The Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold has landed, bringing with it an IP68 score and Pixelsnap magnets for the primary time on a foldable system. Should you’re trying to find an improve, perhaps it’s lastly time to see what the foldable life is like.
However Google isn’t the one main participant within the foldable recreation. Just some quick months in the past, Samsung wowed us with its slimmed-down and souped-up Galaxy Z Fold 7. Can this new mannequin probably compete?
I’ve spent some high quality time with each handsets, and I’ve acquired loads of ideas. So, let’s dive in and see precisely how these foldable telephones evaluate.
Design
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 7 take fairly totally different approaches to design. The Samsung has acquired a whole design overhaul for 2025, whereas the Pixel appears to be like loads like its predecessor. That stated, each have their very own distinctive advantages, and the design will play a big function in deciding which telephone you favor over the opposite.
Luke Baker
Beginning with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it’s all in regards to the slim and light-weight design. When folded shut, you could possibly simply mistake this for an everyday flagship telephone. It’s truly lighter than the non-folding Galaxy S25 Extremely, and never a lot thicker, both.
If you need a folding telephone that appears like an everyday telephone, the Z Fold 7 is arguably the very best in the marketplace. It additionally has tremendous slim bezels, and a pointy angular design, which maximises display area on each the inside and exterior show.
Luke Baker
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold is sort of the polar reverse. It measures 10.8mm thick when folded down, in comparison with simply 8.9mm, and it weighs 258g, in comparison with simply 215g. That’s all very noticeable if you deal with it compared. It additionally has comfortable, rounded corners on each shows, in addition to some comparatively chunky bezels.
Nevertheless, that’s to not say the design of the Pixel has no attraction. For starters, it feels extremely sturdy and confidence-inspiring, which isn’t one thing I usually say a couple of foldable. That’s backed up by its IP score because it’s the primary foldable to be rated IP68, which implies it’s successfully proof against mud and water, whereas the Fold 7 is barely IP48 rated, which implies mud may trigger issues.
Luke Baker
It’s additionally the primary foldable to get the Pixelsnap remedy. That is principally Google’s reply to Apple MagSafe, and it really works identically; you may even use the overwhelming majority of Apple’s MagSafe equipment with this telephone (with some caveats).
Samsung has magnetic circumstances accessible, which provide the identical performance, however with the Pixel 10 Professional Fold, circumstances are elective.
Shows
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold has a 6.4-inch cowl show, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 6.5-inch display, and each supply 8-inch foldable panels on the within.
It won’t sound like a lot of a distinction, however they really feel fairly totally different in use. As talked about within the earlier part, it is because the Pixel has curved corners, and the Samsung is sharper on the edges.
Luke Baker
In my expertise, this makes the Samsung screens really feel a lot bigger in use, as content material will lengthen to these sharper corners. I discovered it significantly noticeable on the outer display, however much less impactful on the folding show. The Pixel cowl display simply feels just a little cramped, comparatively.
On the flip aspect, the comfortable radius of the Pixel corners makes it extra comfy to carry, particularly unfolded. I additionally respect the thicker bezel of the folding show, because it offers you someplace to grip with out by accident tapping issues on the display.
The Pixel screens each have a barely greater most brightness, however in use, they appear fairly comparable. It’s value noting, although, that the Samsung dims its show to keep away from overheating within the solar. The Pixel may do that, too, however the climate has been very dreary since I acquired it, so it’s exhausting to evaluate.
Luke Baker
In the case of the crease, Samsung is clearly a step forward. It’s a lot much less noticeable on the Z Fold 7 than the Pixel 10 Professional Fold. In fact, you’ll get used to the crease over time, however should you’re delicate to such issues, you’ll desire the Samsung.
Efficiency
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, which was the quickest cell chip round, till the 8 Elite Gen 5 was introduced a couple of weeks again. The Pixel 10 Professional Fold, in the meantime, makes use of Google’s personal Tensor G5 chip.
The Tensor G5 is a major improve over the earlier technology, posting a lot greater benchmark scores throughout the board, and feeling faster in use, too. Sadly, although, it’s nowhere close to as fast because the Snapdragon.
Luke Baker
How a lot this issues will all rely upon what you love to do together with your telephone. For looking social media, answering emails and enhancing images, you’re not prone to discover a distinction in any respect. They’re each extremely fast, they usually really feel snappy regardless of what number of apps you could have open.
The distinction will solely be obvious should you’re operating a demanding recreation like Wuthering Waves, or should you’re doing a little intensive video enhancing, like combining a number of 4K clips in LumaFusion. In these conditions, the Z Fold 7 is rather more acceptable.
The Pixel can nonetheless do absolutely anything, however you’ll discover the telephone struggling, and it’ll warmth up fairly considerably if you’re pushing it.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Each telephones include 256GB of storage of their base configuration, and you may select to improve to both 512GB or 1TB. In the case of RAM, although, the Pixel has a bonus: All Pixel 10 Professional Fold fashions include 16GB of RAM.
The 256GB and 512GB variations of the Z Fold 7 solely include 12GB, and also you’ll want to select the dear 1TB mannequin to get 16GB.
Will that make a lot of a distinction in follow? In my expertise, probably not. Each telephones are wonderful at multitasking, and I by no means felt the 12GB RAM of the Fold 7 was holding me again.
