Google Pixel Fold review

Google’s folding telephone has been a very long time coming. Rumours that the corporate was growing one started a number of years again and in a shock revelation throughout a current Made by Google podcast episode, the world discovered that the Pixel Fold wasn’t the primary.

A earlier design hadn’t made the grade and was cancelled as a result of it wasn’t ok. The Pixel Fold, then, should have handed muster and it’s taking the combat to varied rivals however primarily Samsung. The South Korean firm has an enormous lead on Google, having launched its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 and is on observe to launch its fifth-generation foldable telephone quickly.

The historical past lesson is related right here as a result of the Pixel Fold doesn’t exist in a vacuum. And whereas there’s so much to love in regards to the telephone, there’s some frustration too – a few of which is likely to be fastened in software program updates. Then there’s additionally the value, which isn’t 1,000,000 miles away from $2,000/£2,000.

Design & construct

• No hole when folded
• Slim, comparatively talking
• IPX8 water resistance

Fairly clearly, the Pixel Fold is the kind of folding telephone which goals to be a pill substitute slightly than the ‘flip’ fashion which takes a traditional telephone and folds it in half.

And this makes the Pixel Fold an enormous, heavy telephone. It’s 12.1mm thick (not together with the digicam bump) and 80mm broad. At 140mm tall, it’s shorter than many telephones however at 284g, quite a bit heavier – 20g heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

And everybody I handed the Pixel Fold to commented on the burden first. However, as with every folding telephone, it additionally has an enormous wow issue. Pictured right here is the Obsidan color however you too can get it in Porcelain.

Opening it as much as reveal the 7.6in inner display screen will often elicit a “wow” or a puff as a result of, even now in 2023, not that many individuals have seen a telephone that folds in half.

The crease doesn’t ever go away, however a number of the time the brightness of the display screen hides it. It’s much more hidden when you’re working one app on both sides of the display screen.

The place the Fold differs from its rivals – notably the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 – is that it has a 6:5 facet ratio. Which means it’s extra panorama than portrait which is extra vital than you may think because it impacts how apps behave.

When folded, there’s no hole between the screens. The hole is without doubt one of the belongings you discover first in regards to the Galaxy Fold 4, however which Samsung is more likely to deal with within the Fold 5 that launches in just some weeks’ time.

It isn’t the primary folding telephone to shut flat: Honor’s Magic Vs does too.

On the highest edge is one speaker with a second on the underside edge together with the nano-SIM tray and a USB-C port.

On the right-hand facet, on the rear a part of the telephone (when folded), is the quantity rocker and energy button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

The sides are rounded, polished alloy and the hinge is basically a thicker model: its smoothness feels fantastic in your fingers. As quickly as you contact it, your fingerprints might be throughout it however end is definitely worth the common cleansing required.

Jim Martin / Foundry

One space that doesn’t decide up fingerprints is the Gorilla Glass Victus on the again of the telephone, because it has a matt end. An enormous digicam part juts out about 3mm.

This, and the actual fact the Pixel Fold doesn’t open to precisely 180° means it doesn’t lie flat in opposition to a floor. That’s annoying if you wish to sort, swipe or do one thing that entails touching the display screen because it rocks in all instructions.

Jim Martin / Foundry

You’ll be able to apply a little bit of strain to pressure the display screen that closing 5 levels or so to be completely flat, however it doesn’t really feel good to do this on such an costly machine.

The truth is, outstanding warnings within the field let you know that versatile screens are softer than on conventional telephones and it is best to “keep away from contact with sand, crumbs, fingernails or sharp objects”. You’re additionally instructed to not take away the factory-installed display screen protector and to not apply a third-party one.

The overwhelming feeling, then, is that that is an particularly delicate telephone that wants a number of care. There’s additionally the frustration that, regardless of the value, Google doesn’t embody a case within the field. It’s going to promote you one, after all: the official case prices $59.99/£64.99.

