The Indian foldable phone market is exploding, offering a diverse range of options at various price points, from budget-friendly clamshells to flagship book-style devices that rival premium smartphones. This surge in availability, however, raises crucial questions: Does the price justify the technology? And more specifically, is Google’s first foray into the premium foldable arena, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, truly worthy of its "Pro" moniker and substantial price tag? This in-depth review delves into the design, display, software, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, comparing it to its competitors to determine if it’s a worthwhile investment.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Design: Beauty 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
- Durability: IPX8 water resistance
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts the slimmest design amongst current Indian foldable offerings. When compared to the OnePlus Open, its folded profile is noticeably thinner, and its unfolded form is remarkably slim. The overall aesthetic is minimalist and elegant; however, its substantial weight of 257 grams significantly impacts the user experience. In contrast, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, while slightly taller and thicker, proves to be more comfortable due to its lighter weight (a difference of 21 grams), curved edges, and bevelled corners. This highlights a key design trade-off: slimness versus ergonomics.
I personally lament Google’s departure from the original Pixel Fold’s smaller, passport-sized design. That form factor uniquely opened directly into a tablet mode (horizontal orientation), eliminating the need for reorientation when watching videos. **This was arguably the ideal design for a foldable**, seamlessly transforming into a tablet. The new design, prioritizing a smartphone-first approach, unfortunately sacrifices this distinct advantage. The resulting narrower cover display, while more pocketable, necessitates screen rotation when viewing movies and other full-screen content.
The phone’s use of an aluminum alloy and flat panels contributes to its slim profile. However, this thinness, especially the **mere 1mm thickness near the hinge**, raises concerns about durability. While sleek, it feels somewhat delicate. Minor gaps between the glass and metal frame are also noticeable, detracting from the overall premium feel, a contrast to the more refined finish of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The IPX8 water resistance rating offers some protection against splashes, but remember that water damage is not covered under warranty. The bezels surrounding the main folding display are impressively thin, almost resembling a glossy sticker.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Display: Actually Good
- Cover display: 6.2-inch, 1080 x 2424 pixels, Full-HD+, 120Hz
- Main display: 8.03-inch, 2076 x 2152 pixels, 120Hz
- Display Type: Cover: OLED, Main: LTPO OLED
- Display protection: Cover: Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Main: UTG
Both displays offer vibrant colors in Adaptive mode, though these are toned down in Natural mode for a more realistic representation. Note that the **Natural mode sacrifices some contrast**, making the Adaptive mode preferable for video consumption. Only the main folding display utilizes **battery-saving LTPO technology**.
The cover display’s width is appreciated, reducing the frequency of unfolding the device. However, as seen with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the rounded corners negatively impact the usable display area. This effect is amplified on the foldable, resulting in a more squarish appearance. The main display’s aspect ratio, while providing ample space for multitasking, is less ideal for video playback, leading to significant letterboxing; the more squarish aspect ratio is better suited for splitting the screen in two, rather than entertainment purposes.
The noticeable **crease in the main display** is a common drawback in foldable technology, and it can be easily ignored in practical use.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Software: AI-tastic
- Software: Pixel UI
- Version: Android 14
- Software commitment: 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Google demonstrates significant attention to the foldable user experience. Subtle animations, such as the inward movement of icons when closing the device and the sliding lock screen clock, enhance the overall feel. Notably, the **split notification tray with toggles on the left and notifications on the right**, mirrors the tablet experience and is a welcome addition.
However, the **multitasking capabilities lag behind competition.** The Pixel 9 Pro Fold currently only supports running two full-screen apps simultaneously in Split Screen mode, falling short of offerings like the OnePlus Open, which allows for three full-screen apps and a fourth in a floating window.
Beyond standard features, Google incorporates several AI-powered extras, including the charming **Made You Look** feature (which plays animations to amuse children), **Dual Screen on Meet** for simultaneous front and rear camera output, and **Dual-Screen mode for Live Transcribe**, offering real-time translation in over 120 languages. This last one is not only useful for travelers but also for those with hearing or speech impairments. As with its sibling device, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, **Car Crash Detection** is included, with satellite-based Emergency SOS planned for the future.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Performance: Pretty Average
- Processor: Google Tensor G4
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB
Despite the software optimizations, some UI stuttering is experienced with various apps, including the Google Discover feed. This reduced fluidity, more apparent when directly compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, may be attributed to stricter battery optimizations. **This needs addressing by Google**— Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro, for instance, offers smoother performance at a lower price point.
The **limited 256GB of storage** also feels restrictive, especially given that competitors offer 512GB at similar prices. The included one-year subscription to a 2TB Gemini Advanced plan is a partial mitigation, but not a satisfying substitute for higher native storage capacity.
Benchmark results (see table in original text) show that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s performance falls generally behind that of other flagship foldable such as the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. While gaming performance is acceptable for less graphically demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile, more intensive titles such as Genshin Impact experience notable stuttering, even at lower settings.
The phone heats up during prolonged camera use but without negatively impacting image quality. Volume levels, however, are surprisingly low, even at maximum settings, lacking sufficient bass response.
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor functions reliably, though the secure face unlock is generally preferred for ease of use.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Cameras: Not What We Expected
- Main camera: 48-megapixel (OIS), f/1.7 aperture, AF
- Telephoto camera: 10.8-megapixel (OIS), 5X optical, f/3.1 aperture, AF
- Ultra-wide camera: 10.5-megapixel, 0.5X, f/2.2 aperture, AF
- Selfie cameras: 10-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, AF (cover/main)
The camera system is a significant letdown. It falls behind both the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro in image quality (as seen in the image samples in the original article) and falls short of expectations for a “Pro” branded phone.
Images from the main camera show decent quality in daylight but lack detail and exhibit softness in low-light or indoor settings. While colors appear natural, the resolution is on the lower side, with purple fringing noticeable. Low-light shots show decent detail though with crushed blacks. The Portrait mode struggles with edges-detection, yielding unsatisfactory results with cut-out hair, ears, etc. The 5X telephoto also produces soft images, especially in low-light, even with Night Sight activated. The ultra-wide camera feels like an afterthought, and video performance is unimpressive in low-light.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Battery: A Bit Below Expectations
- Battery capacity: 4,650 mAh
- Wired charging: 21W
- Wireless Charging: 7.5W wireless (Qi)
Battery life is sufficient for a full day of moderate use which includes some calls, occasional camera use, casual gaming, and frequent switching between screens, but falls short of the performance of competitors. Our video loop test shows 12 hours and 50 minutes using the cover display and just 8 hours and 8 minutes using the main display. **This is below average for a foldable phone**. Charging speeds are also slow, requiring approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes for a full charge using a 61W charger.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Verdict
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s polished software and unique AI features might attract dedicated Pixel fans eagerly awaiting a foldable option. However, its outdated camera system and underperformance in key areas— including smooth software, battery life, fast charging, and camera quality— severely undermine its “Pro” designation.
Compared to competitors like Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro and its flagship phone — the Pixel 9 Pro XL — the Pixel 9 Pro Fold falls short in offering a cohesive premium experience. For first-time foldable buyers, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open offer better value and more comprehensive warranties. Considering all factors, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a disappointing entry into the premium foldable category and its price does not reflect the value that’s delivered.
