Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Foldable Pixel or Slab Galaxy?
Pixel 9 Pro Fold won Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards; Galaxy S25 Ultra was runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 awards. Now both have similar discounted pricing — the Pixel Fold around $1,500 (down from $1,799), the S25 Ultra at $1,299.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google · 2024 · From $1799
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Round wins
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 2 · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 4 ·Ties: 2
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8-inch inner OLED, 6.3-inch outer OLED, 120Hz | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 10.5MP ultrawide + 10.8MP 5x telephoto | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 4,650 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
| Starting price | $1799 | $1299 |
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Inner display size
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel 9 Pro Fold: 8.0-inch. S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch. Pixel Fold for tablet-class viewing.
Outer display
TiePixel 9 Pro Fold: 6.3-inch traditional aspect. S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch. Different use cases.
Camera
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 200MP main + 5x periscope + 3x + ultra. Pixel Fold: 48MP main + 10MP 5x + 10MP ultra. Samsung wins on resolution and zoom flexibility.
Performance
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraSnapdragon 8 Elite (S25 Ultra) outperforms Tensor G4 (Pixel Fold) by ~35%.
AI features
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel Fold has Magic Editor, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser. Galaxy AI is broad but less polished.
Battery
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 8+ hours screen-on. Pixel Fold: 5–6 hours across two displays.
Software updates
TieBoth ship 7 years of major OS updates.
Price
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: $1,299. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: ~$1,500 discounted. Samsung is $200 cheaper.
Final verdict
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra unless you'll genuinely use the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's tablet-sized inner display daily. The S25 Ultra wins on camera zoom, S Pen, brightness, and is $200 cheaper. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is for buyers who want a phone-tablet hybrid with clean Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Galaxy S25 Ultra: which to buy?
S25 Ultra (runner-up Phone of the Year 2025) for most buyers — better cameras, longer battery, $200 cheaper. Pixel 9 Pro Fold (2024 Best Foldable) only if you'd actually use the tablet-sized inner display daily.
Which has the better camera, Pixel 9 Pro Fold or S25 Ultra?
Galaxy S25 Ultra — 200MP main and 5x periscope reach beat the Pixel Fold's smaller hardware.
Is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold worth $1,500?
Only if you'll use the inner display daily. For phone-first use, the S25 Ultra is the more rational pick at $200 less.