The new Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 are expensive. In fact, they have the highest prices of any phone currently out that I know. But does a premium price mean they take the best photos? I was curious to find out.
I should note that later this month, Samsung is holding an Unpacked event where I expect the next-gen Galaxy Z Fold to be announced. And it might have even better cameras. Once it’s out, we will happily pit the new Z Fold against the Pixel Fold. In the meantime, let’s dig into the details.
Both the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs $1,799 and has five cameras. However, neither set any high marks for camera performance. As you might infer from their names, each phone’s key feature is a foldable screen — which is largely the reason for their beefy price tags. To make each phone pocketable when closed, the bodies are ultrathin, leaving less room for camera sensors and lenses. That means both Google and Samsung rely on their machine learning and AI prowess to make photos look good.
Pixel Fold camera specs vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4
Both the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 4 have three rear cameras, one cover screen camera and one interior screen camera. Resolution-wise it’s pretty close between what Google and Samsung each offer. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that comparing image sensor resolution is like trying to compare the calories in food; 100 calories of broccoli has different benefits than 100 calories of ice cream. So yeah, more megapixels isn’t always better. The biggest differences are actually in the software processing, which Google seems to be better at.
The hardware is nearly identical in terms of specs, with the Pixel Fold having a 48-megapixel sensor, while the Z Fold 4 rocks a 50-megapixel sensor.
Google Pixel Fold camera specs vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
| Google Pixel Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | f1.7 aperture, 48MP sensor | f1.8 aperture, 50MP sensor |
| Ultra wide camera | f2.2 aperture, 10.8MP sensor | f2.2 aperture, 12MP sensor |
| Telephoto camera | f3.05 aperture, 10.8MP sensor | f2.4 aperture, 10MP sensor |
| Cover screen camera | f2.2 aperture, 9.5MP sensor | f2.2 aperture, 10MP sensor |
| Interior screen camera | f2 aperture, 8MP sensor | f1.8 aperture, 4MP sensor |
The interior screen cameras are also different, with the Pixel sporting an 8-megapixel sensor and the Galaxy having just a 4-megapixel one. Samsung’s camera is buried under the display, however, which is brilliant. It’s the camera you use the least, and I think Samsung was wise to improve the inner display experience by “hiding” the camera, even if it comes with the trade-off of a lower-resolution sensor.
The last main hardware difference is the telephoto camera, which on the Pixel Fold has a 5x optical zoom, while the Z Fold 4 has a 3x optical zoom.
