Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Jack of All Trades

Foldables have certainly come a great distance, particularly in India. Whereas earlier restricted to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold vary, 2024 has offered sufficient selection from quite a few producers throughout foldable segments. Now you can get one for as little as Rs. 64,999 in a flippable clamshell type issue or pony up Rs. 1,59,999 for a top-of-the-line book-style foldable that actually competes with premium slab-style smartphones. With the emergence of tri-fold units, foldables even make these bloated iPhone value tags in India seem palatable for Android customers.

And for these curious iPhone Professional customers desirous to check out one thing new, a foldable provides a brand new type issue and is a value-for-money providing provided that they’re already paying effectively over Rs. 1,00,000 for a “Professional” iPhone. And what higher Android gadget to start with than Google’s personal Pixel foldable! It has an nearly iPhone-like philosophy, with each the software program and chip design managed by the model.

Certainly, that is one thing we’re witnessing for the primary time within the foldable section (not less than in India). With an extended moniker that is sensible given the quite a few options it brings to the desk, is Google’s first Professional-branded Pixel worthy of its “Professional” branding and its price ticket?

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Design: Magnificence 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
• Sturdiness – IPX8 water resistance

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold positive seems to be cool. It has a slimmer, leaner and minimalist avatar, nevertheless it’s additionally the heaviest foldable within the section

The Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold at present has the slimmest design of any foldable in India. When positioned on a desk subsequent to the OnePlus Open, it actually feels half as thick when folded (due to its thinner digital camera bump) and abnormally slim when opened. It seems to be very “Swedish” (learn minimalist) by way of general design, and I’d have cherished holding it if it had not weighed over 1 / 4 of a kilo.

Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional is taller and thicker (by a few millimetre) and is surprisingly extra snug to carry than the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. That is partially resulting from its barely slender design (accompanied by skinny bezels), however it’s also lighter by 21 grams and has bevelled corners and curved edges.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold (left) is slimmer and flatter, whereas the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional (proper) is simpler to carry because of its curved edges and bevelled corners

I want that Google had caught to its smaller passport-sized design (just like the previous Pixel Fold), which was distinctive and particular. The unique Fold’s design additionally meant that the gadget at all times opened straight in a pill state (horizontal versus vertical) and so didn’t must be reoriented when watching motion pictures. It was the right design for a foldable (which most individuals anticipate to show right into a tablets when opened), however Google’s designers took a smartphone-first design method and sort of ruined its USP.

How slim is the Pixel 9 Professional Fold? Right here, it’s pictured subsequent to Google’s personal slab-style Pixel 9 Professional XL flagship

This new method leads to a narrower cowl show, which I agree is extra snug to carry, however this additionally means you’ll have to reorient the telephone when watching a film, as defined within the show part under.

Google makes use of aluminium alloy for the steel components and has the slimmest profile because of its use of flat entrance and rear panels. Nevertheless, I am not assured about its sturdiness as a result of the body is skinny. It is barely 1mm thick close to the hinge, and whereas it seems to be modern, it additionally feels fairly delicate.

With such skinny margins for its entrance and rear frames, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold does really feel fairly delicate across the hinge space

One other space the place Google manages to chisel down its foldable to beat the competitors is the bezel surrounding the primary folding show, which accurately seems to be like a shiny sticker.

Lastly, the general end of the Fold is a bit missing when in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s design. Whereas the buttons and port cutouts are a bit sharp, there are minor gaps the place the glass panel meets the steel body. The telephone is IPX8-rated, that means that it may well stand up to splashes of water from any course, however do remember the fact that the guarantee won’t cowl any harm attributable to the identical.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Show: Truly good

• Cowl show – 6.2-inch, 1080 x 2424 pixels, full-HD+, 120Hz
• Fundamental show – 8.03-inch, 2076 x 2152 pixels, 120Hz
• Show Sort – Cowl: OLED, Fundamental: LTPO OLED
• Show safety – Cowl: Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Fundamental: UTG

As you’ll be able to inform from the specs listed above, solely the folding show of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold provides the battery-saving LTPO expertise. Each shows present barely punchy colors on the Adaptive setting, with the identical getting toned down on the Pure setting. For those who choose the Pure setting for true-to-life colors, make sure to change to the Adaptive setting when watching motion pictures on OTT apps, because the shows are likely to lose distinction on this mode.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold has a pretty general design, nevertheless it’s arduous to disregard these thick borders round its cowl show.

I favored how broad the duvet show is, which additionally reduces the necessity to open the telephone on a regular basis. Like with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show, The well-rounded nook cutouts of the Fold’s design additionally eat into the viewable show space. It solely makes issues worse on a foldable as these corners make the oblong show seem squarish.

