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Samsung’s influence on folding phones can’t be understated. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 only features minor refinements, making me feel there’s more to experience elsewhere. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold appears to pack a punch, which is why I think it’s the better choice.
1The Pixel 9 Pro Fold Has a More Compact Form Factor
Samsung hasn’t pushed the boundaries of what folding phones can offer with theGalaxy Z Fold 6. This refresh rejigs the design a little, making the device a bit more handy, but it still leaves a lot to be desired, especially for compact phone enthusiasts like me.
I daily drive an iPhone 15 Pro, and anything taller than this feels awkward to use. ThePixel 9 Pro Fold, with its wider and less tall design, offers a solution for this preference of mine.
Not to be missed, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. When unfolded, the Pixel measures 5.1mm in thickness compared to the Z Fold’s 5.6mm, and when folded, it’s 10.5mm thick compared to 12.1 mm on the Z Fold 6.
I’m used to getting out of my comfort zone with the number of devices I review. But when it comes to a personal phone that I plan to use long-term, I would like it to be easy to use with one hand.
2I Want Better Cameras on My Phone
Moving on to the cameras, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are quite similar, I feel minor nuances stack the tables in favor of the Pixel. I’m not docking any points on the Z Fold 6’s camera hardware because these folding phones have hardware identical to their predecessors.
First up is the primary shooter. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 48MP wide camera has an 82-degree field of view, which means the images will be flatter compared to the 85-degree field of view on Samsung’s 50MP wide camera. This also means there will be less of a fish-eye effect with the Pixel’s camera.
Then, on the ultrawide camera, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a dedicated macro mode, which means you may get closer to subjects and take a wide range of shots. For someone who likes to travel and capture images, it’s an option I’d rather have than not.
Lastly, let’s talk about the telephoto camera. When I gotthe iPhone 15 Pro, I told myself I wouldn’t miss the 5x optical zoom—available on the 15 Pro Max—but boy, was I wrong. This is why the Pixel Fold’s 5x optical zoom is a much more attractive offering for image composition than the Z Fold 6’s 3x optical zoom.
Add to this the various software features that Google tosses into its camera experience, like Top Shot and “Add Me,” and you will have an experience that the Z Fold 6’s cameras just can’t match.
3The Pixel 9 Pro Fold Will Get Updates Quicker
Like other posts about Pixel devices, there is one other clear advantage of owning Google’s phone. It will get updates quicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. I enjoy this aspect of the ownership experience; waiting for updates isn’t my cup of tea.
Whensome of Android 15’s best featurescome to compatible devices later in 2024, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be one of the first few devices to receive them. With the Z Fold 6, I’ll have to wait weeks, if not months, before Samsung rolls out the OneUI-flavored version.
That said, it’s worth appreciating that both Samsung and Google offer seven years of software upgrades and security updates for their devices.
4I Can Expect New Features With Pixel Drops
The final reason I’m picking the Pixel 9 Pro Fold over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the features Google brings to its first-party devices over time withPixel Feature Drops. These quarterly updates bring more functionality after launch, meaning the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will get even better over time, just like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro did since they launched in 2023.
Even at launch, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts exciting features like Pixel Screenshots and Add Me. Both are AI-based features that use images in interesting ways. For instance, Pixel Screenshots can remember details from a screen grab and then utilize the Gemini Nano model to make it easy to organize data, recall locations or events, and more.
With the competition in folding phones ramping up, I believe Samsung can do a lot more to differentiate its Z Fold line.One UIalready offers the most polished multitasking experience, which gives the company an upper hand, but I feel hardware improvements are long overdue.
On the other hand, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold brings many noteworthy changes compared to its predecessor—both hardware and software—which gives it an excitement factor that I can’t wait to experience.
