Joseph Maldonado and Kerry Wan/ZDNET
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has finally arrived, and it isn’t taking on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a generational design leap. Instead, it competes by adding quality-of-life features — a couple of which are industry-firsts for a foldable phone.
If you are ready to upgrade from a slab phone to a foldable one, now is the best time to do so. However, it can be confusing to make a decision when both Google and Samsung book-style foldables are so good this year.
Also: Everything announced at Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more
Here’s how the new Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold compares to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and which one is the best for you.
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You should buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold if…
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
1. You work in a dust-prone environment
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first book-style foldable to sport an IP68 rating, which means it is truly resistant against minute dust particles. In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is rated IP48 for dust and water resistance, so it is protected against solid particles bigger than 1 millimeter. Since dust particles are smaller than 1mm, there’s no guarantee that a Z Fold 7 will do well against dust.
Also: Google just settled the foldable phone debate with one number — and I hope Samsung is watching
If you live in a place susceptible to dust or work in a dusty environment, the Google foldable will serve you better. It isn’t dustproof, per se, but you can get extra peace of mind when using it in those environments.
2. You are shifting from an iPhone
If you can’t wait for a foldable iPhone and want to switch to a book-style foldable this year, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the phone to buy. While switching to a Samsung foldable is equally easy/tedious, you’ll be able to retain your iPhone’s MagSafe-compatible accessories if you buy the Google foldable.
The Pixel 10 series comes with a new feature called PixelSnap. It is like MagSafe, where you get magnets to attach a slew of accessories. The new tech is based on Qi2 standards and offers 15W wireless charging on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. So, if you have MagSafe-compatible charging pads, power banks, or even tripods, they should theoretically be compatible with the new Google phones. This makes shifting to an Android foldable easier for an iPhone user.
3. You want a more affordable folding phone
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the best (if not the best) book-style foldables you can buy right now. It weighs less than most slab flagship phones and feels like a ‘normal’ phone in the hand. But it also carries a massive $2000 price tag. If you don’t want to spend two grand on your new phone, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the way to go.
Also: I went hands-on with every Google Pixel 10 model – and was surprised by the one I loved most
The new Google foldable undercuts its Samsung rival by $200. The base 256GB storage variant is priced at $1,800. You can currently purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for as low as $1,700 on Amazon, but that’s the current discount price. Once it goes on sale, you should be able to find discounts on the Pixel foldable, too.
4. You want to use all the Gemini AI features for a year
If you are new to the AI world and want to try the best of Google AI features for free, Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the way to go. The company is offering a year’s worth of Gemini AI Pro subscription for free with its Pixel 10 Pro series. This means you can get enhanced features like access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3 for AI-generated videos, 2TB of cloud storage, and previews of upcoming AI tools. By contrast, Samsung is giving six months of free access to the same service with its Galaxy Z Fold 7.
You should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 if…
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
1. You want the slimmest and lightest folding phone
I love my Galaxy Z Fold 7 for its slim and light design. In fact, it is more comfortable to hold and use than big flagship phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung’s own Galaxy S25 Ultra. At 215 grams, it is one of the most comfortable phones to use on the market right now. Plus, it measures just 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, which feels surreal at times.
Also: I spent a week in New York City with the Samsung Z Fold 7 – and it spoiled me the entire time
Samsung has almost perfected the form factor with its latest foldable. If you want a foldable phone without the foldable design quirks, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the phone for you (if you are a right-hander, because hinge edges are still very sharp for left-handed people).
2. A folding phone’s crease bothers you
When I first unboxed the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I was amazed by the inner screen’s flatness when I rubbed my hand over it. If you have used a folding phone before but couldn’t live with it because of a gigantic crease running down the middle of its big screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be a breath of fresh air for you.
Samsung’s new folding phone features the smallest crease in its segment. You can still see it at certain angles, but it won’t bother you at all. In comparison, Google’s crease situation still needs work.
3. You want a polished suite of AI features
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 can run Gemini, but the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can’t run Galaxy AI features. That’s not to say the Google phone doesn’t have exclusives. The new Magic Cue and Camera Coach features are worth trying.
Also: PixelSnap is the MagSafe for Android phones we’ve been waiting for – here’s our first look
However, Galaxy AI has a more tried-and-tested suite of comparatively more polished AI features, such as AI Select, a damn good object eraser, and more. You can also avail free six months of Gemini AI Pro to try Veo 3, NotebookLM, etc., with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
4. You want to buy a foldable in the next few weeks
If you want to buy a new folding phone in the next month, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is your only choice because the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold won’t go on sale till October 9. That’s seven weeks after launch. By contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is already available and might persuade potential Pixel buyers, especially at the new price.
I have yet to use the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as a daily driver, so I don’t have an opinion on the cameras or battery life. While it packs a bigger cell than its counterpart, I’ll only be able to tell the difference after I have used it in daily life. Both phones run Android 16 out of the box and are promised to receive up to seven years of OS and Android security updates, so they should last long.
