Which foldable reigns supreme. After reading hands-on coverage and full reviews from major outlets, the answer is more nuanced than a single winner. If you want engineering and camera power, Samsung keeps the crown.
If you want battery life, integrated AI features, durability, and value, Google made the more persuasive compromise. Below I lay out the specifics, tradeoffs, and who each device is truly for.
Quick comparison snapshot
- Price: Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799. Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999.
- Weight and thickness: Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner and lighter. Pixel 10 Pro Fold is noticeably thicker and heavier.
- Displays: Both have 8-inch internal foldable displays. Samsung’s cover screen is slightly larger; Google pushed peak brightness higher on both panels.
- Camera: Samsung delivers a 200MP main sensor upgrade. Google keeps the 48MP main but offers a stronger 5x telephoto.
- Battery and charging: Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a larger battery and Qi2 magnetic charging built in. Samsung is smaller but lean and efficient.
- Durability: Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first U.S. foldable with IP68. Galaxy Z Fold 7 is IP54.
Design and everyday feel
Samsung’s engineering push shows. The Z Fold 7 is thin, light, and engineered to disappear in your hand and pocket. Reviewers repeatedly call it the foldable that finally avoids the “pocket penalty” and feels like a regular phone when folded. Tom’s Guide and PhoneArena describe Samsung’s advances in hinge and material design that reduce the visible crease and shave millimeters off the profile.
Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold keeps the more muscular, familiar Pixel Fold silhouette. It is heavier and thicker, which some users will find noticeable over long days. But that weight buys you a larger battery and a sturdier, gearless hinge that contributed to Google earning an IP68 rating. If you worry about sand or rain, Pixel’s durability matters. (Tom’s Guide)
Bottom line: pick Samsung if you prioritize pocketability and sleek industrial design. Pick Google if you prioritize ruggedness and battery endurance.
Displays and the crease question
Both phones deliver an 8-inch inner OLED with 120Hz smoothing. Samsung slightly nudges ahead on space efficiency and outer screen size, making the Fold 7 more phone-like when closed. Samsung’s work on the hinge and a new titanium lattice under the screen makes the crease less visible, a big practical win for media and productivity. Google countered with higher peak brightness on both panels, which helps outdoors and HDR content. (Engadget; PhoneArena)
If you binge video or rely on an uninterrupted large tablet-like canvas, Samsung’s sleeker unfolded package and less intrusive crease will read as a better screen experience. If you need peak brightness for outdoor reading and prefer a brighter cover display, Google narrowed the gap.
Performance and software: two different philosophies
Samsung equips the Z Fold 7 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite tuned for Galaxy. It is the raw-performance leader in this pair. Google ships Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Tensor G5 improves AI and on-device processing and is tuned for features like Ask Photos and Magic Cue that are baked into Pixel’s experience. (Engadget; Android Central)
Software is where tastes split. Samsung layers One UI and Galaxy AI integrative features plus DeX for laptop-like workflows, and reviewers praise Z Fold 7’s three-app multitasking. Google leans on Gemini-powered capabilities and Pixel-first AI features that make the phone more proactive about context and content. Your choice depends on whether you want productivity horsepower or contextual AI that anticipates and helps.
Cameras: megapixels versus computational polish
Samsung’s headline is the 200MP main sensor lifted from the S25 Ultra family. That is raw detail and cropping freedom. Tom’s Guide and ZDNet both emphasize the jump in main camera capability. Google kept the same core camera hardware as the prior Pixel Fold but still offers a 10.8MP 5x telephoto that beats Samsung’s 3x for midrange optical zoom. The Pixel gains new camera AI utilities such as Camera Coach and Ask Photos to stretch its software advantage. (Tom’s Guide; ZDNet)
In short, if you want top-tier main-sensor resolution and aggressive cropping, Samsung wins. If you prefer telephoto reach plus Google’s computational photography tricks, the Pixel still has strong arguments.
Battery, charging and accessories
Google supplies a larger 5,015 mAh battery and ships with built-in Qi2 magnetic Pixelsnap attachment support. That means you can magnetically attach chargers and accessories without cases. Samsung’s Fold 7 uses a smaller battery but benefits from its slimmer build and efficient silicon. Charging speeds are modest on both, with Google offering slightly faster wired speeds in some configurations. (PCMag; PhoneArena)
If long screen-on time is a priority, Pixel’s capacity and software optimization look attractive. If you carry a charger or prefer lighter hardware, Samsung is efficient and polished.
Price and value
Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799. Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999. That $200 gap matters to many buyers. Several outlets note that Pixel’s price combined with IP68, Pixelsnap, and larger battery make it a compelling value. Samsung’s premium is for those who value craftsmanship, thinness, performance, and camera hardware. (Android Central; PhoneArena)
Verdict: which should you buy?
- Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 7 if: you want the most refined foldable hardware, the thinnest and lightest experience, top raw camera sensor performance, and best-in-class multitasking. It is the pick for people who treat a foldable as a pocketable primary device. (Tom’s Guide; PhoneArena)
- Buy the Pixel 10 Pro Fold if: you want longer battery life, IP68 durability, deep Google AI features that change how the phone anticipates and edits content, built-in magnetic accessory support, and a lower entry price. It is the pick for people who value utility, robustness, and software-driven photography. (Tom’s Guide; Android Central; Engadget)
Both phones represent the best that Android foldables offer in 2025. One is an engineering statement about how light and thin a foldable can be. The other is a pragmatic, feature-forward device that leans on software and battery to solve real user pain points. Choose based on which set of compromises you are willing to accept.