Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold5: A Deep Dive into Foldable Supremacy
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing display quality and a streamlined Android experience, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the better choice. Its significantly brighter display (2199 nits vs 1257 nits) and optimized software outweigh the Galaxy Z Fold5’s slightly longer battery life. However, power users will appreciate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's efficiency.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, August 13 | 2023, July 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September 04 | Available. Released 2023, August 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mmFolded: 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5 mm | Unfolded: 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mmFolded: 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 257 g (9.07 oz) | 253 g (8.92 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2076 x 2152 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~373 ppi density) | 1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.0 inches, 207.4 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak) | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi-zone Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.2", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 127˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94", PDAF Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94", PDAF | 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 21W wired 7.5W wireless Bypass charging | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4650 mAh | Li-Po 4400 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain | Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue |
| Models | GGH2X, GC15S | SM-F946B, SM-F946B/DS, SM-F946U, SM-F946U1, SM-F946N, SM-F946W, SM-F9460 |
| Price | € 1,020.97 / $ 649.95 / £ 784.99 | € 660.00 / $ 607.00 / £ 520.69 / ₹ 86,000 |
| SAR | - | 1.16 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Significantly brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Google's AI-powered camera software
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Slower wired charging speed
- Slightly shorter battery life in active use
- Limited wireless charging capabilities
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
- Faster wired charging with 50% in 30 minutes
- Slightly longer battery life in active use
- More mature foldable design and ecosystem
- Dimmer display compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Samsung's One UI may not appeal to all users
- Potentially more aggressive image processing
Display Comparison
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s display is the standout feature, achieving a measured peak brightness of 2199 nits, dramatically exceeding the Galaxy Z Fold5’s 1257 nits. This translates to significantly improved visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize foldable OLED technology, the Pixel’s higher brightness and likely improved color calibration (though not specified) will appeal to media consumers. The absence of PWM frequency data for the Pixel makes it difficult to assess flicker-related eye strain compared to the Fold5, but the brightness advantage is undeniable.
Camera Comparison
Context data is limited regarding camera specifics, but the focus should be on image processing. Google’s Pixel phones are renowned for their computational photography prowess, leveraging AI to produce exceptional images, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung’s cameras typically offer more versatility with features like Space Zoom, but often rely on more aggressive post-processing. Without sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Pixel’s software advantage is a strong contender. The lack of detail on the Fold5's camera suggests it's a refinement of existing technology, while the Pixel likely introduces new computational photography techniques.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Google’s Tensor G4 (4nm) versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with its Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.36 GHz, offers a performance advantage in raw CPU power compared to the Pixel’s Cortex-X4 at 3.1 GHz. However, the Tensor G4’s strength lies in its dedicated AI and machine learning capabilities, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process generally provides better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Fold5's LPDDR5X RAM likely contributes to faster data transfer speeds.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Z Fold5 edges out the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in active use battery life by a mere 12 minutes (12:01h vs 11:54h). While seemingly small, this difference can be noticeable over extended use. The Fold5 also boasts 25W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, significantly faster than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 21W charging. The Fold5’s 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging offer additional convenience, features absent in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Fold5’s older endurance rating of 95h provides a broader context, suggesting good standby efficiency.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold if you need a stunningly bright and color-accurate display for content consumption, value a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and prioritize camera software processing. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 if you prefer a more mature foldable design with slightly better battery endurance, faster charging speeds, and a wider ecosystem of accessories, and are comfortable with Samsung's One UI.