With an IPX8 ranking, the Pixel Fold can “take a splash”, in response to Google. The truth is, that’s an understatement: it will probably stand up to immersion in water as much as 1m deep for half-hour. Not that you simply’d need to check that, thoughts.

One advantage of the stiff hinge is with the ability to alter the display screen to a sure angle and it’ll keep there. That’s helpful if you wish to watch a video hands-free on the outer display screen in ‘tent’ mode, however it additionally means you are able to do the identical form of factor with the interior display screen in a type of ‘laptop computer mode’.

Jim Martin / Foundry

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That might be helpful for video calls as there’s a digicam on the within bezel in addition to one embedded into the outer display screen. When Android 14 launches, there may also be an replace to YouTube which shows the video within the prime a part of the display screen and places playback controls on the half laying flat.

Display & audio system

• 5.8in outer 17.4:9 display screen
• 7.6in interior 6:5 display screen

It isn’t imagined to be the primary attraction, however the Pixel Fold’s exterior display screen is uncommon for a folding telephone as a result of it’s very related in proportions to a traditional telephone. Or, at the very least, a traditional telephone from a number of years in the past.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The 17.4:9 facet ratio is way more usable than the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 23.1:9 outer display screen. It’s a very vivid OLED panel, peaking at 1550 nits and an actual pleasure to make use of even in vivid outside situations. Decision is nice, colors are nice and – no shock – viewing angles are, too.

Some might dislike Google’s option to go along with a punch-hole selfie digicam however it actually doesn’t get in the best way.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Prise open the Fold – one thing that wants two arms and a fingernail as a result of there’s no hole in any respect – and it turns into a small pill. The display screen has the identical 7.6in diagonal because the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and though this makes each telephones square-ish, the Pixel Fold has a 6:5 facet ratio in opposition to the Z Fold 4’s 21.6:18.

Human brains can’t simply evaluate these numbers, however what it boils all the way down to is that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (and just about each different competitor) has a taller, narrower display screen whereas the Pixel Fold is wider and shorter.

Is that this a profit? The reply is sophisticated, and one greatest answered once I discuss in regards to the Pixel Fold’s software program later.

Each screens assist a variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz, however the inner display screen isn’t fairly as vivid at 1000 nits, with peak brightness of 1200 nits.

The opposite factor to notice is the bezel across the inner display screen. It’s thicker on the prime and backside than the edges however it’s not one thing you discover in regular use. If something, it’s too skinny on the sides and means it’s laborious to grip the telephone with out by accident touching one thing on the display screen.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Nonetheless, a extra necessary remark, particularly for first-time foldable consumers, is that the display screen isn’t completely flat. We’re all so used to the thick glass on conventional telephones {that a} versatile display screen – which is what it’s – seems wavy and, properly, low cost.

As talked about already, the fold stays even when the hinge is absolutely open, similar to the crease once you fold a bit of paper in half after which unfold it.

General, high quality is nice however you do discover a band both facet of that crease exhibiting barely completely different brightness and colors as you progress the telephone round in your arms. It’s not a dealbreaker: it’s simply what versatile screens are like in the meanwhile.

The ultra-thin glass is roofed by a plastic protector that doesn’t fairly attain the outer bezel. There’s a niche of 1-2mm across the edge which collects mud and filth such as you wouldn’t consider. The identical factor occurs within the tiny gaps between the highest and backside of the display screen and the hinge.

Jim Martin / Foundry

At the very least one (vocal) reviewer’s Pixel Fold display screen has been broken by crumbs getting caught within the display screen protector hole and seemingly inflicting the display screen to fail. I’ve had no such points, however have additionally been cautious to present the display screen a wipe, even simply with a finger, earlier than closing it every time.

A closing element that’s straightforward to overlook is the digicam within the top-right part of the bezel. It’s there so irrespective of how you utilize the Fold, there’s at all times a solution to have a video name or take a selfie.

Audio system, to vary the topic, are surprisingly good. They don’t put out a lot quantity till you ramp the slider as much as the max, however they’re able to first rate audio for watching movies, listening to podcasts and even the odd little bit of music.

Software program & apps

• Android 13
• Optimised Google apps
• 5 years of Pixel updates

Software program is essential with any folding telephone as a result of apps want to seem in another way once you use it in pill mode and make the most of the additional area and determination. The place others, similar to Honor with the Magic Vs, haven’t finished an incredible job, Google is within the lucky place that Apple is with the iPhone and may management each {hardware} and software program.

To this finish, it has optimised all its apps for the Fold’s oddly-shaped display screen. Gmail, Calendar, Climate, Drive, Images – all of them look stunning and present much more than you see on the outer display screen.

Jim Martin / Foundry

That’s nice, however not all apps work properly on the Fold. Those who aren’t optimised show with black bars on the edges – Fb is a notable one – and the one solution to make them fill the display screen is to rotate the Fold by 90° and use it in ‘portrait’ mode.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The difficulty is, in lots of circumstances, apps are merely scaled up so every part is bigger as an alternative of exhibiting extra data.

Even a few of Google’s apps aren’t absolutely optimised. Maps generally reverted to the Fb fashion of filling the centre of the display screen however with black bars on the edges.

Jim Martin / Foundry

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The facet ratio isn’t nice for video both: if you wish to see all of a 16:9 video, it’s displayed at a dimension that’s barely bigger than the outer display screen. And it’s worse when you’re watching a film that makes use of an excellent thinner, wider facet ratio.

YouTube is optimised, after all, so you’ll be able to zoom in and make the video fill the display screen. However it’s like going again to the times earlier than widescreen TVs.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Maybe the primary profit isn’t working a single app, although, it’s having two open on the similar time. This works properly, particularly as a result of Google has added a taskbar that seems once you slowly swipe up from the underside of the display screen. When you’re already working an app, you’ll be able to drag one other one to the left or proper and it’ll fill whichever half you’ve dragged it two.

Jim Martin / Foundry

You’ll be able to then drag the divider bar left or proper to make one app wider (and the opposite thinner) and you may rotate the telephone to portrait if the apps work higher in that orientation, similar to once you need to watch a video and have an online web page open on the similar time.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Sure apps allow you to drag and drop between them, however I by no means discovered this to be significantly recreation altering. Sure, you’ll be able to choose a bunch of photographs from Google Images and drop them into an electronic mail or a WhatsApp chat, however it’s simply as straightforward to connect photographs from inside these apps.

Copying and pasting textual content between apps feels extra handy when each are on display screen, however even after per week, I didn’t uncover the killer app pair that made the Fold an indispensable device.

An issue that could be addressed when Android 14 drops is the absence of a solution to launch pairs of apps that you simply like to make use of collectively. As a substitute, it’s a must to launch one full display screen, convey up the taskbar and both use the Break up icon or discover the app and drag it to the one facet.

One other challenge is that apps don’t stay paired when you shut the Fold. What occurs once you re-open it’s that one of many apps shows full display screen, one thing that’s very irritating.

It could possibly additionally get complicated as a result of Google has chosen to make the Fold do various things once you shut it relying upon what kind of app you have been utilizing in pill mode. I requested Google about this and was instructed that it’s a characteristic builders name “wakelock”. Some apps inform the display screen to remain on – even on non-folding telephones – and ignore any idle timers. So when you’re watching a video, studying a ebook or taking part in a recreation and shut the display screen, it would seem on the outer display screen as an alternative of locking the telephone and displaying the always-on information.

That’s superb when you perceive it, however there’s no setting to vary this behaviour when you don’t prefer it.

One different factor Google may change is so as to add the choice to save lots of completely different residence display screen layouts for the interior and outer screens. As it’s, the Fold replicates your outer residence display screen on the left-hand facet of the interior display screen, and places the apps from the second web page on the proper.

Not like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, there’s no solution to run three apps directly, nor have a floating window. The Pixel Fold doesn’t have stylus assist both, which could disappoint some folks.

There are advantages of shopping for a Pixel telephone, although. Google guarantees 5 years of updates, and there’s Google’s VPN that you should use free of charge. A characteristic coming quickly is the flexibility to point out translated velocity on the outer display screen – helpful in conditions the place you don’t communicate somebody’s language. The within display screen will present what they’re saying in your language.

Specs & efficiency

• Tensor G2
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB UFS 3.1 storage

The Fold’s chipset, RAM and storage are the identical because the Pixel 7 Professional’s. There’s loads of grunt, even when benchmarks present it’s not the quickest on the market and it makes the Pixel Fold really feel clean and responsive in day by day use.

Apps launch rapidly and, together with the high-refresh-rate screens, they run exceptionally properly.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Video games additionally run fairly properly, however efficiency is considerably moot as a result of so few video games have been optimised to make use of the Fold’s uncommon decision and facet ratio. Optimised video games are highlighted within the Play Retailer and embody Minecraft, Asphalt 9, League of Legends, Genshin Affect, Conflict of Clans, Sweet Crush and Name of Obligation Cell.

Asphalt 9 ran easily and offered a good expertise. Nonetheless, simply because a recreation fills the entire display screen doesn’t imply it’s any simpler or higher to play than on a normal ‘sweet bar’ display screen. Non-optimised video games would possibly alter to the facet ratio however present lower than they do on a taller display screen.

Apart from this, the Pixel Fold will get noticeably heat even when working less-demanding duties. Use the digicam app for some time, maybe to file video or a long-exposure evening sky photograph and it rapidly heats up.

That by no means precipitated different points, similar to any perceptible throttling, however it’s not what you’d count on from such a premium machine.

Speaking of being a premium machine, it has premium haptics. They’re refined and really feel very pure. You’ll be able to alter the power for various issues similar to incoming calls, notifications, alarms and normal contact suggestions.

I discovered the Fold was nice for telephone calls, with the ability to clearly hear the caller utilizing each the earpiece and audio system.

As you’d count on, it has succesful Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth, ultra-wideband and NFC. There’s a single nano-SIM tray however you should use the eSIM for a second quantity. It helps 5G mmWave and Sub 6GHz.

Cameras

• 48Mp f/1.7 broad
• 10.8Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
• 10.8Mp f/3.05 5x telephoto
• 9.5Mp f/2.2 entrance digicam
• 8Mp f/2.0 entrance digicam

You’d assume that Google would have copied and pasted the cameras from the Pixel 7 Professional, however no. All three sensors on the rear have completely different resolutions (all decrease, surprisingly) and the entrance digicam has an uncommon 9.5Mp rely.

Not that it issues: these are nice cameras which ship very pleasing photographs – and movies – within the majority of conditions. Images from essential rear digicam are sharp, properly uncovered and have good dynamic vary. Right here’s a variety:

There’s a 2x mode within the digicam app, however that is finished in software program so hit the ‘5’ for the telephoto lens. Each the ultrawide and telephoto lenses can produce handsome photographs, however the latter wants loads of mild to carry out at its greatest.

Right here’s some from the ultrawide:

And a variety from the 5x telephoto:

Low-light efficiency isn’t superb: noise creeps into photographs greater than you’d need. Plus, the Fold’s macro capabilities are nothing particular.

I’d say the identical in regards to the portrait mode on all cameras: it’s not the very best round. Listed below are quite a lot of photographs from the selfie digicam:

Luckily, Google’s software program magic makes this a fantastic telephone for pictures and most of the people gained’t discover or care in regards to the drawbacks. You’ll be able to erase objects from photographs, unblur them, decide the very best shot from a burst sequence and all that different Pixel-y great things.

It’s a great telephone for video, significantly due to the wonderful stabilisation. You’ll be able to shoot at as much as 4K/60fps. Slo-mo is price highlighting as properly, being simply accessible inside the primary video mode and producing excellent outcomes.

