the primary book-style foldable I would purchase

Key Takeaways

  • The Pixel 9 Professional Fold provides a wider cowl show that makes it really feel virtually like a standard smartphone when it is closed.
  • Google’s 2nd gen Fold has a refined construct with a squared-off hinge and strong over all really feel, making it a standout from the competitors.
  • Regardless of a couple of software-related efficiency points, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold delivers nice pictures and spectacular AI options.



E book-style foldables simply have not labored with the best way I take advantage of a smartphone — till now.

Do not get me improper, I just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the important thing competitors for Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold within the North American market. It is a solid-feeling smartphone, and this yr, Samsung refined the foldable’s design in a number of significant methods. The system feels nice when unfolded, however utilizing its Cowl Show stays a painfully cramped expertise. Typing is annoying, searching the web with Firefox feels too confined, and, on prime of that, the higher half of the system is oddly heavy, making it really feel just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 may tumble out of my hand at any second.

The oddly named Pixel 9 Professional Fold (simply name it the Fold 2, Google) solves this downside with its wider cowl show and impressively skinny design. I would not go as far as to say it feels precisely like a standard smartphone when it is not unfolded, however it’s far nearer than I anticipated. This has reworked how I take advantage of the foldable, and for the primary time, I really feel like I can fit a book-style foldable smartphone in my life.


Whereas I am going to spend a while discussing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s digital camera and AI options on this overview, I take a a lot deeper dive into this performance in my
Pixel 9
and
Pixel 9 Pro
collection opinions.

Beneficial

Pixel 9 Professional Fold

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold goals to resolve the unique Pixel Fold’s key points because of its thinner and lighter design, Tensor G4 chip and extra fluid hinge.

Professionals

  • Wider cowl show
  • Refined, sturdy construct
  • Inside display screen appears to be like nice
Cons

  • Heavy, cumbersome design
  • Digicam lags behind Pixel 9 Professional
  • Occasional software program efficiency points

Worth, availability, and specs

Out there now beginning at $1,799

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold is offered beginning at $1,799 in porcelain and obsidian, directly from Google and several other different retailers. The foldable’s 6.3-inch, 60-120Hz OLED exterior show has a decision of 1080 x 2424 pixels. Brightness reaches 1,800 nits for HDR, with peak brightness at 2,700 nits. The unfolded 8-inch, 1-120Hz inner ultra-thin glass display screen, which Google calls its (LPTO) Tremendous Actua Flex show, includes a decision of two,076 x 2,152 pixels. Its brightness hits 1,600 nits for HDR and a couple of,700 nits at peak brightness.


Different specs embody 16GB of RAM, both 256GB or 512GB of storage, and Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The rear triple-camera setup features a most important f/1.7 48-megapixel broad shooter, an f/2.2 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, and an f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto digital camera able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digital camera is an f/2.2 10-megapixel lens, and the internal digital camera can also be an f/2.2 10-megapixel shooter.

When folded, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is 10.5mm thick, and when unfolded, it is a skinny 5.1mm. The foldable smartphone weighs roughly 9oz (about 256g) and includes a 4,650 mAh battery. It is also IPX8 licensed, that means it might probably deal with being submerged in 39 inches (roughly 1 meter) of water for as much as half-hour. Since it is a foldable, I would not advocate anybody truly check this, however it’s good to know the very costly smartphone will not die if it by accident will get a little bit moist.


Pixel 9 Professional XL construct and design

Google’s new foldable provides a notable design improve over the unique Pixel Fold

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's cover screen

To say the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is sort of an entire redesign in comparison with the unique Pixel Fold would virtually be an understatement. Throughout my roughly week-long expertise with the system, it has been, at instances, tough to understand simply how far Google’s burgeoning foldable line has are available such a brief time period. With all of those adjustments, there’s rather a lot to unpack design-wise.

In a cool design twist, the hinge is totally squared, giving the Pixel 9 Professional Fold a novel design aptitude that helps it stand out from different smartphones.


First off, there’s now a quite sizable digital camera bump on the again that homes the rear digital camera array. I discussed this in my Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 XL review, however I am not keen on the brand new digital camera bump. It is not a deal-breaker, however it appears to be like prefer it was plopped onto the rear of the smartphone in a haphazard method. I a lot desire the Pixel 8’s visor-like array or the center-set digital camera bump the unique Pixel Fold supplied.

Google's Pixel 9 lineup

Identical to the Pixel 9 Professional line, the world surrounding the digital camera bump includes a premium-feeling matte again that does a good job of repelling grease and smudges. The sides of the system are squared off but additionally rounded, making it simpler to grip when folded and unfolded. In a cool design twist, the hinge is totally squared, giving the Pixel 9 Professional Fold a novel design aptitude that helps it stand out from different smartphones.


