Pixel excellence, usual foldable foibles

We’re 5 years into the foldable phone period, and I consider 2024 will go down because the 12 months when large-format folding telephones obtained actually good. A couple of months again, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which lastly obtained vast and skinny sufficient to be genuinely helpful. Now, Google has the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which skips all of the iterative enhancements of Samsung’s annual foldables to ship a product that will get virtually every little thing appropriate, proper out of the gate.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is among the many finest foldable cellphone experiences on the planet; it’s a powerful piece of premium {hardware}, and Google’s Pixel-ified model of Android is as elegant and considerate as ever. Sadly, it additionally has the identical outdated foldable shortcomings and sky-high worth. Till that modifications, foldables are going to be area of interest units. That doesn’t imply they will’t be enjoyable to make use of, although, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is extraordinarily enjoyable.

I virtually couldn’t consider Google launched the unique Pixel Fold in 2023. Whereas it was as costly as all the opposite foldables, the {hardware} was comparatively horrible. The hinge didn’t open all the best way, the bezels had been big, and the outer display was manner too vast. Being beneficiant, it felt like a prototype of a significantly better cellphone. That higher cellphone doesn’t exist as a result of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold {hardware} is so divorced from the first-gen mess that the brand new, clunky identify virtually is sensible — this isn’t a Pixel Fold 2.

When Google introduced the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, it was the thinnest foldable on the planet — simply 5.1mm when open. It has since been overtaken by the HONOR Magic V3, however that’s a type of worldwide telephones we don’t get within the US. For the general public studying this, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the sleekest foldable obtainable. I just like the {hardware} barely greater than the OnePlus Open, however these telephones look virtually equivalent. With each of them on my desk, I’ve picked up the incorrect one a number of instances. I figured it out fairly shortly, although, as a result of Google’s cellphone is noticeably heavier.

The thinness of the cellphone actually pays off, and I discovered it comparatively simple to deal with when open or closed. When closed, it’s virtually slim sufficient that you possibly can neglect that it opens in any respect. The bezels are a bit on the massive aspect, however at the very least they’re even on the within now. The display will get extraordinarily brilliant outdoor, however the plastic cowl is extra reflective than glass. So, like different foldables, even super-high peak brightness gained’t prevent from glare on a sunny day. The outer display performs a bit higher outdoor as a result of it’s good old school Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Google has gotten the memo that the outer display ought to be the scale of a daily cellphone. It took Samsung six generations to get to the purpose the place the Cowl Show is simply barely giant sufficient to be snug. To my eye, Google’s outer 6.3-inch OLED display appears to be like equivalent to the Pixel 9’s show. It’s loads sufficiently big to get issues accomplished, and the slim profile doesn’t really feel like a brick once you use it closed.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold actually involves life once you pry it open. The expansive 8-inch OLED clocks in at 2,076 x 2,152, which aligns with different tablet-like foldables. At twice the width of the outer display, it’s virtually precisely sq. (a 1:1 ratio). Not each app appears to be like proper on a sq. 8-inch show, however that’s why the outer display is nice — simply flip the cellphone closed, and a problematic app renders simply as it could on a flat Pixel. It is a Google-made, book-style foldable that lastly works as a cellphone.

The again can also be Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with a silky matte end, I simply want Google had some extra thrilling colours than Obsidian (pictured) and Porcelain. The boxy aluminum digital camera module sticks up a bit lower than the digital camera bar on Google’s Pixel 9 sequence, nevertheless it’s within the prime nook like most telephones. Sadly, which means you don’t get the secure tabletop expertise of the opposite Pixel telephones, nor the perfect digital camera expertise (however we’ll get to that later).

