How Google’s foldables stack up

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  Pixel 9 Professional Fold

  A extra refined providing

  The Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold aims to build upon the original Pixel Fold’s strengths with a thinner, lighter design, the powerful Tensor G4 processor, and an even more fluid hinge mechanism.

  • Improved hinge
  • Higher total build-quality
  • Sleeker trying

  • Nonetheless an expensive smartphone
  • Nonetheless has a visual crease
  • The photographer wouldn’t necessarily have had the same digital camera setup, as the Pixel 9 Professional is a smartphone that offers exceptional camera capabilities.

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  Pixel Fold

  Google’s first foldable

  Google’s inaugural foray into the foldable market yields a robust device hamstrung by software limitations and minor construction issues.

  • An excellent first foldable
  • The cowl show is a superb measure.
  • Nice digital camera outcomes

  • The software’s performance and build quality are lacking.
  • It is costly
  • Middling battery life

At its latest hardware unveiling, Google’s flagship brand introduced its second-generation take on the foldable smartphone concept, dubbed the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The latest innovation surpasses its predecessor’s innovative features, debuting at a staggering price of $1,700 for early adopters willing to pre-order.

Google’s latest innovative device, a pocketable pill, may not have an official marketing campaign due to the introduction of the Pixel Fold 2, yet it effectively serves as its successor. Let’s scrutinize each generation of Google foldables to pinpoint exactly where the company has refined its offerings this year.

Value, specs, and availability

All the basics

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to retail for $1,799, with a planned launch date in September 2024. Equipped with the cutting-edge Tensor G4 processor and a generous 16GB of RAM. The distinctive Pixel Fold, in contrast, debuted in May 2023, relying on the earlier Tensor G2 processor and 12 gigabytes of memory.

Folding smartphones were initially released at a comparable price point, with the base models offering 256GB of internal storage. IPX8 water resistance, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, and satellite connectivity are currently trending features in each new fashion release; only the latest Pixel 9 Pro Fold model boasts the innovative Satellite SOS assistance capability.

• Model	Google	Google
  SoC	The Tensor G4, coupled with a Titan M2 safety processor, significantly enhances overall system reliability and security.	Google Tensor G2
  Show	The display features a stunning internal resolution of 2076×2152 pixels on its OLED screen, boasting an exceptional 373 pixels per inch. The exterior display also leverages OLED technology, presenting a crisp 1080×2424 pixel resolution at a remarkable 422 PPI. HDR capabilities bring forth vibrant visuals with a peak brightness of 1800 nits, while the peak brightness itself reaches an astonishing 2700 nits.	The dual-OLED displays boast a 5.8-inch cowl with a 2092 x 1080 resolution at 120Hz refresh rate and a 6.7-inch predominant display featuring an under-the-glass (UTG) OLED panel, running at 2208 x 1840 resolution and 120Hz.
  Battery	4650 mAh	Boasting a substantial 4821mAh battery capacity, this device features rapid 30W quick charging capabilities and supports wireless connectivity through Wi-Fi.
  Working System	Android 14	Android
  Entrance digital camera	Two 10-megapixel cameras, one with a wide-aperture f/2.2 lens and the other an interior-facing sensor?	Two cameras: 9.5 megapixels with a f/2.2 aperture (primary), and 8 megapixels with a f/2.0 aperture (secondary).
  Rear digital camera	The triple-camera setup features a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens with an f/3.1 aperture.	The triple-camera setup boasts a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an aperture of f/1.7, complemented by a 10.8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/2.2, and a third 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens featuring an aperture of f/3.05.
  Dimensions	Dimensions (unfolded): 6.1 inches height × 5.9 inches width × 0.2 inches depth; Dimensions (folded): 15.2 inches height × 7.7 inches width × 10.5 inches depth	6.87 inches x 3.13 inches x 0.48 inch (folded), 5.49 inches x 6.23 inches x 0.23 inch (unfolded), approximately 9.95 ounces
  Colours	Obsidian, procelain	Obsidian, Porcelain
  Weight	9.1oz (257g)	283g

Design and construct

Why does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s hardware make the unique Pixel Fold seem like a beta launch?

