Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6: A Deep Dive into Foldable Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers a noticeable edge in demanding tasks, and the 25W charging is significantly quicker than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 21W. However, the Pixel’s brighter display and Google’s software experience remain compelling advantages.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 |
| 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, 32, 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, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 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 | 2024, July 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September 04 | Available. Released 2024, July 24 |
| 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: 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6 mmFolded: 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (SM-F9560) |
| Weight | 257 g (9.07 oz) | 239 g (8.43 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2076 x 2152 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~373 ppi density) | 1856 x 2160 pixels (~374 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.0 inches, 207.4 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.6 inches, 185.2 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak) | Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | 8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades | Android 14, up to 7 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), 1/1.57", 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, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps (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, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| 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, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4650 mAh | Li-Po 4400 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain | Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Black, White |
| Models | GGH2X, GC15S | SM-F956B, SM-F956B/DS, SM-F956U, SM-F956U1, SM-F956N, SM-F956W, SM-F9560 |
| Price | € 1,020.97 / $ 649.95 / £ 784.99 | € 670.13 / $ 799.95 / £ 789.99 / ₹ 109,999 |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Brighter display for superior outdoor visibility
- Google’s optimized software experience and guaranteed updates
- Slightly longer battery life in active use tests
- Slower charging speeds compared to the Z Fold6
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
- Faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for superior performance
- Faster 25W wired charging with QC2.0
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Dimmer display compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Samsung’s One UI can be feature-bloated for some users
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 2199 nits, compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s 1630 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both utilize foldable LTPO panels for adaptive refresh rates, but the Pixel’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use. While both likely employ similar color calibration profiles, the Pixel’s brightness will inherently impact perceived color vibrancy. The impact of the folding crease is likely similar on both devices, a common trade-off in current foldable technology.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Google’s computational photography prowess, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is likely to excel in image processing, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung typically focuses on vibrant, saturated colors, while Google aims for more natural, realistic tones. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP within the Z Fold6 offers advanced image processing capabilities, but Google’s software algorithms often compensate for hardware limitations. The absence of detailed sensor information makes it difficult to assess low-light performance or zoom capabilities definitively.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) chipset demonstrably outperforms the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s Tensor G4 (4nm) in raw processing power. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s CPU configuration – 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520 – offers a higher clock speed and more efficient core allocation than the Pixel’s 1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520. This difference is particularly noticeable in graphically intensive tasks like gaming and video editing. While both utilize a 4nm process, Qualcomm’s architecture is optimized for sustained performance, potentially leading to less thermal throttling under heavy load.
Battery Life
Both the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold6 offer comparable battery life, with the Pixel achieving 11:54h of active use and the Samsung 11:31h. The slight edge for the Pixel is likely due to the Tensor G4’s more efficient power management. However, the Z Fold6 compensates with significantly faster charging – 25W wired with QC2.0 and a claimed 50% charge in 30 minutes – compared to the Pixel’s 21W wired and 7.5W wireless. The Z Fold6 also offers 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel. This charging speed difference is a crucial advantage for users who need to quickly top up their device.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold if you prioritize a brighter, more vibrant display and a seamless Google software experience with guaranteed updates. It’s ideal for media consumption and users deeply embedded in the Google ecosystem. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 if you demand the highest possible performance for gaming and multitasking, coupled with faster charging and a more mature foldable design. It’s the better choice for power users and those who value Samsung’s feature-rich One UI.