Introduction and specs
The first Pixel Fold was not as successful as Google had hoped. It offered advantages, but the gadget was not well welcomed by customers. However, the firm is hoping to turn things around with the second edition of the foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Even the name change signals that Google has adopted a new approach this year. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not only a full-fledged member of the Pixel 9 family this year, but it also represents a significant advance over its predecessor.
It boasts larger and better screens, both inside and out, a two-generation newer processor, updated camera hardware, and, because Google is a software firm, the newest Pixel has a few tricks up its sleeve. However, they cannot be expressed by a specification sheet. Furthermore, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is advertised as having the largest display on a phone. When unfurled, the 9 Pro Fold measures 8.0″ and beats over phones such as the Honor Magic V3 and the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4. Still, the vivo X Fold3 Pro has a little larger display at 8.03″.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold specs at a glance:
Body is 155.2×150.2×5.1mm and weighs 257g. It has a glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), a plastic front (unfolded), a glass rear (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), an aluminum frame, and is IPX8 water resistant.
Display: 8.00″ foldable LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak), 2076x2152px resolution, 9.33:9 aspect ratio, 373ppi. Cover display: 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 1080 x 2424 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 422 ppi, 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak).
Chipset: Google Tensor G4 (4nm): Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520); Mali-G715 MC7.
Memory: 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, and UFS 3.1.
OS/Software: Android 14 with up to seven major updates.
The rear camera has three modes: wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS; telephoto: 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm, 1/3.2″, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom; and ultra wide angle: 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 127˚, 1/3.4″, PDAF.
Wide (main): 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm, 1/3.94″, PDAF;
Video recording: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS; front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps.
Battery capacity: 4650mAh; wired output: 21W, wireless output: 7.5W.
Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3, aptX HD; NFC.
Miscellaneous features include a fingerprint reader (side-mounted), dual speakers, Ultra Wideband (UWB) capability, Satellite SOS service, and Circle Search.
This year,
Google appears to be taking a whole fresh approach to the form factor. The increased display size has also resulted in differing aspect ratios. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold now has a more familiar aspect ratio on both displays and folds like a typical smartphone. Last year’s Pixel was boxier and more compact.
Perhaps not everyone will enjoy the update, as the original Pixel Fold had a distinct vibe. It was just more compact than the rest. Still, the latest Pixel was able to trim off a few grams, making it lighter and substantially slimmer. Despite its slimmer design, the new Fold features a genuine triple-camera setup: a 48MP primary camera, a 10.8MP periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 10.5MP ultrawide device.
It also receives a set of upgraded selfie cameras. It’s a Pixel phone, after all, and customers expect an outstanding photographic experience. But how excellent is the photography experience, and how does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold compare to other established foldables on the market? Let us find out.
Unboxing the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold arrives in a rather small container, with simply some user instructions and a USB-C to USB-C connection for charging and data transmission. The proper charger is not supplied.
Design and ergonomics
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a well-built gadget made from high-quality components. It has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheets to protect the device’s back and cover display, and the chassis is made of aluminum. It is also water-resistant up to IPX8, but it offers no dust protection. Although Google did not go into depth regarding the hinge design, it is expected to be better and more robust than before. Subjectively, it feels stable and strong.
It’s a little tight, but it supports all angles and won’t snap until the two parts are very near together. We noted that the phone shuts entirely, with almost no space between the two sides. Not all foldables can accomplish this. However, the overall design is somewhat unconventional. When folded, the phone’s right side becomes more oval in shape, with curved corners, whereas the right side, where the hinge is located, is square-ish.
The contrast between the sharp edges and the rounded ones on the right appears odd. Some may prefer the asymmetry, however. We feel it is more of a personal taste. The side frame is flat, in keeping with contemporary design trends, and contains everything you’ll require. The power button and volume rocker are neatly located and easily accessible. Keep in mind that, in classic Pixel fashion, the power button is located above the volume rocker.
When it comes to handling,
the gadget is pleasant to operate with your right hand. Otherwise, the sharp corners on the left dig into your palm, and the extra space between the hinge and the cover display makes it difficult to reach the other side of the screen. However, we are amazed by how natural it feels when folded; it is similar to using a typical glass sandwich phone that is somewhat thicker.
