Google Pixel Fold Vs iPhone 14 Plus

Google Pixel Fold
Google Pixel Fold
Starting at

Refurbished price:£371.00

Versus £1,499.00 new

See options
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Plus
Starting at

Refurbished price:£242.00

Versus £699.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Google Pixel Fold, released in June 2023, and the iPhone 14 Plus, launched in October 2022, represent distinct approaches to modern smartphone design. The Pixel Fold introduces a foldable form factor, offering a compact phone experience that unfolds into a larger tablet-like display, running on the Android operating system. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Plus is a traditional large-screen smartphone operating on Apple's iOS, prioritizing a consistent, expansive display in a familiar design.

Scores

Durability

When considering the longevity of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and physical durability.

  • Release Timeline: The iPhone 14 Plus was released in October 2022, while the Google Pixel Fold followed in June 2023. This difference in launch dates means the Pixel Fold is a newer device, potentially offering a slightly longer period of relevance before its successor arrives.
  • Software Longevity: Apple typically provides extensive software support for its iPhones, often spanning five to six years from release. Google generally offers a strong commitment to software updates for its Pixel devices, including security updates for at least five years for the Pixel Fold.
  • Physical Durability: The iPhone 14 Plus features a Ceramic Shield front cover and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, indicating robust protection against environmental elements. The Pixel Fold has an IPX8 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand submersion in water, but its foldable nature introduces a hinge mechanism and a flexible inner screen, which can be points of concern for long-term mechanical durability, as some early users reported screen issues.

Year of Release

2023

2022

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

iOS

Foldable

Yes

No

Performance

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from browsing to demanding applications and gaming. Both devices offer capable performance, but their underlying architectures lead to different user experiences.

  • Processing Power: The iPhone 14 Plus handles demanding applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a highly responsive user experience. The Pixel Fold also offers robust performance, capable of managing complex tasks and gaming, particularly benefiting from its larger internal display for multitasking.
  • Storage Options: Both devices offer various internal storage configurations to suit different user needs. The iPhone 14 Plus is available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options. The Pixel Fold comes with 256GB or 512GB of storage.
  • Battery Behavior: The iPhone 14 Plus is known for its extended battery life, often lasting through a full day or more of typical use. The Pixel Fold, with its larger battery capacity, generally provides good battery life, though heavy use of its larger, unfolded screen can lead to faster depletion.

Memory (GB)

12 GB

6 GB

Screen quality

The display is a primary interaction point, and these two devices offer distinct visual experiences due to their form factors and display technologies.

  • Display Technology and Size: The iPhone 14 Plus features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors in a traditional smartphone format. The Pixel Fold offers a dual-screen setup: a 5.8-inch OLED outer display and a 7.6-inch foldable OLED inner display, allowing for a compact phone or an expansive tablet-like viewing area.
  • Resolution and Clarity: The iPhone 14 Plus delivers a sharp resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels at approximately 458 pixels per inch, ensuring clear and detailed visuals. The Pixel Fold's outer screen has a resolution of 2092 x 1080 pixels at 408 ppi, while its inner screen offers 2208 x 1840 pixels at 380 ppi, both providing clear images.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices offer high peak brightness for good visibility in various lighting conditions. The iPhone 14 Plus has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The Pixel Fold's displays, both inner and outer, feature a 120Hz variable refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and more fluid animations.

Resolution

1840 x 2208

1284 x 2778

Screen type

Foldable OLED

Super Retina XDR OLED

Audiovisual

Both the Google Pixel Fold and the iPhone 14 Plus offer advanced camera systems, leveraging their respective software and hardware to capture high-quality photos and videos.

  • Rear Camera System: The Pixel Fold features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, known for its balanced image processing and strong low-light performance. The iPhone 14 Plus comes with a dual-camera system, comprising a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, excelling in capturing detailed images with accurate colors and improved low-light capabilities through features like Photonic Engine.
  • Video Recording Quality: Both devices are capable of recording high-quality video. The iPhone 14 Plus supports 4K video recording at various frame rates, including Cinematic mode for depth-of-field effects and Action mode for stabilized footage. The Pixel Fold also offers 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second, with good video stabilization.
  • Front-Facing Cameras: The Pixel Fold includes multiple front-facing cameras: a 9.5-megapixel sensor on the outer screen and an 8-megapixel sensor on the inner screen, suitable for video calls and selfies. The iPhone 14 Plus features a 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera with autofocus, delivering clear selfies and supporting advanced features like Face ID.

Main camera

48 megapixels

12 megapixels

Front camera

8 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements differentiate these two smartphones, impacting daily usability and overall experience.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support 5G cellular connectivity and modern Wi-Fi standards for fast internet access. The iPhone 14 Plus uses Apple's proprietary Lightning port for charging and data transfer. The Pixel Fold features a USB-C port, offering broader compatibility with accessories.
  • Biometric Security: The iPhone 14 Plus relies on Face ID for secure facial recognition. The Pixel Fold incorporates a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, alongside Face Unlock.
  • Physical Design and Handling: The iPhone 14 Plus has a traditional slab design, weighing around 203 grams and measuring 7.8 mm thick, offering a familiar feel. The Pixel Fold, when folded, is thicker at 12.1 mm and heavier at 283 grams, but unfolds to a thinner profile of 5.8 mm, providing a larger screen in a more compact form factor than a tablet.

Weight

283 g

203 g

Screen size (in)

7.6

6.7

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

Lightning

The Google Pixel Fold and iPhone 14 Plus cater to different user preferences, each offering a distinct set of advantages. Users often praise the Pixel Fold for its innovative foldable design, which provides the versatility of a large screen for productivity and media consumption while maintaining a more pocketable form factor. Its camera system, benefiting from Google's computational photography, also receives positive feedback for its balanced image quality and telephoto capabilities. Some common criticisms, however, include its weight and thickness when folded, and concerns about the long-term durability of the inner display and hinge mechanism.

The iPhone 14 Plus is frequently lauded for its exceptional battery life, robust build quality with Ceramic Shield, and the consistent, user-friendly experience of iOS. Its camera system is highly regarded for reliable performance in various conditions, and its large, vibrant OLED display offers an immersive viewing experience in a traditional smartphone design. Potential drawbacks for some users might include the standard 60Hz refresh rate of its display and the continued use of the Lightning port.

Users prioritizing a versatile device that can transform from a standard smartphone to a small tablet for multitasking and immersive content will find the Google Pixel Fold well-suited to their needs. Those who value extended battery life, a highly durable traditional smartphone design, and a streamlined operating system with long-term software support may lean toward the iPhone 14 Plus. Both devices offer compelling features, and considering a quality-assured refurbished option can be an eco-friendly alternative for either model.

See all articles

Our recent comparisons