Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: The Perfect Foldable Design

Google has perfected the foldable smartphone concept with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a phone that combines sleek design with advanced features. With a slightly thicker build and an 8-inch tablet screen inside, it surpasses Samsung’s offerings in the foldable market. This phone provides a smooth and practical experience, making it a standout foldable device.

A Familiar Yet Innovative Design

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s design is simple but effective, featuring a form factor that feels much like a regular phone when closed. Unlike previous foldable, such as the bulkier Pixel Fold or the elongated Galaxy Z Fold series, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a familiar, easy-to-handle shape. It’s essentially a slightly heavier 6.3-inch phone when folded, but when opened, it reveals a vibrant 8-inch tablet screen, ideal for multitasking.

 

Display Quality and Foldable Experience

The 8-inch tablet screen inside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold makes it perfect for running two apps side by side. However, the square screen ratio is less suited for widescreen video content, leaving black bars at the top and bottom. The crease in the middle of the screen is less noticeable than in previous foldables but still present. Despite that, the display remains sharp, smooth, and bright, rivaling some of the best screens available today. It’s also much easier to use outdoors thanks to its high brightness.

Performance: Solid but Not the Fastest

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by the Tensor G4 chip and comes with 16GB of RAM, providing strong performance for most day-to-day tasks. It handles multitasking well, allowing users to run two apps simultaneously without any issues. However, when compared to some competitors using Qualcomm processors, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold falls slightly behind in raw performance. Despite this, it offers more than enough power for the average user.

 

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life varies due to the dual screens, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can last around 40 hours, typically requiring a charge every other day. Although this falls short of Samsung’s best foldable, it represents an improvement over the original Pixel Fold. Charging takes approximately 97 minutes using a 45W USB-C charger, which is sold separately.

 

Camera: Impressive but Not Perfect

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features three cameras on the back: a 48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens. There are also two 10MP selfie cameras, one on the outside and one on the inside screen. While the main 48MP camera performs well in various lighting conditions, the telephoto lens falls slightly short compared to Google’s non-folding Pixel 9 Pro models, especially in low light. However, the overall camera setup is still the best among foldable phones.

AI Features and Multitasking

Running on Android 14, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with several AI-based features, including Google’s Gemini Live experience for conversational AI interactions. This AI multitasking feature allows users to have a full conversation with Google while using another app. Google Photos’ Magic Editor, which allows users to reimagine photos with text prompts, works well on the large inner screen.

 

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also includes a “Made You Look” feature, which displays animated characters on the outside screen to attract children or pets when taking photos—a fun and practical tool.

 

Durability and Repairability

Google claims the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is built with 18% recycled materials, including aluminum, plastic, and rare earth elements. The phone is repairable, and replacement parts will be available through iFixit, but repairing the internal screen could cost over ₹55,000. The phone also comes with an IPX8 rating, meaning it can withstand being submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes. However, it lacks dust resistance, and the internal screen’s long-term durability remains a concern.

 

Price in India:

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at ₹1,44,000 for the 256GB model, with the 512GB variant priced higher. Internationally, it costs $1,799 (around ₹1,49,000). In comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro starts at ₹83,000, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is similarly priced at ₹1,49,000.

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Verdict: A Top Choice for Foldable Enthusiasts

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an excellent foldable smartphone, with a design that balances practicality and innovation. When closed, it feels like a regular phone, and when opened, it transforms into a tablet. The camera setup is impressive, the battery life is solid, and the large internal screen is ideal for multitasking. However, its high price and fragility are significant drawbacks.

 

If you’re willing to pay the premium price, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold stands out as one of the top foldable phones on the market today.

 

Pros:

Combines a phone and tablet in one

Smooth and bright tablet screen

Solid performance and battery life

Class-leading cameras with 5x zoom

Water-resistant (IPX8)

Packed with AI features

Seven years of software updates

Cons:

Extremely expensive

More fragile and costlier to repair

No dust resistance

Heavier than regular phones

The face unlock feature is not as secure as Apple’s Face ID.

 

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold stands out as a top-tier foldable, offering both innovation and functionality, but its premium price and delicate build mean it’s best suited for those who prioritize cutting-edge tech over durability.