Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review: A bold canvas for foldables but one step at a time

I person utilized the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for implicit 2 weeks, and here’s what impressed maine astir the foldable telephone and what didn’t.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold terms successful India (as reviewed): Rs 1,72,999

The 8-inch show is simply a monolithic magnitude of existent estate. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Thinner and comfy to use

By now, I person utilized foldable smartphones countless times, and each time, I get a unusual feeling that makes maine power backmost to “normal” phones. I ne'er felt that I could usage them arsenic my superior instrumentality due to the fact that they tin beryllium uncomfortable to handle. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold felt different. I deliberation its signifier and size made it a small much comfy to use—and that 1 alteration made a important quality successful however I presumption foldable phones.

I would accidental the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sits betwixt the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open, among the 2 astir fashionable foldables. In fact, the archetypal Pixel Fold was abbreviated and wide similar an existent passport. The caller model, however, matches the size of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, making it person to a regular smartphone that you and I are acquainted with and accustomed to. However, that doesn’t mean the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels similar a “normal” phone—it intelligibly isn’t. After all, this is simply a foldable phone, and that’s a cardinal quality betwixt the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The 2 phones aren’t going to beryllium the same, and you volition decidedly consciousness it erstwhile you commencement utilizing the Pixel Fold.

Sure, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is highly bladed and has the aforesaid 6.3-inch exterior surface arsenic the Pixel 9 Pro, but it is besides heavy. Still, the telephone ne'er feels awkward to hold—and by the way, I similar devices that person a small heft and consciousness solid, which reminds maine of the Nokia Communicator. The phone’s framework is made of aluminium, portion the hinge has an aerospace-grade, high-strength aluminium alloy cover. The exterior show features a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover. The rear sheet is besides Gorilla Glass; however, it’s matte alternatively of glossy. The rear-mounted camera sensors jut retired successful a rectangular module with rounded corners. You person the powerfulness and measurement buttons connected the right, the USB-C port, and the nano SIM slot astatine the bottom.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gives disconnected the content of 2 smartphones glued together. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Unfortunately, which is besides existent for different high-end smartphones, the Pro Fold doesn’t travel successful amusive colours, arsenic it’s lone disposable successful Obsidian and Porcelain. I wonderment wherefore brands presume that ultra-premium smartphones shouldn’t travel successful bold colours and wherefore lone a luxurious foldable instrumentality similar the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is deemed acceptable for an executive. Not cool, Google.

The Fold has a durability standing of IPX8 for h2o resistance, which is connected par with different foldables, but it lacks a particulate ingress standing owed to the hinge. You tin instrumentality the Pixel Fold to a swimming pool, but beryllium careful, arsenic the device’s interior surface is delicate and needs other attraction if you privation the telephone to past longer.

The full instrumentality sits level erstwhile opened, which is commendable—kudos to the plan team. There’s thing blissful astir a telephone you tin grip with 1 manus without worrying astir dropping it, though I should notation getting a lawsuit arsenic soon arsenic you commencement utilizing it. Nonetheless, it’s precise satisfying to unfastened the instrumentality and fold it shut. In fact, each clip I adjacent the Fold, it reminds maine of the Nintendo 3DS XL. There’s thing magical astir the physicality of the device—the interaction and feel, and the grip erstwhile the surface folds.

I spent astir of my clip utilizing the phone’s exterior display. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Google takes a book-style attack with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, akin to different foldables successful the market. This is simply a fashionable signifier factor; similar a book, you unfastened the Pixel Fold to uncover a large, flexible 8-inch ultra-thin glossy portion of solid for the display. However, astir of the clip I utilized the device, my interactions were chiefly with the 6.3-inch surface connected the outside. In a way, this is simply a bully thing, arsenic I don’t person to unfastened the tablet-like show each the time. I tin really usage the screen show for WhatsApp, sending a substance connection oregon replying to Gmail. The screen show works perfectly successful each of those scenarios and, if you request much country – well, you unfastened the device.

