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Google's first pro-level folding phone is arguably the best folding phone available right now!
The latest foldable to hit the market, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has just hit stores and it should be hitting your radar too, because it is fantastic.
If you can swallow the pricey investment, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold could be the best phone you've ever used.
I've only had my Pixe 9 Pro Fold for a few days, but I am in love (this could be the honeymoon phase though, which is why I need to give it a bit more time before I do a full review).
For now, I'm sharing my early impressions from my hands-on time with Google's newest foldable.
Why would anyone want a folding phone?
If you've never had the chance to use a phone with a folding display, it's tough to imagine a scenario where you would need one.
And truthfully, no one needs a folding phone. But there are some nice-to-have features. Especially as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold eliminates one of the biggest issues of owning a folding phone.
How thick is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The drawback of your average folding phone is just how hefty these things end up being in your pocket.
For example using Samsung's Fold 6 (12 mm thick) is almost as thick as two S24s (7.6mm) stacked on top of each other. It might be worth dealing with the extra bulk if you use that inner screen a lot, however, I found when I was testing Samsung's foldables that because 90 per cent of the time I was using the outer display, the compromise was too great to justify the bulk of a folding phone.
With the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the device is a sleek 10.5 mm, which is a negligible 2 mm difference compared to the Pixel 9 Pro (8.5 mm). This removes one of the second largest barriers that might deter someone from a folding phone (first being price).
I put the official Google case on mine, which does add a tiny amount to the overall thickness of the phone (see my unboxing video), but overall, we're still talking a millimeter or two difference compared to my iPhone 15 Pro when it's in an official iPhone case.
And let's be honest, if you're dropping thousands of dollars on a folding phone, you're gonna wanna put this thing in a protective case.
Does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have any different features compared to other phones?
Aside from the ability to go from a 6.3 inch outer display to the 8 inch inner display the bulk of features between the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Pixel 9 Pro are the same. But that folding screen does lend itself to some new possibilities.
Made You Look On Pixel 9 Pro Fold
This is one of the best use cases I've ever seen for a foldable's outer screen. When trying to snap a photo of a difficult subject (a toddler or pet) the Made You Look feature on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is going to be your new best friend.
With this feature, the photographer opens up the phone to frame up the photo using the 8 inch inner display. On the outer 6.3 inch display, an interactive animation is displayed. This animation tries to catch the attention of whoever you're photographing using bright visuals and sounds to get them to look in the direction of the camera.
Pairing this feature with Best Take (introduced in 2023 alongside the Pixel 8 lineup), there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get the perfect picture of your pet or kid again!
Improved Selfies on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Rear Camera Selfie: By unfolding the phone, you can use the front display as a viewfinder while tapping into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's more powerful outer camera array to improve the look of your selfies.
Tabletop Mode: The phone also doubles as a tabletop stand (you can set a timer to snap a group photo or activate the timer with a wave of your hand from a distance).
Dual Screen Preview: With this feature, when you're taking a pic of someone, you can activate the outer display so they can also see how they look before you snap a pic. This could certainly help if you have a partner or friend who always insists on a reshoot before you're allowed to post their picture.
And the other great photography features you may have heard about from the Pixel 9 Pro/XL (Super Res Zoom, Video Boost) etc. are all included in the Pixel 9 Pro XL as well as the additional AI photography and editing features announced with the base Pixel 9 (Add Me for group photos, reimagine for changing major elements like sky and background, Auto Frame for extending the photo canvas, and more).
Additional uses for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Aside from the photo features and larger screen real estate, there's a few other features that you may or may not tap into with a folding phone.
Split Screen: Pull up separate apps on either side of the inner display. This can be handy when working across apps (say your banking app and your household budget).
Dual Screen On Meet: If you use Google Meet for video calls, you can use the inner camera to frame up yourself on the video call and also pull up the outer camera to include anyone else sitting in the room on the call.
Live Transcribe For Accessibility: This feature could be helpful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and was designed with them in mind by Google. By putting your phone into tabletop mode (for a hands free stand) you can activate Live Translate, allowing a person to see on-screen captions of conversations around them so they have extra support to make sure they don't miss anything.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold Early Impressions
Right out of the gate there's lots to like about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Pros
- Very thin while folded
- As powerful as Pixel 9 Pro
- More versatile than Pixel 9 Pro
Cons
- Cost
- Fewer colour options
- Screen crease (it's a folding phone though, so come on!)
Google Pixel Pro 9 Fold
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has all the great AI and camera features of the Pixel 9 Pro, but with a foldable form factor. It comes in two colors (porcelain and obsidian).
While I'm hard at work putting together a full review (I'll be testing gaming, battery life, productivity, and more) I'd love to hear from you about what you like and don't like about folding phones and if there's anything you're curious about related to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Hit me up in the comments section!
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