Cameras
Each telephones have a triple digicam setup on their rear, together with a selfie digicam on every display. In both case, you get an ultrawide digicam, a predominant and a telephoto, however the Pixel has a 5x lens and the Samsung has a 3x lens.
Luke Baker
The most important hole within the specs is with the principle sensors. The Pixel 10 Professional Fold has a 48Mp 1/2-inch sensor, and the Z Fold 7 has a 200Mp 1/1.3-inch unit. So not solely is it a lot greater decision, but it surely additionally performs higher in low-light situations.
I’ve examined each digicam programs extensively, and in most eventualities, the Samsung has superior picture constancy. That’s to not say the Pixel is dangerous; in truth, typically photographs look extra pleasing straight out of the digicam, however should you zoom in and observe the small print, the Pixel images don’t maintain as much as as a lot scrutiny.
The benefit of the Pixel is the convenience of use. The digicam app is extraordinarily simple to navigate and perceive, and it’s additionally full of options that may attraction to learners. As an example, there’s a Digicam Coach mode that may information you into taking essentially the most Instagrammable photographs in any scenario.
Luke Baker
Samsung takes the alternative strategy. The digicam app is full of options that may attraction to skilled photographers. There are very in-depth guide controls, and you may even file Log video.
Which one is best for you all relies on your private wants. As a lifelong photographer, the Samsung strategy was proper up my road, however I can equally see the attraction of Google’s simplified app.
Different variations
One other large distinction between these two telephones is the software program. Certain, they’re each Android 16, they usually each supply 7 years of updates, however Samsung’s One UI pores and skin makes issues feel and look loads totally different to the vanilla Android stylings of the Pixel 10 Professional Fold.
Luke Baker
As for which one’s finest, that’s all a matter of choice; every OS has its advantages. As an example, I like the simplicity of Google’s system, it’s one of many best to navigate, and Google’s Now Enjoying characteristic, which primarily Shazams each tune you encounter when out and about. You’ll additionally get Pixel Drop updates with new options and new OS variations a lot faster.
However, I desire Samsung’s aesthetics, and its multitasking capabilities are just a little extra superior than Google’s.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
By way of performance, each programs are completely loaded with AI options, and also you’ll discover the whole lot from translation and summarisation to picture and video technology. Nearly all of options could be discovered on each units, however I typically wrestle to search out them on Samsung, as they’re usually included into Samsung’s first-party apps, whereas Google’s AI options are constructed into issues like Google Images – which you’re possible already utilizing.
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold has a considerably bigger battery than the Z Fold 7. It’s a 5015mAh cell, in comparison with simply 4400mAh. In my testing, although, this bigger battery didn’t appear to make that a lot of a distinction. In reality, I discovered myself needing to high up the Pixel barely extra steadily.
Luke Baker
In both case, these telephones may see me via a day of heavy utilization, however they lower it wonderful. Should you’re enjoying video games on the big inner show and filming a number of movies, then it is best to anticipate to succeed in for the charger earlier than bedtime.
On the subject of charging, neither of those telephones is a rocket, however the Pixel has a slight edge. It prices at 30W with a wire, whereas the Samsung prices at 25W. In the case of wi-fi charging, each cost at 15W, however the Pixel has the benefit of built-in magnets, so suitable chargers will snap on with out the necessity for a case.
Pricing
The Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold begins at £1,749/$1799 for the 256GB mannequin, which is barely lower than the 256GB Z Fold 7’s £1,799/$1,999 MSRP (an even bigger hole within the US).
That stated, because the Samsung has been in the marketplace for longer, you might need a greater probability of discovering offers, and even pre-owned fashions. Our widgets under present the very best present costs.
Should you want extra storage, the 512GB Pixel will set you again £1,869/$1,919 and the 1TB model prices £2,099/$2,149. In the meantime, the 512GB Fold 7 is £1,899/$2,119 and the 1TB mannequin is £2,149/$2,419.
So, regardless of which model you go for, the Samsung goes to value barely extra, however we’re speaking £50 or much less however extra for US clients. Each fashions can be found in most areas globally, and there are many contract offers accessible to UK readers.
Verdict
As at all times, the proper telephone for you goes to rely in your priorities. If you need one thing slim and light-weight, there’s no contest; Samsung is leagues forward. I additionally discovered its cameras to be extra spectacular. There’s much less of a crease on the folding sreen and it’s a lot better for gaming, too.
Nevertheless, the Pixel 10 Professional Fold has loads of benefits, too. It feels extremely sturdy, and it’s IP68 rated, so you may really feel extra assured utilizing it within the nice open air. It’s additionally the one foldable with magnets in-built, so you may take pleasure in Pixelsnap/MagSafe equipment without having a case connected. It’s additionally just a little cheaper going by the really useful costs and can get software program updates sooner.
As considerably of an influence consumer, who enjoys enjoying graphically intensive video games, utilizing professional digicam options and heavy multitasking. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the apparent alternative for me, however that doesn’t imply it’s proper for everybody. The ten Professional Fold excels in its ease of use and handy options, particularly with regards to pictures and picture enhancing. For some customers, these options will make an enormous distinction.