Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: The Ultimate Foldable Showdown

Foldable smartphones have evolved from novelty gadgets into powerful productivity tools, blending the portability of a traditional phone with the expansive canvas of a mini-tablet. In the high-stakes world of premium foldables, two devices stand out as frontrunners: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Both represent the pinnacle of 2025’s foldable technology, offering innovative designs, advanced AI features, and robust performance. But which one reigns supreme for your needs—whether it’s multitasking, photography, or everyday usability?

In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down the key aspects of these devices, from their slim profiles and stunning displays to their cameras, batteries, and software ecosystems. Whether you’re upgrading from an older foldable or dipping your toes into the category for the first time, this guide will help you decide between Samsung’s engineering marvel and Google’s AI-driven powerhouse.

Design and Build Quality: Slimmer, Stronger, and More Portable

Foldables have long battled perceptions of bulkiness, but both the Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold push boundaries with ultra-slim designs that feel more like conventional smartphones when closed.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures just 8.9mm thick when folded and a mere 4.2mm when unfolded, making it one of the thinnest foldables ever produced. Weighing only 215g, it’s lighter than many non-foldable flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung’s new Armor FlexHinge features a multi-rail structure and water droplet design that minimizes the visible crease on the inner screen while distributing stress evenly for enhanced durability. The frame is crafted from Advanced Armor Aluminum, paired with Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover screen and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. It boasts an IP48 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning it’s protected against larger particles and submersion in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes. Available in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet Black, and an online-exclusive Mint, the Z Fold 7 feels premium and pocketable, though the protruding camera bump slightly offsets its slimness.

In contrast, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold maintains a familiar form factor to its predecessor but introduces meaningful refinements. It’s slightly thicker at around 5.1mm unfolded and 10.5mm folded, weighing about 257g—noticeably heavier than the Z Fold 7. Google’s aerospace-grade aluminum frame and gearless hinge promise twice the durability of the previous model, with the hinge rated for over 10 years of folding. A standout feature is its IP68 rating, the first for a foldable phone, offering full dust protection (no particles larger than 0.1mm can enter) alongside water resistance up to 1.5m for 30 minutes—this edges out Samsung in ruggedness for environments with fine dust or sand. The Super Actua Flex Display uses ultra-thin glass reinforced with two layers of anti-impact film for better drop protection. It comes in elegant Moonstone (a blue-gray) and Jade (light green with gold accents), giving it a more subdued, premium vibe.

Verdict on Design: The Z Fold 7 wins for sheer portability and lightness, ideal for one-handed use and travel. However, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s superior IP68 rating makes it the tougher choice for outdoor adventurers or those in dusty conditions. Both devices prioritize durability, but Samsung’s thinner profile feels more revolutionary.

Displays: Immersive Screens for Work and Play

The magic of foldables lies in their dual-screen experience, and both phones deliver expansive, vibrant panels optimized for multitasking and media consumption.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 features an 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2184 x 1968 resolution (368ppi), and up to 2,600 nits peak brightness—perfect for outdoor visibility. The cover screen has been widened to a more phone-like 21:9 aspect ratio on a 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, also at 120Hz, making it far more usable for quick tasks without unfolding. Features like Flex Mode allow the phone to prop itself up for hands-free video calls or viewing, while Vision Booster enhances colors in bright light. The inner screen’s Ultra-Thin Glass is 50% thicker than before, supported by a titanium lattice for reduced creasing and improved strength. Unfortunately, Samsung has dropped S Pen support to achieve the slimmer design, which may disappoint note-takers.

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold counters with an even larger 8-inch inner Super Actua Flex Display (matching Samsung’s size but with slimmer bezels for a more immersive feel) at 120Hz, 2448 x 2208 resolution (around 367ppi), and a brighter 3,000 nits peak—about 15% more than the Z Fold 7, excelling in direct sunlight. The outer display grows slightly to 6.4 inches (OLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2424), retaining thin bezels for a modern look. Both screens support HDR10+ and are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Unique foldable perks include Dual Screen Preview for selfies, Made You Look animations for kids, and Tabletop Mode for stable propping. The Instant View feature lets you preview shots on the unfolded screen before capturing, enhancing photography workflows.

Verdict on Displays: It’s a close call, but the Pixel 10 Pro Fold takes the edge with its brighter screens and slightly larger outer display, making it better for media and outdoor use. The Z Fold 7’s wider cover screen and Flex Mode shine for productivity, though the lack of stylus support is a notable omission.

Performance and Software: Power Meets Intelligence

Under the hood, both devices leverage cutting-edge chipsets tailored for AI and multitasking, but their approaches differ.

