Over All Rating 4/5
Price Starts From ₹1,73,999/-
PROS 👍
- Good Build quality
- Sharp Display
- Impressive Camera
CONS 👎
- Bit Heavy
- No on-display fingerprint sensor
Foldable smartphones are expanding the possibilities of modern technology, and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a notable contender. By combining innovative features with the tested qualities of its Pixel series, Google is stepping into the competitive foldable smartphone market. Does it succeed in creating the best foldable device? Let’s break down the key features.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold with 8-inch display Review
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Design and Build
At first glance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels like a premium device. Its design mirrors elements of the Pixel 9 series, particularly with its flat sides, giving it a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Google has designed the right side of the phone to be subtly curved for comfort, while the left side has a more squarish shape, resembling the spine of a notebook.
When folded, the device is impressively slim and resembles a regular smartphone, which is a notable achievement in the world of foldable devices. The hinge is seamless and sturdy, contributing to a premium feel. However, one design choice that may divide users is the placement of the fingerprint sensor; it is embedded in the power/lock button rather than integrated into the display. While this placement is fast and reliable, many users, myself included, might prefer the convenience of an under-display fingerprint scanner, as it aligns more closely with flagship expectations.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a durable build quality that enhances its longevity, especially as a foldable device. The back is made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is resistant to scratches and drops. Additionally, the aluminum frame provides a solid grip and structural integrity.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts two vibrant OLED displays. The outer display is a 6.3-inch screen, while the unfolded device reveals a stunning 8-inch foldable panel. Both screens support a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, making them ideal for scrolling, gaming, and content consumption.
The display quality is impressive, delivering rich colors and deep contrasts. Using the unfolded 8-inch screen for watching videos, reading, or gaming feels immersive, similar to using a small tablet. Although there is a crease in the middle of the foldable display, it is not distracting; users of foldable devices will adjust to it quickly.
One subtle but appreciated aspect is the symmetry between the two displays. The front screen’s proportions and usability make it perfect for quick tasks, while the inner screen allows for multitasking or an wide media experience.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Performance
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chip, along with a 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. As expected for a device at this premium price point, its performance is smooth, efficient, and free from lag. Multitasking is a joy on this device. During testing, I kept running multiple apps simultaneously, including resource-intensive software like editing programs, without any noticeable slowdown. Switching between tasks, resizing apps, and using split-screen modes felt intuitive and fluid, a features that foldable phones excel.
Gaming on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an thrilling experience. With a big 8-inch display, games feel more immersive. Titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI run flawlessly, with no frame drops even during prolonged gaming sessions. However, the larger screen does consume more battery during gaming. Still, the combination of high resolution, smooth refresh rates, and sharp details makes it worth the trade-off.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: AI Features
Similar to the Pixel 9 series, Google’s AI is also featured in the Pixel Pro 9 Fold. One standout feature is its suite of AI-powered photo editing tools, which allowed me to remove unwanted objects from photos with near-perfect results. Sometimes, however, it struggles to remove objects when they are surrounded by complicated backgrounds. Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers audio summarization, effectively condensing long recordings from lectures, meetings, or events into concise summaries that save time. It also automatically categorizes screenshots and extracts useful data, organizing event tickets and summarizing essential information such as dates and times, making it ideal for busy professionals and frequent travelers. Furthermore, the new AI weather app provides detailed summaries of weather updates, which are more informative than standard apps, making it especially useful during my visit to Delhi.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Camera
Google’s Pixel series has built a reputation over the years, particularly for its outstanding camera capabilities, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold continues to demonstrate this legacy with its versatile triple-camera setup. At the heart of this configuration is a 48MP primary camera that captures vibrant photographs with striking colour fidelity and remarkable detail. In low light, the 48MP sensor does intake all the available light and produce clear images, though it looks like the AI does a bit of enhancement to make it perfect.
The telephoto lens has a resolution of 10.8 MP and offers a 10x optical zoom, which can be expanded to a 100x digital zoom. This optical zoom enables clear and detailed images of distant subjects. Even at impressive distances, the photos maintain their clarity and quality, making it ideal for wildlife photography or capturing events from the back of a crowd without sacrificing resolution.
The device also features a 10.5MP ultrawide sensor. While it performs reasonably well for wide-angle shots, offering a broad field of view for capturing landscapes or group photos, it falls short of high standards. Users may notice that the sharpness at the edges could be improved, although the lens does a good job of minimizing distortion, which is often a problem with ultrawide lenses.
For selfies, the front camera delivers decent quality. However, what sets the Pixel 9 Pro Fold apart is the ability to use its superior rear cameras for self-portraits. Thanks to its innovative foldable design, users can utilise the outer display as a viewfinder, ensuring they capture the perfect shot. This feature, while incredibly useful, can be a bit cumbersome for one-handed shooting, posing a challenge when trying to frame the perfect selfie without assistance.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Battery
One of the most impressive aspects of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is how Google managed to fit a 4,650mAh battery into such a slim foldable design. That said, the battery performance is a mixed bag. The phone supports 21W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging. While the inclusion of wireless charging is appreciated, the relatively slow charging speeds feel out of place in a device at this price point. Additionally, the absence of a wired adapter in the box is a common trend among flagship smartphones, which can be inconvenient for users wdon’t not already have compatible chargers.
Charging the device from 0 to 100% took approximately 1 hour during testing, which is respectable. Faster charging would have been a welcome addition, particularly for a foldable device that is expected to handle demanding tasks.
In terms of real-world battery performance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold held up decently. In a 4K video playback test, the outer display consumed 9% of the battery after 30 minutes, while the larger inner display drained 13% over the same period. For typical use, including social media, messaging, light gaming, and browsing, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can easily last an entire day. However, heavy users or those extensively using the unfolded screen may need to recharge before the day ends. While the battery is sufficient for most users, faster charging support would have helped ease concerns about longevity and downtime.
Verdict
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold demonstrates Google’s vision for foldable smartphones, featuring a sleek design, excellent performance, top-notch camera capabilities, and advanced AI features. While it meets most expectations, there are a few drawbacks to consider. The absence of an under-display fingerprint sensor, some over-processing in low-light camera shots, and a high price tag may deter certain buyers. If you’re willing to invest in a premium foldable experience, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold remains a strong contender. However, if you’re looking for an alternative to Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, consider the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Vivo X Fold3.
Specification
| Display: | 6.3-inch & 8.0-inch OLED |
| Camera: | 48MP, 10.8MP, 10.5MP |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Battery: | 4650mAh |
| OS: | Android 15 |