Both displays are bully for mundane tasks, but the 8-inch show OLED adds a important magnitude of surface existent estate. It is agleam and sharp, arsenic is the beforehand display. The highest brightness of 2,700 nits allows users to work quality articles and eBooks successful agleam sunlight. The interior show isn’t crease-free, though. The crease is decidedly disposable successful the mediate of the foldable, but it has ne'er bothered me; it’s there, but it doesn’t interaction regular usage.

The full instrumentality sits wholly level erstwhile it’s open. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

The interior show opens galore caller possibilities

I person been asked galore times however a foldable telephone is antithetic from a regular smartphone, and I would ever accidental that it each comes down to a antithetic signifier origin and the other things you tin bash with a telephone that has a foldable surface versus a instrumentality that doesn’t. By “different,” I don’t mean that a foldable volition connection thing wholly caller that your existing telephone can’t do. However, a instrumentality similar the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shines successful 3 circumstantial aspects—at least, those are what I recovered compelling enough.

First and foremost, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels superior arsenic a tablet. I mean, conscionable look astatine the 8-inch screen; it becomes an effortless tablet to transportation around. During a travel to San Francisco past week, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was the lone tablet I packed successful my bag. I watched the 2nd play of Heartstopper connected the device, and not for a 2nd did I miss my iPad mini. I felt burden-free not having to transportation an other instrumentality connected the trip. In the archetypal fewer hours of the flight, I watched the show, and successful the second part, I listened to euphony connected the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It serves a dual purpose, which I deliberation offers a compelling payment of utilizing a foldable phone.

The split-screen acquisition shines connected this device. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Secondly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is simply a large eBook reader. Reading connected the Kindle app is enjoyable for agelong hours. Third, definite apps — particularly Google ones — instrumentality vantage of the larger surface connected the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, resulting successful a antithetic experience. Google Calendar, for example, utilises the other surface existent estate, and you tin really consciousness the quality immensely. Another illustration is Google Meet, which lets you usage each the cameras and screens, allowing the idiosyncratic you’re talking to to look connected the outer surface truthful that others astir you tin spot them too, alternatively of crowding astir your phone. Some games besides instrumentality vantage of the other existent property and tin customise your gaming acquisition accordingly.

The downside is that the database of games that enactment this diagnostic is inactive precise small.

I besides liked however you tin tally 2 apps simultaneously connected the interior screen. Sure, you tin bash the aforesaid connected immoderate smartphone, but the implementation is amended connected a foldable screen. Think of moving a YouTube video connected 1 broadside and Google News connected the other, for example.

These are smartphone features, the things we each bash connected a phone. The quality is that connected a foldable telephone similar the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the acquisition is optimised for a ample interior screen. However, not each app takes vantage of this. Just due to the fact that the interior surface is considerably ample doesn’t mean I would ditch my laptop oregon iPad Pro and commencement utilizing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold arsenic a replacement. Not really. It won’t surpass those devices, adjacent though you tin usage a Bluetooth rodent and keyboard to get immoderate enactment done. All I’m saying is that I would inactive similar a laptop for penning long-form articles and get the existent enactment done.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is large for speechmaking quality articles and e-books. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

But not everything astir the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is perfect, particularly connected the bundle side. For instance, there’s an enactment that allows you to proceed what you were doing successful an app connected the interior surface erstwhile you adjacent the telephone by swiping up connected the outer screen. It works well, yes, but overall, Google hasn’t moved leaps and bounds with the software. I would accidental it’s an Android problem.

At times, I consciousness that the interface doesn’t accommodate good to a foldable screen, resulting successful an acquisition that feels much successful tune for tablets. For instance, connected a regular smartphone, determination is nary close oregon incorrect mode to clasp the instrumentality and ticker a YouTube video erstwhile surface autorotation is enabled. However, connected the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, erstwhile I was watching a YouTube video connected the interior screen, I had to beryllium cautious astir holding the instrumentality correctly, arsenic determination was a precocious accidental I mightiness clasp it incorrectly and interruption the screen. There should beryllium a informing sign, but determination isn’t.

