the primary book-style foldable I might purchase

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

Do not get me mistaken, 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 machine feels nice when unfolded, however utilizing its Cowl Show stays a painfully cramped expertise. Typing is annoying, looking the web with Firefox feels too confined, and, on high of that, the higher half of the machine is oddly heavy, making it really feel just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 may tumble out of my hand at any second.

The oddly named Pixel 9 Professional Fold (simply name it the Fold 2, Google) solves this downside with its wider cowl show and impressively skinny design. I would not go as far as to say it feels precisely like a standard smartphone when it isn’t unfolded, however it’s far nearer than I anticipated. This has remodeled 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.

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Pixel 9 Professional Fold

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

Execs

• Wider cowl show
• Refined, sturdy construct
• Inside display appears to be like nice

Cons

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

Value, availability, and specs

Out there now beginning at $1,799

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold is accessible 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, which Google calls its (LPTO) Tremendous Actua Flex show, includes 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 embody 16GB of RAM, both 256GB or 512GB of storage, and Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The rear triple-camera setup features a predominant f/1.7 48-megapixel extensive shooter, an f/2.2 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, and an f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto digital camera able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digital camera is an f/2.2 10-megapixel lens, and the interior digital camera can 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 includes a 4,650 mAh battery. It is also IPX8 licensed, that means it will 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 by accident will get just a little moist.

Pixel 9 Professional XL construct and design

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

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

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

Identical to the Pixel 9 Professional line, the world surrounding the digital camera bump includes a premium-feeling matte again that does an honest job of repelling grease and smudges. The perimeters of the machine 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 Fold a novel design aptitude that helps it stand out from different smartphones.

Talking of the hinge, it feels much more stable this 12 months. That mentioned, it isn’t 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 machine 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 lowered each inside and out of doors the telephone, and so they look similar to the Z Fold 6’s. If you happen to 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 holding in thoughts if you happen to 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 up to now. I am at all times nervous about dropping foldable smartphones, no matter how sturdy they really feel, and the case presents a bit of additional peace of thoughts. Nevertheless, the a part of the case that runs alongside the hinge and the duvet display’s bezels attaches with adhesive that can possible put on away over time (I additionally would have most well-liked the case to cowl your entire hinge). Nonetheless, I am unable to actually think about utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, or any foldable smartphone, and not using a sturdy case.

General, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s {hardware} feels far more refined and sturdy than the unique Fold, however it’s nonetheless a foldable. If you happen to’re the kind of one that drops their telephone regularly, a folding smartphone in all probability is not for you.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold show

The foldable’s expansive 8-inch display 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. Which means when it is folded, it appears to be like and appears like a barely thicker common smartphone, in contrast to 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 an everyday smartphone when utilizing its exterior display. Trying on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold when it is utterly flat is actually spectacular and jogs my memory of seeing the super-thin M4 iPad Pro for the primary time. Foldable display know-how has come a good distance in a really brief interval, and that is on show right here with Google’s newest foldable.

For me, the lacking hyperlink relating to book-style foldable smartphones is the usable cowl display. (As a result of I’m tired of scratching review devices, I rapidly put a glass display protector on it, which you’ll be able to see in a number of pictures on this evaluation.) In my week with the foldable, I’ve primarily used the Pixel 9 Professional Fold like an everyday smartphone. It is solely once 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. With regards to studying or watching video content material, the bigger 8-inch display is an absolute pleasure to make use of.

This offers me a comparatively normal-feeling smartphone that may rework right into a sprawling pill once I need it to, and that is form of the dream, proper? On a facet be aware, I discover myself utilizing the outside show or one half of the inside show when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display is open to observe content material on YouTube whereas doing senseless duties like washing the dishes or preparing for mattress. The propped-up show presents 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 way in which, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folded expertise is not good. First off, it is quite heavy. This implies utilizing the foldable for lengthy intervals with one hand is not an incredible expertise, and when it is unfolded, the machine can really feel quite unwieldy on account of its bigger measurement. The truth is, I really desire the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch interior display as a result of it is simpler and extra pure to carry in any orientation.

Nonetheless, I might take the snug 20:9 entrance display 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 would be able to nonetheless really feel and see the fold within the display 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 difficulty, however if you happen to have been hoping the Pixel 9 Professional Fold can be the primary machine to remove the dreaded fold, you may be dissatisfied with Google’s second-generation foldable — it’s there, and you’ll nonetheless see it.

Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s folding show appears like glass and does 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 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 appears to be like dimmer when evaluating each units). I largely used the foldable indoors throughout my time with it, however underneath direct daylight, the folding display might be fairly arduous to see.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold digital camera

AI options and digital camera instruments galore

I will not dive too deeply into the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s digital camera efficiency, however its digital camera capabilities lag behind the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. The principle f/1.7 48-megapixel digital camera presents very related high quality, however the f/3.1 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens includes a larger aperture, regardless of nonetheless providing as much as 5x optical zoom, resulting in grainier pictures in low gentle. 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 pictures that are not fairly as sharp. The ten-megapixel f/2.2 selfie and inside digital camera additionally don’t examine to the spectacular f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter the Pixel 9 Professional presents. Normally, pictures usually are inclined to lack the distinction the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ cameras supply.

With all of this in thoughts, does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold snap good pictures? Sure, it positively does, they simply gained’t be the perfect on the market, and given the foldable’s price, that is disappointing. Alternatively, this might be a trade-off price making if you happen to’re offered on the smartphone-tablet dream. If you happen to’re within the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, you’re possible shopping for it since you need the power to hold a pill round in your pocket, quite than a images powerhouse. Nonetheless, the choice to not supply the identical digital camera 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 photos with prompts; Magic Eraser, which removes objects from photographs with a fast circle; Zoom Improve for pictures; Gemini/Gemini Reside, and extra. With regards to AI-powered options, Google didn’t maintain something again from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. “Made You Look,” which reveals a cute animation on the exterior display 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 helpful given how troublesome it’s to take care of a toddler’s focus. There’s additionally Twin Display Preview, which shows a preview of the {photograph} you are taking on the outer display. Once more, I possible will not use this function usually, however I can see it being helpful if you happen to take pictures of individuals regularly.

Pixel 9 Professional Fold efficiency

First rate battery life and benchmark efficiency

Efficiency has been respectable throughout my roughly week-long expertise with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. I’ve encountered a couple of situations of slowdown and apps which have randomly crashed or lagged. Generally, apps additionally get caught when transitioning between the duvet display and the principle display. I don’t suppose that is the fault of Google’s Tensor G4 chip, however quite a difficulty with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s software program expertise not being as clean because the extra mature foldable OS like One UI on the Galaxy Fold 6.

That mentioned, the expertise has been usually stable when it comes to efficiency. Battery life isn’t mind-blowing, however I may get roughly a full day (till round 7 p.m.) earlier than needing to high up. Extra intensive actions, like watching motion pictures or taking part in video games, have a tendency to empty the battery a bit extra rapidly than my expertise with the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Professional XL. I feel this possible has to do with the truth that the exterior show doesn’t function LTPO know-how, that means it will possibly solely go from 60-120Hz and never 1-120Hz just like the Pixel 9 Professional line’s display 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 might nonetheless be irritating at occasions, although. For instance, some apps are oddly reduce off on the inside display. Nevertheless, for probably the most half, the vast majority of apps look as you’d anticipate in panorama and portrait mode when the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s display is unfolded. Just like Samsung’s foldables, all the important thing apps take full benefit of the bigger 8-inch display, together with Gmail, Docs, Preserve, YouTube, and extra.

The expertise of splitting two apps between either side of the folding show is superb and straightforward to do, due to the taskbar that seems whenever you swipe up from the underside of the smartphone. You are restricted to only two apps, in contrast to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, however I haven’t discovered this to be a difficulty. I am unable to consider a state of affairs the place I’d need greater than two apps working on the similar time on my telephone.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s sound lags behind different units within the Pixel 9 lineup. It might get lots loud, however it sounds hole and simply distorts at increased volumes. The truth is, I am really shocked 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 quite a bit to love about Google’s 2nd gen foldable

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is extraordinarily costly at $1,799, but when I have been out there for a book-style foldable, I’d choose it over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as a result of I admire its wider cowl show, which permits me to make use of the machine like a standard smartphone. This fulfills the dream of getting a tiny pill in my pocket always, and I desire that over a barely extra comfortable-to-use inner folding display. Nonetheless, there are compromises, together with its hefty weight and digital camera specs that lag behind the top-tier Pixel 9 Professional sequence.

Does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nonetheless snap wonderful pictures? 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. Nevertheless, if the thought of carrying each a smartphone and a large pill round with you always is interesting, there’s quite a bit to love about Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

This machine was supplied to Pocket-lint by Google.

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Pixel 9 Professional Fold