Google Pixel Fold review

Trade in Google Pixel Fold

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At long last, the Google Pixel Fold has made its entrance into the foldable phone arena, a domain previously dominated by Samsung. However, this isn’t just another addition to the lineup. The Pixel Fold distinguishes itself with a spacious front display that’s user-friendly, boasts the thinnest design among foldables, and, naturally, features Pixel-grade cameras.

After putting the Pixel Fold through its paces, I must admit it’s the first foldable phone I can envision myself using daily. Google has truly excelled in the software department here. The split-screen multitasking feels intuitive, and while there’s a decent selection of apps optimized for the Fold’s expansive 7.6-inch internal display, more would be welcomed.

Furthermore, both performance and battery life on the Pixel Fold are commendable. However, there’s no denying the hefty $1,799 price tag, akin to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Yet, if you manage to snag it on sale, it becomes a much more enticing proposition. Admittedly, there are some trade-offs, such as the noticeable bezels, but as detailed in my Google Pixel Fold review, Google has made a grand entrance into the foldable phone realm.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

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The Google Pixel Fold is set to hit the shelves via wireless carriers starting June 27, and you can also place orders through Google and various retailers like Best Buy. However, be prepared for the starting price, which is a hefty $1,799 for the 256GB storage variant, and $1,919 for the 512GB model.

The silver lining is the availability of some incredibly enticing deals for the Pixel Fold. For instance, AT&T is rolling out an offer where you can snag the Pixel Fold for just $900 with a 3-year contract commitment. Similarly, Verizon is extending a $900 discount with a qualifying trade-in of your current phone. Keep an eye on our Pixel Fold deals page for the most up-to-date discounts and promotions.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW UPDATES

• February 15: The Google Pixel Fold is often on sale for as little as $1,399, which is $400 off the original price. That makes it a much better value.
• December 6: A Google Pixel Fold software update allows you to force any app into full-screen mode on the inner display, including Instagram and others.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: SPECS

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: DESIGN

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The Google Pixel Fold serves as a direct challenge to Samsung, showcasing a new approach to crafting foldable phones. The journey begins with a front 5.8-inch display that offers a more natural experience compared to the cramped and narrow cover panel on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Its wider aspect ratio contributes to improved usability for apps and typing on the front panel. It’s essential to note that this isn’t merely a preview display — it functions as a fully-fledged second display.

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Another noteworthy advantage of the Pixel Fold is its remarkable thinness when unfolded, measuring just 0.2 inches thick, as opposed to the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 0.25 inches. When utilizing the expansive 7.6-inch display for activities like watching videos or using Gmail, the device felt comfortably manageable. However, at 10 ounces, this handset is quite hefty compared to the Z Fold 4, which weighs in at 9.28 ounces. While Google’s phone can fit in a shirt pocket, its weight may be noticeable and potentially burdensome.

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The most prominent visual drawback of the Pixel Fold lies in its relatively thick bezels surrounding the internal display, giving an impression of a throwback amidst its otherwise futuristic design. However, once engrossed in content, the bezels become less noticeable. Additionally, a noticeable crease is present, particularly evident under direct sunlight, although it appears more subtle indoors. Nevertheless, you may feel it when gliding your finger across the display.

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Google deserves credit for the Pixel Fold’s fluid-friction hinge, which operates smoothly without any noticeable creaking sounds commonly experienced with Galaxy Fold phones. Moreover, when the phone is closed, there’s no gap for debris to enter, and Google claims this hinge to be the most durable available on a foldable device, although time will tell about the validity of this claim.

While the Pixel Fold folds out mostly flat, it’s not entirely perfect in this regard, which may be a minor annoyance to some users.

In case of damage to your Pixel Fold, Google is collaborating with iFixit to provide genuine spare parts and repair guides, covering battery, inner, and outer screen replacements.

Update: There have been reports of screen damage on the Google Pixel Fold, including dents and debris getting trapped between the bezel and screen protector. Additionally, bending the phone backwards can lead to it breaking in two, a vulnerability not typically observed in other foldable devices.

Although our unit hasn’t displayed any durability issues yet, we’ll provide further updates after conducting additional testing.

With an IPX8 water resistance rating, the Pixel Fold can withstand submersion in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, but it’s important to note that it’s not waterproof or dustproof.

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The Pixel Fold is offered in two distinct colors: Porcelain and Obsidian. While the Porcelain model offers a more vibrant aesthetic, the black Obsidian model exudes a sleek executive vibe.

