Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: Which One Wins?

Key Points

• Google’s Pixel Fold features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.8-inch cover display, while Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 has a 6.7-inch inner display and a 1.9-inch cover display.
• The Pixel Fold is equipped with a Tensor G2 chipset and 12GB RAM, while the Z Flip4 has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and 8GB RAM.
• Google’s Pixel Fold has a superior camera setup with a 48MP main camera, while the Z Flip4 has a dual 12MP main camera array.
• The Pixel Fold has a larger battery capacity of 4,821mAh compared to the Z Flip4’s 3,700mAh.
• Google’s Pixel Fold starts at $1,799, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 starts at $999.99.
• The Pixel Fold is expected to run on Android 14, while the Z Flip4 currently runs on Android 12.

The recently unveiled Pixel Fold is one of the most anticipated smartphones of all time. Rumors about it circulated for years, but Google never confirmed that the device was in the making. Then, on May 10, 2023, the tech giant officially presented its first-ever foldable phone at the Google I/O event.

Despite how anticipated its foldable phone has been, the truth is that Google is quite late to the party. How does its device stand against competitors?

Should you consider a foldable phone or save some cash and get a flip one? Check out this head-to-head between Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 to decide.

Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: Side-by-Side Comparison

Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: What’s the Difference?

In a world where smartphones are launched each year only to be forgotten when a new device emerges, Google managed to make people curious about its first-ever foldable device. According to ArsTechnica, rumors about the Pixel Fold have been around since 2019, but Google never confirmed or denied its existence.

Until May 2023, that is, when the tech giant introduced its new brainchild at the Google I/O conference in Mountain View, California. The new foldable phone is available for pre-order and is expected to reach stores in the second half of June.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip4 has been around since August 2022. An upgrade to the Z Flip3 and an alternative to the Fold4, this compact device comes with Samsung’s reliability and is much more affordable than the new player. Can it compete with the new arrival?

Design

The most crucial difference between Google’s Pixel Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip4 is the type of device. The former is a foldable phone. It has a standard smartphone size when folded and turns into a mini-tablet with double the screen when unfolded.

The latter is a flip phone. When closed, it is a compact device that can easily slip into a tiny pocket. It doesn’t have a real screen on the cover, and it turns into a standard-size phone when unfolded. This design difference brings advantages and limitations in both cases.

As far as the Pixel Fold is concerned, the foldable design makes it a perfect choice for tech-savvy individuals and content creators. This smartphone delivers plenty of space and split-screen functionality for remote working.

Great Processor

Google Pixel Fold

$1,399.00

• Google Tensor G2 chip
• Advanced image processing
• Features Fingerprint Unlock and Face Unlock
• Made with polished aluminum and matte glass
• Comes with a telephoto and ultrawide lens

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When you’re on the go, the 5.8-inch cover display makes it easy to access all of your phone’s functions without unfolding it. However, the phone is rather large and might fit only tightly in some pockets.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 folds compactly when closed. It can fit in all pockets and is a nice choice for posh folks who want to have a fancy phone in their purse.

However, the tiny display on the cover doesn’t allow you to access all phone functions. Instead, it acts more like the display of a smartwatch, allowing you to read notifications or make and answer calls.

You’ll have to flip the phone open to access most apps. On the bright side, the full-size display is larger than Pixel Fold’s cover display, offering 6.7 inches.

Chipset

As far as design is concerned, there is a draw between the Pixel Fold and the Z Flip4 — it’s all a matter of preference, after all. But when it comes to chipsets, the latter is superior. Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is superior to Tensor G2 in every way except for battery life.

Despite being older than Tensor G2, the Snapdragon delivers a larger L3 cache size and performs better in floating-point computations. It also has a higher clock speed and a superior instruction set architecture.

If you’re not big on tech, this basically means that it performs better overall, regardless of the task at hand. The Z Flip4 is an excellent choice for gaming, content editing, and more.

Announced 10 months later, Google’s Tensor G2 is a promising chipset, but its only advantage over Z Flip4’s CPU is the efficiency of battery consumption. Nevertheless, the Pixel Fold is still a capable phone that delivers multi-tasking efficiency and a fluid user experience.

Internal Storage

Memory expandability is a thing of the past, as clearly shown by both Google and Samsung. Neither one of the two smartphones has expandable memory, so you’ll have to settle for whatever’s available. In this aspect, too, the Z Filp4 has the upper hand.

Samsung offers this phone in three sizes, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of internal storage. All variants feature 8GB of RAM, and the latter is only available as unlocked from Samsung.

