Google’s entry into the foldable smartphone market with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a significant development, marking the company’s first foray into this evolving space. This device aims to challenge established players like Samsung and Vivo, leveraging Google’s renowned AI capabilities and premium hardware. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold positions itself as a premium foldable device, offering a unique combination of features and functionalities designed to redefine user expectations.

Design and Durability: A Focus on Strength and Aesthetics

Google has thoughtfully crafted the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s design, prioritizing durability and aesthetics. The device features a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, ensuring protection against scratches and minor drops. The satin metal frame is crafted from aerospace-grade high-strength aluminium alloy, providing a sleek and sturdy design. This frame contributes to both aesthetic appeal and improved durability compared to its competitors.

The hinge mechanism, a critical component in foldable phones, has received special attention. Google has opted for a multi-alloy steel hinge with an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminium alloy cover. This innovative approach aims to address concerns surrounding hinge longevity and smooth operation, which have plagued some foldable devices. While Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 boasts a refined hinge mechanism, and Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro claims a 12-year lifespan for its hinge, Google’s design appears to prioritize both longevity and smooth operation.

Furthermore, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold achieves an IPX8 water resistance rating, matching the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and surpassing the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro in this crucial feature. This level of water resistance is a significant advantage in daily use scenarios, offering added peace of mind for users.

Standout Features:

• Scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass.
• Aerospace-grade high-strength aluminium alloy frame for durability and aesthetics.
• Multi-alloy steel hinge with an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminium alloy cover.
• IPX8 water resistance rating for increased protection in daily use.

Two Vibrant Displays: A Cinematic Experience

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features two impressive displays that deliver a captivating viewing experience. The external cover display is a 6.3-inch Actua display, boasting a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and a pixel density of 422 ppi. While this slightly edges out the 6.2-inch external display of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it falls short of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro’s 6.53-inch offering. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold truly stands out in its brightness capabilities. Both the cover and main displays boast up to 2,700 nits of peak brightness, surpassing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 2,600 nits. This ensures a sharp and clear display experience even under direct sunlight.

The internal folding display is an 8-inch Super Actua Flex display with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels and a pixel density of 373 ppi. This LTPO display supports a variable refresh rate from 1-120 Hz, offering excellent power efficiency and a smooth, responsive display. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch main display and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro’s 8.03-inch screen, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a balanced display size with exceptional quality.

Both Pixel displays offer HDR support and full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors, providing a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. Additionally, the use of ultra-thin glass for the internal display suggests that Google has minimized the creasing issue, a significant challenge for many foldable devices.

Standout Features:

• 6.3-inch Actua cover display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and a pixel density of 422 ppi.
• 8-inch Super Actua Flex internal display with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels and a pixel density of 373 ppi.
• Both displays achieve up to 2,700 nits of peak brightness for improved visibility.
• Both displays feature HDR support and 24-bit color depth for a captivating visual experience.
• Ultra-thin glass on the internal display reduces the crease, a common issue in foldable devices.

Power and Performance: The AI Edge

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 processor, paired with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, dominates benchmark charts with raw processing power, Google’s Tensor G4 focuses on AI-driven tasks.

While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers impressive results in gaming and multitasking, the Tensor G4 excels in daily usage scenarios, where AI-driven tasks significantly enhance productivity. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold integrates AI-powered features like Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Live Transcribe, and more, seamlessly improving user experiences.

Google’s commitment to long-term support is evident in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s seven years of OS, security, and Pixel Feature Drop updates. This equals Samsung’s update policy for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 but surpasses the three years promised by Vivo for the X Fold 3 Pro.

Standout Features:

• Google’s Tensor G4 processor, focusing on AI-driven performance.
• 16 GB RAM for seamless multitasking and app switching.
• 256 GB storage space for ample room for apps, photos, and videos.
• Seven years of OS, security, and Pixel Feature Drop updates for a long-lasting software experience.

Camera Prowess: Capturing Moments with Precision

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold follows the legacy of Pixel’s camera excellence, featuring a triple rear camera system. The setup comprises a 48 MP wide camera, a 10.5 MP ultrawide lens, and a 10.8 MP telephoto lens, enabling a diverse range of photography options.

The 48 MP wide camera boasts an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering outstanding image quality across various lighting conditions. Its large sensor size allows for exceptional detail and sharpness in daylight, while Google’s HDR+ ensures well-balanced exposure and natural color tones.

In low light, Night Sight utilizes Google’s AI prowess to enhance image quality, preserving details and reducing noise without artificial lighting. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 50 MP camera, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold maintains a more natural color profile. While Vivo’s 50 MP wide camera delivers decent results, it lacks the depth in dynamic range that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers, particularly in shadowed areas.

The 10.5 MP ultrawide lens doubles as a macro lens, capturing expansive shots with minimal edge distortion and impressive close-ups. This versatility is beneficial for both landscape and macro photography, further enhanced by AI for superior low-light performance.

In telephoto performance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold utilizes a 10.8 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 20x. The phone delivers sharp zoomed-in shots with minimal noise, leveraging Google’s AI processing for excellent clarity. While Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro boasts a more expansive zoom range, reaching up to 100x digital zoom, Google’s AI-driven zoom is more precise, particularly at higher levels, ensuring superior image quality.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts dual 10 MP front cameras (one on each screen), offering sharp and naturally toned selfies, aided by Google’s Real Tone technology. Night Sight for selfies ensures impressive performance in low light conditions.

Standout Features:

• Triple rear camera system with a 48 MP wide camera, a 10.5 MP ultrawide lens, and a 10.8 MP telephoto lens.
• 48 MP wide camera with f/1.7 aperture and OIS for exceptional image quality in diverse lighting conditions.
• Night Sight for superior low-light photography, capturing detail and reducing noise.
• 10.5 MP ultrawide lens with autofocus that doubles as a macro lens for versatility in landscape and close-up photography.
• 10.8 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 20x for precise zoomed-in shots.
• Dual 10 MP front cameras, one on each screen, offering sharp and natural selfies, enhanced by Real Tone technology.

Battery and Charging: Sustained Power for Daily Use

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with a 4,650 mAh battery, delivering a full day of moderate usage during our tests. This is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 4,400 mAh offering, while being lower than the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro’s 5,700 mAh battery. The phone also features an Extreme Battery Saver mode, extending battery life for up to 72 hours.

The phone supports fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, catering to various modern charging needs. However, the 45 W USB-C charger is sold separately, putting the device at a slight disadvantage compared to Vivo’s offering, which includes a 120 W charger in the box.

Standout Features:

• 4,650 mAh battery capable of lasting a full day of moderate usage.
• Extreme Battery Saver mode to extend battery life up to 72 hours.
• Fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
• 45 W USB-C charger sold separately.

Take Away Points:

• Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold marks the company’s entrance into the foldable smartphone market.
• The device boasts a robust and sleek design with a focus on durability.
• The two impressive displays offer vibrant and captivating viewing experiences.
• Google’s Tensor G4 processor delivers exceptional AI-driven performance, enhancing user experiences.
• The camera system captures stunning images across various lighting conditions.
• The battery provides sufficient power for a full day of moderate usage, with an extended battery saver mode.
• The lack of an included charger may be a drawback for some users, particularly when compared to Vivo’s offerings.

In conclusion, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold delivers a promising entry into the competitive foldable phone market, offering a unique blend of AI-powered features, long-term software support, and compelling camera capabilities. However, optimizing app experiences for the larger screen remains a challenge, and the lack of an included charger may be a consideration for some users. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a compelling alternative to established players like Samsung and Vivo, but real-world performance and user feedback will ultimately determine its success in the ever-evolving world of foldable smartphones.