However, potential buyers should exercise caution regarding the Pixel Fold’s durability, as there have been reports indicating that the inner display is susceptible to damage.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: DISPLAYS

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The Pixel Fold’s dual OLED displays impress with their excellent quality, providing ample color saturation and wide viewing angles. Both panels boast smooth 120Hz refresh rates, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

I particularly enjoyed watching the Ahsoka trailer, with her wielding her dual lightsabers. The characters and scenery were rendered vividly, and I can certainly envision myself indulging in binge-watching sessions on this panel.

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While the main 7.6-inch screen of the Pixel Fold excels indoors, I do have one complaint: its performance can falter in direct sunlight. During my usage in Central Park on a bright sunny day, I found it challenging at times to discern content on the display. My advice would be to ensure that adaptive brightness is turned on to help mitigate this issue.

According to our testing, the Pixel Fold’s inner display achieved a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 905 nits. Additionally, the outside 5.8-inch display on the Pixel Fold boasts even greater brightness, reaching up to 1,172 nits, which outperforms the Z Fold 4’s 870 nits.

We are currently in the process of retesting the inner display of the Pixel Fold to confirm our initial findings.

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Overall, I found myself preferring to frame photos using the smaller external display on the Pixel Fold when outdoors. However, the inner display is perfectly suitable for watching videos and showcasing photos in the gallery.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: SOFTWARE AND USAGE MODES

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The Pixel Fold streamlines multitasking with its well-designed software interface. With just a quick swipe up, you can access a dock for easy app navigation. Running apps side by side is a breeze — simply drag an app to either side of the screen to enter split-screen mode. From there, you can effortlessly swap sides with a double tap or resize windows by dragging the middle bar. Additionally, a long swipe from the bottom of the screen reveals your app pairs.

The ability to drag content across the display, such as dropping photos into outgoing messages or emails, adds to the user-friendly experience. While some may appreciate Samsung’s always-visible dock, the Pixel Fold’s approach feels clean and intuitive.

Furthermore, the Pixel Fold offers multiple usage modes to cater to various needs. Tent mode is ideal for hands-free video watching, while tabletop mode mimics a laptop setup, providing content at the top and controls at the bottom. I found tabletop mode particularly useful when following along with workouts in the Peloton app.

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I particularly appreciate the tabletop camera mode on the Pixel Fold, as it simplifies hands-free photo capturing without requiring a tripod. During my experience, I utilized this feature to capture a time-lapse video, finding it exceptionally convenient. Additionally, tabletop mode proves useful during video calls. For instance, I engaged in a conversation with my colleague Kate in the top window while simultaneously browsing through email and checking Slack in the bottom window. It’s multitasking at its finest.

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Google has made significant optimizations to many of its own apps to fully leverage the Pixel Fold’s expansive screen, and numerous third-party developers have followed suit. Among these, Gmail stands out with its ability to display the inbox on the left and message content on the right, enhancing productivity. Similarly, TikTok allows for simultaneous viewing of videos and comments side by side, while Spotify offers seamless dual-pane functionality.

However, some apps, like Slack, may feel like stretched-out versions of their phone counterparts. Additionally, certain apps fail to utilize the entire screen real estate, such as Facebook, requiring users to adjust the display orientation to avoid black bars on either side — a hassle that could be alleviated.

One area where Google could improve is providing users with more control over which apps continue to run on the front screen when the Pixel Fold is closed. This feature, akin to Samsung’s implementation and the Motorola Razr+, could be added to settings, allowing users to customize their experience. Currently, only select apps, such as Google Maps and YouTube, along with those playing audio in the background, continue on the cover display.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: CAMERAS

The Pixel Fold remains faithful to the Pixel brand by delivering excellent photo quality. It features a trio of rear cameras comprising a 48MP main sensor, a 10.8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom capability. For selfies, there’s a 9.5MP front-facing camera, while the inner section of the Fold houses an 8MP lens.

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If you’re aiming to add an artistic blur to your shots, give the Time Lapse feature a try. It infuses a sense of movement, as demonstrated in the captivating shot of the small waterfall.

Another noteworthy feature, borrowed from the Galaxy Fold line, is the rear camera selfie mode. This mode allows you to utilize the rear lenses for ultra-sharp self-portraits. Additionally, you can effortlessly capture selfies by simply holding your hand in front of the camera, though enabling the Timer under settings is necessary beforehand.

Overall, the Pixel Fold excels in delivering exceptional image quality and versatility. The gallery showcases a variety of stunning shots captured at Central Park, including close-ups of a daisy fleabane flower, the Angel of the Waters fountain, and twin buildings reflecting in the pond.

