Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Review: The Tankiest Foldable

Every bully instrumentality builds upon nan procreation that came earlier it. In nan 7 years aliases truthful that foldable phones person been around, we've seen immoderate unthinkable breakthroughs. For each its flaws, the original Galaxy Fold was a magical creation that proved location was merit to Samsung’s sci-fi aspirations. Then the Galaxy Z Fold 3 added h2o guidance to a foldable for nan first clip positive built-in stylus support. More recently, Google simplified elastic telephone creation pinch nan Pixel 9 Pro Fold, proving manufacturers didn't request to messiness astir pinch funky facet ratios earlier Samsung achieved unprecedented levels of thinness pinch nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 earlier this summer.

However, there's 1 point that has go a modular characteristic connected modular high-end smartphones that hasn't been disposable connected foldables until now: top-tier particulate resistance. That changes now acknowledgment to nan IP68 standing connected nan Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Not only does this lick 1 of nan biggest shortcomings of foldables overall, but it gives you further protection against 1 of life's mundane foibles. So while Google's latest elastic telephone isn't astir arsenic slim aliases sleek arsenic nan Z Fold 7, it is nan champion action for folks who for illustration a tankier device.

Design: A caller level of durability

While nan Pixel 10 Pro Fold (P10PF from present connected out) mightiness look for illustration a c transcript of past year's phone, location are a fistful of subtle changes throughout. Google shrunk its hinge and made it much durable. It besides shaved down parts of its aluminum framework — specifically nan separator to nan near of its extracurricular screen. As for nan displays themselves, they're moreover brighter than earlier astatine 3,000 nits (up from 2,700 nits) while nan size of P10PF's exterior sheet has accrued somewhat to 6.4 inches (0.1 inches larger) by reclaiming immoderate abstraction that utilized to beryllium bezel. And I still emotion nan P10PF's 8-inch main surface for watching movies and reference comics, moreover pinch nan cutout for its interior selfie cam successful nan apical correct corner. That said, if nan beingness of a rounded area encapsulated by a correct perspective messes pinch your OCD tendencies, Google still hasn't recovered a hole for that.

As for nan P10PF’s IP68 rating, which denotes nan phone's expertise to withstand intrusion from particulate and immersion successful water, this upgrade mightiness not sound for illustration a immense deal. But arsenic personification whose regular driver was a Pixel 9 Pro Fold past year, I was judge to flip it successful a waterproof container erstwhile I went to nan beach. That's because moreover though I had nary intentions of really swimming pinch it, I wanted to make judge soil wouldn't find its measurement inside. The sound of dust, ungraded aliases different particles grinding successful a foldable's hinge is profoundly unpleasant and should beryllium avoided astatine each costs. And acknowledgment to nan summation of a due IP rating, you don't request to dainty nan P10PF for illustration nan Bubble Boy each clip you want to bask a time astatine nan shore.

After Google debuted an all-new creation connected past year's phone, it's astir apt a spot overmuch to inquire for a afloat revamp 12 months later. Sadly, this intends its size and weight haven't changed much, pinch nan P10PF coming successful astatine 9.1 ounces (258 grams) and 10.8mm heavy erstwhile closed. If this telephone had travel retired backmost successful nan spring, that mightiness not person been an issue. However, pinch nan presence of nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its wonderfully bladed and ray creation (7.6 ounces and 8.9mm erstwhile closed), it's difficult to spell backmost erstwhile you've knowledgeable a foldable telephone that doesn't person immoderate of that excess heft. While I admit nan added durability and tankiness we're getting now, here's hoping Google tin put each of this successful a leaner chassis adjacent fall. Lastly, while nan remainder of nan Pixel 10 family is going afloat eSIM for this generation, I admit that nan P10PF still comes pinch a beingness SIM paper tray.

Performance and software: Fast but not awesome for gaming

Like its pro siblings, nan P10PF comes pinch a Tensor G5 chip, 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. In mundane use, that's much than capable oomph to make everything consciousness swift and snappy. Meanwhile, nan presence of Google's Material 3 Expressive UI update makes nan full telephone consciousness moreover much lively, which makes moreover elemental things for illustration flipping betwixt apps aliases customizing your homescreen that overmuch much enjoyable.

However, successful position of graphics performance, Google's Tensor G5 still can't rather support up pinch flagship silicon from Qualcomm and its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. That's because nan Pixel 10 Pro Fold conscionable isn't nan champion prime for hardcore gaming contempt improved loading speeds. Unfortunately, a number of our regular tests for illustration Geekbench 6 aren't disposable (as we're reviewing nan telephone anterior to its charismatic release), which makes getting actual numbers a spot tricky. When moving those apps connected nan Pixel 10 Pro XL (which features nan aforesaid spot and memory), nan Tensor G5 produced a multi-core people of 6,091 connected Geekbench's Compute test. That’s much than 30 percent little than what we sewage from nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 (9,271).

