Pixel 9 Pro Fold review: closing the gap on Samsung

Google's second-generation foldable, August 2024. £1,749. After two weeks, it is the first non-Samsung foldable that gets things genuinely right.

Hardware 257g, slightly heavier than the Z Fold 6 (239g) but the weight is distributed differently. The cover screen is wider (6.3 inches, 20.9:9). The inner screen is 8 inches versus 7.6 on the Fold 6. More usable.

Cameras 48MP main, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto. The 5x telephoto is the differentiator: Samsung's Z Fold 6 only has 3x. Photos at 5x and 10x are noticeably sharper.

Software Android 14 with Google's foldable optimisations. Multitasking on the inner screen is functional, not as polished as Samsung's split-screen handling. App pairs need third-party launchers.

Battery 4650mAh. Not great. The Z Fold 6's 4400mAh manages slightly better in real use thanks to Samsung's aggressive optimisation.

What I miss from Samsung - DeX desktop mode - S Pen support - Multi-window flexibility (Samsung's is still better)

What I prefer over Samsung - Google's camera processing (subtle but real edge in low light) - Pixel software updates (faster, cleaner) - The 5x telephoto

Verdict The gap with Samsung is now ~5%. For a photographer or anyone in the Pixel ecosystem, this is the foldable to buy. For a power user wanting S Pen and DeX, stick with the Z Fold 6.