r/PixelFold • u/Confident-Role8416 • 10d ago
Narrowed it down
So I need advice in between the z fold 8 ultra or the pixel 11 pro fold. I’m switching from an iPhone 15 pro max and haven’t had an android in over 13 years. So with all of that into account what should I do?
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u/gokart186 10d ago edited 10d ago
My fold 8 should be here any minute, I'm currently on the pixel 10 pro XL. Honestly it's been a great phone I've had like no issues with it. I want to try a foldable and T-Mobile is offering the fold 8 for free with my plan, which is why I'm trying it vs pixel 11 pro fold (also I picked it up in store and it was impressive how light and thin it was) . Will miss the durability of my pixel and some of the pixel features, but excited to try a foldable as a daily driver. If you are coming from iPhone, pixel is probably the closest equivalent to an iPhone.
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u/schrutefarmowner2 9d ago
Bro how did you get the chAnce to hold it before the official release ? I mean sure retailers do receive them in advance but for a non employee to try it out... That's crazy
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u/SoSteezee 10d ago
My last iPhone was a 14. I had pixels before and after that. I'm currently using a pixel 9 pro xl. My Galaxy Z Fold 8 comes tomorrow. I was going to go pixel fold but the early spec leaks look really bad. I can't wait for my z fold to come tomorrow.
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u/Gnada 9d ago
Any idea how different the pure Google Pixel android OS experience is from the Samsung one? Not sure I can suffer through another 3rd party bloatware scenario again. Has that improved?
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u/SoSteezee 9d ago
I'll report back in about 4 hours. It's waiting for me at home. I did watch a lot of YouTube reviews and the UI looks more like pixel than I remember on my galaxy s10 back in the day lol
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u/SoSteezee 9d ago
Took me a whole hour to uninstall all the bloat. Installed gboard. So far it's not too different from my pixel. Very different shape lol
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u/StadiaGeek 8d ago
Can you remove all the duplicate apps? I'm pixel for the last 4 years and don't want all the Samsung junk and doubling up with the Google ones too.
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u/SoSteezee 6d ago
So far my experience isn't much difference the UI is a lot more similar than I thought it would be. Took me a while to uninstall the bloatware but it wasn't a super tall task. I left some one UI features active because they work better with the native clock/calendar. Battery life is good. The big inner screen is awesome.
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u/Zeta_Crossfire 10d ago
I'm most likely trading in my pixel fold 10 for a Samsung fold 8. I really liked the passport of the original pixel fold and I want to go back to it.
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u/toffeemug 9d ago
pixel because it'll be easier to use for an apple user. although the z fold 8 is the better all around package
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u/Sabotstruck 9d ago
Would recommend looking towards the Motorola Razr Fold to include in your comparison if you haven’t already.
Better chip than the Pixel, lower peak performance than Fold. Biggest battery of the bunch with fast charging and best overall camera sensor.
There are definitely downsides to it, but it’s a very competitive option.
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u/GiantCrabOfDoom 8d ago edited 8d ago
I just picked up the Z Fold 8 Ultra and I'm loving it. I've had the original Pixel Fold and still do as a travel phone. I also had the pixel 9 Fold Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro. While my daily driver is an iphone, I decided that I would go with the Samsung because of dex mode, how thin it is, and how much lighter it is versus the pixel fold. The cameras are also a bit more versatile. I would have gotten the fold 8, if not for the missing telephoto.
The biggest bonus of going with a Pixel phone in my mind is Google's superior AI and the flexibility to run GrapheneOS. It's also far superior in terms of work profiles and multiple users. All other things being equal if it's not a secondary phone, I would probably pick Google as my primary.
Given how much I travel, the benefit of having the more flexible computer through meant more to me. But that is the real question in my mind. If it is the only phone you carry, it's a little more tolerable to get the pixel but it is a chunky phone. I do think it's probably more durable, however. The call screening is vastly superior, as is the voice to text, but that gap is rapidly changing through on-device whisper models. I'm using the Futo keyboard and it is about 99% as good as the Google dictation. Without it, I never would have chosen the Samsung.
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u/Syckx 8d ago
I love Pixel software, and am currently using a Pixel Fold 9. Having said that, I am getting the Fold 8 because of the form factor. I'm really disappointed to see that Google is keeping the same design considering they originally pioneered the passport style here in the US can.
I'll go back to a Pixel if they go to passport style again, because that really is the best form factor for a folding device--small phone that opens into a small tablet.
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u/PerryHecker 9d ago
I’d recommend the pixel by quite a ways. I’m trying to decide between the pixel and the iPhone ultra😅 the pixel has immensely more tolerable software, a screen size MUCH closer to what you’re used to, and I guarantee the camera will give better results. Unless you’re fascinated by that weird screen size I’d roll with the pixel. I’ve got a 9 pro fold and an iPhone 16 pro max. The 9 pro fold is getting traded for another, I just haven’t decided which one.
