Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Pixel Fold: Which model should you buy?

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Google has lastly launched a follow-up to final yr’s surprisingly strong Pixel Fold. The brand new Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not a direct successor to the unique Fold; as an alternative, it is a foldable model of the Pixel 9 Pro, full with an up to date design and new AI capabilities.

Additionally: Everything announced at Made by Google 2024: Pixel 9 Pro, Fold, Gemini, Watch 3, and more 

In the event you’re available in the market for a brand new folding telephone, chances are high you may give the Pixel 9 Professional Fold some critical consideration. In spite of everything, it checks a whole lot of packing containers, not only for folding telephones however flagship telephones typically. That being stated, the unique Pixel Fold continues to be rock-solid, and you may decide it up at most of the similar locations because the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

So the query is: which Google Fold must you purchase? Let’s talk about. 

Specs

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold

Google Pixel Fold

Show

Cowl display screen: 6.3-inch AMOLED 120Hz, Major display screen: 8-inch AMOLED 120Hz   

Cowl display screen: 5.8-inch AMOLED 120Hz, Major display screen: 7.6-inch AMOLED 120Hz

Weight

257g

283g

Processor

Google Tensor G4

Google Tensor G2

RAM/Storage 16GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB
Battery 4,650mAh  4,821mAh
Digital camera 48MP huge, 10.5 ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto, 10MP entrance (inside), 10MP entrance (outer) 48MP huge, 10.8 ultrawide, 10.8 telephoto, 8MP entrance (inside), 9.5MP entrance (outer)  
Colours Porcelain, Obsidian Porcelain, Obsidian
Value Beginning at $1,799 Beginning at $1,799


You should purchase the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold if…

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You need the most important screens

The most important benefit the Pixel 9 Professional Fold has over the common Pixel Fold is being bigger in dimension. The duvet show jumps from 5.8 inches to six.3 inches, providing you with a ton extra room to do issues in your telephone with out having to open it. Whenever you do unfold the gadget, it reveals an 8-inch Tremendous Actua Flex panel, versus the 7.6-inch show on the unique mannequin.

Additionally: Google Pixel 9, Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold: Specs, features, and everything else we know so far

Google took a little bit of unofficial inspiration from OnePlus for the design of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold with its bigger screens — and that is a very good factor. The whole lot feels extra spacious in comparison with the earlier Fold; making multitasking simpler. In the event you like having further display screen actual property, the newer mannequin is the way in which to go.

2. You need the newest specs and essentially the most software program updates

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Because the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the most recent mannequin, you may get the newest and biggest specs that Google may cram right into a folding telephone.

This contains the corporate’s new Tensor G4 processor, which gives higher efficiency than final yr’s G3 and permits a ton of recent AI capabilities (extra on that later). Paired with the chip is 16GB of RAM, 256 or 512GB of storage, and Google’s Titan M2 safety chip. You additionally get a giant 4,650mAh battery that helps 45W quick charging.

Additionally: I’m a diehard Pixel user, but I’m considering a change for two reasons (and I’m not alone)

Final yr’s Pixel Fold is not a slouch compared. However general, you may get a lot better efficiency out of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold due to the newer chip, further RAM, and all of the work Google has executed below the hood to tune issues up so all the pieces flies. 

You may additionally get extra software program updates on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. The Pixel Fold is just slated to obtain six years’ price of software program updates, whereas the 9 Professional Fold will get no less than seven years, future-proofing the telephone till 2031. 

3. You discover AI helpful

The Pixel Fold has a number of neat AI options like Magic Editor and Google Gemini help, nevertheless it would not maintain a candle to all of the stuff the Pixel 9 Professional Fold can do.

Due to the Tensor G4, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold will get Gemini Dwell, which lets you have an actual dialog with Gemini in an assistant-like technique to ask questions and get info on sure matters. It will probably additionally perceive what you are seeing in your display screen and supply extra info on it. 

There’s additionally the brand new Pixel Screenshots app for organizing screenshots and utilizing AI to extract info from them, Pixel Studio for producing photographs with AI and customizing them to your liking, Add Me for including your self to pictures with your mates, name recording with proactive transcriptions, and extra.

Over time, Google can be rolling out much more AI tips due to the Tensor G4, which makes the Pixel 9 Professional Fold the telephone to get if you happen to’re driving the AI wave.

You should purchase the Google Pixel Fold if…

The Google Pixel Fold internal display.
Max Buondonno/ZDNET

1. You wish to lower your expenses

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel Fold share the identical $1,799 beginning value, however as soon as the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is obtainable at most retailers, the Pixel Fold’s value is more likely to dip considerably.

We have seen the value go as little as $1,299 throughout particular financial savings occasions, which implies you’ll be able to count on the identical factor to occur over time as retailers start to part out their stock and make method for the brand new telephone. 

Additionally: Latest Android 15 beta brings important security features to protect you and your data

The perfect half is you may nonetheless be getting a strong smartphone if you happen to leap on a deal; the Pixel 9 Professional Fold may be newer, however many individuals (together with myself) have zero complaints concerning the Pixel Fold’s efficiency or relevance in 2024.

2. You favor a shorter telephone

The Google Pixel Fold outer display.
Max Buondonno/ZDNET

For each one that prefers a bigger telephone, there’s somebody who would moderately preserve issues compact. The Pixel Fold efficiently merged the compact nature of clamshell foldables with the comfort of the bigger shows of book-style foldable. 

The 5.8-inch outer display screen is simple to make use of with one hand and gives simply sufficient room to not really feel cramped. Then, whenever you open it up, the 7.6-inch panel offers you extra room to stretch out and get some work executed, watch a film, and extra.

Additionally: 5 things Android needs to fix to become a worthier iOS rival in 2024

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is an efficient deal greater than the Pixel Fold, and it is not at all as simple to make use of in a single hand. If you need a compact foldable, it is laborious to not suggest the Pixel Fold.

3. You are okay with a barely worse ultra-wide digicam

The Google Pixel Fold cameras using the outer display as a viewfinder.
Max Buondonno/ZDNET

Surprisingly, Google did not make a ton of modifications to the digicam system with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. As a substitute, all it actually did was swap out the ten.8MP ultra-wide for a brand new 10.5MP sensor with a wider area of view. On each telephones, you continue to get a major 48MP digicam and a ten.8MP telephoto with 5x zoom.

We clearly want to check the brand new telephone to see whether or not the cameras are considerably higher, however realizing Google’s processing algorithms for pictures and movies, it is probably you may be getting very comparable outcomes from every of those gadgets, which implies you needn’t choke up the large bucks only for higher cameras.

Additionally: The Pixel phone camera was already the best, but these new features make it even better

Each the common Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Professional Fold include the identical digicam tips, together with utilizing the duvet display screen as a viewfinder and propping the telephone up 90 levels for hands-free pictures. Positive, some options like Add Me may be lacking from the Pixel Fold, however with such comparable digicam {hardware}, you may be getting a larger worth if you happen to store the older mannequin.

Sensi Tech Hub
Logo