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The Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold formally went on sale this week, and it already faces stiff competitors from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Whereas Google is not bringing a flashy redesign like Samsung this 12 months, it rivals the Galaxy with quality-of-life options — a few that are refined however industry-firsts for the foldable market.
If you’re able to improve from a slab cellphone to a foldable one, now could be one of the best time to take action. Nonetheless, it may be complicated to decide when each Google and Samsung book-style foldables are so good this 12 months.
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Having totally examined each gadgets now, here is how the brand new Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold compares to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and which one is one of the best for you.
You should purchase the Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold if…
1. You’re employed in a dust-prone setting
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold is the primary book-style foldable to sport an IP68 score, which suggests it’s really resistant towards minute mud particles. As compared, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is rated IP48 for mud and water resistance, so it’s protected towards stable particles greater than 1 millimeter. Since mud particles are smaller than 1mm, there is no assure {that a} Z Fold 7 will do nicely towards mud.
Should you stay in a spot inclined to mud or work in a dusty setting, the Google foldable will serve you higher. It is not utterly dustproof, per se, however you may get additional peace of thoughts when utilizing it in these environments.
2. You might be switching from an iPhone
If you cannot anticipate a foldable iPhone and need to swap to a book-style foldable this 12 months, the Pixel 10 Professional Fold is the cellphone we advocate shopping for. Whereas switching to a Samsung foldable is equally as simple or tedious, you’ll retain your iPhone’s MagSafe-compatible equipment for those who purchase the Google foldable.
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The Pixel 10 sequence comes with a brand new characteristic referred to as PixelSnap. Consider it as MagSafe for Android, the place you get magnets to connect a slew of equipment. The brand new tech relies on Qi2 requirements and affords 15W wi-fi charging on the Pixel 10 Professional Fold. So, when you’ve got MagSafe-compatible charging pads, energy banks, and even tripods, they need to theoretically be suitable with the brand new Google telephones. This makes shifting to an Android foldable simpler for an iPhone person.
Whereas the Pixel 10 Professional Fold has an inferior digicam system on paper, with its 48MP fundamental sensor competing towards Samsung’s 200MP, it does have the power to shoot at 5x optical (versus Samsung’s 3x), permitting you to seize extra element at a distance. The 5x telephoto zoom can be nearer to the iPhone Professional telephones, if it is a digicam device you typically use.
3. You need to use all of the Pixel-exclusive Gemini options
If you’re new to the AI world and need to attempt one of the best of Google AI options free of charge, Pixel 10 Professional Fold is the way in which to go. The corporate is providing a 12 months’s value of Gemini AI Professional subscription free of charge with its Pixel 10 Professional sequence. This implies you may get enhanced options like entry to Gemini 2.5 Professional, Veo 3 for AI-generated movies, 2TB of cloud storage, and previews of upcoming AI instruments. Against this, Samsung is giving six months of free entry to the identical service with its Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold additionally options the corporate’s newest on-device and hybrid AI instruments, akin to Magic Cue, which routinely populates responses, useful context, and extra, whether or not you are within the messages app or in a cellphone name. The Pixel additionally helps Auto Finest Take, which stitches one of the best pictures of individuals in your photographs to create a really perfect one with no anomalies.
You should purchase the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 if…
1. You need the slimmest and lightest folding cellphone
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is undisputedly the best-looking foldable within the US proper now, because it flaunts a brand new slim and light-weight design. In actual fact, we have discovered it to be extra comfy to carry and use than bigger flagship telephones just like the iPhone 17 Professional Max and Samsung’s personal Galaxy S25 Extremely. At 215 grams, it is without doubt one of the most comfy telephones to make use of in the marketplace proper now. Plus, it measures simply 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, which feels surreal at instances.
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Samsung has virtually perfected the shape issue with its newest foldable. When folded, the facet ratio is just like a standard bar-style handset, and the thickness makes the system burdenless to handle. The Pixel 10 Professional Fold? Not a lot.
2. You are much less smitten by creases and glare
Once I first unboxed the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I used to be amazed by the internal display screen’s flatness after I rubbed my hand over it. If in case you have used a folding cellphone earlier than however could not stay with it due to a huge crease working down the center of its large display screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be a breath of recent air for you.
Samsung’s newest folding cellphone options the smallest crease in its phase. You possibly can nonetheless see it at sure angles, however it will not hassle you in any respect. As compared, Google’s crease aesthetic nonetheless wants work, and if you pair it with the shiny internal show, studying text-heavy pages and watching content material might be discomforting.
3. You need a polished suite of AI options
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 can even run Gemini, however the Pixel 10 Professional Fold cannot run Galaxy AI options. That is to not say the Google cellphone does not have exclusives. The brand new Magic Cue and Digital camera Coach options, talked about earlier, are nicely value attempting.
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Nonetheless, Galaxy AI has a extra tried-and-tested suite of comparatively extra polished AI options, akin to AI Choose, a rattling good object eraser, and extra. You can too avail free six months of Gemini AI Professional to attempt Veo 3, NotebookLM, and many others., with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
4. You need the higher foldable cellphone deal
There is no denying that Google might have mistimed the launch of the Pixel 10 Professional Fold. As a result of on the week that it is launching, Amazon and most main retailers have discounted the now months-old Galaxy Z Fold 7 by upwards of $400. That places the bottom mannequin of the Samsung foldable at round $1,599, $200 lower than the Pixel.
If we’re evaluating real-time costs, the Samsung not solely affords a greater digicam expertise with its 200MP-led configuration, but in addition undercuts its closest competitor by a significant quantity. When it comes to software program assist and longevity, each gadgets are anticipated to obtain seven years of updates, so you are not essentially shedding out by choosing Samsung over Google on this situation.