As a book-style foldable telephone within the broader Pixel 9 series, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold proves to be and feel the epitome of its class. The Pixel’s distinct design language remains consistent throughout this device, mirroring the original Pixel Fold in most aspects, with no discernible deviations.

As with the latest Pixel 9 handsets, the device boasts a distinctively angular design and a significantly sharper build compared to previous iterations. The Pixel camera array maintains its distinctive appearance, but the lenses are cleverly divided into two rectangular sections, defying traditional linear layouts.

The Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold is now available in sleek Obsidian and sophisticated Porcelain colour options, mirroring the stylish hues introduced with the original Pixel Fold model. Unfortunately, the vibrant Pixel colors such as Bay Blue and Coral Pink are currently unavailable for selection.

Show

Google’s latest foldable device boasts a notable enhancement in brightness compared to its predecessors.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s internal and external displays share similarities with those of its predecessor, the unique Pixel Fold, in terms of technical specifications. The interior OLED display boasts a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels, while the exterior OLED features a high-definition display of 1080 x 2424 pixels. The new design boasts distinctively divergent panel resolutions compared to its predecessor, featuring an interior display resolution of 1840 x 2208 and a cover display resolution of 1080 x 2092. Pixel density remains relatively consistent across devices.

Google cites a peak brightness of approximately 2700 nits for its latest display, a significant increase from the previous model’s maximum of 1450 nits. This may be the most striking alteration when compared directly.

Without even powering on the display, a striking difference immediately catches the eye: the drastically reduced screen bezel size. While the original Pixel Fold had noticeable bezels compared to other foldables, the newly introduced slimmer designs represent a significant improvement in both aesthetics and screen-to-body ratio.

Internals

Google unveils its latest Tensor G4 processor alongside the sleek Pixel 9 Professional Fold?

For a premium price tag of $1,799, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold boasts an impressive array of specs, including 256GB of internal storage, 16GB of RAM, and the latest Google Tensor G4 processor – the same cutting-edge chip that powers other new Pixel 9 models. Last year’s Pixel Fold ran on the previous-generation Tensor G2 processor, coupled with 12 gigabytes of RAM.

To accurately gauge its performance, we’ll need to test the G4 in real-world scenarios as well as simulated benchmarks, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of its upgrade over last year’s chip. Unfortunately, from a raw hardware standpoint, it seems that Google’s processor may be aggressively lagging behind its formidable rivals from both Apple and other tech giants.

Cameras

Although boasting a ‘professional’ moniker, the digital camera hardware still lags behind the company’s flagship smartphone offerings.

The Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold features a triple rear camera configuration, mirroring that of its predecessor, the original Pixel Fold. Here: Particularly, we’re gaining a comprehensive triple-camera setup comprising a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto module, all of which are identical to the hardware specifications featured in last year’s model.

Despite its novel design, the Pixel Fold remains underwhelming due to Google’s decision to reserve its flagship camera hardware for the Pixel 9 Pro and slab-style phones instead of including it in this device. While internal constraints may be a contributing factor, the actual asking value remains significantly below optimal levels.

Is the Pixel 9 Pro’s foldable design a game-changer for Google’s flagship phone series, or just a incremental upgrade from last year’s Pixel Fold?

Worth proposition

While the Pixel 9 Professional Fold starts at a substantial $1,799, its premium price tag reflects the cutting-edge technology and innovative design that sets it apart from more affordable options? While the price of the Pixel Fold hasn’t increased compared to last year’s model, it also hasn’t dropped at all?

For foldable Android phones to truly gain traction, it’s crucial that prices plummet significantly. As Google’s sophomore foray into foldable technology, the company appears to be prioritizing refinement and premium user experience upgrades over its inaugural Pixel Fold release.

As Google gains momentum in the foldable market, prices are likely to decline steadily. In the interim, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold appears as a significant improvement over its predecessor, exuding an air of physical refinement that surpasses Google’s initial attempt.