Pixel 9 Pro Fold one year later: How Google caught up to Samsung in just two generations

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold was one of my favorite gadgets of 2024 to the point where it even landed on our list of the biggest winners of the year. Not only was it a worthy alternative to Samsung’s long-running Galaxy Z Fold phones, its straightforward design once again proved that keeping things simple is often the wisest way to go. It turns out, the best approach to foldable phone design is to make something that’s the same size and shape as a regular handset, but just happens to have a big flexible display hidden inside.However, after using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (which I will refer to as the P9PF for short) for just shy of a year, I wanted to re-review the device to reflect on how it held up after 11 months of wear and tear and to consider what Google might be able to improve on the next model.Design and featuresBy making the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s front screen the same size as a regular Pixel, Google streamlined its design and made it easier to use. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)Google figured out something when it shifted away from the short and squat dimensions of the original Pixel Fold for its second foldable phone. By making the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s exterior display essentially the same size as a normal Pixel 9, the company eliminated any confusion for when you just want to quickly send a text, check a map or doomscroll on social media. The obvious downside to this is that when you open the phone up, its interior display has essentially a square aspect ratio, which isn’t great for watching movies. However, with an increased size of eight inches across, the P9PF still has one of the largest flexible panels around, so it’s not like anyone was really hurting for screen real estate. And for stuff like games, comics or ebooks, it’s arguably even better. If manufacturers were able to bring the price of foldables down, they might kill the market for small tablets (nine inches and under) overnight.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn top of that, unlike Samsung’s foldables, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold didn’t really sacrifice on camera quality or features. It has a 5x optical zoom just like you get on a standard Pixel 9 Pro, and while it doesn’t have the same main sensor, you’d be hard-pressed to tell unless you do some serious side-by-side pixel peeping. Plus, you get fun tools like Look at Me that are only possible due to its foldable design, not to mention other nifty features like Add Me.Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold with a skin from Dbrand. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)Granted, Google’s Tensor G4 chip lags behind equivalent Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. But it’s still fast enough for everything I’ve thrown at it, aside from maybe hardcore video editing or the most demanding games. And I maintain that foldable phones are still the best devices for mobile trading card apps like Marvel Snap or Pokémon TCG Pocket. The presence of a big screen that can be deployed or hidden away at a moment’s notice is perfect for matches that only last a couple of minutes, so you can squeeze a round in pretty much anywhere or any time.DurabilityI’m not a fan of cases. That’s true even on foldables, because while they are more fragile than a typical smartphone, the added bulk and heft that comes with most aftermarket protectors are just kind of annoying. Furthermore, especially in recent years, most foldables are generally tough enough to withstand life’s everyday drops and tumbles. Unless you’re out there regularly burying your phone in the sand or dropping it on concrete, my experience with previous foldables (from both Samsung and Google) has me feeling relatively confident about their overall durability.These are some of the worst scratches on the device, which occurred after the phone fell out of my pocket while getting out of a car. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)That said, I did make one small change when living with the P9PF. Instead of a case, I installed a skin from Dbrand (which I bought myself) to give the phone a tiny extra cushion in the back. Granted, there are still several scratches and dings on its frame and front screen. But that was kind of the point. I wanted to see how Google’s second-gen foldable would hold up with minimal protection and this phone has probably taken more of a beating than any device I’ve owned to date.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFun fact: I shot and edited the review photos for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold just an hour before I had to go to the hospital for the birth of my daughter. And in the time since, the P9PF has been spat up on, crawled on, walked on by my three-year-old son and fallen out of my pocket during bathtime a countless number of times. And for the most part, it’s taken those hits like a boxer with an iron chin (or in Google’s case, aluminum).Despite taking a beating, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s hinge is still relatively unscathed after one year. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf you’re really trying to maximize resale value, you may want something more substantial. For everyone else, the addition of a skin and a screen protector for its exterior display is all you really need. My Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s interior screen is still pristine after almost a year. Yes, it has a crease, but if that’s an issue, you may never be able to own a foldable phone. Or at the very least, not in the near future. Meanwhile, the blemishes elsewhere aren’t distracting enough to make using the P9PF any less enjoyable. Though everyone is different, so you may feel otherwise.Potential concernsThe one potential issue going forward is that in just the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed the phone occasionally takes longer to turn on the inner display after opening it up. It doesn’t happen every time and it’ll usually fix itself in a few seconds or after a couple taps. Furthermore, sometimes the phone’s SIM card will stop working too, which can be addressed by resetting the Pixel’s internet connections.One issue that popped up in the last couple weeks is when the Pixel 9 Pro Fold occasionally loses mobile data because it forgets there’s a SIM card inside. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)While I haven’t been able to confirm if this is due to a software update (like a recent Android patch) or something loose inside (possibly a shaky display cable), it sounds very similar to a thread I spotted recently on Reddit. Based on the post, the owner of that P9PF takes much better care of their phone than I do, which suggests the cause may be related to build quality or its underlying design instead of simple wear and tear. Regardless, if you own a Pixel 9 Pro Fold and have also run into this issue, let me know so I can investigate this further.Future outlookEven with a possible service call clouding the future of my Pixel 9 Pro Fold, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with it over the last year. Pairing a bigger flexible screen with best-in-class cameras and a simple but very effective design is a winning formula for a modern foldable. And while I don’t expect a full redesign this year after the big jump we got from the OG Pixel Fold, if Google can tweak little things like the awkward-looking corner in the top left of its exterior display, improve durability and maybe increase the battery capacity in addition to its usual assortment of yearly AI-powered tools and features, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold could be a very solid followup.I took the skin off for this story and as you can see, it did a good job of protecting the backside of the phone. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)However, the arrival of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 means Google has some work to do. I’m waiting to see what the next foldable Pixel brings (and hopefully the OnePlus Open 2 as well) before picking which phone I want to use for the next year. Unless Google or OnePlus can match the exquisite thinness, excellent performance and improved battery life on Samsung’s latest flagship, I feel like I’m going to be doing the gadget version of the distracted boyfriend meme every time I go to pick up a significantly thicker rival. That said, things like Google’s software and superior cameras might pull me back.But perhaps the most impressive thing is that after just two generations, the Pixel Fold line has almost completely caught up to the latest Z Fold with the chance to pull ahead next week. And for anyone who’s ever considering getting a foldable phone (or maybe even their second, third or fourth), that’s exactly the kind of competition I like to see.
Source: engadget.com