Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

We’ve already compared the Google Pixel Fold with Samsung’s latest book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It’s now time to do the same with its predecessor. In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Many of you probably still have the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and are trying to decide whether to upgrade to the Pixel Fold or not. On the other hand, maybe you’re thinking about whether to buy one of these devices one of these days. Either way, we do hope that this comparison will be able to help you make your decision.

We’ll first list the specs of both smartphones, and will then move to compare them across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Having said that, let’s get started.

Specs

Google Pixel Fold & Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, respectively

– Screen size (main):
7.6-inch Foldable OLED display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,450 nits)
7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,200 nits)
– Screen Size (cover):
5.8-inch OLED (120Hz)
6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
– Display resolution (main):
1840 x 2208
1812 x 2176
– Display resolution (cover):
2092 x 1080
2316 x 904
– SoC:
Google Tensor G2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5)
12GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage:
256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1)
256GB/512GB/1TB
– Rear cameras:
48MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, OIS), 10.8MP (ultrawide, 121-degree FoV), 10.8MP (telephoto, 5x optical zoom, OIS)
50MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, 123-degree FoV), 10MP (telephoto, 3x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
8MP (main display, f/2.0 aperture), 9.5MP (cover display, f/2.2 aperture)
4MP (under display, main display, f/1.8 aperture), 10MP (cover display, f/2.2 aperture)
– Battery:
4,821mAh
4,400mAh
– Charging:
21W wired, 7.5W wireless (no charger)
25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless (no charger)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
158.7 x 139.7 x 5.8mm
155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm
– Dimensions (folded):
139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1mm
155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8mm
– Weight:
283 grams
263 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.2
– Security:
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS:
Android 13
Android with One UI
– Price:
$1,799
$1,799
– Buy:
Samsung
Samsung

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Design

Both of these phones are book-style foldables, but they’re quite different design-wise. The Google Pixel Fold leans towards a horizontal layout when unfolded, while the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a different aspect ratio, and is closer to a square aspect ratio when unfolded. Also, when folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers a considerably narrower screen to use, despite the fact it’s technically bigger than the Pixel Fold’s. Most people will want to use the Pixel Fold’s cover screen more due to its “normal” aspect ratio.

Both phones are made out of metal and glass, and both have a rather noticeable crease on the main display. The Pixel Fold also has thicker bezels above and below the main display, while it hides a selfie camera in them. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has thinner bezels, and hides the camera on its main display under the panel itself. You’ll notice a display camera hole is located on the cover display of both phones.

There are three cameras located on the back of both of these phones, though the camera islands do look considerably different. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is taller than the Google Pixel Fold, while it’s also narrower. It’s actually considerably narrower when folded, the difference is huge. The Pixel Fold is a bit thinner, though, in both folded and unfolded states. The Pixel Fold is, however, heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 by about 20 grams, and the Fold 4 is already quite a chunky phone. There are considerably thinner book-style foldables already available. Both phones do offer an IPX8 rating for water resistance.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Display

The Pixel Fold includes a 7.6-inch 1840 x 2208 Foldable OLED display. That panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate, and supports HDR10+ content. It has a peak brightness of 1,450 nits. The cover display on the phone measures 5.8 inches, and has a resolution of 2092 x 1080. That is an OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,550 nits. It is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4, on the other hand, has a 7.6-inch 1812 x 2176 Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. That panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, supports HDR10+ content, and has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. The cover panel on the phone measures 6.2 inches, and has a resolution of 2316 x 904 pixels. That is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel also, but a non-foldable one. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus+.

All four displays on these two phones are quite good. They’re bright, vivid, and have good viewing angles. The blacks are also deep, and the touch response is good. Quite frankly we don’t have any major complaints about them. They’re also well-optimized, and the scrolling is as smooth as you’d expect. The display crease is quite noticeable, on foldable displays of both phones.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Performance

The Google Tensor G2 fuels the Pixel Fold. The phone also includes 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. When it comes to RAM and storage, they’re on the same playing field, basically. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is technically more powerful than the Google Tensor G2, but it’s not the latest SoC Qualcomm has to offer at this point, as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched last year.

Both phones do perform really well, though. They’re very smooth during day-to-day use, and both can handle games, even those graphically-intensive ones. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 will handle such games a bit better, though. They’re both great and multitasking, and we didn’t have any lag worth noting while multitasking. Both companies provide plenty of software features that allow you to take advantage of those large displays, though Samsung is still ahead. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is simply packed with such features.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Battery

A 4,821mAh battery is included inside the Pixel Fold, while a 4,400mAh unit sits inside the Galaxy Z Fold 4. A higher battery capacity doesn’t necessarily mean better battery life, but in this case, the Pixel Fold does have better battery life. So, in this case, it is true, at least for us. We were able to cross the 8-hour screen-on-time mark on the Pixel Fold, a number of times. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 lingered around 6-6.5 hours of screen-on-time most of the time, though 7 hours is doable.

Do note that your mileage may vary, considerably. There’s a lot to consider here, when it comes to battery life. There are two displays on each phone, while you’ll also be using different apps, in different ways. Your signal strength will also be different, and so on. Also, do note that we did not play games on either phone outside of testing. So, during regular days, no games were played on either. Playing games will surely affect battery life in a negative way.

The Google Pixel Fold supports 21W wired, and 7.5W wireless charging. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, on the other hand, supports 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Neither phone charges super fast, but the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a bit faster across the board. It also offers reverse wireless charging, while the Pixel Fold does not. Do note that neither phone ships with a charger, though.

Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Cameras

The Google Pixel Fold includes a 48-megapixel main camera, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide unit (121-degree FoV), and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (123-degree FoV), and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).

So, both phones do have three cameras on the back, though the results they provide are quite different. The Pixel Fold has that contrasty look that we’re used to seeing from Pixel phones. It’s great for HDR photos, and even though the images it provides are not exactly close to real life, they do look great. That’s what most people prefer anyway. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, on the other hand, provides detailed and sharp images, but tends to oversaturate them during the day.

Both phones brighten up low light shots quite a bit, but the Pixel Fold manages to retain more detail, more often than not. Ultrawide cameras are good on both devices, though a level below the main shooters. When it comes to the telephoto shooter, the Pixel Fold is the one we prefer, as it manages to offer better image quality at longer zoom ranges.

Audio

There are stereo speakers included on both of these phones. They’re loud enough on both, and also provide detailed enough sound. These are not the best speakers we’ve heard, but are not bad at all. You’re also getting some bass here.

What you will not find on either phone is a 3.5mm headphone jack. You’ll have to utilize their Type-C ports in order to connect your headphones via a wire. If you prefer to go wireless, both phones offer Bluetooth 5.2.