In a comparison against some of the best camera phones, the Pixel Fold proves its mettle. For instance, in a shot of the Bryant Park fountain, the Pixel Fold’s exposure impresses with its detailed shadows, outperforming the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Furthermore, the Pixel Fold shines in portrait photography, although the iPhone 14 Pro Max takes the lead in terms of brightness, detail, and contrast. Nevertheless, the Pixel Fold’s portrait offers impressive detail and less background blur compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

While lacking a dedicated macro mode, the Pixel Fold captures stellar close-ups using Portrait mode, although it may not achieve the mesmerizing 3D-like effect seen in Samsung’s macro shots.

In low-light conditions, the Pixel Fold excels, delivering brighter and more detailed images compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Video recording capabilities are equally impressive, with the Pixel Fold capturing colorful 10-Bit HDR footage at up to 4K resolution. However, zooming in can be somewhat jarring.

Lastly, the rear camera selfie mode on the Pixel Fold produces sharp images with even skin tones, thanks to its 48MP sensor, offering a notable advantage over the competition.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

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The Pixel Fold is powered by the same Tensor G2 chip found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, which brings about mostly positive outcomes. However, it’s important to set realistic expectations as the Fold may not surpass the performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5, and certainly not the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Starting with the positives, the Pixel Fold generally offers a responsive and snappy user experience. Whether browsing the web, switching between tabs, or indulging in gaming sessions with titles like Asphalt 9 or Call of Duty Mobile, the device handles tasks with ease. Even during intense gaming moments with multiple on-screen enemies, the action remained fluid without noticeable slowdowns.

While the Pixel Fold generally delivers a smooth user experience, I did encounter some occasional bugginess. For instance, the camera app got stuck in a peculiar vertical aspect ratio on one occasion, necessitating a restart of the app. Additionally, there were instances where the device appeared confused when switching modes, resulting in brief screen stuttering. It’s reasonable to expect that software updates will address these and other issues over time.

In terms of benchmark performance, the Pixel Fold achieved a single-core score of 1,390 and a multi-core score of 3,291 on Geekbench 6. While this isn’t far behind the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which runs on a year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, it falls short compared to newer devices like the Galaxy S23 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, as well as the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Pro Max outperforms the Pixel Fold with even higher scores.

In graphics performance, the Pixel Fold trails behind competing flagships, as evidenced by our 3DMark test results. Similarly, when it comes to video transcoding, the Pixel Fold lags behind the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and iPhone 14 Pro Max by significant margins.

In everyday use, the Pixel Fold proves to be a reliable performer, although it may not match the speed of the fastest smartphones currently available.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING

With its 4,821 mAh battery capacity, the Pixel Fold is equipped to last through most of the day, as observed during my testing. On one particular day, I intermittently used the Pixel Fold from 7 a.m., engaging in activities such as photography, web browsing, and gaming. By 10 p.m., the device still retained 28% of its battery capacity.

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In the Tom’s Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over 5G at 150 nits of screen brightness, the Pixel Fold demonstrated impressive endurance. In 60Hz display mode, it lasted 10 hours and 21 minutes, outperforming the Galaxy Fold’s average of 9 hours and 17 minutes under the same display setting. While the Pixel Fold falls short of devices on our best phone battery life list, which typically last more than 11.5 hours, it’s important to consider that this foldable device has a larger screen to power.

The Google Pixel Fold supports 30W wired charging as well as Qi wireless charging. We will update this review with the charging times once they become available.

GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD REVIEW: VERDICT

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The Google Pixel Fold commands a significant price tag, yet it offers remarkable versatility. Using this amalgamation of a mini tablet and phone, I felt like I was gaining an edge with its myriad capabilities. The seamless operation of running two apps side by side, the sleek dock, and the various usage modes like tabletop and tent mode impressed me.

Despite the noticeable bezels on the inside, the overall design feels robust and refined. The camera system, as per my testing, performed admirably, offering ample creative freedom owing to the foldable’s adaptability. Google deserves praise for optimizing numerous apps for the expansive 7.6-inch panel while ensuring usability on the cover display.

However, the Pixel Fold’s weight is considerable even for a foldable device, and there are prominent apps that struggle with its widescreen display. Moreover, the bezels could be slimmer, and the Tensor G2 chip doesn’t match the speed of some competitors.

In conclusion, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 may have the upper hand with its brighter main display, longer battery life, and optional S Pen support, the Pixel Fold stands out as an impressive foldable phone that could give Samsung reason to be apprehensive.

Source: Tom’s Guide