Given the primary folding show’s dimension, you get a extra usable video viewing space when holding the gadget horizontally, and that is the rationale why you must reorient it when viewing video on full display (non-cropped view). And even then, there’s tons of wasted house above and under (letterboxing), so the squarish side ratio is best suited to run two apps side-by-side than for leisure.

Whereas its bezel is now thinner than earlier than, the primary show on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold has a really noticeable crease

In actual fact, if you’re simply in search of a much bigger show for watching motion pictures on, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a more sensible choice as a result of it is going to last more than the 9 Professional Fold with a single cost as effectively.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview Software program: AI-tastic

• Software program – Pixel UI
• Model – Android 14
• Software program dedication – 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel Drop updates

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is the one foldable to supply a correct tablet-style cut up notification tray with toggles on the left and notifications on the proper

There’s a whole lot of element and a spotlight given to the folding expertise. There is a delicate closing animation with the house display icons and widgets shifting inwards when closing the primary show. The lock display clock additionally glides to the left when unlocking the gadget straight from the primary show, which is a pleasant contact. My favorite is the cut up format for the notifications tray with toggles on the left and the notifications on the proper, which is usually discovered on Android tablets that run near-stock Android software program.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 9 Professional’s multi-tasking capabilities are removed from what the competitors provides. At the moment, it is simply restricted to operating two apps (displayed in full) in Cut up Display screen mode, and that is about it. The OnePlus Open, regardless of being the oldest foldable at present out there, nonetheless appears to supply the very best productiveness setup with the flexibility to run three apps in full and one other app in a small floating window, for many who want it.

The Pixel 9 Professional’s multi-tasking capabilities are restricted to operating two apps at a time

Whilst you can examine all of the AI options in my evaluate of the Pixel 9 Professional XL, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold does include a couple of enjoyable extras. This would come with the lovely Made You Look characteristic, which performs humorous animations on the duvet show to make youngsters chuckle and smile when on digital camera. Twin Display screen on Meet additionally lets customers present the output from each entrance and rear cameras collectively when on a Meet video name. Twin-Display screen mode for Reside Transcribe can be very helpful when on a vacation and might immediately translate 120+ languages. It additionally is available in use for these with listening to and speech disabilities.

Similar to the Pixel 9 Professional XL, Automotive Crash Detection is now out there, with the satellite-based Emergency SOS coming at a later date.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Efficiency: Fairly common

• Processor – Google Tensor G4
• RAM – 16GB
• Storage – 256GB

Regardless of the various foldable-friendly software program refinements, it’s a bit disappointing to see the UI stuttering with random apps (together with the Google Uncover feed). I perceive that the Fold’s cowl show isn’t an LTPO unit, however I seen this very apparent lack of scrolling fluidity with each shows when shopping any app. This turned extra apparent after I in contrast it with the Pixel 9 Professional XL facet by facet. I imagine the offender right here is the stricter battery optimisations. Both method, Google desperately wants to repair the jitter and stuttering, as Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional provides a a lot smoother software program expertise at a cheaper price.

Google additionally skimps on storage, given that almost all foldables at this value level simply supply 512GB of storage. In a method, they do again it up with a free 2TB Gemini Superior plan (for a yr), however once more, we’d have cherished to see extra storage on a telephone that is this costly.

I used to be not capable of check out Google’s in-game split-view, which is on the market for sure titles as a Beta tester, due to some access-related points. Nevertheless, I attempted Name of Responsibility: Cellular (at Max and Extremely body price) on the duvet and predominant show and located its efficiency fairly passable. Genshin Influence stuttered loads when the settings have been maxed out. Contact sampling or sensitivity isn’t as correct, and it felt a bit bizarre to play FPS video games on a sq. show, though it offers you with a a lot larger show in comparison with the duvet display.

The telephone will get sizzling whereas utilizing the digital camera app outside, nevertheless it doesn’t appear to have an effect on digital camera efficiency (like on earlier Pixel fashions) because of the vapour chamber cooling system.

It positive is spectacular how Google managed to pack in wi-fi charging and VC cooling right into a telephone that is as skinny as a USB-C port when unfolded

For some cause, quantity ranges like these on the Pixel 9 Professional XL don’t appear ample, particularly whereas watching motion pictures. I usually discovered myself maxing it out more often than not and nonetheless didn’t discover it ample by way of sheer loudness. It additionally lacks a ample bass (even for a foldable).

