the primary book-style foldable I would purchase

E-book-style foldables simply have not labored with the best way I take advantage of a smartphone — till now.

Do not get me improper, I just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the important thing competitors for Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold within the North American market. It is a solid-feeling smartphone, and this 12 months, Samsung refined the foldable’s design in a number of significant methods. The system feels nice when unfolded, however utilizing its Cowl Show stays a painfully cramped expertise. Typing is annoying, utilizing Firefox feels cramped, and, on high of that, the higher half of the system is oddly heavy, making it really feel just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might tumble out of my hand at any second.

The oddly named Pixel 9 Professional Fold (simply name it the Fold 2, Google) solves this drawback with its wider cowl show and impressively skinny design. I would not go as far as to say it feels precisely like a traditional smartphone when it is not unfolded, however it’s far nearer than I anticipated. This has reworked how I take advantage of the foldable, and for the primary time, I really feel like I can fit a book-style foldable smartphone in my life.

Beneficial

Pixel 9 Professional Fold

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold goals to resolve the unique Pixel Fold’s key points because of its thinner and lighter design, Tensor G4 chip and extra fluid hinge.

Execs

• Wider cowl show
• Refined, sturdy construct
• Inside display screen appears nice

Cons

• Heavy, cumbersome design
• Digital camera lags behind Pixel 9 Professional
• Occasional software program efficiency points

Value, availability, and specs

Obtainable now beginning at $1,799

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold is out there beginning at $1,799 in porcelain and obsidian, directly from Google and several other different retailers. The foldable’s 6.3-inch, 60-120Hz OLED exterior show has a decision of 1080 x 2424 pixels. Brightness reaches 1,800 nits for HDR, with peak brightness at 2,700 nits. The unfolded 8-inch, 1-120Hz inner ultra-thin glass display screen, which Google calls its (LPTO) Tremendous Actua Flex show, encompasses a decision of two,076 x 2,152 pixels. Its brightness hits 1,600 nits for HDR and a pair of,700 nits at peak brightness.

Different specs embrace 16GB of RAM, both 256GB or 512GB of storage, and Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The rear triple-camera setup features a fundamental f/1.7 48-megapixel broad shooter, an f/2.2 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide digicam, and an f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto digicam able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digicam is an f/2.2 10-megapixel lens, and the interior digicam can also be an f/2.2 10-megapixel shooter.

When folded, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is 10.5mm thick, and when unfolded, it is a skinny 5.1mm. The foldable smartphone weighs roughly 9oz (about 256g) and encompasses a 4,650 mAh battery. It is also IPX8 licensed, which means it could possibly deal with being submerged in 39 inches (roughly 1 meter) of water for as much as half-hour. Since it is a foldable, I would not suggest anybody really check this, however it’s good to know the very costly smartphone will not die if it unintentionally will get just a little moist.

Pixel 9 Professional XL construct and design

Google’s new foldable affords a notable design improve over the unique Pixel Fold

To say the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is sort of an entire redesign in comparison with the unique Pixel Fold would virtually be an understatement. Throughout my roughly week-long expertise with the system, it has been, at instances, troublesome to grasp simply how far Google’s burgeoning foldable line has are available such a brief time frame. With all of those modifications, there’s loads to unpack design-wise.

First off, there’s now a relatively sizable digicam bump on the again that homes the rear digicam array. I discussed this in my Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 XL review, however I am not keen on the brand new digicam bump. It isn’t a deal-breaker, however it appears prefer it was plopped onto the rear of the smartphone in a haphazard method. I a lot want the Pixel 8’s visor-like array or the center-set digicam bump the unique Pixel Fold supplied.

Similar to the Pixel 9 Professional line, the realm surrounding the digicam bump encompasses a premium-feeling matte again that does an honest job of repelling grease and smudges. The sides of the system are squared off but in addition rounded, making it simpler to grip when folded and unfolded. In a cool design twist, the hinge is totally squared, giving the Pixel 9 Professional a novel design aptitude that helps it stand out from different smartphones.

Talking of the hinge, it feels much more strong this 12 months. That mentioned, it is not fairly as fluid because the Z Fold 6’s hinge, and it makes an odd crackling noise, however it’s shut. Fortunately, the brand new hinge design additionally permits the system to fold completely flat with out feeling such as you’re pushing the foldable show previous its restrict, as with the unique Fold.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s bezels have been diminished each inside and outdoors the telephone, they usually look similar to the Z Fold 6’s. In the event you put a case on Google’s foldable (and also you in all probability ought to, given it is a dear telephone), the bezels seem artificially expanded. This clearly is not the case, however it barely cheapens the look of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold and is price maintaining in thoughts in the event you plan to make use of a case.