Talking of the hinge, it feels way more strong this yr. That mentioned, it is not fairly as fluid because the Z Fold 6’s hinge, and it makes an odd crackling noise, however it’s shut. Fortunately, the brand new hinge design additionally permits the system to fold fully flat with out feeling such as you’re pushing the foldable show previous its restrict, as with the unique Fold.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold folded up

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s bezels have been diminished each inside and out of doors the cellphone, they usually look similar to the Z Fold 6’s. For those who put a case on Google’s foldable (and also you in all probability ought to, given it is a dear cellphone), the bezels seem artificially expanded. This clearly is not the case, however it barely cheapens the look of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold and is value preserving in thoughts if you happen to plan to make use of a case.


I am unable to actually think about utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, or any foldable smartphone, with out a sturdy case.

Google despatched me the official Pixel 9 Pro Fold case alongside the smartphone, and I am impressed with it to this point. I am at all times nervous about dropping foldable smartphones, no matter how sturdy they really feel, and the case provides a bit of additional peace of thoughts. Nevertheless, the a part of the case that runs alongside the hinge and the duvet display screen’s bezels attaches with adhesive that can doubtless put on away over time (I additionally would have most well-liked the case to cowl your entire hinge). Nonetheless, I am unable to actually think about utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, or any foldable smartphone, with out a sturdy case.


pixel-9-pro-fold-flat

General, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s {hardware} feels rather more refined and sturdy than the unique Fold, however it’s nonetheless a foldable. For those who’re the kind of one that drops their cellphone often, a folding smartphone in all probability is not for you.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold show

The foldable’s expansive 8-inch display screen feels and appears nice

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's screen unfolded

First off, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold options the identical 6.3-inch exterior show dimension because the Pixel 9 Professional, making it truly snug to make use of when folded. Which means that when it is folded, it appears to be like and appears like a barely thicker common smartphone, not like the unique Pixel Fold, which had a shorter and barely too-wide show that I discovered very awkward to carry with one hand throughout my transient time utilizing it.


Together with the show dimension, the truth that it is solely 10.5mm thick, in comparison with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 12.1mm, contributes to creating the Pixel 9 Professional Fold really feel extra like a daily smartphone when utilizing its exterior display screen. Wanting on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold when it is fully flat is basically spectacular and jogs my memory of seeing the super-thin M4 iPad Pro for the primary time. Foldable display screen expertise has come a great distance in a really quick interval, and that is on show right here with Google’s newest foldable.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's interior screen half unfolded


For me, the lacking hyperlink relating to book-style foldable smartphones is the usable cowl display screen. (As a result of I’m tired of scratching review devices, I rapidly put a glass display screen protector on it, which you’ll be able to see in a number of pictures on this overview.) In my week with the foldable, I’ve primarily used the Pixel 9 Professional Fold like a daily smartphone. It is solely after I wish to watch Netflix, YouTube, use the Kobo app to learn a ebook, or learn one of many numerous articles I’ve saved in Pocket, that I open the foldable smartphone and use its expansive 8-inch display screen. With regards to studying or watching video content material, the bigger 8-inch display screen is an absolute pleasure to make use of.

This offers me a comparatively normal-feeling smartphone that may remodel right into a sprawling pill after I need it to, and that is sort of the dream, proper? On a aspect observe, I discover myself utilizing the outside show or one half of the inside show when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display screen is open to observe content material on YouTube whereas doing senseless duties like washing the dishes or preparing for mattress. The propped-up show provides a terrific viewing expertise, making it simpler to passively look at content material when your consideration is split.


The Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung's Galaxy Fold 6 unfolded

With all that raving positivity out of the best way, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folded expertise is not excellent. First off, it is quite heavy. This implies utilizing the foldable for lengthy intervals with one hand is not a terrific expertise, and when it is unfolded, the system can really feel quite unwieldy on account of its bigger dimension. Actually, I truly desire the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch internal display screen as a result of it is simpler and extra pure to carry in any orientation.


Nonetheless, I would take the snug 20:9 entrance display screen facet ratio, on condition that’s how I take advantage of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold more often than not. It is value noting which you can nonetheless really feel and see the fold within the display screen when the smartphone is fully flat. It is in all probability nearly as seen because the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s crease. I did not discover it to be a lot of a problem, however if you happen to have been hoping the Pixel 9 Professional Fold can be the primary system to get rid of the dreaded fold, you will be disenchanted with Google’s second-generation foldable — it’s there, and you’ll nonetheless see it.

The show high quality is crisp and clear, it doesn’t matter what content material you are consuming, however the folding display screen is sadly tough to view underneath direct daylight.


Much like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folding show appears like glass and does not have the plasticky really feel of earlier foldable smartphones. The show high quality is crisp and clear, it doesn’t matter what content material you are consuming, however the folding display screen is sadly tough to view underneath direct daylight, regardless of its spectacular 2,700 nits of peak brightness (which is definitely 100 nits greater than the Fold 6, although the display screen appears to be like dimmer when evaluating each units). I largely used the foldable indoors throughout my time with it, however underneath direct daylight, the folding display screen may be fairly onerous to see.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold digital camera

AI options and digital camera instruments galore

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's rear camera array


I will not dive too deeply into the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s digital camera efficiency, however its digital camera capabilities lag behind the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. The principle f/1.7 48-megapixel digital camera provides very related high quality, however the f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens includes a greater aperture, regardless of nonetheless providing as much as 5x optical zoom, resulting in grainier pictures in low gentle. The ultra-wide additionally measures in at f/2.2 10.5 megapixels, lagging behind the opposite units within the Pixel 9 lineup and snapping pictures that are not fairly as sharp. The ten-megapixel f/2.2 selfie and inside digital camera additionally don’t evaluate to the spectacular f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter the Pixel 9 Professional provides. Usually, pictures usually are inclined to lack the distinction the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional collection’ cameras provide.

