Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold shows Samsung is losing the foldable development race

Google wrapped up its Pixel 9 series event and arguably the most impressive member of that is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold - didn't expect that, did you?

This is only Google's second attempt at a Pixel foldable, but it's already overtaking Samsung's seasoned Fold, which is now in its sixth generation, in a number of key characteristics.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs the Galaxy Z Fold6

In fact we can make a strong case that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has overall superior hardware than the Galaxy Z Fold6, showing that the Korean company is perhaps getting a bit complacent due to the lack of global competition. Well, here's some stellar competition that coming to seventeen countries around the world.

Better aspect ratios

The main issue users have had with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series is the aspect ratios of the displays - in particular, the cover screen. Samsung improves on that a bit lately, but the bottom line is that the Galaxy Z Fold6's cover screen is too narrow compared to any modern bar smartphones.

In contrast, Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 6.3-inch cover display with a standard 20:9 aspect ratio. As a bonus, it's also a 1080p panel, whereas the Z Fold6's is a few pixels short at 968p.

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The folding display on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is bigger (207.4 cm2 vs 185.2 cm2), has higher resolution, and a close to 1:1 ratio, which is more convenient for multitasking. And multitasking is what book-style foldables are usually bought to do.

Thinner, if heavier

Google slimmed down the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to an impressive level. It's only 10.5mm folded, very close to a normal phone, and substantially thinner than both the Galaxy Z Fold6 (12.1mm) and the OnePlus Open (11.7mm). Unfolded the Pixel is just 5.1mm - barely thicker than its USB-C port.

The thin Pixel 9 Pro Fold

To its credit, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is much lighter - 18 grams to be exact - which isn't insignificant. Then again, a book-style foldable is the type of device you expect a bit of heft, while slimness is what you generally feel more in day-to-day use.

Google made the Pixel 9 Pro Fold water-resistant too, though you wouldn't go swimming with either phone.

More RAM and better cameras

The Galaxy Z Fold6 uses a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which likely has the upper hand in performance over the new Tensor G4. The clock speeds on the two chipsets' processors indicate as much, though we'll know for sure when we complete a full review on the new Tensor.

However, the Pixel 9 Pro fold ships with 16 GB of RAM, which is a step up from the Galaxy Z Fold6's 12 GB. More RAM means more apps can work in the background and a general bump in responsiveness.

Foldables make it hard to fit the highest-end camera hardware as these premiere folding phones can attest. Still, on paper at least, the Pixel foldable has an edge here as well. The main camera on the Galaxy Z Fold6 has a bigger sensor and a slightly wider lens. But the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a nearly twice as reaching zoom camera (112mm vs 66mm), and autofocus on its ultrawide angle camera.

Bigger battery, but is battery life better?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold packs a slightly bigger (~6%) 4,650mAh battery, although charging speeds are rather disappointing on both of these. And actual battery endurance is yet to be tested so this one is more a maybe than a certain advantage.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold6 is still the mainstream choice

The fact that the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an overall better hardware package likely won't cause the Galaxy Z Fold6 to lose much sleep on its own. The Galaxy Z Fold6 will outsell the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by a country mile and it's not only because it's more widely available. Samsung's foldable has more polished multitasking and supports the S Pen. It also has a degree of dust protection. And, you're likely to find a better deal on the Galaxy Z Fold6 if you shop outside of Samsung's own website.

However, it's rather damning that a company hardly known for its cutting edge hardware has overtaken a company that rose to the number one maker globally on the back of its impressive hardware. Sure, Samsung has been focusing more and more on the software side and building an ecosystem and that's commendable, but it mustn't forget what made it the dominant force in the smartphone market. Much less in a niche that's still relatively new and where there's clearly a lot of headroom.

Because between Google's latest Fold and the long-awaited release of foldables from Chinese companies with their even more impressive hardware it risks being squeezed from a niche it worked so hard to create.