Google had the worst foldable crease with the unique Fold by advantage of its cellphone not opening a full 180 levels. It’s a lot improved for the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, and about on par with the OnePlus Open and higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The hinge is easy and feels sturdy once you lock it into place. Nevertheless, Google positioned the buttons weirdly low on the sting of the cellphone. This makes them awkward to seek out, and the amount rocker is true the place you’ll most likely need to seize the cellphone when opening it. The ability button has a fingerprint sensor in it, and it’s extraordinarily quick and correct. In actual fact, typically I unlock the cellphone by accident simply selecting it up; once more as a result of the button placement is odd.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold requires much less power to open in comparison with Samsung’s foldables, however I’m a bit apprehensive concerning the “looseness” of the hinge. If you cease halfway, the Pixel’s hinge rebounds and droops a bit, and you may wiggle it forwards and backwards with virtually no effort. Evaluate that to Samsung’s hinge, which feels tanky and stays precisely the place you place it. I’m not saying that is indicative of future points with Google’s design, however Samsung’s foldables have been fairly sturdy, and Google is newer at this. On the very least, I’d advocate testing the official case ($49.99 at Google Store) for some further safety general.

Quick sufficient won’t be quick sufficient

A lot has been stated concerning the Tensor G4, Google’s newest AI-optimized cellular chip. Regardless of a brand new CPU core, this chip doesn’t carry out significantly better than the previous Tensor G3, which places the Pixel 9 Professional Fold at a definite drawback in comparison with foldables just like the Z Fold 6 which have Qualcomm’s newest flagship silicon.

In benchmarks, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is in the course of the smartphone pack. CPU-bound duties, akin to gaming, carry out a bit higher than GPU duties, which is the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s weakest efficiency metric. Alternatively, the Tensor G4 doesn’t warmth up as a lot because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in sustained testing, which is an attention-grabbing flip contemplating Tensor’s historical past of warmth administration woes.

I perceive the need to get probably the most highly effective chip obtainable — in spite of everything, you’re paying $1,800 or extra for this cellphone. Nevertheless, identical to the flat members of the Pixel 9 sequence, I’m happy with this cellphone’s day-to-day efficiency. Animations and scrolling are completely easy, apps open promptly (even two apps directly), and the contact detection feels instant. It’s most likely quick sufficient except taking part in high-end video games like Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impression is a major a part of your smartphone utilization, although it’ll nonetheless deal with these nicely sufficient at low-to-mid settings.

Google geared up the Pixel 9 Professional Fold with a 4,650mAh battery, which is common to barely giant for a book-style foldable. The battery life will not be a deal breaker, however that is one other of these long-standing foldable flaws that Google hasn’t crushed.

How a lot you employ every display will have an effect on how lengthy it lasts. Nevertheless, the extra usable entrance OLED has saved me from opening the Pixel 9 Professional Fold as typically as I do the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which has helped it final slightly longer. In my day by day assessments, I typically noticed round 5 – 6 hours of display time per cost. A full day of utilization often left me across the 20% low-battery warning.

On one event, I used the Pixel 9 Professional Fold throughout an outside tour on a cloudless day. I flipped forwards and backwards between the 2 shows whereas taking pictures and inspecting pictures for a number of hours. With the show brightness cranked up most all that point, I ran out of juice within the night.

Sadly, recharging the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is irritating and never quick sufficient. Regardless of being a “Professional” Pixel, it maxes out at 21W, which is slower than the 27-37W you get with Google’s flat Pixel 9 sequence telephones. It’s frequent for foldables to cost slower than comparable flat ones, nevertheless it’s nonetheless annoying to see this type of disparity, contemplating the value tag and the “Professional” moniker.

As well as, wi-fi charging is restricted to 7.5W as an alternative of the 23W you get with the Pixel Stand 2 on the opposite Pixel 9s. Google additionally positioned the coils unusually low, which prevents the Pixel 9 Professional Fold from connecting on many stand-type chargers, together with the Pixel Stand 2 and Tesla’s OEM chargers. It doesn’t have wi-fi energy share, both.

Google’s tackle Android with Materials You appears to be like implausible lately. Some individuals might not just like the low-density or extra restricted function set, nevertheless it competes with iOS by way of user-friendliness. And on foldables, it’s getting even higher.

Google labored with Samsung early within the foldable period to construct some fundamental multi-window options into inventory Android, however the fundamentals aren’t sufficient. The unique Pixel Fold was lacking some very fundamental options like saving app pair shortcuts. With the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, Google has added that and extra — largely through Gemini AI.