I wouldn't needfully people this down arsenic a dealbreaker, arsenic nan P10PF's little prodigious capacity isn't thing you'll announcement each nan time. But if you do a batch of mobile video editing aliases hardcore gaming, that does make Google's latest foldable harder to urge compared to nan Z Fold 7.

On nan agleam side, Google has added immoderate enhanced multitasking features, astir notably a caller split-screen UI that lets you take precisely really large you want 2 apps to beryllium erstwhile opened successful split-screen mode. Furthermore, you tin time off 1 app unfastened successful a mini sliver connected either broadside and pat to quickly move betwixt nan two, benignant of for illustration nan card-based UI OnePlus created for nan Open. It's very useful and makes it easy to flip backmost and distant betwixt things for illustration emails and messages aliases your calendar, though I really wish Google would springiness america nan expertise to permanently pin nan P10PF's taskbar to nan bottommost of nan surface for illustration you tin connected Samsung's handset.

Elsewhere, there's a caller layout successful nan camera app that amended utilizes nan phone's main surface by putting nan camera's viewfinder connected nan correct while your photograph rotation appears connected nan left. This gives you an instant, big-picture position of each photograph arsenic soon arsenic you return it without stopping you from mounting up for nan adjacent shot. And for group who request other thief getting a bully guidance from kids while posing for a shot, Google has besides added immoderate caller animations to its Made You Look feature.

Cameras: Still nan champion among foldables

While nan cameras connected nan P10PF are nan aforesaid arsenic nan ones successful its predecessor, it's still nan champion measurement to seizure sharp, colorful and elaborate pics pinch a foldable phone. During nan day, nan P10PF consistently captured much meticulous hues and tones than nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 (which has a inclination to exaggerate rich | colors). And successful debased light, Google's Night Sight mode remains unmatched.

In a tricky changeable of a money feline taken successful very debased light, nan P10PF's photograph was noticeably brighter and much detailed, while a pic of immoderate spooky skeletons was sharper and featured richer colors. On apical of that, nan Z Fold 7 tops retired pinch a 3x telephoto zoom, but nan Pro Fold sports a 5x optical lens that gives you much scope for long-distance images.

If that wasn't enough, Google besides gave nan P10PF nan expertise to edit images solely utilizing your voice, which is not only a clip saver but a awesome action for anyone who doesn't want to fiddle astir pinch toggles and sliders to heighten their photos. Sadly, nan coolest caller characteristic from nan Pixel 10 Pro line — Pro Res Zoom — isn't disposable connected nan Pro Fold, truthful you person to settee for a max zoom scope of 20x alternatively of 100x.

Battery life: A bigger compartment and PixelSnap

Packing a 5,015mAh cell, nan Pixel 10 Pro Fold's artillery is astir 10 percent larger than past year's model, which resulted successful notable gains connected our section video rundown test. When utilizing its exterior display, it lasted conscionable complete 27 hours (27:02), almost an hr longer than what we sewage from nan Galaxy Z Fold 7 (26:22). Naturally, nan P10PF doesn't past astir arsenic agelong erstwhile utilizing its larger interior display. However, pinch a clip of 21:20, that still leaves a batch of room for activities.

When it comes to recharging, nan Fold has gotten immoderate upgrades location too. Wired speeds person risen somewhat to 30 watts (up from 21 watts), while wireless complaint has doubled to 15 watts. This comes acknowledgment successful ample portion to Google's newfound support of nan Qi2 standard, which besides brings compatibility for magnetic accessories. That intends now you tin usage nan benignant of accessories iPhone owners person enjoyed for years (Google calls this characteristic PixelSnap connected its phones) and alongside its caller IP68 rating, this mightiness beryllium 1 of nan biggest upgrades to nan phone's wide usability.

Wrap-up

The summation of due particulate and h2o guidance connected nan Pixel 10 Pro Fold has removed 1 of nan past 2 shortcomings of modern foldables, which is nary mean feat. However, astatine $1,799, nan value obstruction is still difficult to flooded for astir folks. On apical of that, erstwhile compared to its biggest rival, it'd beryllium a correction for anyone willing successful large and costly elastic phones to disregard nan Galaxy Z Fold 7. Its ace sleek creation simply cannot beryllium denied. Plus, higher performance, much state to unfastened further windowed apps and nan action for a permanently pinned taskbar make Samsung's rival nan preferred prime for gamers and powerfulness users.

When it comes to nan class arsenic a whole, nan P10PF offers nan champion photograph toolkit around. There’s besides Google's fantabulous (and ever-growing) unchangeable of useful AI-powered features and my preferred tegument for Android 16. Factor successful longer artillery life, improved multitasking and existent Qi2 wireless support for nan first clip connected immoderate foldable, and you person a look for a versatile and amazingly rugged elastic phone.