The Z Fold 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite “for Galaxy,” Qualcomm’s flagship 3nm chip delivering a 41% NPU boost, 38% CPU improvement, and 26% GPU uplift over the previous generation. Paired with 12GB or 16GB RAM (on the 1TB model) and up to 1TB storage, it handles demanding tasks like gaming and video editing effortlessly. Samsung’s One UI 8 (based on Android 16) includes Galaxy AI enhancements such as Photo Assist for object removal, Generative Edit for backgrounds, and an improved Audio Eraser for noise reduction in videos. Multimodal AI agents optimize for the foldable form, with features like Now Brief for personalized travel info and seven years of OS/security updates. DeX mode turns it into a desktop setup when connected to a monitor.

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold uses the custom Tensor G5, also on a 3nm TSMC process for better efficiency than prior Samsung-made Tensors. It offers 16GB RAM across all storage tiers (256GB to 1TB), focusing on AI prowess with Gemini optimizations for multi-screen use. Android 16 ships out of the box with Material 3 Expressive for a more fluid, personalized UI, plus seven years of updates. Standout AI includes Magic Cue for contextual suggestions (e.g., pulling flight details from emails), Daily Hub for schedules/weather/news, and enhanced Gemini for foldable-specific multitasking. The large inner screen enables seamless app splitting, and Pixelsnap integrates with Qi2 for magnetic accessories.

Verdict on Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite gives the Z Fold 7 a raw power advantage for gaming and heavy apps, while the Tensor G5 and deeper Google AI integration make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold the smarter choice for seamless, intuitive experiences. Both offer long-term support, but Google’s ecosystem feels more cohesive for Pixel loyalists.

Cameras: Capturing Life in High Resolution

Photography is where these foldables differentiate, with Samsung emphasizing hardware upgrades and Google leaning on software magic.

The Z Fold 7’s triple rear setup stars a groundbreaking 200MP wide-angle main sensor—the first in a Galaxy Z series—for ultra-detailed shots and 44% brighter low-light images via ProVisual Engine. It’s joined by a 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 10MP under-display inner selfie camera (plus 4MP under-display for the cover). AI tools like enhanced Photo Assist and Generative Edit enable creative edits, while the large inner screen aids composition. Video hits 8K at 30fps with improved stabilization.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s cameras are more iterative: a 48MP main, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto, and dual 10MP selfies (one per screen). Google’s computational photography shines with Super Res Zoom up to 20x, Macro Focus, and Rear Camera Selfie using the outer display. New Instant View previews shots unfolded, and AI features like Audio Magic Eraser remove wind/traffic noise. It supports 4K video at 60fps with gimbal-like stabilization.

Verdict on Cameras: Samsung’s 200MP sensor and brighter images give the Z Fold 7 the hardware win for detail-oriented users. Google’s software prowess, however, delivers more consistent, intelligent results—especially for portraits and low-light—making the Pixel 10 Pro Fold the photographer’s foldable.

Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power for Unfolded Adventures

Battery endurance is crucial for foldables’ power-hungry screens, and both improve here.

The Z Fold 7’s 4,400mAh battery supports all-day use with moderate unfolding, bolstered by the efficient Snapdragon chip. It charges at 25W wired (50% in 30 minutes), 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless. Real-world tests show 10-12 hours of mixed use.

Google ups the ante with a 5,015mAh battery—nearly 8% larger—claiming 30+ hours of life (84 hours in Extreme Saver mode). 30W wired charging hits 50% in 30 minutes, with 15W Qi2 wireless (a first for foldables) and no reverse charging. Early tests suggest 16+ hours of browsing and 9+ hours of gaming.

Verdict on Battery: The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s larger capacity and faster charging make it the endurance champion, outlasting the Z Fold 7 in extended sessions.

Price and Availability: Premium Pricing for Premium Features

The Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999 for 256GB/12GB RAM, rising to $2,419 for 1TB/16GB. Preorders began July 9, 2025, with shipping July 25 via Samsung.com, carriers like Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile (up to $1,000 trade-in discounts), and retailers like Best Buy.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold holds steady at $1,799 for 256GB/16GB, up to higher tiers. Announced August 20, 2025, preorders are live, but shipping starts October 9 due to supply issues—available via Google Store, Amazon, and carriers with bundles like $300 gift cards.

Verdict on Price: The Pixel offers better value at a lower entry point, especially with uniform 16GB RAM. Samsung’s higher cost reflects its slimmer design and camera upgrades, but trade-ins can close the gap.

Which Foldable Should You Choose?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold are both exceptional, but they cater to different priorities. If you crave a featherlight, ultra-thin design with top-tier hardware performance and a massive 200MP camera, the Z Fold 7 is your pick—it’s a bold step forward for Samsung foldables, perfect for power users and multitaskers. On the flip side, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold excels in AI smarts, battery longevity, and dust-proof durability, making it ideal for Google ecosystem fans who value software innovation and all-day reliability.

Ultimately, the “better” phone depends on your lifestyle: Samsung for cutting-edge engineering, Google for intelligent simplicity. Both prove foldables are here to stay, redefining how we interact with our devices. Whichever you choose, you’re investing in the future of mobile tech.