One year after Google’s Pixel Fold launch: I can’t wait for the sequel

I wasn’t convinced about the age of foldable smartphones until I tried the Pixel Fold. First, we have a somewhat limited selection of foldable phones to choose from in the US compared to China. And the extremely narrow outer display on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series never quite worked for my large hands. So Google immediately captured my interest when it introduced a passport-shaped foldable phone.

I’ve used Pixel phones for years, so I know the strengths and weaknesses of Google’s phones well. The software is clean, you get some really useful features that are specific to Pixel phones (the Recorder app is a godsend in my line of work), and the camera performance is second to none—at least for still photography. But on the flip side, performance never quite matches Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips, the devices tend to get a little hot, and there are occasional weird hardware quirks. (Did you know that both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro There are small bumps at the bottom of the screen. Can it only be seen in the right light? Now you can.)

When I bought the Pixel Fold, I knew there would be additional compromises. Foldable phones are heavy. Their cameras aren’t as good as the best traditional phones. And after several years of this form factor, the phones are still ridiculously expensive. Samsung and Motorola offer foldable versions for less, but you’re out of luck if you’re a Pixel fan.

However, it took almost no time for the Pixel Fold to overcome these collective negatives. It’s far from a perfect device, but this is a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I loved the first-generation Pixel Fold a lot, but there are also some annoying frustrations that I hope to see addressed in the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The first thing I learned is that when you have a phone that fits on the outside, the inner screen doesn’t open as often as you might expect—at least once the honeymoon phase is over. The Fold’s outer screen is perfectly usable for most of what I do with a smartphone. I usually open it when I want to watch YouTube, Netflix, or check the news with The New York Times Sure, I’ve multitasked with two apps at once on occasion—Google has made that workflow easier with software updates—but that’s not a common scenario. I still mostly use the large canvas to focus on one thing at a time, albeit with much greater immersion.

From day one, my primary issue with the Pixel Fold has been the screen brightness — or lack thereof. Just a few months after its launch last year, the $1,700 device was outdone by the much cheaper Pixel 8 series and Google’s new Actua/Super Actua displays. They’re extremely bright and don’t cause any problems with outdoor use. With the Fold, I was constantly cranking the brightness slider above 80 percent, which doesn’t do any good for battery life. This phone can be hard to see in bright sunlight, and the highly reflective indoor display makes matters worse.

If there’s one weakness I’m relatively confident Google will be able to fix the second time around, it’s this lack of notch. All signs point to the company bringing the latest (and brightest) display technology to the second generation of its foldable phones.

The other major improvement I’d like to see is a lighter body. The Pixel Fold is a very heavy phone, even for me — a 6-foot-1 guy with big hands — and it can get cumbersome to hold over time.

I wasn’t expecting miracles from the Pixel Fold’s battery life. Is it fair to expect that from any foldable phone? Plus, Google’s Tensor chips aren’t exactly known for their efficiency. But even on days when a big screen wasn’t an option, the Fold performed well… fineIt wasn’t always certain that there was a lot of juice left when I got home after a long day, but the phone always lasted. Like other Pixel devices, the Fold can sometimes charge at a snail’s pace when you’re actively using it while plugged in. Overall, the more traditional Pixel 8 Pro beats it in its endurance, but that’s to be expected when you’re putting two screens against one.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is rumored to be a take on the OnePlus Open, with a taller design. You’ll essentially be getting a regular phone on the outside. That means the aspect ratio of the internal display will change too, which is a good thing because I found that many apps had black bars on either side when I held the Fold open. This is Android, so you can’t really count on developers quickly adopting a single-screen device. Google eventually added an option to force apps to go full-screen in software, but the 9 Pro Fold’s new dimensions theoretically mean more apps will do that by default.

Lots of applications He does Editing photos with the mirrorless camera in Adobe Lightroom has been a great experience from the start — even if the device does get a little warm at times while doing so. If I’m not traveling with my iPad, this is the best thing for making some edits on the go.

I’ve used two Fold units I’ve reviewed over the past year, and neither one has broken or had any catastrophic screen issues. But Not everyone was so lucky.Repairing or replacing any foldable device under warranty can be a hassle. The shiny camera bar inevitably shows signs of wear and tear, and scratches on the soft inner display are inevitable. But they’re also easy to forget when the screen is lit up — as is the case with the Fold.

The speakers on this $1,700 phone are clearly average. They outperform Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Google’s Pixel 8 Pro. Give me something more powerful, Google. Please!

The Pixel Fold’s cameras do a great job. They’re reliable, as Allison wrote in her review. But they’re also not worth mentioning. Google’s computational photography tech can help improve your shots, but you’re dealing with a smaller sensor than a regular flagship phone, and the software can’t fully compensate for that.

Google is set to announce the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (and more features) at its event on August 13. The first Pixel Fold has already given me enough confidence to become a believer in foldable phones. Now the company just needs to prove it can take that capability and versatility to the next level — hopefully with screen brightness, too.

Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge