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The Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with the Tensor G4 chipset, Gemini AI in tow and other Pixel niceties in a pricey package.
The second-gen Pixel Fold is part of the 9 series and brings a host of upgrades.
Google’s foldable entry was a muted affair but year two has shown its seriousness for the segment. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has got a wider release this year, including India, which did surprise quite a few people. The company usually keeps all the launch cards close to its chest, so when it announced all the Pixel 9 series models in the country, people were excited.
Talking about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s second-gen foldable looks to build on the promise of its first model but the competition in the Fold space is tougher than before, which means the stakes are also higher for a product that is priced at Rs 1,72,999 in the country. The new design and complete overhaul counts for something and you get it with the latest Tensor G4 chipset but is that enough to convince buyers? We’ve got a chance to test the device to find a definite answer.
Fresh Design, Premium Outlook
Google’s second foldable has undergone a major transformation. The whole design language has been revamped, including the large camera island at the back. The metal body along with the reengineered hinge feels a lot more durable and the best thing is that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t leave any gap when you close it.
The form factor is slightly smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 but wider and most importantly, the heaviest foldable out there at 257 grams. The slim profile definitely appeals but the overall usability of the foldable is skewed, depending on the size of your hands.
The bezels are still there staring right at you, which will annoy some, especially when the asking price is so high. Google has done a good job with the design of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, we would like to see more things evolve with the next model.
The Big Display Impact
The screens on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have bright, crisp and easy to view content. You get a 6.3-inch OLED panel on the outside, while the inner screen is an 8-inch LTPO OLED display that is bigger than Samsung but slightly smaller than Vivo’s foldable. The 120Hz refresh rate is adaptive on the main display, while the outer screen is fixed to the refresh rate which is not ideal for a premium device.
The bezels are hard to ignore, giving the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a book style impression. The size is peculiar with the 9 Pro Fold but you do get used to the dimensions and using the main screen to watch movies can be addictive, as long as you are fine with the dated 16:9 ratio that is still the preferred mode for shows.
The Pixel UI Foldable Version
The Android version running on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels much like the regular UI. There are some handy tools added for the foldable device but you feel the rivals have a better hang of making the software optimised for the form factor.
The overall experience is smooth, and the controls are easy to pick up but you’d like the UI to be more intuitive to the device and behave like it has to run on two screens. Yes, there is a dual-screen mode to open two apps simultaneously but that’s it. Having said that, the AI features add another layer of interaction with the foldable and the implementation is far more polished in that regard.
The Tensor Conundrum
When you see devices like iQOO 12 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset selling for around Rs 50,000, you have to question why the Tensor G4-powered Pixel 9 series costs this much. The same is applicable for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold which gets 16GB RAM but the hardware is limiting its purpose and potential.
That’s not all, you only get the 256GB storage variant in the country, so Google clearly sees the person buying its cloud storage to compensate for the lack of space that will eventually become a problem. The benchmark scores of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold show its limitations, and they become evident while playing games in high graphics or using the camera to shoot hi-res videos.
Not The Best Pixel Cameras
Google has gone with a triple camera system that includes a 48MP sensor with OIS, a 10MP telephoto lens with OIS and 10.5MP ultrawide lens. The resulting images are good but not the usual Pixel standards, and definitely not a match for the Pixel 9 Pro XL either.
The daylight images are detailed, and the colours look natural but you feel something amiss with the output, especially when you compare it with the competition in this space.
Deceives Where It Matters
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold packs a decent chunk of battery which should ideally be good enough for long support, except it doesn’t.
It is deceptively average for the size and package, and we’re not sure if it improves over time or just a usual behaviour. The charging times for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offer no big positive either, and the combo of both makes the foldable less desirable.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold allows Google to show its hardware prowess but for the steep price tag, you are getting a product that craves more power, finesse and other attributes which completes the package.