Google despatched me the official Pixel 9 Pro Fold case alongside the smartphone, and I am impressed with it to date. I am at all times nervous about dropping foldable smartphones, no matter how sturdy they really feel, and the case affords a bit of additional peace of thoughts. Nonetheless, the a part of the case that runs alongside the hinge and the duvet display screen’s bezels attaches with adhesive that can doubtless put on away over time (I additionally would have most popular the case to cowl all the hinge). Nonetheless, I am unable to actually think about utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, or any foldable smartphone, with no sturdy case.

Total, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s {hardware} feels rather more refined and sturdy than the unique Fold, however it’s nonetheless a foldable. In the event you’re the kind of one that drops their telephone incessantly, a folding smartphone in all probability is not for you.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold show

The foldable’s expansive 8-inch display screen feels and appears nice

First off, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold options the identical 6.3-inch exterior show measurement because the Pixel 9 Professional, making it really snug to make use of when folded. Because of this when it is folded, it appears and looks like a barely thicker common smartphone, not like the unique Pixel Fold, which had a shorter and barely too-wide show that I discovered very awkward to carry with one hand throughout my transient time utilizing it.

Together with the show measurement, the truth that it is solely 10.5mm thick, in comparison with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 12.1mm, contributes to creating the Pixel 9 Professional Fold really feel extra like a daily smartphone when utilizing its exterior display screen. Trying on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold when it is fully flat is basically spectacular and jogs my memory of seeing the super-thin M4 iPad Pro for the primary time. Foldable display screen know-how has come a good distance in a really quick interval, and that is on show right here with Google’s newest foldable.

For me, the lacking hyperlink concerning book-style foldable smartphones is the usable cowl display screen. (As a result of I’m tired of scratching review devices, I shortly put a glass display screen protector on it, which you’ll see in a number of photographs on this assessment.) In my week with the foldable, I’ve primarily used the Pixel 9 Professional Fold like a daily smartphone. It is solely after I wish to watch Netflix, YouTube, use the Kobo app to learn a guide, or learn one of many numerous articles I’ve saved in Pocket, that I open the foldable smartphone and use its expansive 8-inch display screen. In terms of studying or watching video content material, the bigger 8-inch display screen is an absolute pleasure to make use of.

This offers me a comparatively normal-feeling smartphone that may rework right into a sprawling pill after I need it to, and that is type of the dream, proper? On a facet observe, I discover myself utilizing the outside show or one half of the inside show when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display screen is open to observe content material on YouTube whereas doing senseless duties like washing the dishes or preparing for mattress. The propped-up show affords an incredible viewing expertise, making it simpler to passively look at content material when your consideration is split.

With all that raving positivity out of the best way, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folded expertise is not good. First off, it is relatively heavy. This implies utilizing the foldable for lengthy intervals with one hand is not an incredible expertise, and when it is unfolded, the system can really feel relatively unwieldy because of its bigger measurement. In actual fact, I really want the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch interior display screen as a result of it is simpler and extra pure to carry in any orientation.

Nonetheless, I would take the snug 20:9 entrance display screen side ratio, on condition that’s how I take advantage of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold more often than not. It is price noting that you may nonetheless really feel and see the fold within the display screen when the smartphone is completely flat. It is in all probability nearly as seen because the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s crease. I did not discover it to be a lot of a problem, however in the event you had been hoping the Pixel 9 Professional Fold could be the primary system to eradicate the dreaded fold, you may be upset with Google’s second-generation foldable — it’s there, and you may nonetheless see it.

Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folding show looks like glass and would not have the plasticky really feel of earlier foldable smartphones. The show high quality is crisp and clear, it doesn’t matter what content material you are consuming, however the folding display screen is sadly troublesome to view underneath direct daylight, regardless of its spectacular 2,700 nits of peak brightness (which is definitely 100 nits greater than the Fold 6, although the display screen appears dimmer when evaluating each units). I principally used the foldable indoors throughout my time with it, however underneath direct daylight, the folding display screen could be fairly exhausting to see.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold digicam

AI options and digicam instruments galore

I will not dive too deeply into the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s digicam efficiency, however its digicam capabilities lag behind the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. The principle f/1.7 48-megapixel digicam affords very related high quality, however the f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens encompasses a larger aperture, regardless of nonetheless providing as much as 5x optical zoom, resulting in grainier photographs in low mild. The ultra-wide additionally measures in at f/2.2 10.5 megapixels, lagging behind the opposite units within the Pixel 9 lineup and snapping photographs that are not fairly as sharp. The ten-megapixel f/2.2 selfie and inside digicam additionally don’t examine to the spectacular f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter the Pixel 9 Professional affords. Generally, photographs typically are likely to lack the distinction the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional collection’ cameras supply.

