(Image source from: Timesnownews.com)

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
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
Software - Pixel UI
Version - Android 14
Software commitment - 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates
Processor - Google Tensor G4
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 256GB
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)
Battery capacity - 4,650 mAh
Wired charging - 21W
Wireless Charging - 7.5W wireless (Qi)

Foldable products have certainly come a long way, especially in India. Previously limited to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series, 2024 offers plenty of variety in the foldable segment of many manufacturers. Now you can get one for just ¥2,000. 64,999 in foldable or high pony form. 1,59,999, the ultimate book-style flip phone that literally competes with premium slab-style smartphones. The emergence of tri-foldable devices has made the high prices of foldable iPhones seem more acceptable to Android users in India. And for curious iPhone Pro users who want to try something new, the new form factor foldable device, for which they have already paid more than Rs 20 lakh, is a great performer. 1,00,000 for iPhone “Pro”. And you can't start with a better Android device than Google's Pixel foldable Android device. It has an almost iPhone-like philosophy, with software and chip design controlled by the brand.

In fact, this is the first time (at least in India) we have seen it in the folding segment. The long-winded moniker makes sense given its many features, but does the first Google-branded Pixel live up to the Pro branding and price of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the slimmest foldable design in India to date? When placed on a table next to the OnePlus Open, it literally looks half as thick when folded (due to the thin camera hump) and unusually thin when unfolded. The overall design looks very “Swedish” (read: minimalist) and I would go for it if it weighs no more than a quarter of a kilo. The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is taller and thicker (around 1mm) than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, making it surprisingly comfortable to hold. This is partly due to its slightly slimmer design (with thinner edges), but it is also 21 grams lighter and also features beveled corners and rounded edges.

I wish Google had stuck with a small, passport-sized design (like the old Pixel Fold) that was unique and special. The original design of the Fold meant that the device always unfolded directly into tablet form (horizontal vs. portrait orientation), so you didn't have to rotate it to watch a video. It was a great design for a foldable device (most people expect it to open into a tablet), but Google's designers took a design approach to the first smartphone that somehow undermined its unique selling point. I agree that this new approach makes the screen slimmer and feels better in the hand, but it also means you don't have to reorient your phone when watching movies, as explained in the Display section below.

Google uses aluminum alloy for the metal parts and smooth front and back panels to achieve the slimmest profile. However, since the frame is thin, I'm not sure about its durability. The thickness near the hinge is only 1mm, making it look elegant but very subtle. Another area where Google is improving its foldable displays to set them apart from the competition is the frame around the main foldable screen, which literally looks like a shiny sticker.

Finally, the overall design of the Fold is a bit disappointing compared to the design of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The cutouts for buttons and ports are slightly sharp-edged, but there is a small gap where the glass panel meets the metal frame. Please note that this phone is IPX8 certified and can withstand splashes of water from all directions. However, any damage caused by this is not covered by the warranty. As you can see from the specs above, only the Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable display offers battery-saving LTPO technology. Both displays show slightly more muted colors in adaptive settings, but the same colors in natural settings. If you prefer natural settings for true colors, be sure to switch to adaptive settings when watching movies on OTT apps. This is because the display loses contrast in this mode.

I like the widescreen cover. This means you don't have to open your phone all the time. Similar to the display of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the rounded corner cutouts in the fold design also cut into the visible display area. The corners make the rectangular display look square, but the folds only make it worse. Given the size of the foldable main display, keeping the device horizontal provides a more usable area for watching videos. This is why you need to change the orientation when watching the video in full screen (uncropped view). However, there is plenty of space at the top and bottom (letterbox), making the square aspect ratio more suitable for running two apps side by side than for entertainment. If you're simply looking for a larger screen for watching movies, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a better choice as it lasts longer on a single charge than the 9 Pro Fold.

Great attention to detail and attention was paid to the folding experience. There's a subtle closing animation that causes the Home screen icons and widgets to slide inward when you close the Home screen. If you unlock your device directly from the home screen, the lock screen clock will also rotate to the left. It feels good. My favorite is the split notification drawer layout with toggles on the left and notifications on the right. This usually occurs on Android tablets running relatively standard Android software.

However, the Pixel 9 Pro's multitasking capabilities fall far short of the competition. Currently you can only run two apps (fully visible) in split screen mode and that's it. Despite being the oldest foldable device currently available, the OnePlus Open is a great productivity option for anyone who needs the ability to fully run three apps and one in a small floating window. You can read about all the AI features in our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold brings some fun things to the table. It includes an adorable Made You Look feature that plays fun animations on the screen to make kids laugh and smile in front of the camera. Dual Screen in Meet allows users to simultaneously view front and rear camera output during a Meet video call. The dual-screen live transcription mode is also very useful on vacation, allowing you to translate more than 120 languages in real time. It can also be used for people with hearing and speech impairments. Similar to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, vehicle collision detection will be available, and satellite-based emergency SOS will be available at a later date.

