Pixel 9 Professional Fold assessment: A grown-up, glowed-up foldable

Rising up. It’s one thing all of us do, and units do too. Whereas there’s been little or no innovation in mainstream smartphones recently, foldable telephones have been maturing over the previous few years and eventually appear to be coming into their very own. It’s like they’re within the younger grownup section of their lives, whereas the standard “candybar” handset has largely been found out. Not less than, on the surface, anyway.

If foldables are the merchandise, then firms like Samsung and Google are the dad and mom, and every of these two has taken a distinct strategy. Samsung has been extra experimental, letting its child flail round within the playground, falling off swings and cracking its face. Google seems to have been extra cautious, maybe sheltering its product earlier than releasing it for the primary time final 12 months. And let’s not speak concerning the elephant in (or lacking from) the room — Apple might be ready until its foldable is mature sufficient to skip straight to highschool earlier than exposing it to the world.

All that’s to say the Pixel 9 Professional Fold looks like a glowed-up younger grownup, prepared for actuality. Although it could have been extra apt to name this the Pixel Fold 2 (because it’s solely Google’s second foldable), I can see why the corporate desires us to think about it as a part of the 9-series. With the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, all the Pixel 9 lineup feels refined and well-equipped to tackle the competitors. And possibly even win our hearts.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s design

One among my favourite issues concerning the Pixel foldable is its facet ratio. In comparison with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which my colleague Sam Rutherford has described as extra like a thin baton, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold feels extra like a standard cellphone when folded. In reality, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is a lot an extension of the Pixel 9 sequence that its 6.3-inch exterior show is just about the identical dimension because the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional.

However as a result of that panel is encased in a body designed to deal with a hinge for the versatile inside display screen, the Fold truly appears extra comparable in dimension to my iPhone 15 Professional Max. Once I picked them each up, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold felt a bit heavier, however I guessed that it was in all probability near the iPhone 14 Professional Max in weight. I used to be improper — the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is definitely 17 grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Professional Max and 36 grams greater than the 15 Professional Max. Extra importantly, at 257 grams (9.06 ounces), the Pixel foldable is eighteen grams heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

It might not be the lightest foldable round, however the Pixel 9 Professional Fold actually ranks among the many thinnest. When open, its profile measures simply 5.1mm (0.2 inches) thick, whereas Samsung’s Z Fold 6 is barely thicker at 5.6mm.

Numbers alone don’t inform all the story. Small dimensions look good on paper, however the way in which the Pixel 9 Professional Fold feels to carry is a big a part of its evolution. Final 12 months’s mannequin felt somewhat unfinished, with a little bit of a duct-tape vibe to its building. This time, the machine feels strong, due to its “aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy” and “matte back with satin metal frame.” The exterior display screen and rear are lined with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, serving to or not it’s extra scratch-resistant.

After all, as is normally the case with foldables, sturdiness is a priority and one thing that we are able to solely gauge with time. The excellent news is, Sam not too long ago revealed a sturdiness report after a 12 months with the unique Pixel Fold, and the machine not solely withstood the wear and tear and tear of each day life, but in addition survived being within the basic neighborhood of an energetic toddler for 12 entire months.

Some fast closing notes on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s design: Should you’re right-handed, you would possibly respect that the underside proper nook of the cellphone (when folded) is barely curved. It rests properly in opposition to your palm and is marginally extra fulfilling than the expertise for many who are left-handed, who may not just like the sharper angle of the underside left nook. I used the Fold in each arms and didn’t discover this a serious difficulty, however our videographer Hayato Huseman didn’t just like the design for left-handed use.

I even have a minor grievance that the machine is difficult to open with out first getting a fingernail in between the 2 halves, however I anticipate this can get simpler in time. Extra annoying is the slight creak each time I open the cellphone, however this bought smoother over time. Now and again, there’s additionally a mildly regarding rattle after I shake the Fold, which is one thing my pal Julian Chokkattu at Wired delivered to my consideration, so it seems like an issue that isn’t distinctive to our unit.

I’ve requested Google if this is a matter with simply our assessment samples or if it’s extra widespread and in response to the corporate “this is expected behavior that’s due to the telephoto camera VCM (voice coil motor). You will likely notice this on Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL as well.” I’ll say that I hear an analogous (although much less pronounced) sound after I shake my iPhone 15 Professional Max the identical means, so this might simply be the optical picture stabilization system transferring about.

