Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: A Slim Foldable That Does It All

Foldables have certainly come a great distance, particularly in India. Whereas earlier restricted to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold vary, 2024 has supplied sufficient selection from a lot of producers throughout foldable segments. Now you can get one for as little as Rs. 64,999 in a flippable clamshell kind issue or pony up Rs. 1,59,999 for a top-of-the-line book-style foldable that actually competes with premium slab-style smartphones. With the emergence of tri-fold gadgets, foldables even make these bloated iPhone value tags in India seem palatable for Android customers.

And for these curious iPhone Professional customers eager to check out one thing new, a foldable gives a brand new kind issue and is a value-for-money providing on condition that they’re already paying effectively over Rs. 1,00,000 for a “Professional” iPhone. And what higher Android system to start with than Google’s personal Pixel foldable! It has an nearly iPhone-like philosophy, with each the software program and chip design managed by the model.

Certainly, that is one thing we’re witnessing for the primary time within the foldable phase (not less than in India). With an extended moniker that is smart given the quite a few options it brings to the desk, is Google’s first Professional-branded Pixel worthy of its “Professional” branding and its price ticket?

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Design: Magnificence and the beast

• Dimensions (Folded) – 155.2mm x 77.1mm x 10.5mm
• Dimensions (Unfolded) – 155.2mm x 150.2mm x 5.1mm
• Weight – 257 grams
• Sturdiness – IPX8 water resistance

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold certain seems to be cool. It has a slimmer, leaner and minimalist avatar, but it surely’s additionally the heaviest foldable within the phase

 

The Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold at the moment has the slimmest design of any foldable in India. When positioned on a desk subsequent to the OnePlus Open, it actually feels half as thick when folded (due to its thinner digital camera bump) and abnormally slim when opened. It seems to be very “Swedish” (learn minimalist) when it comes to general design, and I’d have cherished holding it if it had not weighed over 1 / 4 of a kilo.

Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional is taller and thicker (by a couple of millimetre) and is surprisingly extra comfy to carry than the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. That is partially as a result of its barely slender design (accompanied by skinny bezels), however additionally it is lighter by 21 grams and has bevelled corners and curved edges.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold (left) is slimmer and flatter, whereas the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional (proper) is less complicated to carry due to its curved edges and bevelled corners

 

I want that Google had caught to its smaller passport-sized design (just like the previous Pixel Fold), which was distinctive and particular. The unique Fold’s design additionally meant that the system at all times opened straight in a pill state (horizontal versus vertical) and so didn’t must be reoriented when watching motion pictures. It was the right design for a foldable (which most individuals count on to show right into a tablets when opened), however Google’s designers took a smartphone-first design strategy and sort of ruined its USP.

How slim is the Pixel 9 Professional Fold? Right here, it’s pictured subsequent to Google’s personal slab-style Pixel 9 Professional XL flagship

 

This new strategy leads to a narrower cowl show, which I agree is extra comfy to carry, however this additionally means you’ll have to reorient the cellphone when watching a film, as defined within the show part beneath.

Google makes use of aluminium alloy for the metallic elements and has the slimmest profile due to its use of flat entrance and rear panels. Nevertheless, I am not assured about its sturdiness as a result of the body is skinny. It is barely 1mm thick close to the hinge, and whereas it seems to be glossy, it additionally feels fairly delicate.

With such skinny margins for its entrance and rear frames, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold does really feel fairly delicate across the hinge space

 

One other space the place Google manages to chisel down its foldable to beat the competitors is the bezel surrounding the principle folding show, which accurately seems to be like a shiny sticker.

Lastly, the general end of the Fold is a bit missing when in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s design. Whereas the buttons and port cutouts are a bit sharp, there are minor gaps the place the glass panel meets the metallic body. The cellphone is IPX8-rated, which means that it could actually stand up to splashes of water from any path, however do remember that the guarantee won’t cowl any harm brought on by the identical.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Show: Truly good

• Cowl show – 6.2-inch, 1080 x 2424 pixels, full-HD+, 120Hz
• Fundamental show – 8.03-inch, 2076 x 2152 pixels, 120Hz
• Show Sort – Cowl: OLED, Fundamental: LTPO OLED
• Show safety – Cowl: Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Fundamental: UTG

As you possibly can inform from the specs listed above, solely the folding show of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold gives the battery-saving LTPO expertise. Each shows present barely punchy colors on the Adaptive setting, with the identical getting toned down on the Pure setting. If you happen to favor the Pure setting for true-to-life colors, remember to change to the Adaptive setting when watching motion pictures on OTT apps, because the shows are likely to lose distinction on this mode.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold has a sexy general design, but it surely’s laborious to disregard these thick borders round its cowl show.

