Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Honor Magic V4: Best Foldable Outside Samsung
Two of the strongest non-Samsung book-style foldables. Pixel 9 Pro Fold won Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards; Honor Magic V4 was runner-up Best Foldable in 2025. Both have improved rapidly across two generations and both are credible alternatives to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google · 2024 · From $1799
Honor Magic V4
Honor · 2025 · From $1699
Round wins
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 4 · Honor Magic V4: 1 ·Ties: 2
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Honor Magic V4 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8-inch inner OLED, 6.3-inch outer OLED, 120Hz | 7.92-inch inner OLED, 6.43-inch outer OLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 16GB | 16GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 10.5MP ultrawide + 10.8MP 5x telephoto | 50MP main + 40MP ultrawide + 50MP 3x telephoto |
| Battery | 4,650 mAh | 5,150 mAh |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 15 (MagicOS 9) |
| Starting price | $1799 | $1699 |
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Hinge & build
TieBoth excellent — Honor's is slightly slimmer; Google's is more proven (second-generation hinge). Roughly equivalent durability.
Inner display
TieBoth ~8-inch inner displays. Pixel's wider aspect ratio is better for video; Honor's is brighter.
Outer display
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel 9 Pro Fold's outer screen has a more 'normal phone' aspect ratio. Honor's is narrower.
Camera
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel's computational photography pipeline (Magic Editor, Best Take) wins on consistency and ease. Honor's hardware is competitive but processing trails.
AI features
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel 9 Pro Fold has the deepest on-device AI catalog. Honor's AI features are competent but less developed.
Software updates
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldPixel: 7 years of Android updates. Honor: 4 years. Big gap on long-term value.
Price & availability
Winner: Honor Magic V4Honor Magic V4 typically launches $200–$300 below Pixel in markets where it's sold. Pixel is more expensive but has proper US carrier support.
Final verdict
Buy the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in the US — software is more polished, AI features are deeper, update commitment is longer (7 vs 4 years), and Google's carrier support is much better than Honor's. Buy the Honor Magic V4 if you live in a market where Honor has strong distribution and you want slimmer hardware at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Honor Magic V4: which is better?
Pixel 9 Pro Fold for US buyers — better software, longer support, better US carrier integration. Honor Magic V4 in markets where it's well-supported and you want slimmer hardware.
Is the Honor Magic V4 available in the US?
Limited US availability. Most US buyers will need to import — accepting trade-offs in carrier support and warranty service.
Which foldable lasts longer in software support?
Pixel 9 Pro Fold by a wide margin — 7 years of Android updates vs 4 on Honor. Decisive for long-term value.