Last year’s Pixel Fold was a valiant first attempt at a foldable phone by Google, but it wasn’t perfect. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and the OnePlus Open, the Pixel Fold was shorter and wider, which made it a more comfortable phone-to-tablet experience.
That said, it was also much heavier than the competition, which diminished the illusion of it being a compact device. It had the appearance of a passport, but it felt like a bible in your hand.
Also: How to preorder the new Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold (and the best deals)
This year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold fixes the ergonomic issues of the original, and then some. In doing so, Google has also shifted from the boxier, more traditional aspect ratio to a 20:9 scale that’s similar to the OnePlus Open. I personally know some Pixel Fold users who will be disappointed by the change, but based on my hands-on time with the newest model, I think it’s for the better.
Tack on a larger, brighter display (up to 2,700 nits at peak brightness), 16GB of RAM, the company’s latest Tensor G4 chip, and a host of AI features because that’s a requirement for any piece of tech in 2024, and you have a contender for the best foldable phone this year.
Notice that I said “the best foldable phone” and not “best phone overall.” That’s because I’m still struggling to recommend foldable phones, with their hefty price tags, over the more traditional iPhones, Samsung Galaxies, and even Google Pixels.
The good news is that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — with all of its user-benefitting upgrades this year — doesn’t get a price bump like the rest of the Pixel 9 series. The bad news is that it’s priced the same as its predecessor: starting at $1,799. It’s still expensive. It’s still inaccessible. If you’re considering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, trade-in offers, carrier promotions, and holiday discounts are your best friend.
Also: Everything announced at Made by Google 2024
Pricing aside, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is looking to be one of the best multitasking and entertainment devices you can buy today. It helps that the internal display now spans a whopping eight inches, making it the largest phone on the market.
When I tried it, running split-screen mode and watching YouTube videos on the Super Actua Flex display was straight eye candy, except for the times when the wall-sized windows at the venue exposed just how glossy and glare-exhibiting these flexible screens are.