Despite the many Fold-friendly software improvements, it's a bit disappointing to see the UI clumsiness in random apps (including the Google Discover feed). I know the Fold's overlay displays aren't LTPO units, but when browsing apps I noticed a noticeable lack of smooth scrolling on both displays. This became more apparent when comparing it directly to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. I believe this is due to strict battery optimization. In any case, Vivo's X Fold 3 Pro offers a smoother software experience at a cheaper price, so Google urgently needs to fix the problems and stutters.

Google is also being stingy considering that most foldable devices in this price range easily offer 512GB of storage. Somehow they back it up with a free 2TB Gemini Advanced plan (for 1 year), but I wish I had an even more expensive phone. Due to accessibility issues, as a beta tester I was unable to try out Google's in-game split view, which is available in certain titles. However, when I tried Call of Duty: Mobile (at maximum frame rate and Ultra) on the cover and main display, the performance was very satisfactory. When Ganshin reached the maximum, the stuttering became severe. Touch sampling and sensitivity are not very accurate and playing FPS games on a square screen feels a bit strange, even though it offers a much larger display than the overlay screen.

The phone does get hot when using the camera app outdoors, but that doesn't seem to affect camera performance (like previous Pixel models) thanks to the steam bath cooling system. For some reason the volume doesn't seem to be as good as the Pixel 9 Pro XL, especially when you're watching a movie. Even at maximum volume, I often had the feeling that the volume wasn't quite right. The bass isn't good enough either (even on the folding version). The side-mounted fingerprint sensor worked well, but the secure face unlock system worked so well that I only had to use it in dark or no light environments. Admittedly, there's nothing "professional" about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's camera, and it's not as good as the Pixel 9 Pro XL. In any case, as you can see from the camera example comparison below, the situation only gets worse compared to the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro.

Unlike most manufacturers who try to integrate high-resolution camera sensors into foldable devices. It remains to be seen whether Google plans to copy Samsung's camera hardware strategy and use the same camera in three generations. Because the only real upgrade we've seen this year is the selfie camera. The photos from the main camera are decent and look a bit soft in indoor or outdoor lighting. When shooting outdoors, the colors appear more natural, the detail resolution is lower and some purple fringes are visible. In low light, the details of the photos are decent, but the blacks are washed out, like older Pixel cameras.

Like the Pixel 9 Pro XL, portrait photography is limited to 1.5x and 2x. However, unlike the XL, the Fold has to make do with a relatively old camera sensor, so these products don't look good on a digital scale. Photos in the rear camera's portrait mode not only lack detail and contrast, they also have terrible edge detection that can clip hair, ears, and glasses. Therefore, it is recommended to use it only during the day (if necessary). In fact, I decided to take regular 1x shots and add an AI blur effect in post. This will also give you more details. The 5x telephoto camera creates high-quality photos during the day and captures soft images in low light conditions even in night vision mode. The ultra-wide camera appears to have been added to round out the spec sheet. Video performance is good during the day, but very noisy in low light. It seems that even Google's video boost tool can't turn water into wine here.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's battery life lasts a full day on a single charge with moderate use. This includes making calls, using the camera, playing games, repeatedly going to the home screen, etc. In our video loop battery test, it lasted 12 hours and 50 minutes with the cover display and 8 hours and 8 with the large main display Minutes through. For foldable devices, these numbers are below average. That's because I've seen foldable devices like the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro and the OnePlus Open (which is now a bit dated) have better battery performance. The charging speed is relatively slow and when connected to a 61W PD charger, the phone is fully charged in 1 hour and 45 minutes. These are on par with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but remain significantly behind what current Chinese foldable devices offer in terms of wired and wireless charging.

Google's clear software and cutting-edge AI tricks could benefit the 9 Pro Fold. 9 Pro Fold is now in the hands of Pixel fans who have been eagerly waiting for the folding model to arrive in India. But its aging camera system is in dire need of an upgrade and doesn't live up to the professional name Google is aiming for for its foldable camera. When it comes to features that are useful to most consumers, such as smooth software, good battery life, fast charging and a high-quality camera, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro falls well short of this year's Pixel 9 Pro XL, a big step forward in the right direction for smartphones. It was smart, Google Plate style. If you're looking for your first foldable device, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open offer longer repair warranties for peace of mind. Like Vivo, both are cheaper than Google's foldable Pixel.