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Google has finally announced their first foldable smartphone. Not that it was a surprise or anything. In fact, Google literally showed it off last week. But now it’s here and we have gone hands on with the new Pixel Fold, and it’s a rather impressive first for Google.
This foldable impressed me in a few areas, in just the short time I’ve used it. Now keep in mind that i’ve only used Samsung’s foldables. So that’s what I’m comparing my experience too. While my colleagues have used the foldables from Huawei, Xiaomi and others.
The Pixel Fold hardware is stunning
The hardware for the Pixel Fold is simply stunning. It does fold completely flat, which actually a big deal. Since the Galaxy Z Fold models do not. It’s also very thin. Now Google claims that it is the “thinnest” which is not entirely true. The caveat here is that it is comparing it to other foldables in markets that this foldable will be available. Which leaves out Huawei, OPPO and Xiaomi foldables, unfortunately.
However, it is super thin, and the front display is fairly wide. This makes it really usable one handed. It does feel smaller than what Samsung has on offer, even though it weighs about the same amount, if not a bit more. And that likely comes down to the fact that it is a lot thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold.
Then there’s the cameras. One thing I was really looking forward to on a Pixel Fold was, the Pixel Camera. That’s because Samsung’s cameras on their foldables are not all that great. They are decent and get the job done, but still a step down from its flagship Galaxy S cameras. That is still the case here, but it does have Google’s computational photography included. A big part as to why it’s a different camera set up is because of the thinness, and having to break up the internals across two sides of a hinge.
What about that crease?
If you watched the keynote at Google I/O, you likely saw the demo of the Pixel Fold, and you couldn’t help but notice that crease. There’s still a crease here, and it doesn’t seem to be as bad as what Samsung has. Though these models that Google had on display here were practically brand new. So it’ll be interesting to see how it looks after a month or two of usage.
The one thing I really dislike about foldables right now is that the inner display does have to be plastic, technically this display does have ultra thin glass on-board, like Samsung’s foldables, but it does still have a protective layer on top that is plastic. So it still feels weird when you’re using the phone. It’s the same reason why I hate those plastic screen protectors, and always recommend tempered glass.
Android 13 was made for Foldables
Since Android 12L last year, Google has really been working to make Android work better on foldables. Android 12L was a foldable and tablet-related update to Android 12 which is now baked into Android 13 and beyond. It brought over features like two-paned Settings. A floating dock, and much more. Making it easier to use that larger display.
On top of that, there’s continuity. This allows the phone to move the app from the cover screen to the inner display when you open it. So that you can easily open the Fold and continue where you left off.
Now these features aren’t really new, but they are new with Pixel’s touch. Like the Pixel Launcher, and it’s interesting to see it in action the way Google intended, versus Samsung, Huawei or OPPO.
Is it worth $1,799?
So the big question is, is this worth the $1,799 price tag? That’s tough to say, as that amount means different things to different people, and not everyone needs a larger screen in their pocket. But I will say this, the hardware feels very premium, and the software (so far) feels really good. Now that might change after it gets used for a few weeks, months or even longer. As was the case with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 before it. Since the Pixel Fold is running on a Tensor chipset.
This does put the Pixel Fold in direct competition with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which also has an MSRP of $1,799. And at this rate, I think I’d recommend a Pixel Fold over the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and that mostly has to do with the fact it’s reaching the end of its life. Samsung is slated to announce the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in August, and by then, my opinion might change.
Stay tuned for our full review, and keep in mind that pre-orders open today, while the device will ship next month.
