When Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, the wider Fold 8 model caught my attention. After a brief hands-on, I was instantly sold on its form factor.
I was already planning to upgrade to it from my current Flip 7.
I also planned to make it my primary daily driver, sidelining my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL as my new secondary device.
However, I had to wait a few days to weigh everything, from the Pixel features I would miss to the compromises on the Fold 8.
Eventually, I came to my senses. I realized there are Pixel novelties that are hard to give up and have become essential to my everyday routine. I am glad I didn’t easily fall for Fold 8.
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My old, reliable Pixel easily takes the cake
Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police
Admittedly, the Fold 8 wasn’t in my plans. Before I saw it, I was set on upgrading to the Pixel 11 or Pixel 11 Pro.
Yet like many users, I fell for the design and aspect ratio of Samsung’s new wide foldable.
The rectangular screen, when unfolded, was a perfect replacement for a mini tablet, reducing wasted display estate on my favorite apps.
Still, after a few days of reflection, I chose my beloved Pixel 9 Pro XL over those folding perks.
Maybe it’s the Pixel experience, the stellar camera that remains hard to match, or Google’s cohesive ecosystem, but the longer I use my Pixel, the harder it is to break away from it.
Read our review
I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. It’s a foldable revelation I can’t stop using
A foldable that I want to use open and closed
Pixel’s camera is unbeatable
It’s reliable and has perks I can’t find in the Fold 8
Although I loathe the bland colorimetry in my Pixel’s camera processing, the overall shooter is incredible and reliable, even as the hardware ages.
I’ve taken thousands of photos and hundreds of videos, and the output hasn’t fluctuated in the nearly two years I’ve relied on it as my main camera phone.
I constantly shoot with the zoom lenses, and they have proven to be as crucial as the primary sensor.
The missing dedicated telephoto sensor on the Fold 8 is a major deal-breaker for me.
While 2x digital zoom might match an optical equivalent, anything past that quickly turns into noise and lost detail, as I often see on my Flip 7.
Moreover, my Pixel packs perks like Video Boost, which enhances clip quality through cloud-based post-processing. Missing that on the Fold 8 feels like losing a leg.
If the Fold 8 included a dedicated telephoto camera, it might have been enough to sway me into the Galaxy camp.
Pixel Launcher is starting to mature
I always have more fun with it
I’m genuinely satisfied with One UI, as it feels optimized while offering power users deep customization through Good Lock.
While the Pixel Launcher lagged behind for years, it has steadily caught up with One UI.
Whenever I’m away from my Pixel, switching to the Flip 7 makes me feel like I am missing the fluidity and subtle touches I’ve grown accustomed to in Material You UI.
For instance, I can change the UI aesthetic with a few taps on my Pixel depending on my mood.
One UI offers granular control, but I don’t have the patience to dig through endless sub-menus or Good Lock modules to turn my app icons into circles or squircles.
The Pixel Launcher’s theming has won me over, as the color palette effortlessly matches the style I envision.
It isn’t only about how my home screen looks. The Pixel Launcher feels more fluid and stable despite the slower processor and lower raw power of the Tensor chipset.
I’ve been rocking this phone for almost two years, and I haven’t noticed any slowdowns or frame drops. If there are, I blame them on bugs introduced by the new updates.
My Galaxy Z Flip 7 stumbles into occasional hiccups, but on my Pixel 9 Pro XL, that rarely happens.
That hesitation lingers whenever I consider jumping ship to the new Fold 8 because I know I would miss Google’s breezy optimization and charm.
Screen haptics matter
And Google is an expert at that
One hardware detail that continually impresses me on my Pixel is the display’s exceptional haptic response.
It remains a primary reason I hesitate to switch, as I fear other devices won’t deliver the same tactile precision or feel.
Although I cannot fairly evaluate the Galaxy Fold 8’s cover screen vibration without extended use, my daily time with the Flip 7 proves Google’s haptics are still miles ahead.
I type thousands of words on my Pixel every day, and the vibration feedback makes it a fantastic experience.
Even if the Galaxy Fold 8 matches that crispness on its outer panel, the inner, flexible panel will inevitably fall short.
That squishy tactile sensation is a persistent gripe I have with folding screens in general, not only on the Flip 7 or Fold 8.
My Pixel phone survived the worst abuse you can imagine
Durability is still a priority for my next phone
Having carried the Galaxy Fold 5 for over a year, I can attest that long-term durability remains the Achilles’ heel of the foldable form factor.
Whether Samsung and its rivals have rolled out major structural improvements to mitigate these durability woes doesn’t entirely sway me, because that isn’t the only reason holding me back.
Rather, it is the rock-solid build of my current Pixel handset.
Early Pixels earned a bad reputation for questionable hardware, from finicky ports to wobbly buttons, but my Pixel 9 Pro XL has rewritten that bad script.
I have dropped it so many times that I’ve lost count, yet it refuses to give up on me.
The most terrifying moment happened while I was climbing down the stairs to a temple in Tokyo, where I dropped the phone midway down, sending it tumbling several flights of steps to the landing below.
I only had an ultra-thin aramid case on it, yet to my relief, the glass survived with nothing more than minor scuffs along the metal frame and bezel.
The Galaxy Fold 8 may survive JerryRigEverything’s torture test, but that bench test won’t tell you how a hinge or flexible screen holds up after two or three years of real life.
Plus, considering the steep $1,900 price tag of the Fold 8, I am not eager to gamble. I’d rather spend under a grand on a reliable Pixel with a slab form, or hold on to my current phone until it gives up on me.
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The experience has convinced me to stick with my Pixel
Although the Galaxy Z Fold 8 turned my head at first glance, a fancy new passport shape wasn’t enough to win my wallet.
Samsung brought flashy new hardware with the new Galaxy foldable, but I will always pick Google’s software refinement, dependable Pixel cameras, and day-to-day reliability.
All I can say is that the longer I stick with a Pixel, the harder it is to let Google go.