There was so much to love about final yr’s Pixel Fold, particularly its spacious cowl display screen and top-notch rear digicam system. However Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, with its sleeker design and a lighter construct, makes me need extra from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
The search big will introduce its subsequent foldable cellphone at an occasion on Aug. 13, throughout which we’re anticipating to study extra about Google’s smartphone plans. Above all else, I would like Google to do what no foldable cellphone maker has executed but: invent compelling new software program options particularly for foldable telephones.
I could sound like a damaged document. As the discharge of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 reveals, phone-makers nonetheless have not progressed a lot by way of software program that takes benefit of a number of screens. The flexibility to prop open the gadget to take a photograph or view apps in split-screen mode is useful, I wish to see extra artistic methods to utilize the 2 screens you get with a foldable cellphone.
The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is anticipated to reach simply because the foldable cellphone market continues to develop, though it nonetheless represents a small portion of the general cellphone market. In a report supplied to CNET, the Worldwide Knowledge Company said that foldable shipments grew by 33% year-over-year within the first quarter of 2024.
A brand new processor and a few design tweaks are possible in retailer for Google’s subsequent foldable, the latter of which Google has already confirmed via photographs posted on its web site. Here is what the Pixel 9 Professional Fold must hold tempo with Samsung and handle my greatest criticisms in regards to the authentic Pixel Fold.
Learn extra: Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: Testing Samsung’s New Ultrawide Digital camera Sensor
Extra revolutionary software program options
The Pixel Fold (and different foldable telephones) may use extra artistic software program options.
If you are going to pay high greenback for a foldable cellphone, you need an expertise that feels notably totally different from that of a daily, bar-type cellphone. For some, the good thing about having each a tablet-sized inner display screen and a phone-sized display screen might examine that field. Now that foldable telephones have been extensively out there for round 5 years, I hoped to see extra from corporations like Google in relation to the software program.
We’re nonetheless treating book-style foldables as in the event that they’re simply bigger smartphones when there’s a chance for them to be a brand new kind of gadget totally. I just lately wrote that Samsung ought to undertake a characteristic just like Apple’s Standby mode for the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cowl display screen, and I feel Google ought to do the identical.
It is in a fair higher place to take action. Not solely is the Pixel Fold’s entrance display screen wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s, however Google can draw from its expertise with the Pixel Pill to create a wise display-style interface for the quilt display screen.
I hope Google’s subsequent foldable cellphone takes a web page from the Pixel Pill (pictured) for its cowl display screen.
There’s additionally room for Gemini to evolve on a tool just like the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Provided that Google is emphasizing Gemini’s multimodal capabilities — its skill to course of numerous inputs equivalent to speech, photographs, textual content and extra — I am curious to see whether or not that may be utilized in fascinating methods via Google’s foldable.
In contrast to a standard cellphone, a tool just like the Pixel Fold does not want a separate kickstand or tripod to be propped up. That makes it simpler to function the digicam and display screen concurrently with out having to carry the gadget. I ponder what it may imply for Gemini sooner or later as Google leans extra deeply into its multimodal nature.
Regardless, it might be good to see a particular model of Gemini tailor-made to the Pixel Fold’s twin screens. Google is already excited about this; the Gemini overlay that seems if you summon the digital assistant will quickly be capable of run in multiwindow mode on the Z Fold 6. It appears believable that Google would bake the identical performance into its personal foldable.
We’ll possible hear so much about Gemini throughout Google’s Aug. 13 occasion, as implied by Google’s Gemini-heavy placeholder product web page for the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
A thinner and lighter design
The Pixel Fold feels heavy in comparison with newer foldable telephones.
Now that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has arrived, it is time for Google to step its sport up by way of design. At 283 grams, the Pixel Fold is notably heavier than the 239-gram Galaxy Z Fold 6, and it is also a bit thicker than the Z Fold 6 when opened (5.8 millimeters versus 5.6mm). Honor and Xiaomi are even additional forward on this regard; the Honor Magic V3 is 226 grams, whereas the Xiaomi Combine Fold 4 is simply 4.59mm when unfolded.
Dimension and weight might not be crucial components of a cellphone, however making the Pixel 9 Professional Fold extra compact would go a good distance in making it really feel much less burdensome and extra pure. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s lighter design was the very first thing I seen about it upon choosing it up, and I am hoping that Google’s subsequent foldable gadget will depart an identical impression. The Pixel Fold simply feels clunky compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Design issues extra for foldables than it does for normal telephones. The thinner and lighter these units get, the much less they really feel like two telephones sandwiched collectively. Plus, their unconventional seems already appeal to consideration, making their aesthetics all of the extra essential. Based mostly on Google’s photographs, it seems just like the Pixel 9 Professional Fold will certainly get a makeover in comparison with its predecessor. It is unclear whether or not the cellphone will probably be slimmer or lighter.
An improved internal display screen
Google’s subsequent foldable cellphone may use slimmer bezels and a much less noticeable crease in comparison with the Pixel Fold (pictured).
The Pixel Fold’s inside display screen may use an improve, notably if Google needs to maintain up with Samsung. As I wrote in my evaluate, the bezels framing the Pixel Fold’s show are noticeably thick, which might make that tablet-sized display screen really feel much less immersive. The crease can be noticeable on the Pixel Fold, particularly alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open.
I am skeptical that the crease will ever truly disappear from foldable telephones generally, not simply these made by Google. The extra discreet it’s, the extra it begins to really feel just like the phone-tablet hybrid it is meant to be.
The photographs on Google’s web site trace that the corporate has made some adjustments to the bezel framing the display screen. Renders from serial tech leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, which had been revealed on the weblog 91Mobiles and declare to point out the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s design, counsel that Google will certainly slim down the borders surrounding the inner show. However we’ll know extra as soon as Google publicizes the cellphone.
Extra years of software program updates
Google elevated its software program replace timeline with the Pixel 8 collection. Let’s hope it does the identical with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
The Pixel Fold will get new variations of Android till 2026, roughly three years following its launch. It’s going to additionally obtain safety updates for 5 years from its launch.
Google raised the bar final yr when it assured seven years of Android updates for the Pixel 8 technology, so I am hoping it continues that development with its subsequent foldable cellphone. A tool as costly because the $1,800 Pixel Fold ought to obtain updates for longer than three years. (Its versatile show and physique ought to final simply as lengthy, too.)
A cheaper price
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 (pictured) is $100 dearer than final yr’s Galaxy Z Fold 5. Hopefully, Google does not increase costs for its upcoming Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
There isn’t any sugarcoating it; foldable telephones are costly. That is very true for book-style foldable units such because the Pixel Fold. Maybe it is unrealistic to suppose that Google may make all of the enhancements listed above whereas additionally decreasing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s value. Nonetheless, the Pixel Fold’s $1,800 value is noticeably larger than the typical promoting value for a smartphone in North America within the first quarter of 2023, which was $790 in line with Canalys.
Samsung, in the meantime, simply raised the worth of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 by $100 in comparison with the Z Fold 5. If Google can proceed to undercut Samsung on value whereas introducing enhancements, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold may find yourself being the extra attractive choice.
We’ll know extra about Google’s subsequent foldable cellphone on Aug. 13. I’ve acquired my fingers crossed for a sleeker design, thrilling software program options and a cheaper price.
Samsung’s New Galaxy Z Fold 6 Seems Good for Being So Sq.
See all pictures
