Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Designed to Be Different

Summary

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a unique foldable phone that blends premium features with practical design. It boasts an impressive AI suite, a large inner LTPO display, and robust performance despite being underpowered compared to rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The foldable offers a normal, thin profile when closed, making it more user-friendly than other foldables. While the camera hardware is a step down from other Pixel models, the device excels with AI-powered photo editing tools. Despite concerns about long-term durability and performance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers an extraordinary folding experience that’s both rewarding and fun.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is praised for its slim and non-bulky design, offering an enjoyable experience whether open or closed.
• 😀 Despite being underpowered compared to some rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the latest iPhone models, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold excels in AI tasks and photo editing with Google’s powerful cloud services and specialized processor.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a large inner display with excellent brightness (up to 2700 nits) and a variable refresh rate (1 to 120 Hz), although it doesn't offer the sharpest display in the market.
• 😀 The phone is thinner and less bulky than many other foldables, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a case, making it more comfortable for everyday use.
• 😀 The foldable design offers an inner display that makes photo editing and AI-powered tasks significantly easier, providing a better experience for users engaged in creative work.
• 😀 While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers impressive 5x optical zoom for cameras, its smaller sensor size compared to other flagship models impacts its overall camera performance.
• 😀 The phone’s hinge is the best seen in any foldable so far, offering durability and minimal gaps in the mechanism.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s AI-powered image generation and editing tools, such as Pixel Studio and Google Photos' reimaging tool, allow users to create impressive, realistic images and manipulate photos with ease.
• 😀 Despite the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's AI and photo editing strengths, concerns arise around its long-term performance due to its chipset, with questions about how it will handle future Android updates and growing AI demands.
• 😀 At $1,800, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold represents a significant investment, but it offers a unique combination of design, AI capabilities, and a foldable experience that many users will find rewarding, even with its trade-offs in camera hardware and potential durability issues.

Q & A

What makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold stand out compared to other foldable phones?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is notably thinner and more compact than most foldable phones, making it feel like a regular phone when closed. Its large inner display is also a standout feature, offering a better canvas for AI tools and image editing compared to other foldables.

How does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's performance compare to other flagship foldable phones?

While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold may not match the raw performance of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the latest iPhones, it holds its own in the foldable phone category. Its Tensor G4 chipset, combined with 16 GB of RAM, allows smooth performance for most tasks, even if it can feel a bit slower when handling multiple AI tasks simultaneously.

What are the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's strengths in terms of display?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a high-quality inner LTPO display with a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz and impressive brightness levels up to 2700 nits. The cover display, while not as advanced as the inner one, is bright and colorful, making it easy to use in various lighting conditions.

How does the camera quality on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold compare to other Pixel 9 models?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features smaller camera sensors with fewer megapixels than the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. While it still offers impressive specs like a 5x optical zoom lens, the image quality may not be as high as its non-foldable counterparts, particularly due to the smaller sensor size.

Is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold suitable for long-term use?

Despite its relatively new chipset and hardware, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expected to last for at least 7 years, as Google promises Android OS updates for that duration. However, concerns remain about its long-term performance as AI features and machine learning models evolve, especially in terms of raw processing power.

How does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold handle AI and image generation tools?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold excels in AI tasks, particularly in image generation and editing. With tools like Pixel Studio and the new reimaging feature in Google Photos, users can create and manipulate images with impressive ease. These AI tools are optimized for the large inner display, enhancing the experience.

What is the durability of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold like?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one of the most durable foldable phones in Google's lineup. It has a refined hinge mechanism and is thinner than previous models, but like all foldables, it has a visible crease in the inner display, which is expected in this category of devices.

What are the potential downsides of using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

The main downsides of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold include its high price ($1,800), the downgrade in camera hardware compared to other Pixel 9 models, and durability concerns over the long term. The camera sensors are smaller, and like all foldables, the display crease remains noticeable.

How does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold handle outdoor use and brightness?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold performs excellently in bright outdoor light. Its cover display is the easiest to read in full sunlight compared to other foldables, and the phone intelligently adjusts its brightness levels for optimal visibility.

How is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's performance in gaming and multitasking?

While not the fastest foldable on the market, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can handle gaming and multitasking reasonably well. It may lag behind devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of raw power and frame rates, but it still offers a solid gaming experience and can manage multiple tasks without significant issues.