Regardless of some large-screen optimizations, that is nonetheless the Pixel software program you realize from the opposite Pixel 9 phones, with options like Name Display, Pixel Screenshots, Gemini everywhere (together with the ever-impressive Gemini Live), and, once more, the perfect implementation of Materials You theming.

Google’s tackle foldable software program makes the Pixel 9 Professional Fold vastly extra helpful than flat Pixels. Whilst you can multitask on conventional telephones, it’s neither enjoyable nor environment friendly. Foldables supply the chance to open a number of apps with sufficient display actual property to really use them. Google’s facet ratio scaling additionally works fairly nicely for apps that don’t just like the 1:1 show.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold expertise feels extra rigorously crafted than what you get on a Samsung or OnePlus foldable — I can see it interesting extra to individuals who haven’t already spent $2,000 on a cellphone.

For instance, take a look at the best way Google modifications the expertise between the 2 screens. Multitasking performance just like the taskbar and split-screen shortcuts are solely proven when the cellphone is unfolded. When it’s closed, the Professional Fold works like a daily Pixel cellphone. You additionally don’t have to fret about remembering esoteric multitouch gestures or managing a number of dwelling display layouts. Google’s foldable is simply simpler to make use of than the competitors.

On the flip aspect, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold isn’t as highly effective as, for instance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Suppose you’ve got two apps split-screened on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold in portrait orientation (the default), however you need them in panorama. You need to rotate the cellphone, which isn’t the tip of the world, however Samsung offers you a number of choices that don’t require bodily reorienting the system. You possibly can rotate your open apps to alter the scale and placement with a faucet, open a floating window in any form you need, or drag and drop open apps to develop and alter the orientation. And that’s simply the tip of the One UI iceberg — there’s plenty of performance in there, however it may be complicated and overwrought at instances. Every part Google does on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold works and appears nice.

Like all Pixel telephones, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold comes with seven years of update support, together with Android variations, safety patches, and Pixel Drops. That matches Samsung and places OnePlus to disgrace with its 4 years of OS updates plus another of safety for the Open. Though, will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Google’s new hinge design holds up for seven years of opening and shutting.

As a lot as Google labored to enhance the {hardware} for its second foldable, it couldn’t overcome one of many key limitations of foldables. The digital camera setup is succesful sufficient, nevertheless it’s a step down in comparison with the cheaper Pixel 9 telephones, and gained’t be difficult the best camera phones you should purchase.

It’s a matter of house — Google prioritized battery capability over making room for bigger, extra superior picture sensors. So, the cameras are just like the primary Pixel Fold. There’s a 48MP main sensor, a ten.5MP ultrawide digital camera, and a ten.8MP 5x telephoto. There are additionally a pair of 10MP selfie cameras peeking by way of the entrance and inside screens.

All of those cameras are decrease decision and bodily smaller than the corresponding sensors on the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional Fold can’t sustain with Google’s finest cameras, it does alright as a result of it nonetheless will get the superb Pixel HDR+ processing.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold remains to be nice at taking fast snapshots — it has faster shutter speeds and focus acquisition in numerous lighting circumstances than Samsung or Apple telephones, making it simpler to seize movement. Nevertheless, the cheaper Pixel 9 telephones do that higher. The smaller sensors on this cellphone simply can’t accumulate as a lot mild. Likewise, the extent of element you get from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is sweet however noticeably poorer than the flat Pixel 9s.

Google’s picture processing pipeline does an excellent job of brightening photos and enhancing particulars, however the pictures do skew a bit cool. I’ve additionally seen the Pixel 9 Professional Fold sometimes blows out highlights or loses shadow element that the Pixel 9 Professional wouldn’t. The distinction is most noticeable in low mild, the place Evening Sight produces extra blurry pictures in comparison with flat Pixels.

