Is this the Pixel 9 Pro’s moment to shine? The Pixel 9 Professional Fold finally delivers on the promise of a versatile, high-end smartphone.

I’ll pay the highest praise to the Google Pixel 9 Professional, or as we’ve come to know it, the Pixel Fold – it’s so seamless and intuitive that I forgot I was even using a foldable phone while I was using it.

Doesn’t quite resonate as authentic flattery. The key advantage lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate with the expansive interior display screen. Effectively, form of. What’s touted as the revolutionary feature of foldable cellphones is their ability to seamlessly transform from a compact, palm-sized device into an expansive digital canvas, providing ample display space at your fingertips, and then discreetly return to its compact form when not in use. Each foldable device I’ve used has consistently fulfilled its core promise. Huge display screen? We did it, Joe. The lack of small-screen expertise has not been kind.

As I lay in bed, the phone’s exterior glow still visible despite the dimmed room, I found myself mindlessly swiping through Duolingo challenges to preserve my daily streak – only to realize that this ritual had become eerily routine.

I’m familiar with using Samsung’s Z Fold or the. The Pixel Fold’s unwieldy size is constantly reinforced by its utilitarian design, leaving you with the nagging sense that it’s still too long and slender to truly evoke the feel of a traditional smartphone – and its hefty weight only exacerbates this issue, making it feel as though you’re grasping two phones simultaneously.

This innovative foldable design stands out significantly from others due to its unique construction methodology. Crafted with a similar design aesthetic to the iconic original, this innovative book-style foldable has earned a special place in my heart since the moment I laid hands on it. Initially, the Pixel Fold presented an unconventional form factor, resembling a passport in shape, featuring a wider and shorter canvas-like display distinct from traditional smartphone designs. The newly released Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 6.3-inch outer display screen, designed similarly to its predecessor’s. Notably, the newer Fold is significantly slimmer and lighter in design, making it an enjoyable device to hold without feeling like you’re grasping a cumbersome object.

The moment I grasped the sleek, brand-new Fold in my hand, I knew we were off to a great start. While it may seem that the new cellphone is just a minor iteration of the primary Pixel Fold, its design and features suggest otherwise – it appears to be a genuinely distinct device. Despite repeated use over the past few days, the impression remains unchanged; I wouldn’t venture so far as to liken it to lugging around an ancient brick of a cellphone. Stashed awkwardly in the side pocket of my yoga pants or crammed into a tiny exterior compartment of my backpack, it’s somehow still manageable. It’s simply not cumbersome.

Despite its many strengths, the Pixel Fold still necessitates a few sacrifices. At $1,799, this price tag is certainly steep. While the cameras are respectable, they still trail behind those found in the Pixel 9 Professional and Professional XL. Long-term durability remains a lingering concern, and you don’t just get a folding phone repaired with the same ease as a traditional smartphone. While foldable devices have made significant strides, they still require further refinement before they’re truly ready for widespread adoption.

I have a lot of further testing to conduct. While hardware is notoriously challenging, this particular equipment stands out for its quality.