The first version was called Pixel Fold. Its successor took the name Pixel 9 Pro Fold. If Google’s first folding smartphone played alone last year when it was announced, it is now part of a family, that of the Pixel 9, from which it takes both the background and the shape, adapting them to your needs.
After a first version not without criticism, Google revised its copy to perfect its weak points (design, management, power, etc.) and finally launch its product on a larger scale. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is now available in France, along with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and the Honor Magic V3. Do your big rivals have anything to worry about?
we love it
An ultra-thin format
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold takes up the half-straight and half-rounded lines of the Pixel 9 range to integrate into a real family. It is the foldable version of Google’s high-end models and is therefore in the same line in terms of content and form (Google Tensor G4 chip, AI in abundance, emphasis on photography, etc.). However, it adapts everything to its format. Compared to a 2023 version that looked more like an improved prototype to test the market, Google has revised the design.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an elegant smartphone, available in black or porcelain white, that incorporates the house’s codes (chassis with straight edges and very rounded corners, central punch) and that is clearly inspired by the avant-garde trends of the moment. It fits well in the hand thanks to its 6.3-inch external LED screen in 20:9 format. It is extremely bright in all circumstances. Once deployed we find an 8-inch Oled screen that is also very bright and has a square format. The fold is not the most visible, less than on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but more than on the Honor Magic V3. Opened, everything lies quite well in the hand (5.1 mm).
We like the choice of the fingerprint reader on the power button to unlock and the additional possibility of facial recognition (10 Mpex camera). It benefits from IPX8 certification to resist splashes. Note that although it’s larger than the first Pixel Fold, the newcomer opens without too much difficulty.
Its reinforced aluminum hinge supports numerous openings and closings and allows the smartphone to be held at 90°. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is generally pleasant to hold and use, both open and closed, with a responsive screen and ease of switching from one format to another.
There are no concessions in the photo, but not in everything…
Google has chosen to abandon the crossbar that carries the photo sensors to place them in a square in the upper left corner. A small touch that differentiates the Pixel 9 Pro Fold from its acolytes and that is undoubtedly explained by the internal recomposition of the components to meet the needs of a folding smartphone.
The module has three sensors that are nothing extraordinary by current standards (48 Mpex wide angle, 10.5 Mpex ultra wide angle with macro capability, 10.8 Mpex telephoto lens with 5x Res super optical zoom). Above all, they are less efficient than those installed on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, which is a shame. But, as always, it is Google’s artificial intelligence and processing that make the difference. The Pixel Fold catches up and enhances any true-to-life photo, with vibrant colors, good contrast, and realistic, sometimes a bit underlit, lighting effects. The zoom is effective, with no loss of detail, but you can thank the AI as soon as you go beyond 5x and actually switch to digital.
At night and in low light, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will delight its fans with a bright photo, sometimes too artificial and with the impression of being at the end of the day rather than at night. If you like close-up photos, the power that Google offers to recognize scenes (sports, food, nature, animals, landscapes, etc.) allows the smartphone to identify details and highlight them.
Don’t worry depending on how you are going to use the Pixel Fold open or closed. The shutter release and autofocus are effective and responsive to take the photo on the spot. It is possible, for selfies, to opt for the external screen camera or unfold the smartphone and use the main sensor while we see ourselves on the screen.
The internal AI suite
Buying a Google Pixel means guaranteeing AI support across the board. Of course, there is photography where, in addition to helping with immediate capture and rendering, artificial intelligence is also there to intervene later by helping to delete annoying elements, retouch a photo by modifying or restructuring the scene, or adding creations to the image. AI. There are also new features like Add Me, which allows you to take a photo of a group and then add yourself taking it in the same scene/decor later. We also found Circle to Search which allows you to have an item in a photo and search for information about it.
The usual AI suite for productivity is also present for instant translation, transcription of audio files, summaries, assistance in writing messages, etc. On the other hand, some features won’t arrive for a while (Pixel Screenshot, Gemini Live in French, etc.). But Gemini is overall more efficient and more versatile than its competitors Samsung or Honor.
Long-term updates and Wifi 7
The Pixel Fold also has seven years of Android updates and the same with its security updates. Enough to keep in hand for many years. In addition, Google has decided to offer compatibility with the future ultra-fast Wifi 7.
we don’t like it
the price
For 1,899 euros, the Galaxy Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not the most expensive of all, but it corresponds to a certain budget. With its incessant price drops, the Galaxy Z Fold6 can now be found cheaper. The Honor Magic V3 constantly offers equally indecent discounts. Two rivals that have serious arguments in terms of photography and power, but also often in fast charging and autonomy, which is not the Pixel’s strong point, although it is still right on this point.
More limited power than the competition.
Google relies on its in-house Tensor G4 processor. It perfectly executes what is intended for Google services and AI functions. On the other hand, as soon as you want to run more resource-intensive software and games, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will perform worse than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Magic V3, which opted for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 gen 3. In photo editing, it can sometimes take a little time to get the final result after editing, but nothing insurmountable.
Applications not all adapted yet
The Pixel 9 runs Android 14 and is obviously packed with features that Google offers. Therefore, we end up with a device optimized to run the flagship operating system. It is the best in managing a deployed format for applications and its use. However, it is still clear that there are still many applications that have difficulty adapting to the square format, especially when switching from the external screen to the internal one.
For streaming content on Netflix, playing mobile games, or for certain social media apps, you still have to deal with black bars. Google offers a feature to stretch the screen, but it is not always very practical and well made. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can display two apps side by side, which is the basis of its proposition and a real advantage in productivity, especially if you want to place it horizontally, with a keyboard at the bottom and an app displayed or a web page at the top.
Conclusion
Google’s first attempt to cross the Atlantic with a foldable smartphone is a success and a pleasant surprise. If we liked last year’s more compact format, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is still pleasant to use with its larger screens, helped by the delicacy of the device. Obviously, it relies on its knowledge of Android and AI to offer a complete and versatile device that will delight consumers with heavy screens.
But at almost 2,000 euros, we would have liked it to place the sliders a little higher, offering the same photographic package as the Pixel 9 Pro and more significant autonomy (we are just over a day away). If it has significant advantages, it does not necessarily have enough to tickle the Galaxy Z Fold6, king of the sector. It will also be a matter of taste in design and interest in an Android free of any overlay. In any case, you can give this solid product a try and is designed to last a long time.
Source: BFM TV
