Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Overview: This Folding Telephone Is A Winner

	Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold – MSRP $1799, Sale Value $1499 The Pixel 9 Professional Fold delivers all of the Google software program goodness wrapped in a number of the best folding {hardware}, making it among the finest book-style folding telephones accessible within the US.
	Customary 20:9 kind issue Premium, skinny and light-weight design Lovely shows Glorious cameras Excellent software program Sharp, vibrant show with 120Hz refresh ×Quick 80W charging and included plug ×Glorious efficiency with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ×Alert slider is again	Final yr’s SoC efficiency Downgraded shooters vs. Pixel 9 Professional/Professional XL Sluggish charging speeds, no charger within the field Off-center wi-fi charging coil No pen assist

Then, in October 2023 got here the wonderful OnePlus Open ($1699, presently $1299), which some would argue stole the book-style folding telephone torch from Samsung, and gave the US market a glimpse into the superior folding {hardware} and software program extensively accessible in China. We anticipated Samsung to step up its sport, however when the Galaxy Z Fold6 ($1899) arrived in July 2024, it was considerably disappointing with solely minor revisions to the identical ol’ Samsung components.

Evidently, when Google introduced the Pixel 9 Professional Fold ($1799, presently $1499), we had excessive hopes. We’ve been utilizing the second technology Pixel Fold for a few months now. So, how does this new book-style folding telephone stack up towards the mighty OnePlus Open? Is it higher than Samsung’s Z Fold6? Is Google’s new Tensor G4 chip a handicap? Are the cameras nonetheless Pixel worthy? Let’s discover out in our full assessment.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold {Hardware} And Design

As an alternative of retaining final yr’s passport-like kind issue – or copying the Galaxy Z Fold6’s tall and slim design – Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold adopts the OnePlus Open’s wonderful kind issue, with a 6.3-inch outer show and commonplace 20:9 facet ratio. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is 3.8mm wider and 1.8mm taller than the OnePlus Open, it is also thinner, each when closed (10.5 vs. 11.7mm) and when open (5.1 vs. 5.8mm).

Digital camera pod apart, the design of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is similar to the OnePlus Open’s, and simply as refined. We like how the outer display and glass again are inlaid into the steel body with completely matching nook radii. However, in contrast to the OnePlus Open, the symmetry is disrupted by the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s steel body, which is thicker close to the hinge than across the edges. This accounts for the telephone’s further width, and certain some added sturdiness.

As such, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold seems and feels premium and sturdy, in contrast to the unique Pixel Fold, which, in our opinion felt, extra like a prototype gadget. And whereas it’s heavier than the OnePlus Open (257 vs. 239g), it gives higher water resistance (IPX8 vs. IPX4). The interior show can be barely bigger at 8 inches (vs. 7.82-inch). Pixel 9 Professional Fold colorways embrace Obsidian (black, like our assessment unit) and Porcelain (off-white), each with a matte glass again.

The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s digicam bump is fascinating. As an alternative of being round just like the OnePlus Open’s, or pill-shaped like the remainder of the Pixel 9 household’s “visor”, it’s principally two horizontally stacked “visors” melded collectively right into a rounded rectangle. On the highest row you’ll discover the laser AF sensor, 48MP essential shooter, and an LED flash, whereas the underside row is residence to the ten.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x periscope telephoto, and a pair mics.

Open the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, and also you’ll discover the amount rocker and energy / lock key (which doubles as a capacitive fingerprint sensor) on the correct aspect. The USB Kind-C port, nano SIM tray, a speaker, and a pair of mics are situated alongside the underside edge, whereas the mmWave antenna window, one other speaker, and a 3rd mic are mounted on high. Curiously, there are not any buttons or openings on the left aspect, simply antenna bands.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Specs And Options

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Show High quality

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s packs two stunning shows. Each ship vibrant colours, deep blacks, and wonderful viewing angles. On the within, there’s a 8-inch 2k folding LTPO OLED panel (2152 x 2076 pixels, 373ppi, HDR10+) with an virtually sq. 1:1 facet ratio and 120Hz adaptive refresh fee. Fortunately, the crease on this new display is considerably much less pronounced than it was on final yr’s Pixel Fold. It’s additionally much less reflective.

The outer show is a 6.3-inch FHD+ OLED panel (2424 x 1080 pixels, 422ppi, HDR10+) with a normal 20:9 facet ratio and 120Hz refresh fee. However, as an alternative of utilizing an LTPO outer display just like the OnePlus Open and Galaxy Z Fold6, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold shares its LTPS cowl panel with the bottom Pixel 9. Regardless of the spec variations, each shows are pleasantly very vibrant (2700 nits peak), making them simple to learn in direct daylight. Each screens have skinny, uniform bezels throughout, together with punch holes for the 2 10MP selfie cameras, that are positioned high middle for the outer panel, and high proper for the interior show, like on the OnePlus Open.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Digital camera Efficiency And Picture High quality

Across the again, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold packs a 48MP f/1.7 0.8-micron essential shooter with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a ten.5MP f/2.2 1.22-micron 127-degree ultrawide with PDAF, and a ten.8MP f/3.1 1.22-micron 5x telephoto with PDAF and OIS. The interior and outer selfie cameras are equivalent, and include a 10MP sensor with a f/2.2 lens. So, in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional/Professional XL, the 9 Professional Fold will get smaller sensors with smaller pixels.

Clearly, the 48MP essential shooter advantages from pixel binning, which outputs 12MP photographs by combining teams of 4 pixels into one bigger pixel. This improves dynamic vary, low-light efficiency, and helps with magnification as much as 5x. However in contrast to the Pixel 9 Professional/Professional XL, binning isn’t potential with the Fold’s 10.5MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto, leading to barely decrease high quality photographs in decreased mild and when zooming past 10x.

In all, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold takes beautiful footage (and selfies) in most circumstances, with excellent element, correct publicity, and pure colours. Dynamic vary is respectable, and low-light efficiency stays strong regardless that night time mode kicks in sooner. Zoom high quality is great contemplating the 5x periscope telephoto’s small sensor. 10x outcomes look nice, and even 20x pictures are nonetheless usable because of Google’s Tremendous Res Zoom algorithm.

As you’d anticipate, this handset gives a bunch of capturing modes, together with portrait, night time (referred to as Evening Sight), professional (handbook), panorama, lengthy publicity, astrophotography, and Add Me (which mixes two photographs to incorporate the photographer in a bunch shot). Evening mode and professional mode assist all 5 shooters, which is sweet, however the Fold lacks the Motion Pan (movement blur) and 48MP (essential digicam) modes discovered on the Pixel 9 Professional/Professional XL.

As for video recording, all 5 shooters seize stabilized video (with stereo audio) at as much as 4k/1080p 60fps. Video modes include night time (essential solely, 4k/1080p 30fps), HDR (4k/1080p 30fps), sluggish movement (essential solely, 1080p 240fps/480fps), time lapse (4k/1080p 30fps), and cinematic Pan (rear solely, 4k/1080p 60fps). The cinematic Blur (portrait video) and 8k modes accessible on the Pixel 9 Professional/Professional XL are additionally lacking from the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.

Movies captured with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold are aggressive total, however exhibit barely extra noise than different Android flagships. Then once more, solely the highest handsets from Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi can rival the iPhone in the case of video recording efficiency.

Subsequent up: audio, benchmark efficiency, and battery life…