Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: A Heavyweight or Merely Hype? | GadgetLad

Overview

Expert Rating

Advantages

• Luxurious appearance
• Extremely fast in daily tasks
• Large, vibrant displays
• Spotless, intuitive software
• Excellent camera quality

Disadvantages

• Tensor G4 chipset is not leading-edge
• Charging speed is akin to your grandma’s kettle
• Gemini AI features? Yep, that’ll set you back more

Our Conclusion

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold presents itself as a robust, premium option among foldable smartphones you might invest in. However, with fierce competition from Samsung and Honor, it’s a steep price point. Don’t expect to find the best value for your money here.

Price At Review Time

$1799

Best Deals Now: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Now, let’s delve into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a hefty device with an even heftier price tag. It faces stiff competition from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Honor Magic V3 in the fierce arena of foldable phones, so let’s determine if it’s worth your hard-earned cash or if it’s merely hype.

Design & Construction

• 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm unfolded
• 162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm folded
• IPX8 rated, weighs 257g

To kick things off, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels like you’re holding an upscale vehicle in the phone realm. Extremely premium, excellently built, and it certainly feels like the money you’re spending. I’ve handled a variety of foldables in 2024, and this one stands out for its luxurious feel compared to the others. You know that sensation when you grasp something and it practically shouts “I’m pricey”? Aye, that’s this phone.

It’s sleeker than the Z Fold 6 but isn’t what you’d call dainty. At 257g, it still feels somewhat hefty in your pocket. Transitioning from the Honor Magic V3, this felt like carrying a brick in comparison. But that robust, square-edged iPhone-like aesthetic contributes to its weight, which I don’t mind.

Straight edges, flat displays, and a hinge mechanism that feels reliable – what else do you need?

I appreciate the matte finish on the edges; they’re easy to grip and resist smudges effectively. However, that hinge? A glossy mess. Fingerprints everywhere.

“It’s nearly the same size as the regular Pixel 9 Pro when folded, but thicker, owing to a squared-off edge for the hinge.”

The exterior screen is a reasonable size, notably not like Samsung’s awkward narrow design. This one feels just like a typical phone when closed. No squashing your keyboard to the size of a stamp nonsense.

Hinge of Wonder?

The hinge is impressive as well. You can flex it to nearly any angle, reminiscent of a contorted yoga guru. Perfect for propping it up for video viewing or snapping photos in tripod mode. Using it, whether open or closed, feels very intuitive. And yes, it can fold entirely flat this time! Gone are the vexing V-shaped gaps present in previous iterations.

However, I wouldn’t say it’s flawless. The volume buttons are situated quite low, necessitating some thumb acrobatics to reach them. Particularly when using the device with one hand. It’s a bit silly, isn’t it? Maybe I need to grow longer thumbs?

Display & Speakers

• Cover: 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2424, 120Hz OLED, 2700 nits
• Main: 8-inch, 2076 x 2152, LTPO OLED, 1800 nits
• Stereo sound system

The cover display operates like a conventional slab phone, almost identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. None of that squished screen nonsense like on Samsung’s Fold. The brightness? It’s incredible – reaching 2700 nits. No more squinting under bright sunlight!

Inside, you’re greeted with a large 8-inch display. It has slightly rounded corners, but the bezels are somewhat pronounced. It’s fantastic for watching movies or browsing, but if you’re hunting for an edge-to-edge beauty, Honor outmatches Google with its Magic V3. And yes, it folds fully flat, though a noticeable crease remains down the center. That’s more apparent with the glossy screen protector.

Speakers? Loud and Clear

Regarding the audio, you’ve got two powerful speakers, but it seems like Google prefers you to hold the device upright. Grip it like a book, and it’s all good. Lay it flat, and your hand can block one speaker often. It can be a bit frustrating for binge-watching Netflix.

Specifications & Performance

• Google Tensor G4
• 16GB RAM
• Storage Options: 256GB/512GB

Ah, the Tensor G4. Not going to sugarcoat it, it’s not the swiftest chipset available. It’s a tad disappointing compared to the Snapdragon options you’ll find in other devices. Yet, for everyday tasks – social media, texting, and watching silly dog videos on YouTube – it performs smoothly.