When unfurled, it feels similar to the majority of foldables available today. Because it’s thin, lightweight, and has a large display, the weight distribution is ideal, and it feels good in your hand. We are also pleased with the folding display. It is one of the panels with the least visible wrinkles. Objectively speaking, there is nothing wrong with the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
It’s thin and lightweight, however there are lighter foldables available. We can also understand how some customers would dislike the design because of the varied corners with empty space between the hinge and the cover display, which makes it appear clumsy. There may have been a better design solution for this. Not to add the large bezels on each screen.
One of the largest displays on a phone – 8.0″
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is advertised as having the largest display on a smartphone. A brief search reveals that this may be the case. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s inner, or main, display measures 8.0″ diagonally, has a boxy 1:1 aspect ratio, with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels. Most other foldables have slightly broader aspect ratios. The display likewise employs an LTPO OLED screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz and precise control over it.
HDR content is supported, but only at HDR10+, hence no Dolby Vision. While we’re on the subject of content, the primary display’s 1:1 aspect ratio isn’t suitable for watching videos. The usual 16:9 films seem undersized, with black bars covering almost half of the screen. That isn’t unique to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold; other foldables have a similar aspect ratio. However, the video appears to be around the same size as the cover screen.
There is almost no difference in video playback on the main and cover screens. The secondary, or cover, display has a size of 6.3 inches, a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels, and a more traditional 20:9 aspect ratio. This is most likely why the handset feels like a standard smartphone when folded. When folded, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold resembles a larger version of the Pixel 9. The cover display is a standard OLED with a refresh rate of 120Hz and conventional HDR capabilities.
This all sounds wonderful on paper,
but the bezels on both displays are rather thick. There isn’t a more iconic combination than Pixel phones with large bezels. In terms of real performance, both displays are outstanding. In manual mode, the inner and cover displays scored 1,113 and 1,256 nits, respectively, but in auto mode, the readings increased to 2,049 and 2,172 nits.
That’s remarkable for both panels and delivers a more pleasant viewing experience outside. In fact, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s screens are among the brightest we’ve ever seen, comparable to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Furthermore, uniform brightness guarantees that the brightness is consistent across both screens. Whatever brightness % you select will be valid on both displays.
Refresh rate
Because the cover display is just a standard OLED, it will reduce from 120Hz to 60Hz while the phone is inactive or displaying static content. On the other side, the inner LTPO OLED panel boasts one of the most advanced refresh rate controllers we’ve ever seen. When not in use, the panel frequently drops to 1Hz and does not return to 120Hz, even when touched.
Something has to move, or you must begin engaging with the material on the screen, for it to return to 120Hz. This is a novel type of behavior that we have not observed before. This should save some battery life. Furthermore, the system will identify the frame rate of various YouTube videos and match it with the proper refresh rate (24, 30, or 60Hz).
Battery life
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650 mAh battery, which is somewhat larger than the Galaxy Z Fold6, but smaller than most competitors in the sector. Still, the smartphone delivers about what you’d expect from a foldable. The Active Use Score of 11:54 hours puts it ahead of the Z Fold6 and the Honor Magic V3, but it falls below the vivo X Fold3 Pro.
Looking at each result individually, Google’s foldable performs above-average in the online browsing test and has a reasonable video playback duration. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also average when folded. Although the video playback runtime is slightly shorter, the gaming scenario is very similar to the online surfing runtime.
Charging speed
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold does not come with a charger, however the phone supports up to 21W via the Power Delivery 3.0 standard, thus most chargers on the market will work with the Fold. Unfortunately, Google’s foldable falls well behind the competition when it comes to charging speed. A 30-minute charge won’t even get you halfway there, but a full charge takes over an hour and a half.
That is even slower than the Galaxy Z Fold6, which is hardly a fast either. Wireless charging is also available, although the phone is apparently unable to charge using the Pixel stand, and the charging pace is somewhat poor.
