Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review

Design

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold arrives as a premium foldable device, constructed with dimensions of 155.2 mm in height, 150.2 mm in width, and a slim 5.1 mm depth when unfolded, while weighing 257 grams. It is available in Obsidian and Porcelain color options. The foldable design incorporates an Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) for the inner display and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the outer screen, providing durability and a premium feel. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor adds to the device's secure and convenient unlocking methods.

Display

The device boasts a foldable 8-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels, yielding a pixel density of 373 ppi. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and is capable of reaching 1600 nits in high brightness mode (HBM) and 2700 nits at peak brightness. It also features a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 6.3-inch cover OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and 421 ppi. This cover display also supports 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10, with a peak brightness of 2700 cd/m². Both displays feature Always-On Display, DCI-P3 color gamut support and scratch resistance. The interior folding display has a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Performance

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by the Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) chipset, which includes an octa-core CPU featuring a 3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 core, three 2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 cores, and four 1.92 GHz Cortex-A520 cores. The graphics are handled by a Mali-G715 MC7 GPU, with a frequency of 940 MHz. The device comes with 16GB of RAM (LPDDR5X) and storage options of 256GB or 512GB (UFS Storage 4.0), without expandable storage via SD slot. It achieves an AnTuTu v10 score of 1,140,000. The phone also includes a cooling system to manage thermal performance under heavy load.

Camera

The rear camera setup includes a 48MP standard lens with f/1.7 aperture, a 10.5MP wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with f/3.0 aperture. The telephoto lens utilizes a Samsung S5K3J1 sensor, featuring a 1/2.65" sensor size and 1.22µm pixel size. A 10MP selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture is included on the front of the device. The camera system is equipped with features such as LED flash, optical image stabilization (OIS), electronic image stabilization (EIS), laser autofocus (LAF), phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and contrast detection autofocus (CDAF). Video recording capabilities include 4K at up to 60fps and 1080p at up to 240fps, all with HDR and OIS/EIS.

Battery Life

The device features a 4650 mAh Li-Polymer battery that is non-removable. It supports 27W fast charging via the USB Type-C port and 7.5W wireless charging. The battery is designed to power the device through a full day of typical use.

Software

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold operates on Android 14, with an upgrade path to Android 21. The device benefits from Google's software ecosystem and is expected to receive timely updates.

Pricing

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold falls into the high price range. The 16GB/512GB variant is priced at approximately $1,799 - $2,275, while the 16GB/256GB version will likely have a lower price point.

Overall Verdict

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a compelling combination of cutting-edge display technology, a powerful Tensor G4 chipset, and a versatile camera system. Its foldable design and premium build provide a unique user experience. While its pricing places it in the higher end of the market, it caters to users seeking top-tier performance, innovative features, and the flexibility of a foldable device. Its robust connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E and 5G capabilities, ensure the device remains at the forefront of mobile technology. The device's strengths are its high-quality displays, strong performance, and innovative design.