Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Google Pixel Fold — Which One Should You Pick

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold are two of the most powerful smartphones in the market at the time of writing. This means that if you are looking to get your hands on something high-end, it is time to look for your wallet and order the device you are looking for. But considering how both of these phones are similarly priced, it makes you wonder which device you should be picking up.

The Pixel Fold is a really good phone, but the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the one foldable to rule them all

Well, we have decided to put the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold against each other to help you find the right foldable for you. If, however, you are on a budget, I would highly suggest looking at the Galaxy Z Flip 5, as the clamshell foldable appears to be a lot more popular than the elder sibling.

With that out of the way, before we get started with our detailed comparison, let's look at what the starting price of $1,799 is to get you in terms of the specs. Below, you can find the spec sheet for both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold. So, let's not waste time and have a look.

	Galaxy Z Fold 5	Google Pixel Fold
Starting price	$1,799	$1,799
Inner Display	7.6 inches OLED (2176 x 1812)	7.6 inches OLED (2208 x 1840)
Outer Display	6.2 inches OLED (2316 x 904)	5.8 inches OLED (2092 x 1080)
Refresh rate	Up to 120Hz	Up to 120Hz
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Tensor G2
RAM	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB/512GB/1TB	256GB512GB
Rear cameras	50MP (f/1.8) + 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 123 ̊ FOV + 10MP telephoto (f/2.4, 3x optical zoom)	48MP (f/1.7), 10.8MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 121.1˚ FOV), 10.8MP telephoto (f/2.2, 5x optical zoom)
Selfie camera	10MP f/2.2	9.5MP (f/2.2)
Inner camera	4MP (f/1.8)	8MP (f/2.0)
Battery	4,400 mAh	4,821 mAh
Dimensions open	6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24 inches	6.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
Dimensions closed	6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53 inches	5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches
Weight	253 grams	283 grams
Colors	Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue	Obsidian, Porcelain

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Pixel Fold - Which offers a better design?

I strongly believe that design has become a lot more important for phones than it used to be. I like the boxier design that the Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra have to offer, but when you are looking at foldable phones, it is safe to say that the design you are going to get will be drastically different. Speaking of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold, you are looking at drastically different design languages.

For instance, Samsung's foldable brings a narrow 6.2-inch outer display and a large 7.6-inch inner display. On the other hand, the Pixel Fold offers a 5.8-inch display on the outside and a 7.6-inch display on the inside. Now, the biggest difference is that Google's foldable has a much broader outer screen, making it much more pleasing to use. However, that doesn't mean it is without its issues. For instance, Google's foldable has very noticeable bezels on the inside, something that the Galaxy Z Fold 5

I would have given this win to the Pixel Fold simply because I prefer this design over the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but the bezels don't make me want to. Samsung's offering looks and feels a lot more refined, and it is also lighter than what Google has to offer.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Pixel Fold - The foldable that shines brighter

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold are both equipped with OLED displays, so it would be safe to assume that you are getting some excellent color reproduction. However, it turns out that the display on what Samsung is offering goes as high as 1,356 nits, whereas the Pixel tops at 900 nits. Now, this might not be a big deal for a lot of people, but considering how you are paying $1,799 for a foldable, it starts to make sense why you would want to have the best-in-class.

The outer displays are excellent on both phones, and you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference, to be honest. I think both displays are a lot more similar, and that is certainly a good thing.

Overall, my pick would be the Galaxy Z Fold 5. I absolutely love displays that are brighter, and while Pixel Fold does deliver, it pales in comparison when you put both phones together and notice closer.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Pixel Fold - What about the features?

Moving on, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 runs Samsung's One UI, whereas the Pixel Fold runs, well, stock Android. Both phones are excellent for multi-taskers, and while Samsung is more tailored towards power users, Google's offering is better for those who are looking for a simpler experience, just like the stock Android is known to provide.

It was a refreshing experience to use vanilla Android, but I quickly realized how I missed the One UI on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and decided to pick up the device once again. It isn't just that One UI feels more refined but also the fact that you are looking at a more comprehensive set of features and several ways of customizing. Not to forget, the phone also supports S Pen, even though that's an optional purchase.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Pixel Fold - Photographer's paradise

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings a standard 50-megapixel lens. You are getting a 12-megapixel and a 10-megapixel unit. There is also a 10-megapixel selfie camera and a 4-megapixel under-display camera. The Google Pixel Fold, on the other hand, offers a 48-megapixel main camera, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera but with 5x zoom instead of 3x being offered on Samsung's offering. The front selfie camera is a 9.5-megapixel, while the internal selfie camera is an 8.5-megapixel.

The cameras on both phones are promising as far as the configuration is concerned, and while I thought that this whole comparison was going to be one-sided, that was not the case. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 does offer better overall color reproduction, but the Pixel Fold also works really well with exposure being even across the entirety of the picture.

The Pixel Fold, although it has good color reproduction that is closer to the natural colors, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 manages to produce results that are vibrant. If you are looking for the signature Samsung color science, it is safe to say that the Fold 5 takes the cake without any issues.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Honestly, I had a feeling that Samsung was going to win from the get-go. Not that the Pixel Fold is a bad phone by any means, but the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the fifth iteration in Samsung's long-running series, and although it is safe to argue that in terms of changes or innovation, the Z Fold 5 still looks the same, but there are a lot of improvements under the hood that have made this an exceptional offer for those who are looking for a more refined foldable experience. The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, is still good, but I am waiting to see how the sequel turns out to be and what it offers.

Written by Furqan Shahid