If you’re shopping for a foldable phone, Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 each offer something unique. Both phones come equipped with Android 16 and have spacious covers and internal displays, but there are key differences in what each prioritizes and compromises.
But first, let’s talk price. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $2,000. The Pixel comes with 16GB of RAM and three storage options: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB. The Galaxy comes with 12GB of RAM for its 256GB and 512GB storage options and 16GB of RAM for its 1TB option.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold arrives Oct. 9, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available now.
Here’s how the two phones compare in displays, cameras, battery life and everything in between.
With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it’s really what’s on the inside that counts.
Joseph Maldonado/CNET/PCMagDisplays and build
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a slightly larger 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 6.4-inch OLED cover display. Both have 8-inch internal displays and a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. The Z Fold 7 has 2,600 nits peak brightness, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold boasts 3,000 nits.
The most apparent difference is in how the phones feel. Samsung focused on sleekness with its foldable, which is just 4.2mm thick when open and 8.9mm when closed, weighing 215 grams. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, on the other hand, has similar proportions to last year’s model, clocking in at 5.2mm thick when open and 10.8mm when closed, and weighing 258 grams.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s thin design helps it stand out.
Joseph Maldonado/CNET/PCMag
The Z Fold 7 has a Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 cover and a Victus 2 backing, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is equipped with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the cover and back.
A notable distinguishing factor is that while the Z Fold 7 has an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a more impressive IP68 rating, giving it protection against dust and allowing it to be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. It’s quite a feat for a foldable, allowing you to take the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to the beach without worrying about sand ruining your device. That may not be the case with the Z Fold 7, which is only protected against solid objects larger than 1mm.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a triple rear camera system with a 48-megapixel wide-angle, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide and 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera.
Joseph Maldonado/CNET/PCMagCameras
Both phones have solid camera specs, but the Z Fold 7 houses Samsung’s Ultra-level 200-megapixel main camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide and 10-megapixel telephoto camera.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 48-megapixel main camera, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide and 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera. It’s not quite on par with Google’s other “Pro” phones, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, which have a 50-megapixel wide, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel telephoto camera.
Also, unlike the other Pro phones, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold lacks the impressive Pro Res Zoom feature, which uses generative AI to snap sharper images at up to 100x zoom. Instead, it resorts to Super Res Zoom, which delivers acceptable images at 20x zoom.
Both phones have 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the inner and cover screens.
The Z Fold 7 can shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second, or 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. The 10 Pro Fold can shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 compromises on battery life for a sleeker design.
Marc GanleyBattery and software updates
This is another area where the two phones significantly differ. The Z Fold 7, because of its thinner build, has a smaller 4,400-mAh battery, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 5,015-mAh battery. In CNET’s testing, the Z Fold 7 lasted just over a day with regular use, and went from 0% to 42% in 30 minutes. We have yet to test the 10 Pro Fold, but Google says it can last more than 30 hours and can reach 50% charge in 30 minutes. Stay tuned for our review once we near that Oct. 9 release date.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also Qi2 certified if you’d rather go the wireless charging route. Magnets embedded in the phone make it easier to snap on wireless accessories, which Google calls Pixelsnap, like chargers and stands, much like the iPhone’s MagSafe connector. (In fact, MagSafe accessories work here, too.) Because the Z Fold 7 supports Qi2-ready wireless charging, it doesn’t have those built-in magnets, and you’ll need to use a compatible case.
Both the Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro come with seven years of software and security updates, allowing you to get the most out of your pricey device.
Check out the chart below for a spec breakdown.
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7