Google’s Pixel Fold comes in 256GB and 512GB sizes, both with 12GB of RAM. Considering the staggering price difference between the two handsets, the Z Flip4 might be your best bet if you want to save a buck.

Camera Setup

If the Pixel Fold didn’t have much for itself in terms of chipset, the tables turn when it comes to the camera setup. Even though Samsung brags about the camera arrays it fits on its phones, the one on the Z Flip4 is quite disappointing.

You can expect a dual main camera array. Both are 12MP cameras that can capture images in 8K resolution, but the photo and video recording quality can’t compete with the Pixel Fold’s three-camera array and 48MP of the main camera.

Best Overall/ Most Portable

SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip4

$799.99

• 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED
• 10x Digital Zoom
• 3,700mAh battery
• 10MP front camera
• Android 12 OS

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It goes without saying that both smartphones use AI upscaling to improve picture quality or enhance your look in selfies. Speaking of selfies, Samsung’s Z Flip4 gains some points with its 10MP inner camera.

The Pixel Fold has two selfie cams — much like all other foldable phones. The cover camera is 8MP, and the inner one is 9.5MP.

Software

Both Google and Samsung smartphones run on Android, but the Z Flip4 was launched in 2022. Its original operating system is Android 12-based One UI 4.1.

Samsung offers four major Android OS updates and up to five years of security updates, which means that a Z Flip4 bought today would run on Android 13 One UI 5.1— the same OS found in Samsung’s new flagship S23.

However, Google hasn’t actually launched its Pixel Fold yet. Considering that Android 14 beta 2.1 was released on May 25, the new foldable handset is likely an Android 14 native.

Similarly to Samsung, Google offers four years of OS updates and up to five years of security updates for its Pixel phones. The Z Flip4 will become obsolete in a year or two, but you’ll be able to run the newest Android versions on a Pixel Fold for at least half a decade.

Battery

As mentioned, Tensor G2 is more battery-efficient than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. However, that’s not the only reason why Pixel Fold needs fewer recharges. The main reason is the larger battery of 4,821mAh. While we can’t say how long the battery will last in real life, Google’s internal tests show a runtime of approximately 33 hours.

Samsung’s Z Flip4 comes with a 3,700mAh battery that has a life of about eight to nine hours. Such a short runtime can be limiting in situations when you don’t have access to an outlet, so carrying a power bank might be wise when you’re on the go for a longer time.

Price

Owning the newest release is nice and all, but this choice often comes with sacrifices. In the case of the Pixel Fold, the sacrifice is at least $1,799 for the smallest version of the handset. The Z Flip4 is a lot cheaper, with a starting price of $999.99 for the 128GB variant.

The 512GB is more expensive but still affordable compared to the Pixel Fold. You can only get it from Samsung for $1179.99. The other two options are available from Samsung and various carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: 6 Must-Known Facts

1. The Pixel Fold is Google’s first-ever foldable phone. It was introduced in May 2023 and is expected to be released in the second half of June.
2. The Z Flip4 was released in August 2022 and is Samsung’s fourth edition of flip phones. It is a compact yet capable device designed to fit in all pockets.
3. Currently, the Z Flip4 runs on Android 13 One UI 5.1. The Pixel Fold is expected to be an Android 14 native.
4. The Z Flip4 features a more powerful chipset, but the Pixel Fold has a better camera setup and longer battery life.
5. Google’s Pixel Fold is available in two memory sizes and two colors: Porcelain, and Obsidian.
6. The Z Flip4 is available in three memory sizes and four standard colors: Bora Purple, Pink Gold, Graphite, and Blue. It also comes in Samsung-exclusive colors and bespoke colorways.

Google’s Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: Which One Should You Buy?

Choosing between Google’s Pixel Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 can be challenging if you don’t have a preferred style. The Pixel Fold is the newest of the two but also the most expensive.

It has a better camera setup and a longer-lasting battery, but the Z Flip4’s CPU performs better in almost every way. Samsung’s latest flip phone is also the best choice if you want to save a buck.

Both are capable handsets. However, we don’t know yet how the Pixel Fold will behave. Meanwhile, the Z Flip4 knows how to satisfy its owners and is readily available.

Ultimately, it all comes down to your needs. Do you need a new phone now? Then the Z Flip4 is your only choice. If you don’t mind waiting and prefer larger handsets, the Pixel Fold could be worth waiting for.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©tinhkhuong/Shutterstock.com.