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

	Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold – MSRP $1799, Sale Worth $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 the most effective book-style folding telephones out there within the US.
	Customary 20:9 type issue Premium, skinny and lightweight design Lovely shows Glorious cameras Excellent software program Sharp, shiny 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 Gradual 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, at present $1299), which some would argue stole the book-style folding cellphone torch from Samsung, and gave the US market a glimpse into the superior folding {hardware} and software program broadly out there 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.

For sure, when Google introduced the Pixel 9 Professional Fold ($1799, at present $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 cellphone stack up in opposition to 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 type issue – or copying the Galaxy Z Fold6’s tall and slim design – Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold adopts the OnePlus Open’s glorious type issue, with a 6.3-inch outer show and normal 20:9 side 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).

Digicam 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 metallic body with completely matching nook radii. However, in contrast to the OnePlus Open, the symmetry is disrupted by the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s metallic body, which is thicker close to the hinge than across the edges. This accounts for the cellphone’s extra width, and certain some added sturdiness.

As such, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold seems to be 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 provides higher water resistance (IPX8 vs. IPX4). The internal show can also be barely bigger at 8 inches (vs. 7.82-inch). Pixel 9 Professional Fold colorways embody 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 attention-grabbing. 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 most important shooter, and an LED flash, whereas the underside row is dwelling 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 quantity rocker and energy / lock key (which doubles as a capacitive fingerprint sensor) on the proper facet. The USB Sort-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. Apparently, there aren’t any buttons or openings on the left facet, 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 lovely shows. Each ship vibrant colours, deep blacks, and glorious viewing angles. On the within, there’s a 8-inch 2k folding LTPO OLED panel (2152 x 2076 pixels, 373ppi, HDR10+) with an nearly sq. 1:1 side ratio and 120Hz adaptive refresh price. 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 side ratio and 120Hz refresh price. However, as a substitute 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 shiny (2700 nits peak), making them straightforward 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 internal show, like on the OnePlus Open.

Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold Digicam Efficiency And Picture High quality

Across the again, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold packs a 48MP f/1.7 0.8-micron most important 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 internal 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 most important shooter advantages from pixel binning, which outputs 12MP photos 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 images in diminished mild and when zooming past 10x.

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

As you’d anticipate, this handset provides a bunch of capturing modes, together with portrait, evening (referred to as Night time Sight), professional (handbook), panorama, lengthy publicity, astrophotography, and Add Me (which mixes two photos to incorporate the photographer in a gaggle shot). Night time mode and professional mode assist all 5 shooters, which is good, however the Fold lacks the Motion Pan (movement blur) and 48MP (most important 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 evening (most important solely, 4k/1080p 30fps), HDR (4k/1080p 30fps), gradual movement (most important 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 out there 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 general, 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 with regards to video recording efficiency.

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