Speakers
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes a pair of full-fledged speakers. They are well-balanced and rather loud. In fact, the Pixel is the only foldable of the group with a “Very Good” loudness rating. It achieved -24.1 LUFS and holds a huge advantage over its immediate competitors. Sound quality is also rather decent, at least when compared to the Magic V3 and X Fold3 Pro.
The highs and mids are strong, and the voices are superb. However, the Galaxy Z Fold6 may appeal to the majority because to its fuller bass and overall warmer sound. However, the vocals are less distinct than on the Pixel.
Android 14 with the Pixel experience
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses the newest Android 14 OS, with Android 15 set to come in October. Google also promises 7 years of Android improvements, ensuring that this Fold remains current for years to come. When it comes to UI and functionality, the Fold is nearly identical to the rest of the Pixel 9 series. You get the standard Android 14 features as well as several Pixel-exclusive ones, which we covered in our Pixel 9 Pro XL review.
Of course, AI functions are also available. Gemini AI can have a genuine conversation with you, suggest what to prepare based on a photo of your fridge, summarise text, etc. Google’s AI assistant is now far more capable, adding to the list of previously known functions. However, because this is a foldable tablet, you may take use of a few special capabilities. Most are designed to improve and optimize multitasking.
The normal app dock is located at the bottom of the foldable screen and can be hidden or pulled out with a swipe and hold. You may save your favorite apps for easy access or launch them from the app drawer. Drag and drag one app to launch it alongside another in a split-screen mode. You may even open many instances of the same app, as long as the app supports it. For example, you can run two Google Chrome browsers simultaneously.
Because of the square 1:1 aspect ratio,
it makes no difference how you hold the phone. Both the content and the user interface will look identical. Unfortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s multitasking features are currently restricted. There is no floating window option, and you can only start two programs simultaneously. Competitors, like as the Galaxy Z Fold6, may support more than two applications on the screen.
You may, however, use the AppPairs functionality to predefine app pairs. When you start a combination of two apps in split-screen mode, you may store them as a shortcut on your home screen and access them concurrently when required. It’s similar to Samsung’s functionality, but you can’t add a shortcut to the home screen on the Z Fold. The Pixel also works well with several games that support foldables.
For example, Asphalt 9 will display a minimap and controls on one half of the screen, leaving the upper half free for the game itself. It’s quite convenient. When it came to performance, the program functioned smoothly and without any notable problems. We did not see any serious technical issues, although the docked taskbar can occasionally get in the way of some UI components in apps, which we are confident Google will solve in a future release.
Benchmark performance
Unlike its predecessor, the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses the newest Tensor G4 SoC rather than a year-old one. The Tensor G4 features a brand-new CPU with eight cores, one less than the G3’s: 1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520. All cores have been updated to the newest generation. The GPU remains the same as on the Tensor G3 – Mali-G715 MC7 – but has a higher clock rate of 940Hz, up from 890Hz. Memory-wise, the new Fold delivers 16GB of RAM across all variants, although just two.
You can choose 256GB or 512GB without the ability to expand via microSD. The storage chips use UFS 3.1. Pixels have never been the most powerful phones, and their Tensor SoCs have always lagged behind the competition, so seeing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip outperform the Tensor G4 inside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not unexpected. Google’s foldable works well for everyday chores, but it may struggle with more demanding gaming titles.
Sustained performance
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s continuous performance is awful. Heavy throttling happens less than 20 minutes into the test, regardless of whether the device is folded or unfolded. We noticed the identical problem on the other Pixels 9 models, implying that the Tensor G4 SoC is once again the cause. However, the GPU stress tests looked better.
Well-rounded camera system
In terms of foldable cameras, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is comparable and even outperforms some of Samsung’s direct competitors. In addition to the 48MP primary unit, the smartphone includes a 10.8MP periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. A 10.5MP camera with an ultrawide lens is also available, offering a quite wide 127-degree field of view.
This is the same camera system as the previous Pixel Fold generation, but the two selfie cameras have been replaced with a 10MP device with AF that, for some reason, only captures 9MP photographs. Both the exterior and interior displays include an identical punchhole selfie camera. However, like with other foldables, you can always utilize the primary or ultrawide camera to take better-looking selfies.
