Is Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold Better Than Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?

The new Pixel 11 Pro Fold is here, and it's thinner, lighter, faster, and stronger than before. Do I like it more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra? Let's go take a look at all the new upgrades. When it comes to the straight specs, Samsung might win the thin and light war, but based on some hands-on time of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, I think Google wins on real-world usability. The front display feels like a normal phone instead of a narrow TV remote, and the rounded corners don't stab your palms like Samsung's sharp edges. More importantly, Google built this for actual life, adding full IP68 dust resistance and a shatterproof glass back. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's IP48 rating only protects against solid objects larger than one millimeter. Sand, small crumbs, all could be a problem. On the back, Google is introducing Highlight, a customizable LED ring for personalized color ID and Gemini animations. We've seen companies like Nothing play around with this kind of feature before. To me, it does feel a little gimmicky, but let me know what you think. Open it up, and yeah, the 11 Pro Fold's crease is noticeably more visible than the Z Fold 8 Ultra's, but with 3,600 nits of peak brightness, Google's foldable is visibly punchier side-by-side with the Samsung, and will be easier to see outdoors in direct sunlight. Where do you stand on this trade-off? Are you team brighter display, or is a seamless, subtle crease more of a deal-breaker for you? Multitasking is always a big topic when it comes to foldables, but I really think Google might be onto something with its new App Bubbles. You get two main apps on screen, plus floating bubbles you can pop open and switch between instantly. It keeps the giant screen uncluttered while keeping background tasks ready to go. But you can't open three apps side-by-side like you can on the Z Fold 8 Ultra. When it comes to camera hardware, Google gives you a brighter 48-megapixel camera that lets in nearly 50% more light, plus a longer 5X optical zoom, compared to Samsung's 3X. But software is where it really gets interesting. Magic Capture automatically shoots video and picks out key photo moments simultaneously, while Creative Studio adds built-in teleprompter controls, turning the folded phone into a vlogging rig. I'm demoing it here on the non-foldable Pixel 11 Pro, but it's also on the Fold, and I just know that creators are going to love this. This is all powered by the 2-nanometer Tensor G6, which, being a Google chip, is naturally optimizing for Google Gemini-powered experiences. New for this generation? Rambler strips out your ums and ahs during voice dictation in real time, and Gemini Spark handles background chores, like turning RSVP emails into spreadsheets. Google also promises instant night-sight photos, needing virtually no processing time. On paper, Samsung takes the battery-capacity crown with a larger 5,015-milliamp-hour silicon-carbon battery, versus Google's 4,806-milliamp-hour lithium pack. But thanks to the G6's 20% efficiency jump, Google still promises a full 24 hours of endurance. Where Google clearly wins on convenience, though, is G2. Having magnets built directly into the back of the device makes magnetic charging and accessory mounting seamless out of the box, a basic luxury Samsung still forces you to buy a third-party case to get. So that's our first look at the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and I think overall its biggest competition at $1899 isn't just the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but also the regular Z Fold 8. And I think it comes down to which form factor do you prefer? Do you want a bigger display on the inside, or do you want a wider and shorter form factor when you're carrying it in your pocket? Stay tuned for our full review to see which one I like better.