The opposite bonus of a folding telephone like that is that you should use the entrance display screen as a viewfinder to take better-quality selfies utilizing the rear cameras.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Battery life & charging

• 30W quick charging
• 7.5W wi-fi charging
• No adapter in field

The Pixel Fold makes use of a pair of batteries that add as much as round 4800mAh so many common telephones have greater cells. Google says that’s sufficient to final past 24 hours, which is true. However it’s not true day-after-day.

I used the Fold for over per week earlier than scripting this overview and whereas the intelligent Adaptive Battery might not have had sufficient time to correctly kick in, my mileage diversified so much.

In my estimation I used the Fold for about the identical period of time every day – give or take – and did mainly the identical issues, utilizing a mixture of the outer and interior screens to browse, play video games, take photographs, use social media: the same old.

A few of these days ended with snug ranges – round 20-25% – however on others, it didn’t even make it to bedtime without having a recharge. Conversely, one other day, there was nearly 40% left which lasted till after lunch the next day.

Weirdly, Google hasn’t caught up with the form of quick charging different telephone makers now provide and it’s laborious to name the Fold a fast-charging telephone. Google doesn’t embody a charger within the field, however in case you have one that may output 30W, the Fold will take it.

Utilizing a 61W Ravpower charger I needed to hand, the fold charged from empty to 14% in quarter-hour and was as much as 28% at half-hour: good and linear but additionally very gradual.

Wi-fi charging is feasible on the bog-standard 7.5W utilizing any Qi-compatible charger. At the very least it’s there, not like the Honor Magic Vs

Value & availability

The 256GB model prices $1,799 from Google within the US, and £1,749 within the UK. There’s additionally a 512GB mannequin which prices $1,919/£1,869. When you pre-order one, you’ll get a free Pixel Watch.

You may get the black mannequin proven right here (Obsidian), or some time (Porcelain) model that’s unique to Google and is accessible solely with 256GB of storage. When you get the Fold from anyplace else, it’ll be a black one.

These are precisely the identical costs that Samsung prices for the Z Fold 4 within the US. Within the UK, costs are cheaper: it was £1,649 for a 256GB Z Fold 4.

And when you’re within the US, these are actually your solely selections. Outdoors of the US there’s a wider vary: see our roundup of the very best foldable telephones for extra options.

Verdict

My opinion of the Pixel Fold has modified so much over per week. I stay to be satisfied that this sort of folding telephone is one thing the world wants. However even whether it is, the Pixel Fold is so costly it’s merely a curiosity for most individuals.

Software program wants to enhance, too. It’s the basic chicken-and-egg situation the place builders gained’t optimise their apps for such a distinct segment machine till it turns into extra well-liked, however punters might be cautious about shopping for them till the apps work correctly.

The opposite massive downside is the heft. It’s a marvel of engineering, however it’s nonetheless a chunky, heavy machine that makes your hand ache after holding it for some time.

Finally, it is a first-generation machine and when you can afford it and really need it, you’ll most likely adore it to bits. Everybody else ought to follow a daily telephone – maybe a Pixel 7 Professional – and swap to an iPad, laptop computer or TV once you desire a greater display screen.

Specs

• 5.8in FHD+ 120Hz LTPO OLED
• 7.6in 2208 x 1840 120Hz LTPO OLED
• Google Tensor G2 chipset
• 12GB RAM
• 128/256GB non-expandable UFS 3.1 storage
• 4800mAh battery
• 30W wired charging
• Wi-fi charging
• 48Mp f/1.7 essential digicam
• 10.8Mp f/2.2 ultrawide digicam.
• 10.8Mp f/3.05 5x telephoto digicam
• 9.5Mp f/2.2 entrance digicam
• 8Mp f/2 interior digicam
• 5G
• Wi-Fi 6E
• Bluetooth 5.2
• IPX8
• Gorilla Glass Victus (entrance and rear)
• 140mm x 79.5mm x 12.1mm (5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5in)
• 284g / 10oz