The Google Pixel 7 line launched to strong criticism. Not only the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro push photography towards near DSLR levelsthey do it for around $600 and $900, respectively.
Although I inserted my SIM card into a Pixel 7 that Google provided for reviews, I just can’t completely turn off my Galaxy Z Fold 3 — Samsung’s $1,800 foldable from last year — and its large, flip-out interior display and thin, candy bar-shaped exterior display. Here’s why.
The power of a big screen phone
Most things you can do on a 7.6-inch screen also work on a 6.4-inch screen. But aspect ratio – the measure of how square or thin a screen is – makes a big difference. The much wider Z Fold 3, when unfolded, offers a roomy, almost square screen that makes the Pixel 7 feel cramped and compromised.
Instead of comics being squashed on a traditional phone screen, where you have to zoom in and out to see individual panels, the Z Fold 3 feels like reading an actual page.
The front and interior displays of Samsung’s Z Fold 3 are high-resolution 120Hz Super AMOLED displays with deep blacks, rich colors, and silky-smooth animations. The Pixel 7, at a third of the price, has a respectable 1,080 x 2,400 resolution display at 90Hz and competitive AMOLED if not at Samsung’s level. Kudos on the value of the Pixel 7, but playing Genshin Impact on a big 7.6-inch screen means a much richer gaming world.
Multitasking fun
On my Galaxy Z Fold 3, I can use four apps at once. It’s cluttered, but it’s also cool. I often use two or three apps simultaneously, with YouTube and Twitter in two corners and Reddit on the rest of the screen.
I’ve also written about my Z Fold 3 using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, treating it like a little Galaxy Tab. On one side I’ll have Google Docs open and on the other Slack or a website I’m checking. It’s not ideal, but in no time the job is done.
Multitasking on the Pixel 7 feels awkward by comparison. The Pixel’s UI has bigger gaps between two apps, using up valuable resolution dots that could instead be used to display information.
Samsung’s software gets ahead
Conventional wisdom says Google’s Pixel line delivers the definitive Android experience. After all, Google makes Android, so an Android phone made by Google would have the best software design with minimal bells and whistles. But after using the Z Fold 3 for a year and the Pixel 7 since October, I find Samsung’s One UI to be more intuitive and get things done faster.
The fewer taps it takes to complete a task, the better. When opening Samsung’s phone app to make calls, swiping right on a name places a call and swiping left initiates a text message. On Pixel, tapping on a name opens a bulkier drop-down menu with video or text call options. To call, there’s a separate phone icon on the right.
And when on a call, the Pixel doesn’t have a dedicated speakerphone button, which forces me to use another drop-down menu. These are only two small examples and are far from decisive. But they show that Samsung has paid attention to the smallest pain points to deliver a better overall experience.
Foldables are the future
Foldables offer huge functionality in a relatively small size. Heck, it’s even possible to use the Galaxy Z Fold 4 as a personal computer, albeit with some compromises. Although the foldable market is still an expensive niche, I hope that as prices come down the mass appeal increases. And who knows, maybe Google will create its own foldable. Rumors are already pointing to a Release of Pixel Fold 2023.
#Samsungs #Fold #Googles #Pixel