Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro is the third-generation Pixel since the soft reset the brand went through in 2021. The subsequent two years of refinement have led to the best Pixel yet, finally moving away from the thermal and signal issues of its predecessors to present one of the best smartphones of the year.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Z Fold 5 is Samsung’s best foldable yet, but it’s losing ground to other devices from competitors. Can the magic of transforming between phone and tablet compensate for its shortfalls, or is the Pixel 8 Pro the way to go?
Google’s Pixel series had a soft reboot in 2021, and thePixel 8 Probenefits from the experience and innovation Google has gained in the last two years. The Tensor G3 is finally a compelling chipset, cell service is reliable, and the camera and Pixel-exclusive features are as good as ever. Even so, Google faces intense competition, especially from Samsung. TheGalaxy Z Fold 5is one of thebest Samsung phonesthis year, so how does the Pixel 8 Pro measure up?
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Pixel 8 Pro starts at $1,000 for 128GB of storage with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options available. It’s available from Google and most carriers and retailers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available almost worldwide, starting at $1,700 for 256GB, with 512GB and 1TB options available.
Both of these phones use a familiar design. The Pixel 8 Pro retains the camera bar from the Pixel 6 and 7 series, tweaking it slightly so that all the camera lenses share one cutout in the metal bar. The corners have been rounded off compared to the previous phone, and users can rejoice that the display is now flat. The camera bar and frame are metal, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the front and back.
The Z Fold 5 looks almost identical to the Fold 4. The flash has been moved next to the camera bump, and the new hinge allows the phone to fold flat. That last point is a big deal, as it eliminates one of our biggest complaints with previous Z Fold devices. The gap that used to be left between the two halves would collect copious amounts of dust and lint onto the inner display, but this flat design prevents that and looks better in the process. The frame is metal, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the back panel and outer display.
It’s usually a given that the Samsung device will win the display category in these articles. However, it isn’t that simple anymore. The Pixel 8 Pro has a gorgeous 1440p AMOLED display that can vary its refresh rate from 1-120Hz and reach an eye-cooking 2,400 nits. That’s not just bright. It’s supernova levels of light being emitted from this tiny gadget. As such, the viewing experience in direct sunlight is unparalleled.
The Z Fold 5 has excellent screens, but the only area that beats the Pixel 8 Pro is the number of displays. The outer screen is a 6.2-inch 120Hz, 904x2316 AMOLED display that can reach 1,750 nits. The inside screen is also 120Hz and capable of 1,750 nits, but it’s larger at 7.6 inches. While not as bright as the Pixel, the Fold 5 does well outdoors, though the inner screen still struggles with reflections.
Samsung has offered longer software support than Google since the Galaxy S21 launched in 2021, but now Google has retaken the crown. The Pixel 8 Pro launches with Android 14 and will receive seven years of OS, feature drop, and security updates. That means the 8 Pro will see Android 21 in 2030. The Fold 5 is on Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1 but will receive One UI 6 and Android 14 soon. It will get four Android upgrades with a fifth year of security patches.
Aside from support, the software is quite different. Google focuses on a smaller set of useful features, like the new AI trickery and Call Screening, while Samsung throws in everything but the kitchen sink in the name of giving options. Although both options are valid, we wish the two companies could meet in the middle somehow.
Where the Fold 5 shines is in productivity features. You can open three apps at once in a grid and add several collapsable floating windows on top. A foldable can do things no traditional phone can, and swapping between multiple apps when notetaking or referencing notes is a breeze.
Performance
On paper, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has more raw power. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a masterpiece of an SoC, and combined with the super-fast UFS 4.0 storage, the phone flies through whatever task you ask of it. Even so, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro offers a performant experience. The truth is that benchmark scores have almost no correlation with real-world usage.
The Pixel 8 Pro is one of the smoothest phones we’ve ever used. But has it atoned for the flaws of its predecessors? The Pixel 6 and 7 had significant issues with thermal performance and cell signal. Tensor G3 feels different. In my experience, it can get slightly warm in some uses, but never to the extent of G2 or G1, and it’s never uncomfortable to hold. My 8 Pro uses an O2 sim here in the UK, and signal strength has been on par with all of my other devices for 4G, 5G, and call quality.
If you want to max out Genshin Impact, you’ll have a better time with the Fold 5, but day to day, both phones perform well, with the Pixel having an edge in slick and smooth animations.
Battery life and charging
The Fold 5 has a 4,400mAh battery, which can be charged at 25W over USB-C and 15W wirelessly. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 5,050mAh battery that can charge at 30W wired and up to 23W wirelessly, but there’s a caveat — while the Fold 5 can reach its 15W wireless speeds on any 15W Qi charger, the Pixel 8 Pro can only achieve 23W on the Pixel Stand. Conventional Qi chargers max out at 12W.
Both phones will get you through a day, but the Pixel will do so more reliably. The Z Fold 5 has to power a huge inner display which sucks back a lot more power than a conventionally sized display, so if you push it hard with a lot of brightness, it may die before bed.
The Pixel 8 Pro not only has a larger battery with only one display to power, but the screen is exceptionally energy efficient. As noted byDylan Raga on Twitter, the Pixel 8 Pro can reach the maximum brightness of the Pixel 7 Pro while only using 47% as much power. Displays are one of the primary power consumers on smartphones, so this efficiency is important.
Left:Pixel 8 Pro;Right:Z Fold 5
Both of these phones can take great photos, but the Pixel will do so with consistency. The primary sensor in the Z Fold 5 is the same 50MP unit from the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ and takes solid photos in good lighting. Compared to the Pixel, though, the foldable isn’t consistent enough to rely on, especially as the night draws in. The 10MP 3X telephoto lens is great for portrait shots, but zooming beyond 3X is not a great experience, and the 12MP ultrawide is firmly in theokaycategory.
The Fold 5’s selfie camera on the cover display uses a 10MP sensor and takes good selfies. In contrast, the under-display camera on the inside screen is still disappointing in terms of quality due to the 4MP resolution. It’s okay for video calls, but that’s about it.
The Pixel 8 Pro has sublime cameras that lean toward a muted natural look for colors, unlike the bright saturation Samsung prefers. The 50MP primary sensor is exceptional in all lighting conditions, and the 48MP 5X telephoto and 48MP ultrawide are also a pleasure to use. The only downside here is portrait performance. The 3X lens on the Fold can achieve natural bokeh, while the Pixel will rely on software blur.
The selfie camera on the 8 Pro is a little soft but competes well with both selfie cameras on the Fold 5. What it doesn’t compete with is the Z Fold 5’s primary rear shooter, which can be used to take selfies due to its foldable nature. The Pixel 8 Pro is also packed full of AI camera features, some of which aren’t available yet. It’s an in-depth topic we don’t have time for here, but you canread all about it in our review.
Which phone is right for you?
Foldable phonesstill carry a lot of compromises, so unless you’re dead set on a foldable, you should get the Pixel 8 Pro. It’s cheaper, takes better photos, and will still get software support long after the Z Fold 5 is relegated to a pile of e-waste. Google has finally made a phone worth calling “Pro,” and it’s an easy recommendation - there’s a reason it’s at the top of ourAndroid phone ranking.
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However, if the idea of a powerful tablet that can fold up into your pocket interests you, the Z Fold 5 is an excellent choice.
Phone or tablet, you decide
