I Tested the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 so You Don't Buy the Wrong One

Samsung and Google both leveled up their foldable phones this year. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 is lighter and slimmer, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has been completely redesigned from the ground up.

If you're in the market for a foldable phone, you're probably wondering: Which one should I choose?

The answer comes down to your preferences. If you're coming from a Samsung Galaxy phone, you'll probably feel more comfortable in Samsung's software ecosystem. The same is true for Google fans who are already familiar with Pixel phones.

Each phone also has its pros and cons. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's software is better optimized for foldable screens, but some may find its cover screen too skinny, for example. And the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a wider front screen that some may find more comfortable for viewing images and video since it seems more spacious. Plus, it can take better zoomed-in photos. 

Both phones are almost equally expensive, with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 usually starting at $1,900 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold typically beginning at $1,799. But oftentimes, you'll be able to find trade-in deals through your carrier or other retailers. 

If you're trying to decide between the two, here's a closer look at the biggest differences between them. 

Read more: The Galaxy S25 May Be Samsung's Last Smaller Phone

Watch this: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Biggest Differences

06:15

Display and design

The most important part of a foldable phone are the screens. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold have a 6.3-inch cover screen, but Google's is noticeably wider than Samsung's. Google's screen is more roomy, but some people may find Samsung's thinner screen is easier to use with one hand. I'm torn on which one I prefer personally; I can operate Samsung's phone more easily when closed, but I also appreciate the extra space on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's cover display. 

The internal screen also has its fair share of differences. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 7.6-inch inner screen, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's measures 8 inches. But it's really the shape of these screens that makes them feel different more so than their technical size. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 6's aspect ratio is taller, almost similar to that of a sheet of paper, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's feels more like a tablet. And yes, you can still see the crease on both phones, but Samsung and Google have also each done a better job of hiding it than on past iterations. 

The Pixel 9 Pro's larger display gives you more space for reading and watching movies, but functionally it's a little more limiting than the Galaxy Z Fold 6's display. 

You can open four apps on screen simultaneously on Samsung's inner screen (three in split screen mode and one in a floating window), while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's split screen can only handle two apps. Plus, the Z Fold 6 supports S Pen input, although you'll need to purchase the stylus separately. 

That said, I've found that dedicating the entire interior screen to one or two apps is usually a better use of that large screen anyway. 

In terms of weight, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is lighter, weighing roughly 8.4 ounces (239g) compared to the 9.1-ounce (257g) Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That lighter weight is another factor that makes it easier to use Samsung's phone in one hand. 

If having a foldable that's lighter and smaller sounds more appealing to you, you might prefer the Galaxy Z Fold 6. But if you want more screen space, consider the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. 

Software

Software is one of the most important aspects of a foldable phone. After all, what use is that fancy hardware if you don't have compelling software to take advantage of it? 

Both phones run on Android, but their executions are slightly different. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also currently supports Android 15, while Samsung's foldable Android 15 upgrade isn't expected to arrive until next year alongside Samsung's own One UI 7 update. The good news is that both phones will get seven years of major Android updates, meaning they'll receive new features for years to come. 

Samsung 's phone is better at optimizing apps when the internal display is folded halfway. For example, if you fold the device so that it's halfway open -- kind of like a laptop -- the app you're using on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can shift to the top half of the screen. And you can use the bottom portion of the phone like a trackpad.

It's not a reason to buy a foldable phone, and it feels more like a solution to a problem that foldables created. But it definitely makes the Z Fold 6 feel more usable in this mode compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. 

Most apps on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold run across the screen like a waterfall when the phone is folded in an L shape, with the exceptions being certain video-streaming apps and the camera app.

Otherwise, both phones include specific AI features, such as the Pixel Studio image generator on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Sketch-to-Image feature on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

These features are fun to play around with, but I'll be honest -- after the novelty wore off, I didn't find myself using them. I'm still waiting for companies like Samsung and Google to come up with more compelling software features that actually make you want to buy a foldable phone in the first place. 

Read more: The Biggest Phones to Expect in 2025

Cameras

Both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold have three main cameras: a wide, ultrawide and a telephoto. 

In my experience, each phone has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to photography. 

Google's phone, with its longer 5x telephoto lens, is better at taking zoomed-in shots, and capturing outdoor images with less glare. But I prefer Samsung's photos of people, and I also think its low-light photos have more detail.

Take a look at these photos to see the difference. If you want a deeper dive on how the cameras stack up, check out my full comparison. 

Galaxy Z Fold 6 (20x zoom)

Enlarge Image

Pixel 9 Pro Fold (20x zoom)

Enlarge Image

Galaxy Z Fold 6 (ultrawide)

Enlarge Image

Pixel 9 Pro Fold (ultrawide)

Enlarge Image

Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold (person, nighttime)

Enlarge Image

Battery and performance

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold both have the same processors found in their manufacturers' premium, nonfoldable phones. Samsung's phone runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the same chip found in the Galaxy S24 series, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes Google's Tensor G4, which also powers the rest of the Pixel 9 family.

Both phones are capable of playing games and multitasking with ease, but the Galaxy Z Fold 6 outperformed the Pixel 9 Pro in benchmark tests for measuring general computing performance and graphics.

Read more: Why Google's New Android VP Says 'People Don't Want to Hear About AI'

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a slight edge when it comes to battery life, although that will always vary depending on how you're using the device. After roughly 15 hours of use, the Z Fold 6's battery typically dipped to the mid to high 30s, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's dropped to 53% after about 14 hours of use.

That's not an apples-to-apples comparison, so I also ran a 45-minute endurance test to see how everyday tasks like browsing social media, playing games, and making a video call impact battery life. The Pixel 9 Pro's battery dropped from 100 to 96% after that test, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6's went down to 93%.

However, when it comes to streaming video, Samsung's phone was able to preserve more of its battery. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's outer display dropped from 100% to 87% after streaming YouTube for three hours, while the battery dropped to 83% after doing the same on the internal screen. For the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, those numbers were 81% and 76%, respectively. 

Galaxy vs. Pixel final thoughts 

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold both excel and fall short in different ways. With the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you'll get a larger internal screen, longer battery life and a camera that's better at taking zoomed-in photos and landscape shots.

But the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is $100 more expensive, may offer faster performance and is better at optimizing apps for its foldable screen. Some people may also find its smaller size easier to manage.

Samsung's New Galaxy Z Fold 6 Looks Good for Being So Square

+46 More

See all photos