Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: ‘They’ve finally done it’
People have been waiting for a foldable phone that they can actually use in every day life — and Google may have finally done it.
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We’re definitely deep into tech season, with all the big players launching their latest products.
After taking a close look at the new Google Pixel 9 and Pixel Pro XL, I’ve now had the chance to review the flagship Pixel 9 Pro Fold and I think Google has finally done it.
They’ve made a foldable phone with a massive screen so thin that it easily fits in your pocket, meaning foldable phones are here to stay.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the second generation of the Pixel Fold and is a major improvement on the previous iteration.
The best thing about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is that there are two screens — essentially you get the best of both worlds — a gigantic 8” tablet and a 6.3” phone. You can use it both folded and unfolded.
The split screen is extremely useful for someone like me that is terminally using a phone.
You can, for example, use the dual screen with Google Meet to see the people you’re meeting with as well as your own face.
Open, it has the largest inner display for any mobile phone. This is great for consuming media such as YouTube or Netflix.
It’s also a very usable phone when closed.
It’s the thinnest foldable phone on the market. Open, it’s just slightly wider than a USB C port (77.1mm folded and 150.2mm unfolded). This means when it’s folded, it’s not much different to a normal phone.
They haven’t skint on the hardware either.
It comes equipped with Google’s new Tensor G4 processor, Titan M2 security coprocessor, 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
Google has promised 24 hour battery life on the 4,650 mAh, as well as fast and wireless charging.
Camera system
There are a few cool things that make the Pixel 9 Pro Fold unique.
First of all, the camera hardware has been given a major boost, with the rear camera system now supporting Macro Focus. Face Unlock also works whether the phone is open or closed.
Google has made smart use of having the folding function. For instance you can take a Rear Camera Selfie by opening the phone, and looking at yourself in the screen while monster 48MP rear camera takes a ”seflie”. Or, you can use both screens to display the subject of the photo.
A new function, which is extremely helpful for taking pics of my boisterous two-year-old, is Made You Look, which displays an animation on the outer screen to grab their attention while you try to take a snap.
The silly chicken animation even makes a clucking noise to help get their attention!
The tripe rear camera system has a 48MP wide, 10.4MP ultrawide, 10.8 MP 5x telephoto lens and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 5x (plus Super Res Zoom up to 20x).
AI tech
The big AI improvements that were announced with the Pixel 9 series also apply to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, including the Pixel Studio, Pixel Screenshots and new Google Weather apps.
There’s the Add Me function, which allows you to take a group photo and be added in afterwards. Also, Best Take, means you can blend photos together to easily fix up botched photos.
I gave a fairly detailed explanation in my review of the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel Pro XL.
Other AI photography features include Magic Editor, Video Boost and Pro Controls.
Of course the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not cheap, retailing for $2699, but that’s comparable with other foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, which is selling for $2799.
SHOP NEW GOOGLE PIXEL 9 PHONES
My take on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
I think Google has finally done it — they’ve made a foldable that can become my daily phone.
I agree with tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, who described it as highly functional with the screen closed, with the added bonus of a huge screen, whenever it’s needed.
Pixel Watch 3
I also had a play around with the new Pixel Watch 3. I haven’t worn many smart watches before so it was a fairly new experience for me.
One thing I quickly noticed — it made me accurately aware of how many steps I’ve taken each day. (I celebrated when I hit 10,000 on Sunday, no I was not in the Sydney marathon).
Glancing at the screen there’s the time (of course), the weather, your heart rate as well as daily steps.
Working in an office, it’s great to get the buzzing reminder every now and then that it’s time to get up and walk around.
I also like getting messages and emails on the watch, which you can quickly read on the go.
Taking a phone call on the watch made me feel a bit like Maxwell Smart, and I had no complaints about the audio on the other end.
What’s new in the Watch 3
It now comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.
Both versions boast a bigger size, thanks to smaller bezels (40% for 45mm and 10% for 41mm).
The watch is also much brighter at up to 2,000 nits and automatically adjusts depending on your environment.
I found the battery did last all day, even with fairly intense usage.
I also wore it at night in order to get a “sleep score”, with the watch recording my awake, REM, deep and light sleep patterns.
I noticed with a lot of the functions, you can access more information through the Fitbit app, which the watch is integrated with.
It’s definitely a watch aimed at people who want to get fit, as shown by three new tools on the watch: Daily Readiness, Cardio Load and Target Load.
Daily Readiness tracks key biometrics including your resting heart rate and sleep. Cardio Load is used to track your body during intense workouts and Target Load gives you a guide for overall fitness.
The watch also has other tools to help you plan your exercise routines.
It can be set up to provide feedback like when you’re running too slow, and can even sense if your running form is off.
One thing I didn’t get a chance to do, but which is awesome for people with smart homes, is the ability to open a live camera feed on the Nest Doorbell, and use it as a remote control for the Google TV Streamer.
Another feature which I (happily) didn’t need to use is the Loss of Pulse Detection:, which can detect a heart attack and immediately phone emergency services along with an automated message and location (currently only available in Europe but coming soon elsewhere).
My take on the Google Watch 3
I’ve never been much of a watch wearing guy, but this has the potential to change my mind.
The watch kind of acts like a personal trainer and the watch could be the push I’ve been needing to get more fit.
Find out more about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold here and Google Pixel Watch 3 here.
BEST GOOGLE OFFERS ON CURRENT PRODUCTS
- Bonus Google One AI Premium Subscription with Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (256GB), $74.97/month with Vodafone
- Bonus Google One AI Premium Subscription with Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (256GB), $55.52/month with Vodafone
- Bonus Google One AI Premium Subscription with Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (128GB), $37.47/month with Vodafone
- Google Pixel 9 (256GB) - Peony, $1499
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (256GB) Obsidian, $1999
- Google Pixel 8a 5G (128GB) - Bay, $849
- Google Pixel 7 (128GB) - Obsidian, $611
- Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G (128GB), $758.78
- $70 off Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 5G (128GB/16GB) - Obsidian, $1779 (down from $1849)
- $422 off Google Pixel 4 XL (128GB/6GB) - Clearly White, $377 (down from $799)
- $411 off Google Pixel 8 Pro 5G (128GB/12GB) - Bay, $1278 (down from $1689)
- $441 off Google Pixel 3 XL (64GB/4GB) - Just Black, $258 (down from $699)
- $401 off Google Pixel 8 5G (256GB/8GB) - Obsidian, $898 (down from $1299)
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