Hands On: Google’s $1,799 Pixel Fold Is Finally Here to Take on Samsung
The Pixel Fold is Google’s first folding phone. Does it have what it takes to dethrone the Galaxy Z Fold 4? We got our hands on one and have some first impressions.
By Eric Zeman
After months of rumors and teasers, Google fully unveiled the Pixel Fold, its first folding phone, during its I/O developer conference keynote in Mountain View. The Fold faces unique headwinds the company’s other phones don’t: It’s expensive. With a starting price of $1,799, it’s twice the cost of the Pixel 7 Pro and more than three times the cost of the Pixel 7a. That said, it’s the same price as the current champion of folding phones, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. Will buyers take a chance on it? Based on what we’ve seen of the phone so far, there’s plenty to like.
The Pixel Fold Takes Shape
If there’s one thing that stands out about the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it’s the narrow shape the phone takes when closed. The tall, skinny silhouette makes the outer display less functional than that of a standard smartphone and it’s particularly difficult to type on. Google doesn’t want that for its folding phone, so it gives the Pixel Fold a shorter, wider stance. This provides the outer screen with more space to breathe and leads to a better experience when the device is folded shut.
The phone measures 5.5 by 3.1 by 0.5 inches (HWD) when folded and 5.5 by 6.2 by 0.2 inches when unfolded. It weighs 10 ounces, which is significant for a phone but certainly not as much as a tablet. It didn’t feel overly heavy when I used it for a short while and it was more comfortable to store in my jeans pocket than the taller, thicker Galaxy Z Fold 4 (6.11 by 2.64 by 0.62 inches, 9.28 ounces).
Google takes a completely different approach to designing the hinge, which features moving parts at the top and bottom, but not in between. This is what allows it to make the phone thinner than the Z Fold 4 while maintaining rigidity and strength. Google says it’s made from multi-alloy steel and features a custom dual-axis quad-cam synchronization mechanism across its 180 degrees of motion. It’ll hold whatever position you set it at, for example, allowing it to serve as a miniature laptop.
The phone clearly resembles others in the Pixel line, such as the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro. A distinctive camera bar runs across the back, covered in a metallic band. Google offers the Fold in two colors: Obsidian or Porcelain. The company has long favored black-and-white colorways and isn’t straying here. The matte finishes stand out.
The Pixel Fold is made from top materials. It’s got an aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus front and back. That should help it survive drops and prevent scratching. Google says the phone meets the IPX8 rating, which means it is not protected from dust but it is fully submersible in water. This is on par with the Galaxy Fold and most flagship smartphones.
In terms of the overall shape and hand feel, I like what Google’s done here. It’s a refreshing change that works well.
Double the Display
Of course, the most significant benefit of a folding phone is the larger internal display. The Pixel Fold’s inner screen measures 7.6 inches across the diagonal in a 6:5 aspect ratio. It packs 2,208 by 1,840 pixels, making for a pixel density of 380ppi. It’s composed of ultra-thin glass and includes a protective plastic layer on top. Google says it has up to a 120Hz refresh rate with 1,000 nits (typ) and 1,450 nits (peak) brightness. The contrast ratio is 1,000,000:1 and it supports HDR and 24-bit color.
It looks great in person. The plastic layer creates a bit of a glossy effect, but it’s otherwise an impressive screen. Watching YouTube videos on the larger display is particularly enjoyable.
The outer screen is good, too. It measures 5.8 inches and includes 2,092 by 1,080 pixels at a density of 408ppi. It has a 17.4:9 aspect ratio, which is a bit shorter than the 20:9 ratio most traditional phones adopt. It’s brighter than the internal screen at 1,200 nits (typ) and 1,550 nits (peak) brightness, but it features the same contrast ratio and HDR support.
What I really like is the Always On Display, which Google does better than any other phone maker. The At A Glance details and Now Playing feature are definitely a benefit to owning a Pixel phone.
A Full Camera Package
The Fold wouldn’t be a Pixel if it didn’t include a capable set of cameras. More important than the hardware is Google’s software, which enables all sorts of fun stuff.
The main camera has a 48MP sensor at f/1.7. It bins down by four to create 12MP final images and includes optical image stabilization and an 82-degree field of view. It is joined by a 10.8MP ultra-wide camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and a 121-degree field of view, as well as a 10.8MP telephoto camera with an aperture of f/3.05 and a 22-degree field of view. It can handle Super Res Zoom up to 20x, which is far better than what’s available on the iPhone.
There are two user-facing cameras, one on the inside and one on the outside. The internal camera, which is located in the bezel above the right panel, captures 8MP images at f/2. It has an 84-degree field of view. The external selfie camera has a 9.5MP sensor at f/2.2 and also an 84-degree field of view. It’s really cool that you can set the phone up like a laptop and use it for video chats that way.
Photo features include Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Panorama, Portrait Mode, Astrophotography, and much more. These are great tools, particularly the ability to remove background items.
On the video front, the camera can shoot 1080p/4K video at 30 or 60fps. Video features include slow motion at 240fps, Cinematic Pan, and Astrophotography Timelapse.
We didn’t get to asses these features in our quick time with the phone, but if they’re anything like they are on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, they’re among the best camera phone features currently available.
What’s Inside the Pixel Fold?
You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that the power behind the Pixel Fold is the same as the Pixel 7a, 7, and 7 Pro. That means the Google-designed Tensor G2 processor. Google’s second-generation chip isn’t a barnstormer in terms of sheer performance, but it is highly tuned to do what Google wants it to do, which is to assist with AI tasks like language processing.
The G2 also includes the Titan M2 security coprocessor, which stores things like biometric data and logins in an encrypted space. Speaking of biometrics, a fingerprint scanner is built into the power button on the side of the phone. The Pixel Fold also supports face unlock via the user-facing camera.
The phone includes 12GB of RAM, which is a hefty amount that will surely help performance. It’s being offered with either 256GB or 512GB of storage.
On the battery front, the Pixel Fold packs a 4,800mAh cell. Google claims it delivers “beyond 24-hour battery life,” though we’re somewhat dubious about that; we’ll be sure to put it to the test when we get the phone in for review. The battery supports 30W rapid charging, though the phone doesn’t ship with a 30W charger in the box. On the plus side, the Fold also charges wirelessly.
Google doesn’t spare any expenses with respect to the connectivity package. The phone includes Wi-Fi 6E (including 6GHz) with support for MIMO. Bluetooth 5.2 is on board for connecting to accessories such as wireless headphones and smartwatches. NFC is present, as well.
The Pixel Fold supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G, and includes most mid-band spectrum. It should work well on AT&T, Google Fi, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the US. You’ll find a slot for the physical SIM on the phone’s side edge, though the phone also includes an embedded eSIM.
Android 14 Meets the Pixel Fold
The phone will ship with Android 14, according to Google, and with it some extra features. Google worked hard to ensure that apps and experiences on the outer display seamlessly transition to the inner display where you open the phone. As someone who’s used a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 for the better part of a year, this is something I was worried about. From my brief time with the phone, however, it seems like Google has really nailed this down.
The Fold will receive five years of security updates, which is good news, but Google didn’t commit to a number of OS upgrades. It typically offers three upgrades for its devices, so that’s likely to be the case here.
As for availability, the phone goes on sale next month and you can preorder it starting today. The cost? A hefty $1,799, the same as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Google did not say anything about discounts or trade-ins, but those who preorder the phone will receive a free Pixel Watch.
Although Google is relatively late to the folding phone game, so far the Pixel Fold looks like a promising new entry. We look forward to testing the phone as soon as we can, so make sure to check back soon for a full review.
Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com.
