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.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6 Cameras
| Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 | |
| Cameras | 48-megapixel (wide), 10.5-megapixel (ultrawide), 10.8-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto) |
| Selfie Cameras | 10-megapixel (inner screen), 10-megapixel (cover screen) | 4-megapixel (inner screen under-display), 10-megapixel (cover screen) |
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
I preferred this photo over Samsung’s because the color and lighting seemed more accurate.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
This photo looks a little overexposed in the middle compared to Google’s image.
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
A photo of a flower taken with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
A photo of a flower taken with the 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
This photo has significantly less glare than Samsung’s.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
This photo taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a little too much glare.
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
This photo is brighter than Samsung’s, but it’s not as sharp.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung’s photo is sharper than Google’s.
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
This photo of my cat Oscar is definitely brighter than Samsung’s, but not as detailed.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
This photo of my cat Oscar is a little dark, but it has a good amount of detail.
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
This photo is much clearer than the one taken on Samsung’s phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
This photo is blurrier than the one taken with Google’s phone.
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
This photo was taken at a 20x zoom on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
A photo of the top of a church zoomed in at 20x taken on the 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
This scene is gorgeous no matter what, but I prefer the warmer tone of Samsung’s image.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
This photo was taken with the 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
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s photo is brighter, and the cocktail looks sharper.
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
Even though Samsung’s photo has more glare, I think it’s the better image.
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
Google’s selfie is more flattering, but I think Samsung’s is more accurate.
Selfie (inner camera)
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Google’s photo looks much more natural than Samsung’s.
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.