The camera menu isn’t much different from the rest of the Pixel phones, with the exception of the ability to take rear-camera selfies. As previously said, you can utilize both displays as viewfinders at the same time or display various animation presets on the cover screen while shooting photos. We can’t think of a use case for this, although it may be useful with children or dogs that aren’t paying attention to the camera pointing at them.
Daylight photos
The primary camera takes okay photographs but isn’t very stunning. Some of the photographs we took appear soft. Sharpness could definitely be improved. Generally, Google’s newest foldable falls short of today’s flagship standards. However, it is acceptable in terms of foldables. A few aspects distinguish the 9 Pro Fold’s photographs and are more related to post-processing.
In typical Pixel style, the pictures have a little more contrast, making the shadows deeper, but the color temperature is warmer. It gives the scene a warm feel. The camera appears to be consistent enough inside, maintaining the same level of quality for the most part.
2x zoom
The camera app includes a default 2x option that crops from the primary sensor. However, the limits of the little sensor are clear, and the 2x zoom photographs appear dull and uninteresting. We have seen better implementations. Portraits in both Photo and Portrait modes aren’t particularly impressive. In addition, the camera app requires you to photograph in 1.5x and 2x zoom levels, with no 1x choice. This finally results in softer images in general. The Portrait option features a very severe background blur that frequently spills into the subject.
5x telephoto camera
The 5x zoom shots aren’t that awful. They’re even likable. We found that post-processing reduces contrast compared to the primary shooter, and sharpness is acceptable. Fine detail on the buildings may be seen from a distance, although the warmer color temperature is also prevalent here. Indoor samples are significantly softer, however.
Ultrawide camera
The ultrawide is likewise not particularly stunning. Stills have a lower dynamic range, appear softer, and can even reveal some noise in ideal lighting. Colors may be washed out at times, but the warm color temperature and increased contrast are maintained. Macro photography is possible because to the ultrawide camera’s tight autofocus. “Macro” in smartphone terms, at the very least. And, to our surprise, the results are rather positive. The samples are detailed and crisp.
Selfies
As long as the lighting is good, any of the two punchhole selfie cameras will capture great, detailed photographs. The procedure produces vibrant colors and realistic skin tone. If you are inside, we recommend using the rear camera instead. It resolves much more detail and is noticeably crisper.
Low-light photos
As is customary, we shot the low-light examples with the Auto Night Sight toggle turned on. We discovered that the program favored Night Sight for all of our scenarios, including the brightest ones. Regardless of the camera, the camera app requested that we stay still for at least two seconds, if not more. Definitely not the quickest dedicated Night mode available.
However, even with Night Sight enabled, we’ve seen better night-time images elsewhere. The scenes are beautifully exposed, with plenty of clarity in the shadows, although some highlights are clipped. However, certain sequences came out better than others for no apparent reason. It appears that performance can be uneven.
Low-light 2x zoom
After seeing the daylight 2x crop zoom samples, we didn’t have high expectations for the low-light ones. They’re significantly softer, with more obvious blown highlights and noise in the scene’s dark parts.
Low-light 5x telephoto camera
The 5x telephoto examples aren’t really stunning, but they appear to be better than the 2x zoom ones. In general, the 5x zoom photographs at night are dull, but the dynamic range is adequate.
Low-light Ultrawide camera
The ultrawide shots at night appear out of focus and exceedingly soft. At the very least, the dynamic range appears to be appropriate for this type of camera.
Video recording
The handset’s video recording capabilities are limited to 4K quality and up to 60fps. You can capture 2160p video with all of the cameras on the rear, as well as the two selfie cameras. There is also a Night Sight option for low-light footage, although it only supports 1080p resolution. Stabilization is available in all 4K cameras, although with significant limits. The Pixel features three stabilization modes: fixed, standard, and active.
The Fixed one is ideal for tripods and is extremely mild, the regular one is ideal for most situations and is essentially regular EIS, and the Active one limits the video resolution to 1080p and gives more stability than normal, similar to an action camera. Now let’s go to the real footage. We start with the primary camera’s 4K clip, which isn’t up to par.
