A year ago, I never thought I’d be writing this. Samsung had just released the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with minor upgrades over the Z Fold 4, and Google’s first attempt at a foldable phone was far from impressive. While Google boasted fantastic software features like Call Screen and Live Transcribe, Samsung offered superior hardware, the S-Pen, and exceptional productivity tools.
But a year later, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Samsung has further refined the Galaxy Z Fold 6, creating a phenomenal foldable phone. Its form factor and size are perfect, especially for using two apps simultaneously on the main display. The S-Pen is a fantastic addition, and I love using it. However, I can’t stop thinking about the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
I adore the regular Google Pixel 9, and the experience has ignited genuine excitement for Google’s second foray into the foldable market. The Pixel experience is now truly premium, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a much more polished device compared to its predecessor.
Ignoring the slightly awkward naming convention, Google’s second foldable phone appears to be the foldable I’ve been waiting for.
Google has taken all the feedback from the Pixel Fold and used it to improve the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in every aspect. It’s thinner, lighter, and exudes a more premium feel. The original Pixel Fold was quickly relegated to a drawer due to its significantly inferior hardware compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the OnePlus Open. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is unlikely to face the same fate.
Weighing almost an ounce less than last year’s Pixel Fold, the difference is noticeable as soon as you pick it up. It’s the difference between carrying a foldable phone and an iPad mini; both fit in your pocket, but the latter is significantly heavier. It’s also just 5.1mm thin at its thinnest point, providing an incredible feel in your hand. While not the thinnest foldable on the market, it is the thinnest foldable available in the U.S.
The front display has been redesigned, mirroring Samsung’s approach between the first and second generations of the Galaxy Z Fold. It’s now 0.5 inches larger at 6.3 inches, matching the size of the Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro is likely to be my phone of the year, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is essentially the same phone in a folding form factor.
The main display on the original Pixel Fold was underwhelming, but the 8-inch display on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is significantly better. It’s larger at 8 inches (versus 6.3), boasts a variable refresh rate of 1Hz-120Hz, and is considerably brighter. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold screen is stunning, making it one of the improvements I’m most excited about.
What about the cameras? While I love my Galaxy Z Fold 6, one area where it falls short is the camera. It’s perfectly functional but doesn’t match the capabilities of other foldables. Considering its $1,800 price tag, the camera should be significantly better. Phones like the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 and Honor Magic V3 demonstrate that a thin folding phone can have a great camera.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses the same camera system as last year and, unfortunately, lacks the upgraded selfie camera found on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, I’m still holding out hope. The 48-megapixel wide sensor is paired with a 10.8MP telephoto sensor offering 5x optical zoom and a 10.5MP ultrawide camera. This is the same setup as last year, but Google’s expertise lies in its algorithms and image processing, and previous Pixel phones have worked wonders with less powerful hardware.
I love the new Made You Look feature. Any new uncle or parent will tell you that taking photos of young children is a challenge. My niece is 3 years old and camera shy when she notices the camera. Smiley faces and cute animations on the front display are designed to make a child look at the camera, but much like the animations on the Motorola Razr Plus, it’ll make everyone laugh. Add Me is also a fun way to express yourself using AI. It uses AI to help you duplicate yourself in a photo or capture everyone in a group, including the photographer. Nothing is worse than a group memory that’s missing someone, and Add Me makes this easier. Like other folding phones, you can also easily use the front display to take selfies with the main cameras.
A Balanced Blend of Hardware and Software
Google’s approach to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has been straightforward: fix the problems from the first generation and add the necessary hardware for a seamless experience. The Tensor G4 chip isn’t vastly different from the Tensor G3, but the upgrade to 16GB of RAM should make everything much smoother. I’ve only spent limited time with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but it already feels snappier and more responsive than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Like the rest of the Pixel 9 range, the Tensor G4 seems more than capable, and the vapor chamber in all but the non-Pro model keeps things cool. The regular Google Pixel 9 doesn’t have a vapor chamber, but it hasn’t overheated in the two weeks I’ve used it.
A primary concern with foldable phones is their durability. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is IP48 dust and water-resistant, protecting against dust and small particles under the display. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold drops the dust portion to IPX8, but the thinner, more compact hinge should provide better protection than last year’s Pixel Fold.
The 4,650mAh battery inside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 250mAh larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but I expect both to deliver similar battery life. This could be where the Tensor G4 falls short against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside Samsung’s foldable, but we’ll discover this in the full review. 37W charging (with Google’s 45W charging brick) should provide a relatively rapid initial charge, but I’m not thrilled when the OnePlus Open can charge from 0% to 100% in an hour. I wish both Samsung and Google hadn’t compromised on fast charging.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold Is the Real Deal
All that said, I wish the Pixel 9 Pro Fold were better in a few areas. Faster charging speeds, a lighter design, and smaller bezels on the side of the cover display would be welcome improvements. There are also a few things I’ll miss about the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which will remain in my rotation.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold lacks the S Pen, which is useful for drawing, annotating, and signing. It’s not as polished for multitasking, and although Samsung has partnered with Google to improve this in Android, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a productivity champion. One UI is also far more customizable, allowing you to make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 your own.
For five years, I’ve been waiting for Google hardware to be good enough to tempt me to switch. AI-powered real-time transcription in the voice recorder app is a godsend when you report from events because it’s fast enough to be a useful fact-check. Call Screening could finally be the answer to my spam call nightmare. These real-world benefits solve daily problems for me, and I’ll finally be able to use them. Thankfully, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold hardware is good enough to make me want to switch, and the benefits of using a Pixel phone are the icing on the cake. I can’t wait for mine to arrive.
