The Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold has landed, bringing with it an IP68 score and Pixelsnap magnets for the primary time on a foldable machine. For those who’re looking for 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 sport. Only a few quick months in the past, Samsung wowed us with its slimmed-down and souped-up Galaxy Z Fold 7. Can this new mannequin presumably compete?
I’ve spent some high quality time with each handsets, and I’ve received loads of ideas. So, let’s dive in and see precisely how these foldable telephones examine.
Design
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 7 take fairly completely different approaches to design. The Samsung has acquired a whole design overhaul for 2025, whereas the Pixel seems lots like its predecessor. That mentioned, each have their very own distinctive advantages, and the design will play a big position in deciding which telephone you like 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 would simply mistake this for a daily flagship telephone. It’s really lighter than the non-folding Galaxy S25 Extremely, and never a lot thicker, both.
In order for you a folding telephone that seems like a daily telephone, the Z Fold 7 is arguably the most effective in the marketplace. It additionally has tremendous slim bezels, and a pointy angular design, which maximises display house 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 once you deal with it compared. It additionally has tender, 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 typically 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 resistant to mud and water, whereas the Fold 7 is simply 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 possibly can even use the overwhelming majority of Apple’s MagSafe equipment with this telephone (with some caveats).
Samsung has magnetic circumstances obtainable, which provide the identical performance, however with the Pixel 10 Professional Fold, circumstances are non-obligatory.
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 provide 8-inch foldable panels on the within.
It may not sound like a lot of a distinction, however they really feel fairly completely 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.
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 a bit of cramped, comparatively.
On the flip facet, the tender 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 chance tapping issues on the display.
The Pixel screens each have a barely larger most brightness, however in use, they appear fairly comparable. It’s price 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 onerous to evaluate.
Luke Baker
With regards to 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 in case 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 cellular chip round, till the 8 Elite Gen 5 was introduced just a few weeks again. The Pixel 10 Professional Fold, in the meantime, makes use of Google’s personal Tensor G5 chip.
The Tensor G5 is a big improve over the earlier technology, posting a lot larger 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 along with your telephone. For looking social media, answering emails and enhancing photographs, you’re not prone to discover a distinction in any respect. They’re each extremely fast, they usually really feel snappy irrespective of what number of apps you may have open.
The distinction will solely be obvious in case you’re operating a demanding sport like Wuthering Waves, or in case you’re performing some intensive video enhancing, like combining a number of 4K clips in LumaFusion. In these conditions, the Z Fold 7 is far more applicable.
The Pixel can nonetheless do absolutely anything, however you’ll discover the telephone struggling, and it’ll warmth up fairly considerably once 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. With regards to 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 choose the dear 1TB mannequin to get 16GB.
Will that make a lot of a distinction in apply? In my expertise, not likely. Each telephones are glorious 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 digital camera setup on their rear, together with a selfie digital camera on every display. In both case, you get an ultrawide digital camera, a most important 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 larger decision, however it additionally performs higher in low-light situations.
I’ve examined each digital camera programs extensively, and in most situations, the Samsung has superior picture constancy. That’s to not say the Pixel is unhealthy; in actual fact, generally photographs look extra pleasing straight out of the digital camera, however in case you zoom in and observe the main points, the Pixel photographs don’t maintain as much as as a lot scrutiny.
The benefit of the Pixel is the convenience of use. The digital camera app is extraordinarily straightforward to navigate and perceive, and it’s additionally filled with options that may attraction to rookies. As an example, there’s a Digicam Coach mode that may information you into taking probably the most Instagrammable photographs in any state of affairs.
Luke Baker
Samsung takes the other method. The digital camera app is filled with options that may attraction to skilled photographers. There are very in-depth handbook controls, and you may even document Log video.
Which one is best for you all will depend on your private wants. As a lifelong photographer, the Samsung method was proper up my avenue, however I can equally see the attraction of Google’s simplified app.
Different variations
One other huge distinction between these two telephones is the software program. Certain, they’re each Android 16, they usually each provide 7 years of updates, however Samsung’s One UI pores and skin makes issues feel and look lots completely 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 really like the simplicity of Google’s system, it’s one of many best to navigate, and Google’s Now Taking part in 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.
Alternatively, I desire Samsung’s aesthetics, and its multitasking capabilities are a bit of 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 all the things from translation and summarisation to picture and video technology. The vast majority of options could be discovered on each gadgets, however I generally battle to search out them on Samsung, as they’re typically integrated 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. The truth is, I discovered myself needing to prime up the Pixel barely extra continuously.
In both case, these telephones may see me by way of a day of heavy utilization, however they minimize it fantastic. For those who’re enjoying video games on the big inside show and filming plenty of movies, then you must 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 expenses at 30W with a wire, whereas the Samsung expenses at 25W. With regards to wi-fi charging, each cost at 15W, however the Pixel has the benefit of built-in magnets, so appropriate 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 (a much bigger hole within the US).
That mentioned, because the Samsung has been in the marketplace for longer, you may need a greater probability of discovering offers, and even pre-owned fashions. Our widgets under present the most effective present costs.
For those who 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, irrespective 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 obtainable to UK readers.
Verdict
As all the time, the correct telephone for you goes to rely in your priorities. In order for you 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 possibly can really feel extra assured utilizing it within the nice open air. It’s additionally the one foldable with magnets in-built, so you possibly can take pleasure in Pixelsnap/MagSafe equipment with no need a case connected. It’s additionally a bit of cheaper going by the really helpful costs and can get software program updates sooner.
As considerably of an influence person, who enjoys enjoying graphically intensive video games, utilizing professional digital camera options and heavy multitasking. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the plain selection 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 on the subject of images and picture enhancing. For some customers, these options will make an enormous distinction.