As with the “regular” Pixel 9s,
the Pro Fold records relatively soft movies with little fine detail, and you may even see some noise in some spots if you look closely enough. Colors, on the other hand, are fairly realistic, with strong contrast and a wide dynamic range. Although ultrawide films are often softer and have a lower dynamic range, this one is certainly not flagship-level. Noise is more visible, and fine detail is almost non-existent.
The 5x zoom footage isn’t awful, either. It’s bit blurry, but it resolves fine detail well and matches the main camera’s overall depiction. The dynamic range is decent, and it’s somewhat brighter than the other cameras, which is consistent with our observations of the images. Low-light footage from the primary camera are not very stunning, owing to their softness.
Aside from that, dynamic range is good. Interestingly, the Night Sight videos are considerably softer and mushier. This might be due to the 1080p resolution. In terms of stabilization videos, it’s clear that Active stabilization gives outstanding smoothness, which is a step up over Standard stabilization. Both appear to be sturdy.
Competition
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has few natural competitors for two reasons. For starters, the foldable market remains very small. Second, like with previous Pixel phones, regional distribution is limited, so the Pixel 9 Pro Fold faces competition in only a few areas. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a viable option in all areas where the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is offered. Samsung’s sixth-generation foldable is probably the gold standard, and the Pixel struggles to compete.
Mostly because Samsung has extensive industry knowledge and appears to be a more comprehensive solution. The build quality and design of the Z Fold6 are superior; the software has additional features that help you make the most of the folding form factor; it operates on a more powerful processor, charges somewhat quicker, and enables pen input. Camera quality is comparable, however the Pixel earns bonus points for having a 5x telephoto camera rather than a 3x.
However, the 9 Pro Fold offers several significant benefits. It boasts a larger inner display and a more ergonomic outside screen aspect ratio. The Z Fold6 is simply too tall. In addition, the Pixel offers brighter screens in both auto and manual settings, and the wrinkle on the Pixel is less obvious. However, the price difference may aid with this difficulty more than you realize.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold costs
€1,900 in Europe and $1,799 in the United States, with the gadget expected to cost INR 172,999 in India. In comparison, the Z Fold6 costs less than €1,300 in Europe and less than INR 165,000 in India, while the pricing in the United States is similar at $1,600-1,700. So, in most markets, the Z Fold6 is far less expensive, and Google’s alternative will struggle to compete.
Buyers in Europe and India should surely consider the Honor Magic V3. Although availability is currently limited or non-existent in some places, Honor will sell it for €1,999 in Europe, with Indian pricing unclear. Even with the European, higher-than-Pixels pricing, it might be claimed that the Magic V3 has enough added functionality to warrant the price premium.
The Magic V3 is a more sophisticated foldable, including improved cameras, a more powerful CPU, and quicker charging. It has a lesser battery life, but it’s more slimmer and lighter to compensate. However, you may anticipate Google to provide longer-term software support. Finally, we have the vivo X Fold3 Pro, which is particularly designed for Indian users. It will cost INR 159,999, making it less expensive than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
It has similarly brilliant panels, faster charging, longer battery life, a more powerful camera setup, a snappier CPU, and is somewhat lighter. We also appreciate the dual fingerprint reader setup under both screens. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold struggles to compete with the vivo X Fold3 Pro in terms of value.
Verdict
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold provides a great experience with no major faults, and it holds its own in a market with minimal competition. While it may not be the best in every category, it is a significant improvement over its predecessor. Despite its competence, the camera performance falls short of that of certain competitors. Charging times might be faster, and the chipset, while dependable, isn’t quite up to level with comparable high-end handsets.
The contrast strip extending the hinge and the cover display adds to the polarizing look. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a few distinguishing features. It has an astounding 7 years of Android OS upgrades, one of the biggest displays on the market, and both the main and cover panels are extremely bright.
Google’s AI capabilities, particularly with its Gemini AI, are impressive, frequently outperforming even Samsung’s Galaxy AI, if your language is supported. In conclusion, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has significant competition at its premium price point, it provides a compelling overall package. It may not provide breakthrough ideas, but for those seeking a dependable foldable with long-term software support and outstanding AI capabilities, it’s a good choice.
