According to the latest leaks and rumors, only 10.5mmthe upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be much thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which measures 12.1mm when it is closed and used as a “normal phone”.
However, the leaked information states that Pixel 9 Pro The Fold is likely to be significantly heavier than the Fold 6, which may put some people (who have to choose between the two) in a strange position.
According to the Android Headlines article, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expected to have a high 263 gramsand while this is a big improvement over the nearly 300g of the original Pixel Fold, 263 grams (without case and protector) is rather heavy – especially for everyday use.
On the other hand, after playing around with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for a while I would say Samsung has done an excellent job with the weight and especially the weight distribution of the latest Fold, which (at least Pork ham approx. 240g) doesn’t feel heavy at all. In fact, it feels just as light/heavy as my Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be much thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but Google’s problems are (again) sold by the gram
Google is going from making one of the smallest foldables (with the Pixel Fold) to one of the biggest, with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold becoming the biggest foldable phone on the market this year.
As someone who has spent a little time with foldable phones (I bought and used a Galaxy Z Fold 3 and then sold it), I can safely say that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is likely to offer a more comfortable and convenient user experience compared to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold due to three key differences – overall size, weight, and cover screen size.
You don’t have to imagine what you already do every day, but just imagine holding up your phone to browse social media or read an article while lying in bed…
With a heavier device like the Pixel 9 Pro Folds, your hand and wrist can quickly tire. In contrast, the lighter Galaxy Z Fold 6 will feel less bulky and allow for longer use without major inconvenience. This is especially important for a foldable device.
This difference of about 22 grams may sound small on paper, but it makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feel less handy in everyday use than the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Bulkier Pixel 9 Pro Fold + wider cover display = not the best combination compared to the very balanced Galaxy Z Fold 6
Say what you want, but this is a major upgrade! Sorry… A major upgrade.
Then we have the difference in the size of the cover screen…
The Pixel 9 Pro The Fold’s screen is said to be 6.3 inches. That may seem great at first glance, but it can pose a bit of a problem when using it one-handed. Keep in mind that foldable devices are quite a bit thicker than traditional slates, which makes a 6.3-inch screen harder to handle with one hand.
A wider cover screen requires more stretching and hand gymnastics to reach different parts of the display with your thumb, which can be especially difficult if you have smaller hands (like me).
Funnily enough, the improved cover screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 also measures 6.3 inches – but in a very different aspect ratio and width. And while this used to be arguably the biggest downside to a phone like the Fold 5, I’m pretty sure it’ll actually help the Fold 6 this time around.
As you can see in my side-by-side collage, the Fold 6’s cover screen is wider than the screen on my iPhone 13 mini (which I use daily). It’s also the same width as the Xperia 5V’s screen and much wider than the Fold 5’s.
In short, the narrower (but now sufficiently wide) cover screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 means that it is easier to operate with one hand than using the cover display of the new PixelFoldwhich is expected to be the largest foldable phone on the market.
Your wallet will like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 much better than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (or the iPhone 15 Pro Max)
Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max in the pocket test… Which is the regular phone? Image courtesy of DigitalTrends.
Finally, I should probably remind you of a seemingly obvious benefit of having/carrying a phone that isn’t too wide, but one that many people forget… With a foldable phone, the size of the screen affects how the phone feels in your pocket.
Overall, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be a huge upgrade over its predecessor and a very exciting addition to the foldable phone Market that Galaxy Z Fold 6 (I think!) will prove to be the more convenient option that most people will choose.
The cover’s lighter weight and more practical screen size should make Samsung’s Fold a more ergonomic and user-friendly choice for everyday tasks. And for those who value comfort and convenience, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might just feel like a (now I say it) … “more normal” flip phone.
I have the feeling Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be the more “normal” non-normal phone compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Wrinkles. Do you agree?
