Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: The Ultimate Foldable Smartphone Experience

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold builds on its predecessor’s foundations, offering improved design, performance, and features that make it a serious contender in the foldable smartphone market. With a more refined approach to both hardware and software, Google has addressed the shortcomings of the original Pixel Fold, making this device a worthy upgrade. In this article, we’ll dive deep into what makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold stand out, from its top-tier hardware to its innovative software, and assess whether it justifies its $1,799 price tag.

A Refined Design for Modern Needs

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s design represents a significant shift from last year’s Pixel Fold. While the previous version had a unique but slightly cumbersome aspect ratio and form factor, the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold adopts a more conventional foldable smartphone design that users of other foldables will appreciate.

When closed, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sports a 6.3-inch display, identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. However, when opened, it transforms into an impressive 8-inch nearly square display. This large screen is ideal for users seeking an immersive viewing experience, whether for watching videos, multitasking, or browsing the web. The external display's usability has also been enhanced, featuring a more conventional aspect ratio that feels natural and user-friendly, even when the phone is closed.

Premium Build and Durability

One of the standout aspects of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is its build quality. The device feels incredibly solid in hand, with its thin design making it one of the sleekest foldable smartphones on the market. Google has put significant effort into ensuring that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is both lightweight and durable, making it suitable for everyday use without sacrificing the premium feel that users expect at this price point.

The redesigned camera module on the back complements the phone's aesthetics while remaining functional. When closed, the device strongly resembles the Pixel 9 Pro, creating a sense of consistency across Google’s flagship devices.

Stellar Performance Powered by Tensor G4

At the heart of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google’s custom Tensor G4 processor, which powers the phone alongside 16GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. The Tensor G4 chip offers snappy performance across the board, ensuring seamless multitasking and smooth transitions between apps.

The device also features a 4,650 mAh battery, which powers the two displays efficiently. While battery life is adequate for most users, especially in typical daily usage scenarios, heavy users or those traveling in areas with spotty network coverage may find themselves needing to recharge before the day is over.

Displays That Shine

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts two stunning displays that are optimized for various use cases. Both the external and internal screens deliver a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. Whether you’re reading on the Kindle app or navigating using Google Maps, the display quality is simply top-notch.

The internal 8-inch display is perfect for productivity, offering ample space for multitasking. During my time in Berlin covering IFA 2024, I found myself frequently using the device in its unfolded state to manage my schedule, check emails, and navigate the city.

Exceptional Camera Performance

As with every Pixel device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera system is a highlight. The main camera array includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 10.5-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. These cameras perform exceptionally well in most lighting conditions, offering clear and detailed shots.

In head-to-head comparisons with other top-tier foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold holds its own, especially in low-light photography. Google’s Night Sight Video feature shines, offering superior video quality in dimly lit environments, which is rare among smartphones, let alone foldables.

Room for Improvement in Selfie Cameras

However, not all cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are flawless. The selfie cameras—particularly the one embedded in the internal display—fall short in both photo and video quality, especially in low-light conditions. Selfies often lack sharp focus, and videos can appear grainy, a surprising shortcoming given Google’s camera prowess.

Moreover, the placement of the internal selfie camera in the upper-right corner can lead to accidental taps when trying to close ads or apps, a minor design flaw that detracts from the overall user experience.

Gemini Live: A Work in Progress

Google’s Gemini Live AI assistant is a key feature of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, offering real-time conversational AI for tasks like city navigation or dinner recommendations. While Gemini Live is helpful in many scenarios, it’s still somewhat slow in delivering responses, and occasional AI "hallucinations" can lead to inaccurate or confusing answers.

That said, Gemini Live is a promising feature that will likely improve with future software updates. For now, it’s a fun, if slightly underdeveloped, tool.

Is It Worth the Price?

At a starting price of $1,799, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is undeniably an investment. However, for users who prioritize premium build quality, cutting-edge displays, and excellent camera performance, it’s a worthwhile purchase. The device’s versatility makes it ideal for users seeking both productivity and entertainment on a foldable device.

However, the mediocre selfie camera performance and slightly underwhelming battery life are notable drawbacks that potential buyers should consider. If these are key priorities for you, it might be worth exploring alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or OnePlus Open, which offer larger camera sensors and comparable performance.

Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold solidifies Google’s place in the foldable smartphone market, offering a mature and polished experience that caters to both casual users and tech enthusiasts.