameras

The cameras on both foldable phones are evenly matched, with Samsung offering a more powerful 200MP main camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That compares to a 48MP shooter on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. However, the Pixel offers the better zooming experience with its 10.8MP telephoto lens able to support a 5x zoom. The 10MP zoom lens on the Galaxy Z Fold Z tops out at 3x, though it can offer a 30x digital zoom.

The superior optical zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold helps it shine when you need to get up close and personal with an object. In this 10x zoom shot of a sculpted figure on a building, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold simply captures more detail than Samsung's camera can.

At night, Google's cameras also shine. A photo of a pink hydrangea has more accurate coloring in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold shot, and the ambient lighting doesn't look as harsh as it appears in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 image.

Samsung's cameras do offer strong shots in other areas, with the bokeh effect in this portrait shot looking better in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 image. That said, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's effort is a bit crisper.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Performance

Any Google vs. Samsung phone comparison usually means a showdown between the Tensor chipsets Google uses for its Pixel phones and the Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon found in the premium Galaxy models. And that's a comparison that never works out in the Pixel's favor.

So it is with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and its Tensor G5 system on chip. While the Google-designed silicon enables a number of impressive AI capabilities, as we'll discuss below, it just can't keep pace with the Snapdragon 8 Elite that Samsung is using to power the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Comparing Geekbench numbers, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 tops the Pixel 10 Pro Fold by 53% in the CPU benchmark's multicore test and 30% in the single core test. That means Samsung's phone is tops in straight-up performance as well as multitasking.

Graphics performance is similarly one-sided, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 cranking out 123.8 frames per second in 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited graphics test to 79.7 fps for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

On the more demanding Unlimited version of that test, the gap was a little bit tighter, with the Z Fold 7 still finishing on top by a 28.4 to 20.3 fps margin.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 7

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Battery life and charging

If the Tensor G5 inside the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't deliver as big a performance punch as what you get with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, at least it runs efficiently. That, plus a bigger battery inside Google's foldable, helps the Pixel outlast Samsung's phone.

Google has managed to fit a 5,015 mAh battery inside the Pixel 10 Pro — impressive given the constraints imposed by a foldable design. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 with its thinner profile only offers a 4,400 mAh battery.

Our battery test, where the phones have to surf the web over cellular until they run out of power, reflect the different battery sizes, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 lasting only 10 hours and 44 minutes. That's in line with the average performance for smartphones. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold held out for around 90 minutes longer, with a time of 12 hours and 16 minutes.

Samsung caps the wired charging speed of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at 25W, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can support a 30W charging speed. Certainly, in our testing, we were able to top off the Pixel's larger battery faster.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Software and AI

We've mentioned the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's AI features, and they're certainly an impressive batch. That includes the new Tensor G5 capabilities found on the rest of the Pixel 10 series, such as Camera Coach (where you get tips in real-time for better photos) and Gemini Live support.

The highlight of Google's Pixel 10 series is Magic Cue, where on-board smarts cause information to surface when you need it, such as pulling up reservation information when you're talking to a friend about dinner. Magic Cue has a lot of promise, but when Mark Spoonauer tested it on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it didn't always work as advertised, sometimes showing wrong info or military time instead of a more glanceable format. Perhaps that's something that improves with time or with a software update, but it's a little hit or miss at this point.

For that reason, some of the AI features on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feel a little bit more polished, if only because they've been out longer. Samsung's foldable supports the Now Brief feature introduced as part of the Galaxy S25 launch earlier this year, and it does a good job alerting you to your upcoming appointments and other information you need to have at hand to go about your daily schedule. It's also worth noting that a lot of the same AI features found on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — Gemini Live support, for instance — are also available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 can run three apps on its main screen, compared to two on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, giving Samsung an edge for multitaskers. Both phones offer the same seven years of software and security updates.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 7

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Verdict

These two foldable phones are actually as close as can be, with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold actually winning in more areas. But where the Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins, it wins big, topping Google's phone on performance and design.

While I prefer the Pixel's cameras and screen to what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has to offer, Samsung's phone doesn't exactly lag in these areas. And the fact that you essentially get the same AI features on both phones blunts one of the advantages I thought Google might have coming into this match-up.

If you do value mobile photography and a longer-lasting device that promises better durability, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a compelling choice as a foldable. It's also noticeably less expensive than Samsung's option. That said, the sleek design and polished software on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 makes it my choice for a notebook-style foldable phone.

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