A story of two Pixel 9 Professional Fold shows

Collect up, facet ratio nerds, have we bought an journey in intricate numbers for you! Although final 12 months’s Pixel Fold had a 5.8-inch exterior show with an ungainly 17.4:9 facet ratio, this 12 months’s mannequin is far more intuitive. It’s the identical 6.3-inch 20:9 display screen as the usual Pixel 9, making it a extra acquainted dimension and form. I’m somewhat bummed that it has the 1,080 x 2,424 decision and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh charge of the bottom Pixel 9, versus the sharper panel on the Professional (which matches right down to 1Hz), nevertheless it’s not an enormous drawback.

Sam identified that there’s the teeniest change within the Pixel Fold’s inside display screen. The unique was just below 5.875 inches huge when held in panorama, and whereas the brand new Pixel Fold’s inside show is identical dimension in the identical orientation, in portrait mode it’s truly 5.625 inches huge. This implies the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s inside show has an nearly sq. 1:1 facet ratio that’s 8 inches huge diagonally, which is bigger than its predecessor’s 7.6-inch panel.

This doesn’t dramatically enhance issues whenever you’re viewing widescreen content material, and Sam would even name it a “very tiny downgrade” in that situation. The brand new display screen dimensions will make extra of a distinction whenever you’re gaming and multitasking than watching movies. The tweak seems to be extra for compatibility, and I nonetheless needed to stay with empty house on both aspect of movies (in each portrait and panorama orientations) after I performed YouTube clips in fullscreen mode.

I ought to level out that the inner show does truly go right down to 1Hz, however has a decrease pixel density due to its 2,076 x 2,152 decision. I wasn’t ever blown away by both show, although, and merely discovered them perfunctory. They each go as much as 2,700 nits of peak brightness, and are straightforward sufficient to learn in daylight, although the entrance display screen can rise up to 1,800 nits with HDR whereas the one inside solely goes to 1,600 nits with HDR.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s cameras and pictures options

Google’s unique foldable already had higher cameras than Samsung’s newest, providing an extended optical zoom, sharper photos and superior low-light efficiency. So although it’s barely disappointing that the Pixel 9 Professional Fold doesn’t include many {hardware} upgrades, what it does carry remains to be higher than the Z Fold 6. In reality, Sam says the Pixel 9 Professional Fold has the very best cameras on any foldable you should buy within the US.

Google has saved the principle sensor at 48 megapixels and upgraded the ultra-wide digital camera to allow macro focus. You’ll nonetheless discover a 5x optical zoom on the telephoto digital camera, which is longer than the 3x choice on Samsung’s Z Fold 6. What’s fascinating is that with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, Google needed to tweak its digital camera {hardware} to “fit our unique ultra thin architecture,” which is a reasonably spectacular engineering feat.

When it got here right down to precise photos, the Pixel constantly outshot the Z Fold 6, with Sam going so far as to say it’s “generally a tier level higher.” Colours are brighter and extra correct, and the telephoto {hardware} makes a noticeable distinction in zoomed-in photographs. That’s even earlier than utilizing Google’s Zoom Improve software program, too. Given Samsung has been utilizing the identical sensor for the principle digital camera for the final three years, that doesn’t appear shocking, nevertheless it’s actually a disgrace that those that shelled out $1,900 for the Z Fold 6 are caught with poorer specs right here. It’s unusual too, contemplating Samsung’s primary sensor is a higher-res 50MP.

It’s price noting that Google’s main {hardware} replace additionally gave the Pixel 9 Professional Fold extra of an edge, since having the ability to use its ultra-wide digital camera as a macro shooter made its close-up photographs higher than Samsung’s. Plus, Google continues to steer in low-light pictures, producing sharper, extra vibrant and higher uncovered photographs than the Z Fold 6.

In reality, software program is the place the Pixel cameras proceed to shine. Google added new options like Add Me and Made You Look this 12 months, with the latter being an unique to the Professional Fold. Is smart, since that makes use of the inner and exterior screens. Whilst you have the digital camera app open on the within, tapping an icon above the shutter button helps you to select between twin display screen, rear digital camera selfie or Made You Look. Deciding on the final one brings up 4 choices of various cartoon animations, and the respective character seems on the surface show. The rooster, or fish, or blob will dance round and make noises to get the eye of your topic. That is meant to work predominantly on kids, although I think about it’ll additionally pique the curiosity of cats and canines. I attempted it out totally on adults, and bought a slew of images of my mates wanting incredulously on the digital camera. Mainly this works for individuals aged one and up!

