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The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest book-style foldable from Samsung. When it comes to the US, it doesn’t have many competitors, but we’ll compare it with one of them, the one from Google. We’ll compare the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold. Both of these smartphones are book-style foldables, but they have somewhat different approaches to that form factor. They both look different, and feel different to use.
We’ll first list their specifications, and then we’ll move to compare them across a number of other categories. Checking out the design differences will be especially interesting. In addition to that, we’ll also check out their displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Let’s get to it.
Specs
– Screen size (main): 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,750 nits / 7.6-inch Foldable OLED display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,450 nits)
– Cover: 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz) / 5.8-inch OLED (120Hz)
– Screen resolution (main): 1812 x 2176 / 1840 x 2208
– Cover: 2316 x 904 / 2092 x 1080
– SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy / Google Tensor G2
– RAM: 12GB (LPDDR5X) / 12GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB / 256GB/512GB
– Rear cameras: 50MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, 123-degree FoV), 10MP (telephoto, 3x optical zoom) / 48MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, OIS), 10.8MP (ultrawide, 121-degree FoV), 10.8MP (telephoto, 5x optical zoom, OIS)
– Front cameras: 4MP (under display, main display, f/1.8 aperture), 10MP (cover display, f/2.2 aperture) / 8MP (main display, f/2.0 aperture), 9.5MP (cover dsiplay, f/2.2 aperture)
– Battery: 4,400mAh / 4,821mAh
– Dimensions (unfolded): 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1mm / 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.8mm
– Dimensions (folded): 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4mm / 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1mm
– Weight: 253 grams / 283 grams
– Connectivity: 5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3 / 5.2
– Security: Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS: Android 13 with One UI / Android 13
– Price: $1,799 / $1,799
– Buy: Samsung / Google
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold: Design
As already mentioned, both of these phones are book-style foldables. The thing is, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 goes for a tall, narrow shape, while the Pixel Fold is shorter and wider. That way the Pixel Fold feels more like a regular phone when folded, and has a horizontal layout when unfolded. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is really narrow when folded, and it almost has a square shape when unfolded.
Considering these layouts, the two phones are considerably different in terms of usage. They are both made out of metal and glass, though. They both have a display camera hole on the cover display. It’s also worth noting that both of these devices do fold flat. The Pixel Fold is a bit thinner when both folded and unfolded, while it weighs more than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. You will feel that difference, as it weighs 283 grams, compared to 253 grams of the Fold 5.
Both handsets have three cameras on the back, though they look considerably different from the design standpoint (camera islands), and the hardware is also different. Samsung opted for an under-display camera on the main display, while Google hid the camera inside the bezel around the main display. Those bezels are noticeably thicker than the ones on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. In fact, its top and bottom bezels are thicker than the side bezels, which does look a bit weird.
Both of these devices do offer an IPX8 rating for water resistance. They are both quite slippery, by the way, so using a case may not be a bad idea. They do both feel like premium devices, though.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold: Display
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 includes a 7.6-inch 1812 x 2176 Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. That panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, supports HDR10+ content, and has a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. The second display on the phone is a 6.2-inch panel. That display has a 2316 x 904 resolution, and a 23.1:9 aspect ratio. That is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Google Pixel Fold, on the other hand, includes a 7.6-inch 1840 x 2208 Foldable OLED display. That display has a 120Hz refresh rate, and supports HDR10+ content. It has a peak brightness of 1,450 nits. The cover display on the phone measures 5.8 inches, and offers a resolution of 2092 x 1080. That panel has a 17.4:9 aspect ratio, and a peak brightness of 1,550. That is an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, supports HDR content, and is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
All four displays here are good, actually. There’s not much to complain about, to be quite honest. The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s main display does get a bit brighter, but the Pixel Fold’s is bright enough. The Pixel Fold’s cover display is more enjoyable to use, due to its aspect ratio and size. They both offer vivid colors, good viewing angles, and are more than sharp enough. You do need to decide which aspect ratio suits you better, though, mainly when it comes to main displays. These are considerably different foldables.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy fuels the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Samsung also included 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM in the device, and UFS 4.0 flash storage too. The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, is fueled by the Google Tensor G2 processor. Google also included 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM inside this phone, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. Samsung does have the edge when it comes to sheer performance power.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful than the Tensor G2, and it also offers better power consumption. RAM and storage modules are also newer and faster inside the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Is that something you’ll notice during your usage, though? Well, no, unless you compare them directly, and then you’ll notice that the Fold 5 is a bit snappier, and that goes for opening up apps too.
Where you will notice the difference, however, is in the gaming department. If you’re not a gamer, this won’t really interest you. Both phones do a great job with most games, but when it comes to the most graphically-intensive games, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the king. The Pixel Fold is not exactly made for gaming, and in games such as Genshin Impact, it can struggle a bit, at least in comparison to the Fold 5. Overall, though, both phones do offer good performance.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold: Battery
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 4,400mAh battery on the inside, while the Pixel Fold comes with a 4,821mAh unit. Google did manage to squeeze in a considerably larger battery inside its foldable, and it also has a smaller cover display. Considering everything, does it offer better battery life, though? Despite its SoC? Well, yes, it does, at least it did during our testing. Do note that your mileage may be considerably different, though. Your usage could end up being considerably different, as there are two screens here to think of. We did use the cover displays on both phones quite a bit.
In any case, crossing the 8-hour screen-on-time mark on the Pixel Fold was not a problem for us at all. The phone actually went to 8 and a half hours of screen-on-time without a problem almost every time. We’re still actively testing the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but its battery life also seems promising. We’re not seeing it to be as good as what the Pixel Fold offers, though. On the Fold 5, we’re getting closer to 7 hours of screen-on-time, 7 and a half. Do note that we’re not really gaming on our phones all that much, other than for testing purposes.
Now, in terms of charging. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 supports 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, supports 21W wired, and 7.5W wireless charging. Neither phone offers particularly fast charging, but if you’re planning on charging these devices wirelessly, the Fold 5 is the better option. Neither phone comes with a charging brick, though.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Google Pixel Fold: Cameras
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FoV), and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom). The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, includes a 48-megapixel main camera, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide unit (121-degree FoV), and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera (5x optical zoom).
So, the Pixel Fold is closer to the Pixel 7a in terms of its cameras, than the Pixel 7 Pro, as far as hardware is concerned. It does have that telephoto camera unlike the Pixel 7a, however. Despite the fact its camera hardware is inferior to the Pixel 7 Pro, the pictures look great. Google’s image processing strikes again. The images are sharp, vivid, and have that Pixel look you’d expect, that contrasty look. The telephoto camera also does a really good job at 5x, and the phone didn’t exactly falter in low light either.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 provides a bit more saturated images, and it’s less reliable than the Pixel Fold, in the general scheme of things. The skin colors are a hit-and-miss, for example. Still, the images it provides are sharp, vivid, and look good overall. The phone also did a good job in low light, while its telephoto camera is not as good as the one on the Pixel Fold, but it’s quite good nonetheless.
Audio
Both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold include a set of stereo speakers. Both sets of speakers are good, and loud enough. They are well-balanced, and there’s even some bass to speak of. These are not the best speakers out there, though, but they’re on the same playing field, and they’re good overall.
What you will not find on either phone is an audio jack. You will need to use a Type-C port on either phone in order to connect your headphones via a wire. If you prefer wireless connections, Bluetooth 5.3 is available on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, while the Pixel Fold includes Bluetooth 5.2.