With all of this in thoughts, does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold snap good pictures? Sure, it undoubtedly does, they only received’t be one of the best on the market, and given the foldable’s value, that is disappointing. Alternatively, this might be a trade-off value making if you happen to’re offered on the smartphone-tablet dream. For those who’re within the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, you’re doubtless shopping for it since you need the power to hold a pill round in your pocket, quite than a images powerhouse. Nonetheless, the choice to not provide the identical digital camera array within the Pixel 9 Professional Fold because the Pixel 9 Professional is disappointing, given Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 6 options almost the identical shooters because the Galaxy S24 Extremely.


All the key AI options are right here, together with the controversial “Reimagine,” which lets you add almost something to footage with prompts; Magic Eraser, which removes objects from pictures with a fast circle; Zoom Improve for pictures; Gemini/Gemini Dwell, and extra. With regards to AI-powered options, Google didn’t maintain something again from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. “Made You Look,” which exhibits a cute animation on the exterior display screen to get a child’s consideration when snapping a photograph, isn’t one thing I’ll use fairly often, however I can see it coming in useful given how tough it’s to take care of a toddler’s focus. There’s additionally Twin Display Preview, which shows a preview of the {photograph} you are taking on the outer display screen. Once more, I doubtless will not use this characteristic usually, however I can see it being helpful if you happen to take pictures of individuals often.


Pixel 9 Professional Fold efficiency

Respectable battery life and benchmark efficiency

Holding the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Efficiency has been first rate throughout my roughly week-long expertise with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. I’ve encountered a couple of situations of slowdown and apps which have randomly crashed or lagged. Generally, apps additionally get caught when transitioning between the duvet display screen and the principle display screen. I don’t assume that is the fault of Google’s Tensor G4 chip, however quite a problem with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s software program expertise not being as easy because the extra mature foldable OS like One UI on the Galaxy Fold 6.


That mentioned, the expertise has been typically strong when it comes to efficiency. Battery life isn’t mind-blowing, however I may get roughly a full day (till round 7 p.m.) earlier than needing to prime up. Extra intensive actions, like watching motion pictures or enjoying video games, have a tendency to empty the battery a bit extra rapidly than my expertise with the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Professional XL. I feel this doubtless has to do with the truth that the exterior show doesn’t characteristic LTPO expertise, that means it might probably solely go from 60-120Hz and never 1-120Hz just like the Pixel 9 Professional line’s display screen or the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s inner show.

Concerning Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold scores 2,969 for single-core and 4,777 for multi-core.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold software program

App optimization and multitasking

Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold


Not each app takes full benefit of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s 8-inch unfolded show, however the cellphone is an enormous enchancment over the unique Fold. It may well nonetheless be irritating at instances, although. For instance, some apps are oddly reduce off on the inside display screen. Nevertheless, for probably the most half, nearly all of apps look as you’d count on in panorama and portrait mode when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display screen is unfolded. Much like Samsung’s foldables, all the important thing apps take full benefit of the bigger 8-inch display screen, together with Gmail, Docs, Maintain, YouTube, and extra.

The expertise of splitting two apps between each side of the folding show is superb and simple to do, because of the taskbar that seems once you swipe up from the underside of the smartphone. You are restricted to only two apps, not like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, however I haven’t discovered this to be a problem. I am unable to consider a scenario the place I’d need greater than two apps working on the identical time on my cellphone.


The Pixel 9 Pro Fold playing a YouTube video from a familar Canadian tech YouTuber

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s sound lags behind different units within the Pixel 9 lineup. It may well get a lot loud, however it sounds hole and simply distorts at larger volumes. Actually, I am truly stunned at how lackluster it’s in comparison with different high-end smartphones.

Must you purchase the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold?

There’s rather a lot to love about Google’s 2nd gen foldable

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is extraordinarily costly at $1,799, but when I have been out there for a book-style foldable, I’d decide it over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as a result of I admire its wider cowl show, which permits me to make use of the system like a standard smartphone. This fulfills the dream of getting a tiny pill in my pocket always, and I desire that over a barely extra comfortable-to-use inner folding display screen. Nonetheless, there are compromises, together with its hefty weight and digital camera specs that lag behind the top-tier Pixel 9 Professional collection.


…If the concept of carrying each a smartphone and a large pill round with you always is interesting, there’s rather a lot to love about Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

Does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nonetheless snap glorious pictures? Positively. However they are not pretty much as good as what the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are able to taking. Nevertheless, if the concept of carrying each a smartphone and a large pill round with you always is interesting, there’s rather a lot to love about Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Google.

pixel-9-pro-fold-thumbnail

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Pixel 9 Professional Fold

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