Whenever you’re able to edit your photos, you’ll discover the identical suite of instruments which are on the Pixel 9 Professional. Meaning issues like Magic Editor, Reimagine and Autoframe are additionally accessible to spruce up your photographs. I gained’t retread floor we already lined in that assessment, however like we talked about earlier than, these generative-AI options are considerably efficient however sometimes problematic. I like utilizing it to create extra bushes or greenery within the background so I can heart my mates in a candid photograph, however discover it regarding that Reimagine might be used to add “wrecks, disasters and corpses” to photos, in response to The Verge.

Should you can steer clear of the problematic AI instruments, although, it’s heartening to see that the Pixel 9 Professional Fold can ship images which are pretty much as good as those I bought from my iPhone 15 Professional Max. In any case, you’re paying $1,800, try to be getting flagship-level cameras.

Efficiency and in use

Neither Sam nor I’ve had greater than every week with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, so it’s somewhat too early to speak about longterm efficiency and each day use. Generally, although, to date we’ve observed the brand new Fold runs easily and coolly, identical to the opposite Pixel 9 Execs. That’s largely due to the Tensor G4 processor and built-in vapor chamber, and naturally, possibly I simply haven’t had the Fold lengthy sufficient nevertheless it by no means bought too heat.

I loved watching YouTube with Threads open subsequent to it on the inner display screen, and the bigger canvas additionally made Instagram photos simpler to scrutinize. I want extra apps have been suitable with the larger format, although, since my current favourite video games like Fruit Merge don’t increase to the complete width and as a substitute sit within the center, flanked by two bars of empty house.

It’s additionally unusual that flexing the display screen, which is meant to mechanically change suitable apps right into a half-and-half format, solely works in panorama mode. Meaning for those who open YouTube, bend the Pixel 9 Professional Fold barely and flip it so the rear digital camera is on the highest left nook, you’ll see movies take up the highest half of the show. The underside portion is the place the title, description, feedback and different movies sit.

This format is intuitive, and is smart within the panorama orientation the place the clip you’re watching is propped up for simpler viewing. I simply want there was an equal whenever you’re holding the Fold in portrait mode that might make the feedback take up the precise half of the show as a substitute of the awkward column it presently makes use of.

Sam’s expertise with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 leads him to search out Samsung’s taskbar “a touch better for power users,” since you’ll be able to set it to all the time stick round it doesn’t matter what app you’re on. This makes it simpler to launch apps in splitscreen or simply bounce between duties. It’s additionally price noting that Google doesn’t help stylus enter, whereas Samsung does, and the latter’s DeX multitasking software program is useful for productiveness. The Pixel Fold doesn’t have such an interface the place apps seem in floating home windows, although I do like when suitable apps show additional columns or sidebars once they’re on the larger display screen.

Nonetheless, these are usually minor quibbles that really feel straightforward sufficient to resolve with software program updates you would possibly obtain over time. Should you’re not an influence person or itching to make use of a stylus together with your foldable, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is a strong choice over the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s battery life

The Pixel 9 sequence has been delivering severely good outcomes on our video rundown battery take a look at and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is not any exception. When operating on simply the exterior show, the Fold clocked 27 hours and 9 minutes, which is principally the identical as what the usual Pixel 9 bought. When utilizing simply the inside display screen, the Fold lasted 23 hours and 22 minutes, which is spectacular for a way a lot bigger the panel is.

These numbers are about two to 3 hours higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which notched 25 hours and 19 minutes when folded and 20:07 when open. The brand new Pixel Fold additionally beat its predecessor and the OnePlus Open, as neither of these even handed the 20-hour mark on our take a look at.

Wrap-up

Though the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is barely Google’s second foldable machine, it’s already come a good distance. It each appears and feels higher than earlier than, with a dimension and form that’s extra just like a typical cellphone when closed. When open, the machine is straightforward to carry and offers a roomier canvas for mild multitasking and gaming. Plus, in comparison with its primary competitors within the US, the Pixel Fold 2 (spiritually anyway) has a superior digital camera sport and longer battery life. It’s additionally $100 cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, although it’s nonetheless fairly dear at $1,800.

Google’s foldable line nonetheless has some quirks to work out, however that’s all a part of rising up. For a tool that’s solely been round for 2 generations, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is a strong foldable for anybody trying to dip their toe into versatile telephones that may double as tablets.