Uninspired
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t like what Samsung is doing with its foldable devices – the Galaxy Z Fold 6 retains the same design as its predecessor, and that means you still get the same narrow cover display that doesn’t let you do much. As someone who uses the cover display predominantly, the Z Fold 6 isn’t an option for my own use. That said, Samsung has implemented the usual annual updates – the phone is more powerful, has better ingress protection, and comes with a host of AI features. The basics haven’t changed, though, and you’ll have to pay an extra premium this year, which just isn’t worth it.
For
- Outstanding build quality
- IP48 ingress protection
- Amazing hardware
- AI-assisted software with seven years of updates
Against
- More expensive than last year
- Average battery life
- The cover screen has limited usability
- Tall and unwieldy to use.
- Cameras unchanged
Heavy metal
The Pixel Fold is an interesting device if you’re looking for a foldable device that’s neither tall nor unwieldy. The 5.8-inch display is great to use, and it unfolds all the way to 7.6 inches – the same size as the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Panel quality is excellent, you get one of the most powerful camera packages in this segment, and you get Google’s clean software with plenty of useful extras. That said, the Pixel Fold is 54g heavier than Samsung’s offering, it doesn’t fold flat, and it can’t be bought in most global markets.
For
- Usable cover and interior screens
- Excellent cameras
- IPX8 Ingress Protection
- Clean software with lots of unique extras
- Great battery life
Against
- Heavy
- It's not as powerful as the Z Fold 6
- Does not fold flat
- Limited global availability
- You won't receive as many software updates
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel Fold: Design
Samsung doesn't like to change the design of its devices, and that's noticeable when you take a look at the Galaxy Z Fold 6The foldable is a bit thinner and taller than its predecessor, but the overall design is identical. The only difference is that the cameras have slightly larger rings surrounding each module, but beyond that, there's no way to tell you're using Samsung's latest-generation foldable.
The other key difference is that the Z Fold 6 is lighter: at 239g, it’s 16g lighter than its predecessor, and that’s noticeable when using the device. Samsung is also using the latest version of its Armor Aluminum chassis, and that should allow the Z Fold 6 to be sturdy in everyday use. The hinge isn’t as smooth to articulate as the one on the Magic V2 or other 2024 foldables I’ve used, and it’s rather stiff.
That said, the addition of IP48 ingress protection gives the Z Fold 6 a clear advantage in this category – most foldables, including the Pixel Fold, still have an IPX8 rating – and by adding dust resistance to the mix, the Z Fold 6 can withstand the elements a little better.
Arriving at the Pixel foldThe foldable isn’t going to win any design awards, but Google has nailed the basics. It’s great to hold and use (if a little on the wide side) and has the same build quality as the Z Fold 6. However, the Pixel Fold is one of the heaviest phones you can buy today, if not the heaviest overall. At 283g, it’s 44g heavier than the Z Fold 6.
The biggest problem with the Pixel Fold's design is that it doesn't fold flat, which is annoying in everyday use. The Z Fold 6 doesn't have those flaws, but the downside is that the crease is still noticeable, much more so than on most other devices in this segment.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel Fold: Displays
By every measurable metric, Samsung has the lead in this area: both the Z Fold 6’s inner and outer panels are brighter than the Pixel Fold’s, and have a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz. But the problem is, Samsung continues to limit the usability of the cover display, and the 6.3-inch outer display is too tall and narrow to do any meaningful work.
This has been a constant source of annoyance in the past, and I thought Samsung would rectify the situation with the Z Fold 6, but that wasn’t the case. All of the other foldables have regular-sized exterior panels that give you more flexibility in this regard, as does the Pixel Fold. Even though the device has a smaller 5.8-inch exterior panel, it’s much more usable thanks to its 17.4:9 aspect ratio — it’s just better to use for viewing emails and messaging clients.
Both devices have the same 7.6-inch internal display, and the AMOLED panel on Samsung's offering has better colors and brightness, making it a great choice for streaming content and gaming.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel Fold: hardware and cameras
Samsung has a clear advantage when it comes to hardware, and that's solely due to its use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Samsung uses a custom version of Qualcomm's silicon that's reserved for its devices, and it has slightly higher clocks than the regular model.
The Z Fold 6 comes standard with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, plus Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB, AptX HD codecs, and USB-C 3.2 connectivity. There’s not much missing in this regard, and while I wish Samsung would increase the battery size, the 4,400mAh unit should last all day with average use.
Google makes it clear that it doesn’t offer the best internals in its devices, instead prioritizing AI use cases. As a result, the Tensor G2 in the Pixel Fold is clearly second-rate, and while it’s pretty decent in everyday use, the shortcomings become noticeable when you start running demanding games.
The Pixel Fold falls behind in other areas, too: it uses UFS 3.1 flash storage, and there's no 1TB option available. Where it does shine is in battery life, with the 4,821mAh battery capable of delivering up to a day of constant use. Google also has a clear advantage in the imaging department, with the Pixel Fold taking exceptional photos in almost any situation.
It also has a decent set of lenses, and when you add in the magic of Google's camera, the Pixel Fold is still one of the best around. The best folding Samsung hasn't changed much in this regard with the Z Fold 6, and while it uses last year's sensors, tweaks to the camera algorithms allow the device to take better photos in low-light situations.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Google Pixel Fold: software
I prefer Google’s software, so it should come as no surprise that I recommend the Pixel Fold between these two devices. Samsung has improved a lot with One UI 6.1, and Galaxy AI is really useful – the new drawing feature is certainly cool. That said, the interface is starting to get too clunky again, and it just doesn’t have the fluidity you get with most other manufacturers.
That said, Samsung is offering seven Android OS updates with the Z Fold 6, and that's in line with what you get on the Galaxy S24 models. While Google also has the same update policy with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the Pixel Fold will only receive two additional Android updates, and that's a shame.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel Fold: Which Should You Buy?
I usually try to recommend one of the devices I write about in these comparison posts, but it's hard to do so here. The problem is that neither device comes close to the best this segment has to offer. Samsung has no rival in North America, so it doesn't need to innovate with its foldable designs, and that's immediately apparent when looking at the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Chinese brands offer much better hardware, sleeker designs, and exceptional cameras, but since they don’t sell their foldables in the US, you’re basically left with limited options. If you’re interested in a new foldable device, I suggest picking up the OnePlus Open — it has two usable displays, fabulous cameras, great software, and stellar battery life. And at $1,699, it beats out both the Pixel Fold and the Z Fold 6.
Of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel Fold, I'm inclined to recommend the latter, as it has better battery life and offers two usable displays. Obviously, the hardware isn't as powerful, and at 283g it's considerably heavier, but the software is much better overall and it offers better battery life too.
Uninspired
Samsung has a lot going for it with the Z Fold 6, but the $1,899 asking price makes it a no-go. There aren't enough upgrades to justify that price, and if you need a Samsung foldable, you should buy last year's Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Heavy metal
The Pixel Fold didn't have the best internals when it debuted a year ago, and it's not the best in this regard, but it offers great hardware, excellent cameras, clean software with timely updates, and reliable battery life.
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