The Pixel Fold has a new identity now, so it’s only fair that we explore it with a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review. Google has decided to give up on what we assumed was going to be the Pixel Fold 2 and added the “Pro” title just to set it apart from the older version of the device. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold launch came one year after the original Google Pixel Fold and it looks like a handful—in a good way.
The device comes equipped with some fun new capabilities and has all the makings to challenge the Samsung series of folding phones. From the updated camera design to Google’s new favorite word “AI,” here’s everything the new smartphone has to offer.
Image: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review
The Made By Google Event on August 13 brought an impressive lineup of four new smartphones—Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold—along with a collection of other releases like the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Buds Pro 2. It has been only a few months since the release of the demure and delightful Pixel 8a, but Google came out guns blazing and ready to go with the latest flagship offerings.
The foldable phone category is a growing, still untapped segment that only some companies have been able to make a mark on, Apple being the prime example, however, this has been a great year for the category.
We’re a tad bit more partial to the clamshell folds that have been revived, but the book-type Folds are not to be ignored. With the ease of using a regular smartphone and the added joy of unfolding it into a tablet, this Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review will largely stand in favor of what the company has done with the device.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Specs—It’s Tensor Time
Unlike the squat but wide-bodied marvel that the original Pixel Fold was, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 6.3-inch outer display with an 8-inch screen on the inside. The outer screen is similar to what you will find on the Pixel 9 Pro, while the inner screen is slightly larger than the one on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the OLED “Actua Display” on the outside has 1080 x 2424 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate that ranges between 60 to 120Hz, and it supports 2700 nits peak brightness. The inner “Super Actua Flex” LTPO AMOLED display also supports 2700 nits peak brightness and has a 120Hz refresh rate but it scales from 1-120Hz.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a Tensor G4 chip just like the rest of the new lineup, which is an essential part of how the smartphone will support AI functionalities. One of the most significant changes with the new Pixel 9 lineup is the Google Satellite SOS connection in the U.S. This will allow for a connection to emergency services even if you find yourself in an area with no cell signal.
This is reportedly supported by the new Exynos 5400 modem on the chip and the service may be expanded to other regions over time. According to 9to5Google, the company has partnered with Garmin and Skylo to make this possible. Apple already provides this service for the iPhone 14 and beyond so it’s not necessarily new, but we’re always happy to see a wider range of smartphones take up safety as a priority.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Camera Review
The new smartphone has a trip camera setup that flaunts a 48MP Quad PD wide main lens, along with a 10.5MP ultrawide camera and 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens that has 5x zoom. The rear camera also has 20x digital zoom capabilities. The redesigned camera bar appears quite different from the original, but it’s not unpleasant to look at. The selfie camera can be found both on the outer and inner screens and their capabilities match up at 10MP.
The rear cameras can support 4K and 1080p video recording at 24,30, and 60 FPS and have a collection of features to support their performance and use. Slo-mo video support at 240 FPS, astrophotography timelapse, night sight video, cinematic pan video stabilization, 4K timelapse with stabilization, etc., it’s all there to make of it what you will.
There is a lot of support for photography. For example, the Made You Look feature is a nice detail, which uses the outer screen to play a video and grab a kid’s attention while you take a photo of them with the rear cameras. These little details add to the full experience, but strictly from a hardware point of view, Google hasn’t changed anything too dramatically.
Battery Power and Storage—Will It Make It Through 24 Hours?
One thing that confused us while working on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review was the battery. The new smartphone has downgraded from the already questionable 4,821 mAh battery on the original Fold to a 4,560 mAh battery. Google states that the battery can last over 24 hours and can be extended to up to 72 hours with the Extreme Battery Saver mode. It’s rare to use a smartphone that sparingly so we’ll assume 24 hours is the standard the device sets.
Google has not made any claims that the battery has been redesigned to be more power efficient so reviewers are left hoping that the Tensor G4 chip is more capable of reducing the drain on the battery during its operation.
The phone has 16GB RAM and its storage capabilities come with two options, 256GB and 512GB. From the looks of it, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold specs are a decent match to other fold phones on the market.
Gemini Flexes Its AI Powers
The most prominent use of AI following the Pixel 9 Pro Fold launch will likely be the photo editing tools like Autoframe and Reimagine, along with image generation in the Pixel Studio. The Add Me feature is a very fun way to stitch images together and add in a missing family member when they miss the group shot. From generating stickers to recomposing your images, there’s a lot of focus on photography to distract from the slightly above-par cameras for a flagship model.
Google’s AI summaries will make it much easier to access information while Circle to Search can summon information to your screen more efficiently than ever before. Gemini AI is expected to make your smartphone more intelligent so you can take photos to ask it questions or brainstorm ideas when you’re stuck in a creative rut.
Image: “Google Translate makes face-to-face conversations in different languages even easier with Dual Screen support.”
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Price
Before we wrap up the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review, one pressing question we need to get to is the price. The device is priced the same as the original Fold, standing at $1,799 USD. It is not an easy amount to swallow but it is slightly better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 starting at $1,899 USD.
Along with its weaker battery, IPX8 rating, and inferior camera compared to the other Pro models in the Pixel series, it all boils down to how badly you want a phone that folds. The dual screen mode or the ease of turning it into a split screen is quite appealing, and so is the hands-free mode and the availability of all that screen space.
With all those features considered, it might be a worthwhile investment for you, but we’re still on the fence about whether we would truly recommend the phone to anyone reading this Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review. For comparison, the base Google Pixel 9 is priced at $799 USD, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is $999 USD, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is $1,099 USD.
To wrap it all up with a nice bow, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold features come with seven years of OS and security updates so if you want to buy a phone that will last you a while, this one is guaranteed to do it. We’re not sure how the folding display will hold up in that time, so the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL feels like a much safer bet for that timeline.