Skip to main content

The Google Pixel Fold could beat the Galaxy Z Fold in one big way

One hurdle that foldable smartphones have yet to clear is the issue they face with battery life. All of the current leading foldables — like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Oppo Find N2 — leave a lot to be desired when it comes to battery drain. Thankfully, the Google Pixel Fold might be leading the way when it comes to foldable batteries.

According to 9to5Google, the Pixel Fold will feature a battery cell bigger than that of both the Z Fold 4 and Find N2. If accurate, this would give the Pixel Fold the largest battery of any foldable yet, and a potential huge edge over Google’s stiff competition.

Unfolding the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Currently, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 features a 4,400 mAh battery, while the Find N2 has a 4,520 mAh one. The battery size for the Pixel Fold will “be closer to, but still well below, 5,000 mAh,” according to 9to5Google. Based on the phrasing, it seems safe to assume that the battery could be somewhere around 4,750 mAh, as that would be “well below” 5,000, but still a solid step up from the cells featured in other foldable devices. It would also be a significant upgrade compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s battery.

If the information is correct and the Pixel Fold really does feature a significantly better battery, it could point toward the Pixel Fold becoming the leading foldable when it finally launches. With battery life that’s able to get users through a full day of use, it would instantly be the go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a foldable device that doesn’t require time on the charger by the time dinner rolls around.

Leaked image of the Google Pixel Fold.
Google Pixel Fold render @OnLeaks

The main reason why foldables tend to struggle with battery life compared to non-folding smartphones is that foldables have less space to work with due to their thinner size and hinges. According to 9to5Google in the same report, the Pixel Fold may be slightly larger than the Oppo Find N2, giving it the internal room to house a larger battery.

There are still a lot of question marks floating around the Pixel Fold, but the report about its battery could be painting a pretty picture before its full, official reveal. As is the case with all unofficial reports, make sure to take this information with skepticism, as there’s still time for Google to say that the Pixel Fold will have a battery similar to the rest of its foldable competition.

Editors' Recommendations

Peter Hunt Szpytek
A podcast host and journalist, Peter covers mobile news with Digital Trends and gaming news, reviews, and guides for sites…
I spent 3 days with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It’s not what I expected
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 half folded on a showcase.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like an incremental update on paper. It’s got the same camera hardware, the same form factor with a narrow cover screen, and the same battery capacity as its predecessor. Much like most of you, I thought it to be a minor upgrade over the Fold 4 when it was unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event last month. But it’s not.

While the differences over the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can’t be seen in photos of the two phones side by side, they can be experienced. I’m calling the Galaxy Z Fold 5 an experiential upgrade because most of the upgrades can only be felt once you hold the device in your hand or use it for a couple of days. And once you do that, you quickly realize how much better it really is.
The thinner, lighter design is a game changer
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 5 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
New Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 features are heading to older devices
Samsung One UI 5.1.1 updates for older Galaxy Tab, Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Watch 5 devices.

Samsung recently released a slate of new products with great new features, including the new Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Galaxy Tab S9 tablet lineup, and the Galaxy Watch 6 series. While these are the latest and greatest, Samsung has just announced that some new One UI features introduced with these devices are heading to older models through a software update.

The One UI 5.1.1 update will be coming to owners of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 devices this month. People who have the Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Z Fold 2, Z Flip 2, and original Z Flip will get the update sequentially.

Read more
I did a camera test with two $1,800 phones. Then something annoying happened
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 5 rear panels.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 5 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung hasn’t drastically changed the camera setup on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 over the Galaxy Z Fold 4, promising instead that the new processor, lenses, and software changes will see it take better photos than before. To find out if the claim is accurate, I put the two big-screen folding smartphones against each other in a camera shootout.

Read more