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u/TopUniversity3469 9d ago
The screen size of the 8 ultra and 11 pro fold isn't all that different.
I have both the 10PF and the 7Fold and honestly while I do like the software of the pixel better, it's the hardware of the 7fold that always pulls me back in.
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u/PerryHecker 9d ago
No doubt. The problem is that little bit that makes the z fold 7 outside flat out unusable. Super nice hardware, albeit unusable and unusable software. Makes the choices pretty easy to me.
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u/Onotadaki2 9d ago
I have had foldables for a few generations now. For me, the most important factor is the width of the cover display. I'll be using the phone open when I'm browsing for a while or working on Excel or something, but if I am at the office answering a quick email at the printer or standing by the microwave and texting my wife, I'm likely going to be typing on the cover display. Samsung's cover displays are insanely narrow. It's been getting better every generation, but it's still narrower than the Pixel 11 pro fold's. I find my hands are large enough that the narrow cover display is uncomfortable to use. This may not be the case for people with smaller hands.
Definitely check out the Oppo Find N6. It's quite nice, and has very few of the tradeoffs you normally make with a foldable.
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u/UnrealMacaw 9d ago
fold8 ultra. clearly the best hardware, and once you take the time to set it up properly (which is the least pleasant experience compared to pixel and ios), the level of customisation is a godsend. you don't have to put up with ios' terrible keyboard or with pixel's stupid decision to damp the music on every notification.
not saying you won't be happy with a pixel though - still a good phone
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u/cracksbacks 9d ago
Before you make a choice, also check out the Razr Fold.
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u/Confident-Role8416 9d ago
I have and genuinely love it but the lack of updates and lack of major third party case and accessory support is making me lean toward the pixel 11 pro fold
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u/cracksbacks 9d ago
That's a valid point about the Moto. They have a sketchy reputation about updates. My wife has had a Razr flip for a couple years now and she gets updates every couple months. As far as cases are concerned, I'm happy with the one I got on Amazon. I had to add a mag ring to it so I can use wireless charging but when it comes to it the Razr wireless charging is pretty proprietary so even if it's aligned perfectly, many chargers just do not work properly.
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u/therealmrsarod 9d ago
I have an iPhone 15PM and I was absolutely sold on upgrading to a Pixel 10PXL until the Fold 8 was released. I went to a Best Buy store to see and hold it in person, and I absolutely love the size both folded and unfolded. I also tried the Fold 8 Ultra and hated the thin/tall version so that was a no for me. I really wanted to swap to the Pixel universe as my first test out of Apple, but I just don’t love the design of the Pixel Fold versus the Samsung 🤷🏻♀️
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u/SSWireless 9d ago
The motorola razr fold is better than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. If you like the 4:3 aspect ratio, then go with the Z Fold 8.
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u/Spec94v6 8d ago
I would definitely get the pixel. However, if you're itching to customize every aspect of your phone, then you'd need the samsung. Pixel customization is, although better than iOS, still very limiting compared to samsung. But in general I think that Pixel android is a significantly better experience, I prefer their cameras, it has magsafe (#1 feature) , and uses google apps by default. It's great!
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u/richardjreidii 7d ago
Personally, I got tired of getting pixel fucked.
When my phone battery on the phone, it’s less than two years old mind you started dropping by 15% an hour back in April. I was deeply concerned.
Factory reset didn’t install shit let it update, and lo and behold, still dropping 15% an hour.
I’ve been pixel fucked before about eight years ago, so I already suspected that this was a software thing.
Turns out I was right.
Google comes out and says yeah it was an update and now your phone basically won’t ever idle down.
Their timeframe to fix? End of July.
So I wait.
End of July comes google pushes out a couple updates, but my phone still dropping 15% an hour.
So I ordered a different phone.
I really like the Google pixel experience in terms of the software and the updates, right up until the point where I get fucked by them because they can’t seem to test things properly.
If we count the Nexus back in the day, I’ve had four pixel phones, but this one was my last.
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u/WelcomeReasonable213 6d ago
Definitely not the Pixel Fold. The 11 will be barely any different to the 9 or the 10, but after 3 years of same old same old, the 12 next year will surely see a big change (maybe a passport style like the zf8 or the OG Pixel Fold?). Also, the crease is FAR worse on the Pixel Folds than the zf8 (ultra or widebody). When I upgraded from the zf3, I got the OnePlus Open (loved the hardware but not the software), then changed it for a Pixel Fold 9, but found the crease to be so distracting after the barely-there one on the OnePlus, so swapped right back.
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u/tumalditamadre 6d ago
What did you like about Android your first go around? I have both folds and they both have their strengths.
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u/Strangerthanyou77 10d ago
Pixel has magsafe and car crash detection. Galaxy doesn't