Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: What's the best foldable in the US?

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Pricing and availability

Google is all set to launch the Pixel 11 Pro Fold on August 12, and that is when we’ll get official confirmation of what the foldable will cost. That said, a massive Pixel 11 leak gave us a good indication of the pricing, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is set to cost $1,899 for the 256GB model.

Coincidentally, the Razr Fold also retails for $1,899 in the U.S., but you’re getting 512GB of storage as standard. While that’s a lot of cash towards a phone, you get decent trade-in deals and carrier subsidies, so you don’t have to shell out the entire amount in one go unless you’re buying unlocked.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Design

I really like Google’s design aesthetic, but I will admit that Motorola did a great job with the Razr Fold. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold was unwieldy to use because of its weight and size, and thankfully, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is set to address that; Google is said to be shaving the weight and thickness of the foldable. That’s good news, because it would make the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in line with its immediate rivals.

The Razr Fold has a distinctive design thanks to the camera island, and I like Motorola’s color and materials choices. The foldable looks and feels like a high-end device, and while it is heavy at 243, the weight is distributed evenly, so it isn’t uncomfortable to hold. Another plus point is that the Razr Fold is just as thin as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Find N6, and this makes holding and using it that much more enjoyable.

Where the Pixel 11 Pro Fold should have an advantage is ingress protection; it should retain IP68 dust and water resistance that we saw on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Motorola also does a decent enough job, with the Razr Fold getting IP48 and IP49 resistance.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Specs

Google is finally set to address long-standing issues with its Pixels with the introduction of the Pixel 11. This is by way of the Tensor G6 platform, which is built on a new 2nm node. The node shift will bring inherent efficiency gains, but what I’m excited about is the switch to new cores, which will allow the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to be that much faster — and better at gaming. This has been a sore point on Google’s devices for a long time now, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to see how it holds up against the likes of the Find N6 and Vivo X Fold 5.

If anything, Motorola also went a conservative route with the Razr Fold. Instead of Qualcomm’s best silicon, the foldable gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, so it doesn’t quite have the best possible chipset available. That said, it isn’t slow in daily use, and it does a decent job with demanding games as well. But it just rubs me the wrong way to see anything other than flagship silicon on an $1,899 phone.

Now, where the Razr Fold has an unquestionable advantage is with battery life. Thanks to a massive 6,000mAh battery, the foldables lasts over a day regularly. What’s also great is that Motorola is using silicon-carbon tech, which we just haven’t seen a lot of in the U.S. until now. This allows better density and durability, and the Razr Fold gets much better charging as well: it uses Motorola’s 80W tech.

Google is said to be lowering the battery size on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to 4,800mAh, and I think this is the wrong move. Of course, we will need to wait and see if the leaks pan out, but a foldable needs to have at least a 5,000mAh battery, and I want Google to do better this year.

Similarly, cameras are an area where the Pixel 11 Pro Fold must do better than its predecessor. Take the Razr Fold; Motorola outfitted it with the same cameras as the Signature, and it does an excellent job with photos and videos.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Which should you buy?

With the Pixel 11 Pro Fold projected to cost about the same as the Razr Fold, pricing isn’t going to be the point of difference. Instead, it will be about the features. I really like what Motorola did with the Razr Fold; it has a great design, standout cameras, and a huge battery.

Google will need to offer those things with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold as well — these are table stakes features at this point. The software is also a big selling point, and Motorola does well here too; its UI is clean, and you get a decent amount of extras. That said, Google has a sizeable edge with the software, and I’m excited to see what the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has to deliver in this area.