Whereas the side-mounted fingerprint reader labored simply advantageous, I solely wanted to make use of it in dimly lit settings, or these with no mild in any respect, because the safe face unlock system did the job fairly effectively.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Cameras: Not what we anticipated

• Fundamental digital camera – 48-megapixel (OIS), f/1.7 aperture, AF
• Telephoto digital camera – 10.8-megapixel (OIS), 5X optical, f/3.1 aperture, AF
• Extremely-wide digital camera – 10.5-megapixel, 0.5X, f/2.2 aperture, AF
• Selfie cameras – 10-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, AF (cowl/predominant)

Google’s digital camera system on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold stays just like the older Pixel Fold

Certainly, there’s nothing “Professional” in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s cameras, as they do not maintain a candle to the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s cameras. Regardless, issues solely worsen when put next with the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional, as might be seen from the digital camera pattern comparability under.

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold loses to the sharper and extra detailed photographs produced by Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional. Additionally, discover the higher dynamic vary in low mild (faucet photographs to develop)

Not like most producers attempting to squeeze high-resolution digital camera sensors into their foldables. It stays to be seen whether or not Google desires to repeat Samsung’s digital camera {hardware} technique and follow the identical set of cameras for 3 generations, as the one actual upgrades we’ve got seen this yr are with its selfie cameras.

Images from the first digital camera are respectable and are available out a bit gentle when taking pictures indoors or towards any out of doors lighting. When taking pictures outside, colors seem pure, with resolved element on the decrease facet and a few minor purple fringing. In low mild, photographs have respectable element however are likely to crush the blacks because the older Pixel cameras did.

Edge detection in Portrait mode actually wants a whole lot of work… even for a foldable (faucet picture to develop)

As with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, Portrait taking pictures is restricted to 1.5X and 2X. Nevertheless, not like the XL, the Fold has to deal with all of it with a slightly dated digital camera sensor, so these digitally scaled crops do not look nice. Portrait mode photographs from the rear digital camera not solely lack element and distinction but additionally have horrible edge detection that may lower out hair, ears and glasses. So, I like to recommend utilizing it solely in daylight (in the event you actually need to). In actual fact, I most well-liked taking pictures common photographs at 1X and including an AI blur impact to them within the submit, which additionally offered higher element.

Images captured at 5X (optical zoom) seem a bit flat and gentle (faucet picture to develop)

Images from its major digital camera (1X) come out alright (faucet picture to develop)

The 5X telephoto digital camera, whereas managing high quality photographs in daylight, shoots gentle photographs in low mild even when resorting to the Night time Sight mode. The ultra-wide digital camera actually feels prefer it’s been added to finish the spec sheet. Video efficiency is satisfactory in daylight however comes out very noisy in low mild; even Google’s Video Enhance software can not appear to show water into wine right here.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Overview Battery: A bit under expectations

• Battery capability – 4,650 mAh
• Wired charging – 21W
• Wi-fi Charging – 7.5W wi-fi (Qi)

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s battery life lasts a full day on a single cost with reasonable use. This would come with some calls, digital camera utilization, gaming, and often switching to the primary show. In our video loop battery take a look at, the telephone managed to final 12 hours and 50 minutes when utilizing the duvet show and eight hours and eight minutes when utilizing the bigger predominant show. These numbers are under common for a foldable gadget, as I’ve seen higher battery efficiency on foldables just like the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional and even the OnePlus Open (which is now a bit dated).

Google doesn’t present the Pixel 45W charger within the field

Charging speeds are comparatively gradual, with the telephone managing a full cost in 1 hour and 45 minutes when related to a 61W PD charger. They’re on par with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 however nowhere near what the present Chinese language foldables supply each by way of wired and wi-fi charging.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Verdict

Google’s neatly laid out software program and segment-leading AI methods could come to the 9 Professional Fold’s rescue, which finds itself within the fingers of Pixel followers who’ve been desperately ready for the foldable to succeed in Indian shores. However its dated digital camera system desperately wants an improve and doesn’t match the “Professional” moniker that Google’s chasing for its foldable.

Relating to sensible options that matter to most shoppers, like easy software program, good battery life, quick charging and high quality cameras, it comes up horribly wanting Vivo’s X Fold 3 Professional (Overview), making it an antithesis to this yr’s Pixel 9 Professional XL (Overview), which was an enormous step in the proper course for Google’s slab-style smartphones.

If you’re in search of your first foldable, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Overview) and OnePlus’s Open (Overview) supply prolonged restore warranties to present you higher peace of thoughts and each of those, just like the Vivo, are priced decrease than Google’s foldable Pixel.