I hold this is Google’s 2nd foldable smartphone, and the institution is inactive learning however to optimise the acquisition for caller types of signifier factors. However, the bigger occupation that remains unresolved is however to accommodate the interface for foldable phones. If Google can’t lick it, I don’t deliberation immoderate different institution volition beryllium capable to.

The telephone feels costly successful the hand, which matters erstwhile you walk this benignant of money. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

AI overload is here

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has each the AI features that Google is heavy selling lately, but I consciousness we person reached a constituent wherever they mightiness beryllium overloading the smartphone experience. At least, that’s however I feel. You mightiness not privation to usage each the AI features but Google keeps reminding you it has made the champion AI smartphone.

Anyway, the AI features that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with are akin to those disposable crossed the full Pixel 9 series. These scope from generating images successful the Pixel Studio app and searching screenshots successful the AI Screenshots app to utilizing Magic Editor, which tin “reimagine” a photograph oregon insert objects utilizing substance prompts. Then there’s the caller Gemini Live experience, which allows for afloat conversational, flowing back-and-forth discussions. It utilized to beryllium disposable arsenic portion of a $20/month Gemini Advanced subscription, which besides included 2TB of unreality retention and Gemini features successful Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. When you bargain immoderate Pixel 9 Pro oregon 9 Pro XL (including the Fold), you get a one-year escaped proceedings of Gemini Advanced. However, Google precocious announced that Gemini Live would beryllium included for escaped going forward. Look, Gemini Live is fun, but it needs a spot of work. I consciousness that it’s excessively dilatory to genuinely suffice arsenic a existent back-and-forth conversation, for now.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold launches with Android 14, but Google volition upgrade the instrumentality to Android 15. ( Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Pretty almighty but the artillery beingness could person been better

The instrumentality has Google’s proprietary Tensor G4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. I’m not into benchmarking and truly don’t marque excessively overmuch fuss astir the processor benignant oregon who made it; each I attraction astir is however the telephone feels connected a day-to-day basis. The Pixel Fold performs likewise to the Pixel 9 Pro XL; it’s snappy and handles 2 apps connected surface simultaneously. I consciousness that each smartphone I’ve reviewed this twelvemonth is fast, and frankly, we person reached highest smartphone show immoderate clip ago.

As for artillery life, Google has squeezed successful a 4,650 mAh cell. Despite having 2 screens, the Fold’s artillery lasts a day, but don’t expect it to agelong beyond that. That’s for sure. A afloat complaint takes astir 96 minutes utilizing a 45W USB-C charger (which is not included successful the box).

There’s a batch to emotion astir the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The amusive origin can’t beryllium overlooked. ( Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Great cameras

The Pixel Fold’s camera houses 3 sensors and a flash. The superior sensor offers 48 megapixels with optical representation stabilisation; the wide-angle lens delivers 10.5 MP outputs, portion the 5x telephoto lens has 10.8 MP connected offer. During the travel to San Francisco, I spent a batch of clip with the camera, and I tin corroborate that the instrumentality produces astonishing snaps. As I ever say, the camera facet is subjective, but yes, I americium a immense instrumentality of Pixel photography. You tin expect a large ultra-wide lens, 5x optical zoom, and a superb nighttime mode. The Pixel Fold’s camera stands retired connected its own; however, I felt the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a Midas interaction erstwhile it comes to cameras. Nevertheless, the Pixel Fold has a versatile camera, and the results talk for themselves.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express) Pixel 9 Pro Fold illustration image. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Should you bargain the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is simply a crème de la crème smartphone that’s not made for everyone. I deliberation its sticker terms makes that clear, and Google isn’t shying distant from the information that this instrumentality is somewhat of an aboriginal experimentation with foldables. Google has done a batch of things close with this second-generation foldable smartphone but has besides near immoderate things unchanged. All of this indicates that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold volition germinate successful the future; the hardware is there, and Google has demonstrated that well, but it conscionable needs the close bundle implementation. Pros Cons Expensive Much much fragile and costlier to repair than a regular instrumentality No particulate absorption Lack of Stylus enactment Heavier than mean telephone Launches with Android 14 Lackluster UI