The ultrawide sensor isn’t the very best decision, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished for landscapes and different out of doors pictures. There’s a bit an excessive amount of distortion on the edges, a standard drawback with Pixel cellphone ultrawide lenses, however I respect the inclusion of autofocus. That enables the ultrawide to shoot macro photos, that are surprisingly good. Nevertheless, it takes slightly too lengthy to modify to this mode as you progress in.

I additionally commend Google for becoming a periscope-style telephoto lens on this digital camera module. It offers you higher attain than most foldable telephones, however once more, the sensor’s small dimension and backbone restrict what you are able to do. There can be no excessive digital zoom right here, and the extent of element is ok however not spectacular. Just like the macro mode, switching to the zoom lens takes a beat too lengthy.

The selfie cameras are acceptable for video chats, however for selfies, you need to use the primary cameras. You are able to do that with foldables like this, and whereas holding the cellphone could be a little ungainly, the outcomes are so significantly better. You possibly can try selfie samples and different full-resolution variations of our pattern pictures on this Google Drive folder.

As for video, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold tops out at 4K/60fps for recording. Not like the opposite Professional telephones, this one doesn’t help Google’s server-side Video Increase 8K upscaling. Whereas it all the time stings to lose out on options at this worth, it’s not an enormous loss general, and the 4K video from this cellphone appears to be like good. Google’s body stabilization is significantly better than it was once, and element is sweet. Samsung’s telephones shoot higher video — brighter, sharper, and with extra choices — however nobody will flip up their nostril at a Pixel 9 Professional Fold clip.

On steadiness, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold digital camera expertise is sweet sufficient that almost all smartphone customers can be completely pleased. Nonetheless, that is an $1,800 cellphone with poorer digital camera efficiency than a $1,000 Pixel. I don’t know if it is a dealbreaker, nevertheless it’s positively a shortcoming that makes foldables more durable to advocate, even when that caveat isn’t unique to Google.

Whereas there’s loads to love concerning the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, it’s not going to alter the equation for foldables. We’re nonetheless caught speaking about the identical shortcomings for each foldable cellphone: the battery life is weak, the digital camera is a step down, and the value is outlandish.

Even when it gained’t make foldables mainstream, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold will get a lot proper. I really like how skinny it’s, and the shows are the proper dimension ultimately. Google’s foldable improves marginally on the OnePlus Open’s wonderful ergonomics, making this a surprisingly snug cellphone to make use of one-handed or drop in your pocket. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless an excessive amount of bezel across the shows, and the cellphone is about 20 grams too heavy.

I’ve been clear about how much I like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 ($1449.99 at Samsung) — that’s most likely nonetheless the cellphone I’d use if I needed to stick to one book-style cellphone for the lengthy haul. I chalk that as much as its extra superior multitasking, seamless stylus enter, and Samsung’s wonderful equipment. That stated, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold has a well-designed suite of foldable options. You may get extra accomplished on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold than on a flat cellphone, even when it’s not probably the most feature-packed foldable.

As typical for this specific type issue, the value is the most important drawback. Foldable telephones, particularly those who fold out into tablets, are difficult feats of engineering, and perhaps which means they gained’t ever get cheaper. And in that case, most individuals gained’t even contemplate shopping for one. Flat telephones are high quality, and most of the people will proceed utilizing them fortunately. If you inform somebody {that a} cellphone prices $1,800, they’re typically visibly shocked.

Because of this, foldables of this dimension are nonetheless a distinct segment class. I’m unsure when that can change; perhaps concerning the time Apple will get round to releasing one. Within the meantime, Google might be the closest to creating a bigger foldable with mass attraction. In fact, the flip foldables have already got damaged this barrier, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 ($1099.99 at Samsung) and Razr (2024) series ($699 at Amazon) are each nice, however you don’t get that seductive phone-tablet combo.

Should you like Pixel telephones and have an interest on this model of foldable, nice, get the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. You’ll most likely find it irresistible. Should you’re skeptical about foldables, don’t spend $1,800 on one, even when it’s the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. And fortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro ($999 at Amazon) and Pixel 9 Pro XL ($1099 at Amazon) are each two of the perfect telephones Google has ever made, so that you don’t need to.