 

I preferred how broad the duvet show is, which additionally reduces the necessity to open the cellphone on a regular basis. Like with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show, The well-rounded nook cutouts of the Fold’s design additionally eat into the viewable show space. It solely makes issues worse on a foldable as these corners make the oblong show seem squarish.

Given the principle folding show’s measurement, you get a extra usable video viewing space when holding the system horizontally, and that is the explanation why it’s a must to reorient it when viewing video on full display screen (non-cropped view). And even then, there’s tons of wasted house above and beneath (letterboxing), so the squarish side ratio is healthier suited to run two apps side-by-side than for leisure.

Whereas its bezel is now thinner than earlier than, the principle show on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold has a really noticeable crease

 

In reality, in case you are simply on the lookout for a much bigger show for watching motion pictures on, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a more sensible choice as a result of it’s going to last more than the 9 Professional Fold with a single cost as effectively.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Software program: AI-tastic

• Software program – Pixel UI
• Model – Android 14
• Software program dedication – 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel Drop updates

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the one foldable to supply a correct tablet-style cut up notification tray with toggles on the left and notifications on the precise

 

There may be a variety of element and a focus given to the folding expertise. There is a delicate closing animation with the house display screen icons and widgets shifting inwards when closing the principle show. The lock display screen clock additionally glides to the left when unlocking the system straight from the principle show, which is a pleasant contact. My favorite is the cut up format for the notifications tray with toggles on the left and the notifications on the precise, which is usually discovered on Android tablets that run near-stock Android software program.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 9 Professional’s multi-tasking capabilities are removed from what the competitors gives. At present, it is simply restricted to working two apps (displayed in full) in Cut up Display mode, and that is about it. The OnePlus Open, regardless of being the oldest foldable at the moment accessible, nonetheless appears to supply the very best productiveness setup with the flexibility to run three apps in full and one other app in a small floating window, for individuals who want it.

The Pixel 9 Professional’s multi-tasking capabilities are restricted to working two apps at a time

 

Whilst you can examine all of the AI options in my evaluation of the Pixel 9 Professional XL, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold does include a couple of enjoyable extras. This would come with the lovely Made You Look characteristic, which performs humorous animations on the duvet show to make youngsters chortle and smile when on digital camera. Twin Display on Meet additionally lets customers present the output from each entrance and rear cameras collectively when on a Meet video name. Twin-Display mode for Stay Transcribe can also be very helpful when on a vacation and might immediately translate 120+ languages. It additionally is available in use for these with listening to and speech disabilities.

Identical to the Pixel 9 Professional XL, Automotive Crash Detection is now accessible, with the satellite-based Emergency SOS coming at a later date.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Efficiency: Fairly common

• Processor – Google Tensor G4
• RAM – 16GB
• Storage – 256GB

Regardless of the various foldable-friendly software program refinements, it’s a bit disappointing to see the UI stuttering with random apps (together with the Google Uncover feed). I perceive that the Fold’s cowl show will not be an LTPO unit, however I seen this very apparent lack of scrolling fluidity with each shows when looking any app. This grew to become extra apparent once I in contrast it with the Pixel 9 Professional XL aspect by aspect. I imagine the perpetrator right here is the stricter battery optimisations. Both method, Google desperately wants to repair the jitter and stuttering, as Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional gives a a lot smoother software program expertise at a cheaper price.

Google additionally skimps on storage, given that the majority foldables at this value level simply provide 512GB of storage. In a method, they do again it up with a free 2TB Gemini Superior plan (for a yr), however once more, we might have cherished to see extra storage on a cellphone that is this costly.

I used to be not in a position to check out Google’s in-game split-view, which is obtainable for sure titles as a Beta tester, due to some access-related points. Nevertheless, I attempted Name of Responsibility: Cell (at Max and Extremely body price) on the duvet and most important show and located its efficiency fairly passable. Genshin Affect stuttered lots when the settings had been maxed out. Contact sampling or sensitivity will not be as correct, and it felt a bit bizarre to play FPS video games on a sq. show, though it gives you with a a lot greater show in comparison with the duvet display screen.

The cellphone will get scorching whereas utilizing the digital camera app open air, but it surely doesn’t appear to have an effect on digital camera efficiency (like on earlier Pixel fashions) due to the vapour chamber cooling system.

It certain is spectacular how Google managed to pack in wi-fi charging and VC cooling right into a cellphone that is as skinny as a USB-C port when unfolded

 

For some motive, quantity ranges like these on the Pixel 9 Professional XL don’t appear enough, particularly whereas watching motion pictures. I typically discovered myself maxing it out more often than not and nonetheless didn’t discover it enough when it comes to sheer loudness. It additionally lacks a enough bass (even for a foldable).

