We tested Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold for weeks side by side, balancing e‑mail triage with transit photography, spreadsheets and nightly streaming. They’re both great book-style foldables, but their strengths are vastly different. After weighing design, durability, displays, cameras, performance and AI features and considering the cost to us (and for you), we’ve determined that one phone has the best set of features for most sustainable human lives.
Design and durability differences that matter daily
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first book-style foldable with an IP68 rating that signifies a high degree of protection against dust and that it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes under the IEC 60529 standard. That extra guarantee matters if you spend time around fine particulates — construction sites, workshops or dry desert climates. In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features an IP48 rating that keeps out larger particles and splashes, but not the finest dust infiltration.
- Design and durability differences that matter daily
- Displays, reflections, brightness, and crease quality
- Cameras and video performance across lenses and zoom
- Performance, battery life, thermals, and charging differences
- Software, AI features, and long-term update support
- Price, overall value, and our verdict on the winner
- Who should buy which: guidance based on priorities
Samsung counters with class-leading portability. At about 215 grams and approximately 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm open, the Z Fold 7 is just surreal to hold in your hand — lighter than some slab flagships out there and easier to slip into your pocket. The aspect ratio of the outer screen is also another sliver of conventional goodness that makes it comfortable for one-handed use, something a lot of foldable veterans appreciate day to day.
Displays, reflections, brightness, and crease quality
It’s in crease management that Samsung’s experience pays off. The Z Fold 7’s internal display lays flatter, and the in-screen crease is significantly less pronounced when scrolling through documents or sketching flip-chart-sized ideas. You can certainly still find it at some angles, but not often. The Pixel’s inner panel also stays a bit more reflective, and the crease shows up better, so it can make long reading sessions feel a tad less comfy.
For productivity, Samsung’s wide inner canvas and a more natural cover-screen ratio allow for smoother app switching and quick replies. Google’s panel is also bright and sharp, but if you’re reflection-averse or if you spend hours reading text-dense pages, the Samsung execution feels crisper.
Cameras and video performance across lenses and zoom
On paper they’re a split decision: Google pairs a 48MP main with a 5x optical telephoto, and Samsung mates a 200MP main with a 3x optical.
In use, Samsung’s system more consistently produces better results across lenses, with cleaner detail retention and steadier exposure transitions when jumping between ultrawide and telephoto. Night photos also enjoy the benefits of Samsung’s processing maturity, with less noise in complex scenes.
Google’s 5x lens is a real asset for when you’re far from a stage or photographing architectural detail. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold pulls ahead at those longer focal lengths in daylight with sharp and punchy frames. For just about all my mixed-use situations, however — 4K video with lots of zooming — the Z Fold 7’s color tuning and focus reliability seem a hair more reliable.
Performance, battery life, thermals, and charging differences
Both phones easily make it through a full workday of messaging, navigation, camera use and streaming on their inner displays; they can even thumb their nose at the second day challenge if you don’t push them too hard. Thermals are kept in check even after extended sessions and it doesn’t throttle — at all, let alone meaningfully for normal real-world stuff like editing photos or running lots of apps side-by-side.
Standout differences include Google’s PixelSnap with its Qi2-aligned magnets that enable 15W wireless charging and accessory compatibility. For all those who have MagSafe chargers, banks or mounts, the Pixel adheres to them smoothly — as per the Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi2 standard. Samsung charges wirelessly as well, but the Pixel’s magnetic alignment makes at-home and in-car mounting staggeringly easy.
Software, AI features, and long-term update support
For both, the devices are guaranteed to receive seven years of Android and security updates, following a trend fueled by research from analysts at both IDC and Counterpoint — software support longevity’s goal is to cut down on e-waste and boost total cost of ownership for sustainable smartphones. There is, however, nuance to the AI story.
With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google includes a year of Gemini Advanced access, which opens up premium variants like Gemini 2.5 Pro, all of Veo video tools and storage hub solutions, in addition to early previews. Magic Cue for intelligent suggestions and the Camera Coach to better frame shots are genuinely useful features that help to speed up daily activities. Samsung offers its polished Galaxy AI suite, includes six months of Gemini Advanced, and runs Gemini services while providing useful on-device tricks — image editing, smart compose and summaries. Third, when it comes to multitasking, Samsung’s taskbar, floating windows and drag-and-drop all feel best on a spacious inner display.
Price, overall value, and our verdict on the winner
Real-world pricing tilts the scales. Recent sales from major US IRL retail channels have seen the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 plummet by around $400 — you can even occasionally find it at ~$1,599, which is about $200 less than what Google is selling its Pixel 10 Pro Fold for out of the gate. When the two top foldables are this neck-and-neck, value counts.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the superior option if you value dust resistance, magnetic charging and accessories, and that great 5x telephoto reach. But for the majority of people, it’s no contest: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a runaway winner. It’s slimmer, lighter and more comfortable to use all day, the crease on its inner display is less obtrusive, its camera system cuts a more consistent path across scenarios, and it has progressed to a more mature multitasking software experience — now available at a lower street price.
Who should buy which: guidance based on priorities
Choose the Pixel 10 Pro Fold if you do dusty work, are addicted to magnetic chargers and mounts, or regularly shoot far-off subjects where 5x optical really sparkles. The free year of Gemini Advanced is a nice extra for those anxious to check out Google’s newest AI offerings.
Get the Galaxy Z Fold 7 if you’re seeking out the lightest-feeling, most polished foldable for everyday productivity. Its ergonomics, crease control, camera reliability and real-world pricing mean it’s the best book-style foldable for most buyers right now.
