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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold are great phones.
- Every foldable phone in the US has a niche.
- But the Pixel has something the Z Fold 8 doesn’t, and it’s a game-changer.
As Google launched its new lineup of Pixel devices in New York, I was chilling in Myrtle Beach, enjoying a long-overdue vacation. My priorities at the time were ocean wave diving, a little reading, and enjoying some fun with my family. But I had to plan ahead for this vacation. Notably, I had to fire up my Kindle e-reader once again, and I had to switch phones.
The problem wasn’t that I had to review another phone, which is often the reason why I need to switch. I had a bigger problem — durability. Samsung went out of its way to make the Galaxy Fold 8 and Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra pretty durable. It added titanium to the hinge and the inner screen, which is a great addition. But it failed to add one more thing to the phone: dust resistance.
Also: Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: How the big Android foldables compare
It’s true that IP48 water and dust resistance can withstand larger dirt particles, but sand — beach sand in particular — is another matter. Just look around YouTube, and you’ll find no shortage of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners who mistakenly took their phones to the beach and came away with a crunchy hinge.
That crunch may not damage the hinge or the screen long term, but it was enough to make me nervous. So, rather than risk damaging a foldable, I switched to my Pixel 10 Pro XL for the week. That phone’s IP68 rating was enough to put my nerves at ease. Of course, I could have switched to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which also carries an IP68 water and dust rating, but to be honest, I didn’t think about it at the time. But the Pixel 10 Pro XL served me admirably on the beaches of South Carolina, as will the Pixel 11 Pro XL that I reviewed recently.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a great device, but one problem it’s had over the past year has been its size and weight, especially compared to other offerings in the space. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (it’s closest competition at the time), the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was an absolute chonker. Pitted against the Razr Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it’s a beast. One could argue that the extra protection that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold provided earned some allowances in that regard.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is built to last
But the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has the same — and even more — durability, and it comes in thinner and lighter. Google shaved almost a millimeter off the thickness and almost 20 grams off the weight. The result is a phone that feels very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Plus, the phone includes magnetic charging for Qi2.2/MagSafe compatibility, and Google added back glass that, according to the company, is nearly impossible to crack. That’s saying something.
Also: I replaced my Samsung with the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold – a week later, I’m going back
In a world where many people you see in public are using phones with cracked glass, making something nearly impossible to crack is a big deal. Add to that the full IP68 water and dust resistance, and I would have absolutely loved taking that phone to the beach and reading on it. Don’t get me wrong, I still like my Kindle, but the fact that I felt I had to change phones was annoying.
At the moment, the three foldable phones available in the US are carving out new niches for themselves. The Razr Fold has the biggest battery — and arguably the best cameras; the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has the most power, and the most novel design; and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the most durable.
Of those three categories, I’m most tempted by the Pixel 11 Pro Fold because having a big battery or a cool design is great — until the phone breaks. Then, it doesn’t matter what it looks like. If the best camera you have is the one you keep with you, then the best phone you can have is the one that works.
Also: Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: I’m a fan of both foldables, but this one wins
I think the others will get there. Heck, the Honor Magic V6 (which is only available overseas) has an IP68 and IP69 rating, which means it can take a mud bath, get rinsed off in the dishwasher, and come out smiling. So, this will come eventually, but for now, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold will be the one I carry with me the most, despite the advantages other foldables have, because at the end of the day, I can count on it to work.