Whereas the side-mounted fingerprint reader labored simply effective, I solely wanted to make use of it in dimly lit settings, or these with no mild in any respect, because the safe face unlock system did the job fairly effectively.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Cameras: Not what we anticipated

• Fundamental digital camera – 48-megapixel (OIS), f/1.7 aperture, AF
• Telephoto digital camera – 10.8-megapixel (OIS), 5X optical, f/3.1 aperture, AF
• Extremely-wide digital camera – 10.5-megapixel, 0.5X, f/2.2 aperture, AF
• Selfie cameras – 10-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, AF (cowl/most important)

Google’s digital camera system on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold stays just like the older Pixel Fold

 

Certainly, there’s nothing “Professional” in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s cameras, as they do not maintain a candle to the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s cameras. Regardless, issues solely worsen when put next with the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional, as will be seen from the digital camera pattern comparability beneath.

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold loses to the sharper and extra detailed images produced by Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional. Additionally, discover the higher dynamic vary in low mild (faucet photographs to develop)

 

In contrast to most producers making an attempt to squeeze high-resolution digital camera sensors into their foldables. It stays to be seen whether or not Google desires to repeat Samsung’s digital camera {hardware} technique and keep on with the identical set of cameras for 3 generations, as the one actual upgrades we’ve seen this yr are with its selfie cameras.

Pictures from the first digital camera are respectable and are available out a bit tender when taking pictures indoors or in opposition to any out of doors lighting. When taking pictures open air, colors seem pure, with resolved element on the decrease aspect and a few minor purple fringing. In low mild, images have respectable element however are likely to crush the blacks because the older Pixel cameras did.

Edge detection in Portrait mode actually wants a variety of work… even for a foldable (faucet picture to develop)

 

As with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, Portrait taking pictures is restricted to 1.5X and 2X. Nevertheless, not like the XL, the Fold has to deal with all of it with a somewhat dated digital camera sensor, so these digitally scaled crops do not look nice. Portrait mode images from the rear digital camera not solely lack element and distinction but in addition have horrible edge detection that may minimize out hair, ears and glasses. So, I like to recommend utilizing it solely in daylight (if you happen to actually need to). In reality, I most popular taking pictures common images at 1X and including an AI blur impact to them within the publish, which additionally supplied higher element.

Pictures captured at 5X (optical zoom) seem a bit flat and tender (faucet picture to develop)

Pictures from its major digital camera (1X) come out alright (faucet picture to develop)

 

The 5X telephoto digital camera, whereas managing high quality images in daylight, shoots tender photographs in low mild even when resorting to the Evening Sight mode. The ultra-wide digital camera actually feels prefer it’s been added to finish the spec sheet. Video efficiency is satisfactory in daylight however comes out very noisy in low mild; even Google’s Video Increase instrument can not appear to show water into wine right here.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Battery: A bit beneath expectations

• Battery capability – 4,650 mAh
• Wired charging – 21W
• Wi-fi Charging – 7.5W wi-fi (Qi)

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s battery life lasts a full day on a single cost with average use. This would come with some calls, digital camera utilization, gaming, and often switching to the principle show. In our video loop battery check, the cellphone managed to final 12 hours and 50 minutes when utilizing the duvet show and eight hours and eight minutes when utilizing the bigger most important show. These numbers are beneath common for a foldable system, as I’ve seen higher battery efficiency on foldables just like the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional and even the OnePlus Open (which is now a bit dated).

Google doesn’t present the Pixel 45W charger within the field

 

Charging speeds are comparatively sluggish, with the cellphone managing a full cost in 1 hour and 45 minutes when linked to a 61W PD charger. They’re on par with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 however nowhere near what the present Chinese language foldables provide each when it comes to wired and wi-fi charging.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Verdict

Google’s neatly laid out software program and segment-leading AI tips might come to the 9 Professional Fold’s rescue, which finds itself within the fingers of Pixel followers who’ve been desperately ready for the foldable to succeed in Indian shores. However its dated digital camera system desperately wants an improve and doesn’t match the “Professional” moniker that Google’s chasing for its foldable.

In terms of sensible options that matter to most customers, like clean software program, good battery life, quick charging and high quality cameras, it comes up horribly wanting Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional (Overview), making it an antithesis to this yr’s Pixel 9 Professional XL (Overview), which was a giant step in the precise path for Google’s slab-style smartphones.

In case you are on the lookout for your first foldable, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Overview) and OnePlus’s Open (Overview) provide prolonged restore warranties to present you higher peace of thoughts and each of those, just like the Vivo, are priced decrease than Google’s foldable Pixel.