If you’re looking to buy a new foldable phone, you’re probably weighing up between the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Honor Magic V3. Both have remarkable features, although all indications point to the V3 as the better phone. But let’s break down the key differences so you can decide which one’s right for you.
Specs overview: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Vs Honor Magic V3
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| Component | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Honor Magic V3 |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB, no card slot | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB, no card slot |
| Display | 8.0 inches, 2076 x 2152 pixels, Foldable LTPO OLED, 120Hz | 7.92 inches, 2156 x 2344 pixels, Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Cameras | Main: 48 MP (wide), 10.8 MP (telephoto), 10.5 MP (ultrawide); Selfie: 10 MP (wide) | Main: 50 MP (wide), 50 MP (periscope telephoto), 40 MP (ultrawide); Selfie: 20 MP (wide) |
| Battery | 4650 mAh, 21W wired, 7.5W wireless | 5150 mAh, 66W wired, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wired |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 3.2 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 3.1 |
| Price | $1,799/£1,749 | £1,699 (~$1,831) |
Design & display
In appearance, Google’s Pixel phone is the better attraction. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder afterall. The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold unfolds to 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm and weighs more than the Honor Magic V3 at 257g. The Magic V3 unfolds to 156.6 x 145.3 x 4.35 mm and weighs 226g or 230g depending on the variant, making it the lighter phone and it makes a difference if you prefer something sleeker in hand.
Both devices feature OLED displays, but the Magic V3’s LTPO OLED display adjusts its refresh rate to save battery life, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses an LTPO AMOLED screen with Dolby Vision with enhanced video quality and better color and contrast.
The Pixel also gives you a solid 8.0-inch screen with a 2076 x 2152 resolution, while the Honor Magic V3 is slightly smaller at 7.92 inches but packs a higher 2156 x 2344 resolution. Both have 120Hz refresh rates for smooth scrolling, but the Honor’s higher pixel density might provide sharper visuals. The Magic V3 is much brighter to see under sunlight, with a peak brightness of 2700 nits. It’s higher than the Pixel’s 1800 nits.
Performance
In terms of raw power, the Honor Magic V3 is ahead of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold because it runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. For now, it’s the latest flagship processor until the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 arrives in October. On the other hand, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with Google’s own Tensor G4, which is more focused on AI-driven tasks and aims to make the Pixel 9 series run cooler.
Basically, if you care about speed and power, the Honor Magic V3 is the better pick. But if you’re interested in AI and smart features like Circle to Search, Screenshots, and AI wallpaper generators, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the way to go.
In memory, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes in two variants; 256GB or 512GB of storage, both with 16GB of RAM. The Honor Magic V3 not only matches this but also offers a 1TB variant, so you have slightly more storage options here. Its 4.0 storage is also faster compared to the Pixel’s UFS 3.1. Thus, providing faster read/write speeds where apps will open quicker, files will transfer faster, and overall device performance is smoother.
Cameras
The Honor Magic V3 stands out with a 50MP main camera, along with a 50MP telephoto lens carrying 3.5x optical zoom. There’s also a 40MP ultrawide lens. In comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 48MP main camera, a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 10.5MP ultrawide lens. While the Pixel offers excellent computational photography, the Honor has the upper hand in hardware.
The Pixel does excel at a higher zoom level. It’s useful if you want to get closer to distant subjects without losing much detail, but its lower megapixel count in the telephoto lens means the zoomed-in images won’t be as detailed as those from the Honor Magic V3. The Pixel also has a 10.5MP ultrawide lens, compared to the Honor Magic V3’s 40MP ultrawide lens. The higher resolution of the Honor’s lens means it can capture wider and more detailed images for landscapes or group shots.
So, if you’re looking for raw camera power and detail, the Honor Magic V3’s setup is because of its higher megapixel sensors and overall sharper image quality. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is more useful for zoom capabilities and AI image enhancements when necessary.
For selfies, the Honor Magic V3 is still a clear winner with its 20MP front and cover cameras, compared to the 9 Pro Fold’s 10MP cameras. If you love taking high-res selfies or using your foldable’s cover display for quick snaps, it’s worth considering.
Battery and charging
The Honor Magic V3’s battery capacity shines, as well as its charging speed. It has a 5150mAh battery with support for 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. On the other hand, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 4650mAh battery, with only 21W wired and 7.5W wireless charging.
It’s obvious which phone would last longer on a single charge and power up faster. Perhaps, this is one of many flaws that make the Pixel 9 Pro Fold underserving of the Pro title. There’s also the fact that it doesn’t support any of Google’s Pixel Stands.
Software & special features
Both phones run Android 14, but Google’s promise of seven years of software updates is a huge advantage if you’re into devices for the long haul. With the Magic V3, you’re guaranteed four OS upgrades and five years, which is still a mouthwatering deal. It’s among the few phones competing with Samsung that offer that much support.
The Pixel phone does bring some standout features besides AI, like Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Satellite SOS service. UWB is a fast and short-range technology that allows devices to communicate. So, on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, UWB allows the phone to track its exact location and the location of other UWB-enabled devices with high precision.
You can use it to find lost items or control smart doors more securely, among other uses. Meanwhile, Satellite SOS is a feature that lets you send emergency messages using connectivity like Starlink’s satellite service when you don’t have access to traditional cellular networks.
The Honor Magic V3 counters these features with stylus support and an infrared port. With a stylus, you can draw, take notes, and interact with your screen more precisely. The infrared port then turns your phone into a remote control for devices like TVs and air conditioners.
Which foldable is right for you?
The Honor Magic V3 has more powerful hardware, better cameras, and faster charging. Even “Sam Sung” says it’s the best foldable ever made, and they made the S24 series, which was supposedly the best on the market at the time of its arrival. So, that’s saying something.
But that’s not to say that the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold isn’t worth the money. Its software longevity and AI-driven experiences are incomparable to those of other phones.
If you want a foldable with top-tier performance and more storage options, go with the Honor Magic V3. But if you want a phone, you don’t plan to change it anytime soon, and you prefer Google’s software ecosystem, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold works just fine.
