Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Pixel 9 Pro Fold: There’s a clear winner for me

Last year, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold raised the bar significantly over its predecessor, while also giving the Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 a run for its money. Of course, the market never stands still for long. The new Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 is now here, but how does it compare to its Tensor-powered rival? For me, the choice is clear.

Although the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was a close rival to the Galaxy Fold 6, Samsung’s latest model brings enough improvements to widen the gap. Below, I’ll dive into why I recommend the Z Fold 7 over the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for most users. For context, while I haven’t yet used the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in person, I’m very familiar with the Fold and Flip families, as well as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

At first glance, there are quite a few similarities between these two phones. Both offer a similar form factor with an 8-inch folding display and run the latest version of Android, complete with plenty of AI features. As usual, though, Samsung and Google take fairly different paths beyond the basics.

For starters, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is actually thinner and lighter than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by a fairly noticeable margin. The former measures only 8.9mm thick when folded and 4.2mm unfolded, with a weight of 215g, compared to the Pro Fold’s 10.5mm folded, 5.1mm unfolded, and 257g weight. Of course, the thinner design comes with a bit of sacrifice, as the S Pen is no longer built in, which might be a turn-off for some.

Traditionally, Samsung and Google have been a bit behind the curve when it comes to the thickness and weight of their foldables, at least compared to some of the Chinese alternatives, including the OnePlus Open. Thankfully, Samsung has been working hard to address this, and with the Fold 7, it finally achieves a thickness that shames almost every one of its rivals, though the Magic V5 and a few other Chinese models still have a marginal lead.

It’s not just the size and design differences between the two, as Samsung and Google have a very different approach to hardware as well. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold continues Google’s tradition of focusing on ease of use, simplicity, and software refinement over pure muscle. You’ll find fewer features than on Samsung’s UI, but what’s there is carefully curated and usually aimed at mainstream users over the more niche-specific features you’ll find with Samsung if you look deep enough.

The Tensor G4 is a solid chip, though it isn’t nearly as capable as the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset when it comes to raw power. In reality, the weaker performance won’t be very noticeable day-to-day, but it does mean Samsung is the better pick for hardcore mobile gamers, content creators, and power users. It’s also better suited to make it through the full seven years of software updates without becoming underpowered as it ages.

The camera configurations are also quite distinct. While the Pro Fold has a 48MP wide shooter backed by a 10.8MP 5x telephoto and 10.5MP ultrawide lens, the Z Fold 7 gives you a much more impressive 200MP main camera, supported by a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide. It’s important to point out that this is the same main camera found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a notable upgrade from the 50MP shooter on its predecessor.

Of course, there’s more to a good camera experience than megapixels alone, so I can’t officially say which is best for photography. That said, I’m fairly confident the Fold 7 will come out on top, especially since neither foldable previously excelled in this area.

Samsung has always taken a heavier approach to software as well, loading users up with customization options and extras. The idea is to throw in so much functionality that almost anyone’s tastes can be met with a bit of personalization. This remains true with its foldables. Even though Google offers solid features specifically for the foldable form factor, Samsung has simply had more time to refine its package and, in many ways, still leads here.

The Fold 7 doesn’t massively shake things up from its predecessor, though it does offer a few improvements, including Audio Eraser support in more apps like Samsung Notes, the video player, and voice recorder. You’ll also find a new AI feature in the Gallery app that can suggest objects to erase by automatically detecting distractions, plus Circle to Search support during gameplay. The latter lets you get real-time game tips without ever leaving your game.

That’s far from an exhaustive list of what’s new with the Fold 7 software, though most other changes are relatively minor refinements.

Both Samsung and Google have built solid handsets, but if you’re looking for a new foldable, you’re better off with the Z Fold 7.

For me, it’s obvious: Samsung has more experience with foldables, a much thinner and lighter design, a likely better camera, and a stronger chipset. It’s true that Google still leads in AI, but Samsung has been embracing Gemini more and more to help close that gap alongside refining its existing AI features.

Of course, not everyone loves Samsung’s software, and some will prefer Google’s AI-centric approach. Google’s foldables also cost a bit less, with a retail price of $1,800 (often available for less on sale), versus the Fold 7’s $1,999 starting price.

Even if you prefer Google’s take, I still wouldn’t bother with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold unless you can get it at a steep discount. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is likely just a month or so away, so you’re better off waiting to see what the new model brings rather than picking up the outgoing one.

The same is true if you are on the fence about the Fold 7. Waiting for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will not only give you a better idea of how Google will compete in 2025 and beyond, but Google’s foldable could even result in the first round of price cuts and sales for the Fold 7 as we approach the holiday season.