“In everyday use, scrolling through social media, messaging, and consuming media, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels incredibly responsive.”

Yet, gaming? You may see the Tensor G4 stutter a bit. Play something demanding like Zenless Zone Zero, and frame drops may occur. No overheating issues though. But if mobile gaming is your passion, this likely isn’t your top choice.

Cameras

• Main: 48Mp
• Ultrawide: 10.5Mp
• Telephoto: 10.8Mp
• Selfie: 10Mp (both cover & internal)

Pixel phones are renowned for their brilliant photography, and this model holds true to that reputation. The 48Mp primary camera captures images with impressive clarity, particularly in favorable lighting. The dynamic range is also exceptional.

Yet, in low-light conditions, the smaller sensors – particularly the ultrawide and telephoto – struggle. They can produce soft, out-of-focus images at times. Stick with the primary sensor during nighttime, I would advise.

Self-Portraits & Portraiture

For selfies, the two 10Mp cameras perform decently, but aren’t particularly impressive. In good lighting, you should be fine. But in dim conditions, prepare for blurry results. And don’t even get me started on portrait mode – it remains limited, often missing the mark. It can’t compete with offerings from Honor.

However, if you have children, Google’s new “Made you look” feature is fantastic. It displays cartoons on the outer screen to capture your kids’ attention. Brilliant – except it relies on that mediocre 10Mp front camera, resulting in blurry images if the lighting isn’t right.

Battery & Charging

• 4650mAh battery
• 21W wired charging
• 7.5W wireless charging

Solid battery life, no issues there. You’ll easily get through a full day – unless you’re gaming or snapping a ton of pictures.

But the charging speed? Oh dear. 21W wired and only 7.5W wireless. You’ll find yourself waiting a while for it to charge. My kettle does it quicker. A half-hour gives you 50%, but a full charge? Almost two hours. Make yourself a cup of tea while you wait.

Software & Applications

• Android 14
• New Gemini AI
• Exclusive applications: Screenshots, Weather, Pixel Studio

It comes with Android 14 right out of the box, and Google has introduced some exciting features for AI enthusiasts, thanks to its Gemini-powered AI tools. The “Add Me” feature adds some fun if you’re into that, but on the whole, it feels more like Google being… well, Google. Flashy, but do you genuinely need it?

Multitasking on a Foldable?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold handles multitasking reasonably well, split-screen functionality is quick, but you’re restricted to two apps side by side. Other foldables are much more advanced – some even allow you to float apps for true multitasking.

“The downside is it’s a tad too simplistic. You’re limited to a maximum of two apps side-by-side…”

It offers seven years of promised Android updates, though, so you can’t blame Google for support longevity.

Pricing & Availability

Here’s where the pricing gets a little painful. It’s currently available, but starts at £1,749/$1,799 for 256GB, or £1,869/$1,919 for 512GB. Yikes. If you’re looking to avoid giving up a kidney, you may want to explore contract options.

You can purchase it from [Google’s official store](https://store.google.com/), or check out [Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/) if that’s your preference.

Should You Invest in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

Yes, it’s a fantastic piece of technology, no doubt about it. If you have the funds to spare and enjoy that slick Pixel experience, you’ll be satisfied. However, truthfully? For those in the UK, Honor’s Magic V3 is putting up a fierce challenge against the Pixel. Superior specs, increased storage, quicker charging, and it’s even more affordable! Insanity.

But if you reside in the US, this represents the top tier of foldables available right now. Plus, Google’s seven years of software support is brilliant if you’re after durability.

Specifications

• Android 14
• Cover: 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2424 OLED, 120Hz
• Main: 8-inch, 2076 x 2152 LTPO OLED, 120Hz
• Google Tensor G4
• 16GB RAM, 256GB/512GB storage options
• 48Mp main, 10.5Mp ultrawide, 10.8Mp telephoto, 10Mp selfie
• 4650mAh battery, 21W wired charging, 7.5W wireless
• IPX8 water resistance
• Weight: 257g

Conclusion