How the Smallest Palms Struggle with the Mighty Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

A tablet that fits in your pocket—that’s the sales pitch for foldable phones, yet it’s usually an overstatement. Now, Google is appealing to foldable yay-sayers with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a device that’s roughly the size of an iPad Mini and packed to the gills with exceptionally premium hardware.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the largest foldable smartphone to date. Its inner display measures 8 inches diagonal, a 5.25% increase over that of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 . The cover display is impressively large, too, clocking in at 6.3 inches (the same size as the standard Pixel 9 Pro).

Evidently, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s broad size provides a bit of extra space for internal components. This isn’t just the biggest foldable phone; it’s also thinner than any other foldable, measuring just 5.1mm deep when splayed out in tablet mode. Bigger and thinner, a fantastic combination.

Still, size isn’t everything. Google is keen to make Pixel 9 Pro Fold a true flagship device. This foldable nearly matches the specs of the standard Pixel 9 Pro, packing a next-gen Tensor G4 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 2700 nits of peak brightness. I’m also surprised to see IP68 dust and water submersion resistance certification in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. And, interestingly, Google bumped the wired charging speed up to 45 watts.

Google

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera array also gets some upgrades—there’s a 48MP wide camera, a 10.5 ultrawide lens, a 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens, and a 10MP selfie shooter. Still, this is the one area where Google’s new foldable falls short of the standard Pixel 9 Pro. Customers who opt for the non-foldy phone get a 50MP main camera and a crazy 42MP selfie lens, which would’ve been a boon for video chats on the Fold.

Naturally, Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes some unique software functionality. A new YouTube Multiview function fills the foldable’s screen with up to four video feeds (Google hasn’t specified whether this requires YouTube Premium), and a “Made You Look” photography feature flashes fun animations on the cover display when you use the inner display as a viewfinder (great for photographing small children).

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While these specs and features are all very impressive, I should point out that the original Pixel Fold’s massive wingspan was a common complaint among reviewers. Pushing the phone to an even larger size may make one-handed operation even less practical. And while this phone weighs a lot less than its predecessor at just 257 grams (down from 283 grams), it’s still 60 grams heavier than the standard Pixel 9 Pro.

Google also faces the same software and hardware challenges that plague all foldable phones. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold cannot lay completely flat in tablet mode despite its upgraded hinge. App support for foldables is still spotty, even with the latest Android 15 update. And while a 6:5 aspect ratio is excellent for productivity or gaming (with optimized apps), it’s a somewhat awkward shape for full-screen video playback.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available for pre-order with prices starting at $1,799. A one-year subscription to the Google One AI Premium plan is included with your purchase.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a cutting-edge foldable smartphone featuring an 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display that supports multitasking and immersive entertainment. It is powered by the Tensor G4 processor, offers 16 GB of RAM, and comes with advanced AI capabilities, making it a powerful and efficient device for creativity and productivity.

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Source: Google