Foldable Phone Camera Showdown: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

If you’re considering buying a foldable phone like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, it’s probably for their giant, tablet-size bendable screens rather than their cameras. But any phone that costs close to $2,000 should be able to take stellar photos, too.

When it comes to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6, each device excels in different areas. Google, in my experience, was better at capturing scenes with a lot of detail like landscapes and generally balanced light and color more accurately. Zoomed-in shots taken with Google’s phone also looked noticeably sharper and less noisy than Samsung’s. But the Galaxy Z Fold 6 generally preserved more detail in photos of people and images taken in low-light environments. 

Both phones have similar camera specifications on paper, but megapixels don’t tell the whole story. The size of the sensor and the image processing pipeline in the chip that powers the phone also play a big role in how photos turn out.

To test each phone, I captured the same image from both phones in the same location at about the same time. The photos below haven’t been edited and were taken with the main wide camera on each device unless otherwise specified. Photography can be subjective; opinions on what makes a good photo can differ depending on your taste and preferences. My goal, however, is to demonstrate the differences between both phones. 

Main camera 

I preferred the Pixel’s image in this scenario because the center of the photo looks overexposed in Samsung’s image. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s feels more true to life. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Main camera

Here’s another example in which the Pixel 9 Pro Fold performed better than Samsung’s phone. The pink flower just looks more colorful in this image. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Ultrawide

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold took the better photo in this scenario. There’s too much glare coming from the sun in Samsung’s photo, which washes out the left side of the image and obscures the picturesque Victorian home. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Low light

Samsung impressed me with this image of a preserved flower bouquet, which was taken in a dark room. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s photo is much sharper and clearer than Google’s, even though the Pixel’s image is brighter. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Low light

There’s no denying Google’s photo is brighter, but you can see the details in Oscar’s fur more clearly in Samsung’s image.  

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Zoom at 10x

When it comes to zoomed photos, Google is the obvious winner. Look at how much clearer this photo of a sign at Cape May Winery in New Jersey is compared to Samsung’s. Both photos were taken at a 10x zoom, but Google’s doesn’t look nearly as blurry.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Zoom at 20x

The case is the same with this photo taken at a 20x zoom. There’s a lot more definition in the church’s bricks, and the scene just looks clearer overall in Google’s photo. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Mixed outdoor lighting

I was surprised at how differently this photo came out on each phone. Even though I generally thought Google did a better job with landscape and still life shots, this is the one exception. Samsung’s photo is warmer and has more detail, which you can especially notice in the grains of sand. Google’s photo, by comparison, almost looks like it has a blue filter over it. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Mixed indoor lighting

Google wins this one. The old fashioned cocktail in its photo (left) is more detailed and colorful than in Samsung’s. It looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 may have focused on the flower in the background instead. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Portrait

This was a difficult one to call, but I prefer Samsung’s photo. It has a slightly golden tint to it, but that makes it feel more vibrant and lively. The subject’s face also looks more detailed in Samsung’s photo in my opinion. (Although Google’s image has less glare, which seems to be a consistent theme with outdoor shots). 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Selfie (cover camera)

Here’s another challenging one to call. I think Google’s photo is more flattering since my skin looks smoother. But my face is definitely softer in Google’s photo compared to Samsung’s, which has more sharpness and detail to it. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Selfie (inner camera)

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6 have a much different approach to snapping selfies with their inner cameras. Google’s is brighter and looks more natural and soft, which I prefer, while Samsung’s is very over-processed — likely to compensate for the low-resolution 4-megapixel sensor. Google’s foldable has a 10-megapixel inner camera by comparison.

Overall, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 both perform well in different circumstances. Google’s foldable is the hands-down winner when it comes to zoomed-in shots, and it also generally captures superior shots of landscapes and objects outdoors with less glare. But I preferred Samsung’s photos of people, and the Z Fold 6’s low-light photos also had more detail. Which camera is the best depends on what matters to you most as a photographer.