Pricing: Both Are Super Expensive
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999.99. The base 10 Pro Fold packs 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the Z Fold 7 has a respectable 12GB of RAM and the same 256GB of storage.
Adding storage increases the price of both. At 512GB, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold costs $1,919, while a Z Fold 7 is $2,119.99. At 1TB, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is $2,149, and the Z Fold 7 is $2,419.99.
Either way, you’re spending an awful lot of dough. If dollars are your only judging metric, the Pixel 10 Pro wins at every storage option.
Winner: Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Design: Two Different Philosophies
Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
In the general sense, both devices are similar. Each features a cover screen and a large internal display. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold retains most of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s styling and measures 6.11 by 3.00 by 0.43 inches (HWD) folded, and 6.11 by 5.92 by 0.20 inches unfolded. It weighs 9.10 ounces. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is more svelte at 6.24 by 2.87 by 0.35 inches folded, 6.24 by 5.64 by 0.17 inches unfolded, and 7.58 ounces. The Z Fold 7 is remarkably thin for a folding device and rivals non-folding devices in thickness.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Both feature large camera bumps on the rear. Google’s camera module has a rectangular casing, while Samsung’s cameras are lined up in a pill-shaped strip.
For durability, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is IP68 rated and can fully withstand dust and water. The Z Fold 7 is IP48 rated, so it is not as dust-proof, but carries the same level of protection from water.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Google covers the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s front screen and back panel with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The Z Fold 7 employs the newer and stronger Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on its display with Victus 2 on its back panel. Both Victus 2 and Ceramic 2 are tough and should handle drops well.
Style is subjective; your eye may like one over the other. The size, shape, weight, and colors may all influence your decision. The Pixel comes in just gray or light green, while the Z Fold 7 ships in black, blue, or silver.
Winner: Tie
Displays: Plenty of Real Estate
Pixel 10 Pro Fold (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Both devices feature two screens: an outer display and an internal one. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a 6.4-inch OLED front screen at a resolution of 2,364 by 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz to 120Hz. The Z Fold 7 uses a 6.5-inch OLED at a resolution of 2,520 by 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Both devices also feature an 8.0-inch OLED interior display with a refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. The Pixel’s resolution is 2,152 by 2,076 pixels with a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 7’s resolution is 2,184 by 1,968 pixels with a maximum brightness of 2,600 nits. Neither device supports a stylus.
All four screens are great. If you want matched refresh rates, the Z Fold 7 wins. If you want the brighter inner panel, the 10 Pro Fold is the way to go.
Winner: Tie
Performance: Top Processors
I’ve yet to test the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s performance, but Google claims big gains with its new Tensor G5 processor. In live demos, Pixel 10 devices with the G5 jumped from task to task without a hiccup. Google equips the Pixel 10 Pro Fold with 16GB of RAM, which should help with multitasking.
The Z Fold 7 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, which is blazingly fast and powerful. It handles multitasking and demanding games with aplomb. Samsung opts for 12GB of RAM for the Z Fold 7, but considering the phone’s pricing, we wish it matched the Pixel’s 16GB.
A full test will reveal the Tensor G5’s true potential.
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Winner: Too soon to tell
Cameras: Hard to Go Wrong
Pixel 10 Pro Fold camera module (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s rear camera bump houses a 48MP main camera, a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 10.5MP ultra-wide camera. The Z Fold 7’s camera module includes a 200MP primary camera, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens camera. By the numbers, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers a better optical zoom, though at lower resolution, while the Galaxy has a far sharper main shooter.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera module (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Each screen features a selfie camera. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Z Fold 7 both have a 10MP outer front-facing camera and a 10MP internal front-facing camera. Google placed its internal selfie camera in the corner, while Samsung placed its internal selfie camera centered at the top of the right panel.
For video, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold captures up to 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second (fps). Meanwhile, the Z Fold 7 captures up to 8K30. In our Z Fold 7 review, we said, “Video footage is the best [we’ve] seen from any folding phone.”
We expect high-quality images and video from the Pixel, but will wait to make a judgment until we get a review unit for testing.
Winner: Too soon to tell
Recommended by Our Editors
Battery Life and Charging: Also Promising
Pixel 10 Pro Fold (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a 5,015mAh battery capable of charging at up to 30W wired and up to 15W wirelessly. The Z Fold 7 uses a smaller 4,400mAh battery capable of charging at up to 25W wired and 15W wirelessly.
Google claims the Pixel’s larger battery will run for up to 30 hours between charges, but we’ll wait to see how long it runs in our battery torture test. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 lasted an impressive 13 hours and 10 minutes for our review, which isn’t the best result, but it is decent for a folding phone.
The x-factor here could be Pixelsnap, Google’s magnetic wireless charging solution that’s similar to Apple’s MagSafe. If you want an Android device with native magnetic charging and accessories, that’s the Pixel 10 line.
Winner: Too soon to tell
Software: Enjoy the Latest Android
Happily, both foldable phones ship with Android 16, the latest version of the OS. Both companies back their products with seven years of OS updates and seven years of security fixes. Google’s foldable includes the latest Material Design Expressive appearance package, but the Z Fold 7 does not.
Google’s Magic Cue on the Pixel 10 Pro (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Further, Google packs its Pixel line with AI genius like the proactive Magic Cue, which gives you contextually relevant information before you need it. In demos, the feature looks great.
Samsung’s software also includes plenty of AI features, but it leans heavily on Google-made products like Gemini. Samsung’s modified version of Android for foldables, however, boosts productivity by displaying more than two apps at a time. And when connected to an external display, the Z Fold 7’s DeX software launches a desktop-like environment, which opens up even more productivity possibilities.
Samsung’s Suggest Edit feature (Credit: Samsung/PCMag)
It is too early to pick a winner here.
Winner: Too soon to tell
Which Folding Phone Is Right for You?
We won’t give you definitive buying advice until we review the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Once we put it through its paces, we’ll update this article with the finer details. Until then, we have some general recommendations based on specs:
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If pricing is your only concern, the Pixel wins.
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If you want the lightest folding phone, the Z Fold 7 comes out on top.
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If magnetic charging is a must, the Pixel is for you.
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If you need a phone now, the Z Fold 7 is available. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn’t ship until early October.
In the meantime, check out our impressions of the new Google Pixel 10 lineup, which wowed us with its AI tricks.
