If you’re choosing between Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold—with the incoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold hovering just offstage—this breakdown is for you. The short version: Google’s 10 Pro Fold will add a newer chip (Tensor G5), a slightly larger battery, and full IP68 dust/water resistance. Otherwise it’s effectively the 9 Pro Fold you can buy today. With that cleared up, let’s go head-to-head with the device you’ll actually be cross-shopping: Z Fold 7 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Hardware & in-hand feel
Size & shape. Z Fold 7 is a touch taller and narrower; Pixel Fold is shorter and wider. That alone drives a lot of the experience: Samsung’s cover screen feels more “phone-like” than older Folds, while Pixel’s wider cover screen is easier for typing and one-hand use.
Edges & comfort. Pixel’s sides are rounded and friendly to the palm. Z Fold 7 keeps sharper edges and corners; it looks slick, but after long sessions you may find yourself shifting your grip.
Camera bump & table wobble. Samsung’s vertical triple-camera strip rocks like a seesaw on a desk. Pixel’s square island keeps things flatter and steadier.
Hinge & bezels. Samsung trimmed the hinge noticeably; Pixel’s hinge is still more pronounced (the 10 Pro Fold will slim this a bit). Think closer to OnePlus Open for how tight a modern hinge can look.
Glare & protectors. My Pixel unit had no anti-reflective top layer, so it reflects more; the Samsung I tested wore an anti-reflective protector and stayed calmer under lights.
Cover & inner displays
Both panels are 120 Hz and smooth. Indoors they’re peers; outdoors the Samsung looked brighter in my side-by-side. With brightness maxed, Pixel’s wallpaper choice can make it seem dimmer still.
When opened, layouts are flexible on both, but what you’re allowed to do with those big canvases differs a lot (next section).
Software & customization: tight vs. tuned
Home screen freedom. Google keeps things opinionated:
- The At-a-Glance widget and Google search bar are stuck in place.
- Folders have one layout size.
- No stacked widgets on the main page.
Samsung lets you hide the search bar, resize folders, and stack widgets. It’s simply more customizable.
Side panel & multitasking. This is the biggest split.
- Z Fold 7: Swipe in from the edge for the taskbar/panel, drag apps to split, save app pairs, and even float multiple windows that you can place and resize anywhere. It’s laptop-like.
- Pixel Fold: No native side panel. To split, open one app, then drag a second from the dock or app drawer. You can save pairs, but there’s no floating window option and fewer drag-drop gestures. Third-party edge panels help, but they can’t replace Samsung’s deep integration.
If you bought a foldable for multitasking, Samsung’s ahead by a mile.
AI & keyboards
Both lean on Google’s Gemini for text help (rewrite, summarize, tone changes, proofreading). On Samsung you’ll find extra Galaxy AI niceties sprinkled around, but the core “write better, faster” tools are similar.
Dictation has improved on Samsung’s own keyboard, but I still like Gboard for accuracy. If you do stick with Samsung Keyboard, its AI buttons are right where you want them—one tap away.
Photo apps & editing tricks
- Samsung: Long-press a subject in the Gallery to create an instant cutout, move it, drop it onto another photo, or save it as a transparent PNG. Generative fills are quick; Samsung watermarks AI-generated edits.
- Pixel: You’ll dive into Edit → Actions for tools like Move and Magic Editor–style generative fills. Different path, similar result; Pixel did a nice job of shifting and filling background when I re-centered a portrait.
Verdict: both are capable; Samsung’s “long-press to cut out” is delightfully fast, Pixel’s “Move” feels precise.
Cameras: night wins, day detail, and zoom reality
Night video (selfie & rear). Both were usable, but Samsung looked cleaner and brighter, with more detail; Pixel’s audio emphasized my voice and downplayed ambient noise, which is great if you just want to shoot-and-share.
Night stills. Repeatedly, the 200 MP main on Samsung held highlight signs better and kept more texture in trees and brickwork. Pixel sometimes blew bright signage and leaned warmer/saturated.
2×–5× zoom. At 5×, both switch to their 10 MP telephotos. Pixel’s dedicated 5× optic can look a touch crisper at that mark; Samsung’s overall processing is more natural.
10× and beyond. With both leaning on crop + processing from lower-res telephotos, don’t expect “flagship periscope” quality. Still, Samsung kept edges straighter and text cleaner in my street sign tests; Pixel occasionally looked punchier but less true.
Day portrait. Samsung pulled slightly ahead on micro-detail (hair, fabric). Pixel nailed color on my brown shirt better than Samsung’s near-black interpretation.
Macro & close-ups. A split decision: Pixel sometimes looked brighter and tack-sharp on tiny subjects; Samsung’s bokeh separation felt more natural.
Speakers & audio placement
The Z Fold 7 is louder with more low-end. However, Samsung puts both drivers on the same side when opened. Pixel cleverly flips speakers with orientation, so you always get true left/right stereo no matter how you’re holding it. Design win to Pixel; loudness win to Samsung.
What about Pixel 10 Pro Fold?
Expect the same body and cameras as 9 Pro Fold, plus:
- Tensor G5 (snappier and more efficient)
- Slightly larger battery
- IP68 dust/water resistance (first for a major foldable)
Those are welcome—but they won’t change the multitasking gap or the camera behavior you saw above in a dramatic way unless Google ships major image-processing updates (which they could also backport).
Final take
If your foldable is mostly a phone that sometimes opens, the Pixel’s wider cover screen, softer edges, and smart stereo layout make it a pleasure to hold and use. If your foldable is a tablet you work on, the Z Fold 7 simply does more: brighter inner screen outdoors, best-in-class multitasking with floating windows, deeper home-screen control, louder speakers, and a night-and-detail camera edge thanks to that 200 MP sensor.
Price matters, and Samsung usually runs about $200 more. For me, the productivity and camera gains are worth it. If you prize comfort, wide cover typing, and Google’s cleaner vibe, the Pixel Fold is still a lovely choice—made even better if you wait for the 10 Pro Fold’s IP68 and newer silicon.
Which way are you leaning—wide and comfy, or bright and beastly? Drop your must-have features below, and tell me what matchup you want next.