With all of this in thoughts, does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold snap good photographs? Sure, it undoubtedly does, they only received’t be one of the best on the market, and given the foldable’s price, that is disappointing. Alternatively, this could possibly be a trade-off price making in the event you’re offered on the smartphone-tablet dream. In the event you’re within the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, you’re doubtless shopping for it since you need the flexibility to hold a pill round in your pocket, relatively than a images powerhouse. Nonetheless, the choice to not supply the identical digicam array within the Pixel 9 Professional Fold because the Pixel 9 Professional is disappointing, given Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 6 options practically the identical shooters because the Galaxy S24 Extremely.

The entire key AI options are right here, together with the controversial “Reimagine,” which lets you add practically something to footage with prompts; Magic Eraser, which removes objects from photos with a fast circle; Zoom Improve for photographs; Gemini/Gemini Stay, and extra. In terms of AI-powered options, Google didn’t maintain something again from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. “Made You Look,” which exhibits a cute animation on the exterior display screen to get a child’s consideration when snapping a photograph, isn’t one thing I’ll use fairly often, however I can see it coming in useful given how troublesome it’s to take care of a toddler’s focus. There’s additionally Twin Display screen Preview, which shows a preview of the {photograph} you are taking on the outer display screen. Once more, I doubtless will not use this characteristic typically, however I can see it being helpful in the event you take photographs of individuals incessantly.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold efficiency

Respectable battery life and benchmark efficiency

Efficiency has been respectable throughout my roughly week-long expertise with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. I’ve encountered just a few cases of slowdown and apps which have randomly crashed or lagged. Typically, apps additionally get caught when transitioning between the duvet display screen and the primary display screen. I don’t assume that is the fault of Google’s Tensor G4 chip, however relatively a problem with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s software program expertise not being as easy because the extra mature foldable OS like One UI on the Galaxy Fold 6.

That mentioned, the expertise has been usually strong by way of efficiency. Battery life isn’t mind-blowing, however I might get roughly a full day (till round 7 p.m.) earlier than needing to high up. Extra intensive actions, like watching films or taking part in video games, have a tendency to empty the battery a bit extra shortly than my expertise with the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Professional XL. I believe this doubtless has to do with the truth that the exterior show doesn’t characteristic LTPO know-how, which means it could possibly solely go from 60-120Hz and never 1-120Hz just like the Pixel 9 Professional line’s display screen or the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s inner show.

Relating to Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold scores 2,969 for single-core and 4,777 for multi-core.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold software program

App optimization and multitasking

Not each app takes full benefit of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s 8-inch unfolded show, however the telephone is an unlimited enchancment over the unique Fold. It may well nonetheless be irritating at instances, although. For instance, some apps are oddly lower off on the inside display screen. Nonetheless, for probably the most half, nearly all of apps look as you’d anticipate in panorama and portrait mode when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display screen is unfolded. Just like Samsung’s foldables, all the important thing apps take full benefit of the bigger 8-inch display screen, together with Gmail, Docs, Maintain, YouTube, and extra.

The expertise of splitting two apps between each side of the folding show is great and straightforward to do, because of the taskbar that seems if you swipe up from the underside of the smartphone. You are restricted to simply two apps, not like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, however I haven’t discovered this to be a problem. I am unable to consider a scenario the place I’d need greater than two apps operating on the identical time on my telephone.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s sound lags behind different units within the Pixel 9 lineup. It may well get loads loud, however it sounds hole and simply distorts at increased volumes. In actual fact, I am really stunned at how lackluster it’s in comparison with different high-end smartphones.

Do you have to purchase the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold?

There’s loads to love about Google’s 2nd gen foldable

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is extraordinarily costly at $1,799, but when I had been available in the market for a book-style foldable, I might decide it over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as a result of I recognize its wider cowl show, which permits me to make use of the system like a traditional smartphone. This fulfills the dream of getting a tiny pill in my pocket always, and I want that over a barely extra comfortable-to-use inner folding display screen. Nonetheless, there are compromises, together with its hefty weight and digicam specs that lag behind the top-tier Pixel 9 Professional collection.

Does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nonetheless snap wonderful photographs? Undoubtedly. However they don’t seem to be nearly as good as what the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are able to taking. Nonetheless, if the thought of carrying each a smartphone and a large pill round with you always is interesting, there’s loads to love about Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Google.

Beneficial

Pixel 9 Professional Fold