Pixel Fold at One: Is Google’s First Foldable a Game Changer, or Just a Good First Try?

The Pixel Fold: A Foldable That Surprised Me, But Still Needs Work

The landscape of foldable smartphones has been dominated by Samsung for years. But when Google finally entered the fray with the Pixel Fold, it captured the attention of many, including myself. The Pixel Fold offered a refreshing alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold series, with its squat, passport-shaped design and promising software integration. While the Pixel Fold isn’t perfect, it’s a powerful testament to Google’s potential in the foldable market.

Having been a long-time Pixel user, I was familiar with Google’s strengths and weaknesses. Their software is clean and intuitive, offering unique, helpful features like the Recorder app. The camera performance, especially for still photography, remains top-notch. However, Google’s devices have consistently lagged behind in terms of raw performance, often struggling to keep up with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips, and occasionally exhibit odd hardware quirks, such as the tiny bumps reportedly found under the display of Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

Going into the Pixel Fold, I knew there would be inevitable trade-offs. Foldable phones are inherently heavy and their cameras often fall short compared to conventional flagship phones. Expense also remains a significant barrier for many, with no budget-friendly flip options available for Pixel fans.

Despite these challenges, the Pixel Fold quickly exceeded my expectations, proving that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Here’s what I’ve learned after using the Pixel Fold over the last year:

The Enticing Outer Display

One of the Fold’s most compelling features is its usable outer screen. This compact, short, and squat display is surprisingly functional for everyday tasks. I found myself relying on the exterior screen for browsing, social media, and messaging far more often than I anticipated. It’s perfectly adequate for these basic interactions, making the large inner display less essential for the majority of my day-to-day phone usage.

While the Fold’s outer screen is a strong point, the weight of the device is a constant reminder of its inherent compromises. Even with my large hands, it became noticeably heavy after extended periods of use, especially when unfolded.

A Brightness Deficiency

A significant drawback of the Pixel Fold is its limited display brightness. Despite Google’s advancements in display technology with the Pixel 8 series, the Fold’s screens seemed to lag behind. The inner screen, in particular, suffered from low brightness, making it a struggle to use outdoors, particularly in direct sunlight. This has become a major pain point, forcing me to constantly adjust the brightness slider, negatively affecting battery life.

The lack of brightness is a glaring omission in a phone with such a large and immersive display. It significantly hinders its functionality in certain situations.

Battery Life that Gets the Job Done

The Pixel Fold’s battery life, while not exceptional, managed to get me by for most of the day. This is impressive considering the two large screens and the known inefficiency of Google’s Tensor chips. The phone usually had enough juice to last until evening, even when I didn’t extensively use the inner screen.

However, the Fold’s charging speed can be frustratingly slow, especially when actively using the device while plugged in. Its battery performance pales in comparison to the Pixel 8 Pro, which is expected considering the difference in screen size.

App Compatibility and the Need for Optimization

The Pixel Fold, like all foldable devices, faces the challenge of app compatibility. Many apps are not optimized for the device’s unique aspect ratio, resulting in black bars on the sides of the inner display. While Google has implemented a workaround to force apps into full-screen mode, more widespread support from developers is essential for a truly seamless experience.

Thankfully, some apps, including Adobe Lightroom, perform exceptionally well on the Fold, offering a near-desktop-level experience for editing photos.

Durability, Camera, Speakers and Other Considerations

The Pixel Fold’s durability has been a mixed bag. While my review units haven’t experienced any major issues, others have reported screen problems, highlighting the potential fragility of this technology. The glossy camera bar, while prone to scratches, remains relatively minor compared to the potential of a broken inner display. It’s worth noting that the Fold’s repair process under warranty can be lengthy and burdensome.

While the Fold’s cameras provide reliable performance thanks to Google’s computational photography, they lack the advanced features and image quality of flagship phones like the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Fold’s speakers, while not terrible, fall short of the high standards set by Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, and even Google’s own Pixel 8 Pro.

Looking Ahead to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google is set to unveil the Pixel 9 Pro Fold later this year, and rumors suggest several crucial improvements. The upcoming model is reported to adopt a taller design, aligning itself more with the OnePlus Open. This change is expected to address the app compatibility issue, as the inner display will be closer to a traditional phone’s aspect ratio, leading to fewer black bars in apps.

Furthermore, Google is anticipated to implement its latest Actua/Super Actua display technology into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, significantly boosting screen brightness. This much-needed upgrade will remedy the Fold’s weakness and allow it to function efficiently in all lighting conditions.

The weight of the Pixel Fold is another area for improvement, with users eagerly awaiting a lighter frame in the upcoming model.

Conclusion: A Promising Future

The Pixel Fold, despite its flaws, has solidified Google’s place in the foldable market. It’s a bold, ambitious device that successfully delivers on several key fronts, particularly in software integration and overall user experience. However, the phone’s limited display brightness and substantial weight hinder its overall appeal.

With the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold rumored to address these shortcomings, Google has an opportunity to create a game-changing foldable that truly pushes the limits of the cutting-edge technology.

By building upon the strong foundation of the first-generation Pixel Fold, Google can leverage its software expertise and commitment to innovation to deliver a truly exceptional foldable phone that rivals other top-tier devices in the market. The potential for the Pixel Fold is undeniable, and the future of Google’s foray into foldables is looking brighter than ever.

Article Reference