Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review

Google’s latest foldable phone could easily have been called the Pixel Fold 2. But use it, and you’ll know why it has got a completely different name. The new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has been reimagined with a healthy mix of design language and features borrowed from the flagship Pixel 9 series.

ALSO READ: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold first impressions 

From its design to the list of features, there’s no hiding the fact that the latest Pixel Fold is an ultra-premium device. But is it worth the premium price sticker on the box? Having used the foldable for the past couple of weeks, here’s our Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold design and display

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is among the thinnest foldables out there, and you can feel it almost right away. Though it is like having two full-fledged phones in your hands, it weighs like just one. To put that into context, having moved from the big Pixel 9 Pro XL to this foldable didn’t feel like a big upgrade in weight.   

One aspect that I liked the most is the choice of the screen on the outside. At 6.3-inches, it is almost a Pixel 9 in size, and this reflected in my use. The size, screen ratio and quality of this OLED display meant that nearly 85 per cent of the time I used the phone was in its folded state. It’s taken brands a while to realise that a foldable phone doesn’t always need to be unfolded, and hence the need for a great outer display.

Having said that, the full experience of the phone unfolds (pun unintended) when you pry it open. The 8-inch screen is a treat for the eyes whether you’re watching videos or reading articles. The screen is bright, colours look great, and viewing angles too are good.  

The square-ish ratio makes it seem like there are two full-sized screens attached to each other in the middle. Using apps in split view makes the most of this ratio. But it also results in black borders on the top and bottom when watching videos.

With foldables, one of the first questions is around the crease, and it is there on the Pixel Fold. But it is not easily visible and can only be felt and seen from certain angles. I found it to be on par with some of the other contemporary foldables like the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6.  

The hinge holding the phone together feels sturdy and the mechanism to open and shut the foldable feels smooth. Overall, it doesn’t take much force and hand gymnastics to unfold the device.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold performance

Powering the phone is the same Tensor G4 chip, which we have seen on the other Google Pixel 9 series. Since we have extensively covered the chip’s performance in our Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL reviews, we won’t go in-depth again. 

But the TLDR version is that the chip is more than capable of handling day-to-day things and multitasking with ease. Even when in split-screen mode, both apps work smoothly side-by-side. It can also handle games like Asphalt 9: Legends and other titles like Call of Duty: Mobile, though the phone tends to get a bit warm when the internals are being pushed to their limits.  

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also comes with the same suite of AI features that we see on the other Pixel 9 series. These include Gemini Live, Pixel Studio, Add Me and Reimagine for the cameras, Magic Eraser and Circle to Search. With the hardware and software integration, these features work seamlessly. 

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold battery life

The battery life on the phone is solid, and can easily last a day and more on a single charge. In my time of testing, there wasn’t a single day where I ran out of battery. The overall battery life also depends upon how often you unfold and use the inner screen in a day. The closest I came to searching for the charger at night was when I was trying to complete an entire campaign on Asphalt Legends Unite in a single day.   

Just like the standard Pixel 9 phones, charging speeds on the Fold feels outdated by today’s standards. To put the 21W speed into context, the OnePlus Open supports 67W speeds.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold cameras

Sitting in a massive island at the back is a triple-camera setup, which includes a 48MP primary lens, 10.8MP zoom lens, and a 10.5MP wide-angle lens. Pixel cameras are generally great, and while the Fold’s cameras fall a tad behind the non-folding Pixel 9 Pro phones, you won’t find a lot to complain about. The star of this setup is the primary lens, which shoots great snaps in most lighting conditions. The other lenses however tend to struggle a bit with the details when the lights go down.  

Beyond the hardware, the Fold’s cameras have quite a few interesting tricks up their sleeves. Made you Look, is a cute feature, which plays animations on the outer screen in the hope that your kid will stare at the screen. I tried it a couple of times and it works.   

Then there’s the Dual Screen Preview, which turns the outer screen into a viewfinder, so whoever is posing can adjust themselves for the photo. Lastly, there’s also the Rear Camera Selfie, which as the name suggests, uses the far superior rear cameras for a selfie while you look at a preview on the external screen. 

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

Like many out there, if you’ve been on the fence about completely switching to a foldable phone, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold out to help you make your mind up. In my experience it is the closest a foldable has come to being a mainstream phone.  

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is designed and feels like an ultra-premium device, boasts features that are on par with most flagships out there, and feels normal in day-to-day usage. Adding to the overall experience is Google’s exciting suite of AI features, and seven years of software support that will aid the longevity of the device.  

At Rs 1,72,999, it is no doubt an ultra-premium purchase, but you do get a lot for that kind of money. If you’re still on the lookout for alternate options, you can check the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 or the OnePlus Open.   

For all the above reasons, we rate the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold 4.5/5. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more in-depth reviews, and all things tech.