In 2025, foldable smartphones continue to evolve and capture the imagination of tech enthusiasts. Google’s Pixel series has built a stellar reputation for its photography capabilities, making any foldable entry from the brand highly anticipated. The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s latest attempt in the foldable market, seeks to marry the brand’s camera prowess with an innovative design. But does this fusion deliver? And more importantly, is it worth the steep price tag for photography enthusiasts?
In this review, I explore the ins and outs of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, focusing on its design, performance, and most critically, its camera system.
Design and Build: Sleek and Premium, but Imperfect
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels premium at first touch. With a sleek 10.5mm thin profile when folded, this device bridges the gap between foldable innovation and traditional smartphone design. On the exterior, you’ll find a 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED display. Open it up, and you’re greeted with a stunning 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED screen, ideal for multitasking, media consumption, or simply enjoying a larger view. Both displays are impressively bright, handling outdoor conditions and harsh lighting with ease.
The hinge mechanism is sturdy, but there is a trade-off: it feels overly stiff at times. While this can be an asset for durability, it occasionally makes the phone cumbersome to unfold in one smooth motion. The crease in the center of the main display is far less noticeable than in some other foldables, fading from view when the screen is in use.
In terms of durability, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with IPX8 water resistance, offering peace of mind if it gets wet. However, the lack of dust resistance remains a concern—especially with the folding mechanism that inevitably invites particles into crevices over time. This is a common challenge for foldables, but it’s still a drawback.
The phone’s fingerprint sensor is conveniently embedded in the power button and is both fast and reliable. Rounded corners and a matte finish give it a sophisticated look, with two color options available: obsidian and porcelain. While these are elegant, more adventurous color choices would have been a welcome addition, especially for a device aiming to stand out.
Performance and Battery Life: Strong, But Demands Power
At the heart of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, which marks a notable improvement over its predecessor, the Tensor G2 found in the original Pixel Fold. This new chip powers AI features such as Gemini, Magic Editor, and Pixel Studio, which we’ll dive into later. Day-to-day performance is smooth, with apps loading quickly and multitasking across the expansive display feeling seamless.
However, the power demands of a foldable with dual displays are significant, and the 4,700mAh battery struggles to keep up. While the 120Hz refresh rate on both displays is a delight—especially for gaming and video—it quickly drains the battery. Heavy users will find themselves reaching for the charger before day’s end, a disappointing aspect of an otherwise powerful device.
Charging speeds are respectable, but not groundbreaking. You’ll get up to 30W fast charging, which is decent, though competitors like OnePlus and Vivo are pushing the envelope with even faster charging solutions. If you’re a power user or someone who relies heavily on your phone throughout the day, battery anxiety may be a concern.
Cameras: Good, But Not Google’s Best
The Pixel brand is synonymous with mobile photography, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t offer Google’s best camera array. On paper, the 48MP main wide camera, 10.5MP telephoto, and 12MP ultra-wide setup sound solid. However, it’s clear that Google’s focus for this device isn’t solely on photography.
The main camera is capable of taking good photos in daylight, with vibrant colors and plenty of detail. Google’s computational photography works its magic here, salvaging images that might otherwise falter. But when compared to flagship Pixels like the Pixel 9 Pro or even competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold lags in low-light performance and advanced imaging features.
One of the most puzzling omissions is the lack of an intuitive camera interface for Flex mode. Unlike Samsung’s foldables, which make it easy to shoot hands-free or use the split screen for better angles, Google’s implementation feels clunky. If you prop the Pixel 9 Pro Fold up in Flex mode, you won’t be able to switch the live preview to the lower half of the screen without a convoluted workaround.
Moreover, there’s no option to shoot in RAW at full resolution, a feature available on other high-end Pixel phones. For photography enthusiasts who want full control over editing their images, this is a significant shortfall.
Despite these limitations, Google has introduced some neat AI-powered camera tools. “Add Me,” which inserts the photographer into group photos, is particularly fun and works quite well. Meanwhile, Magic Eraser and the new Magic Editor continue to impress by removing unwanted objects or changing the background of photos with remarkable precision. These tools might not be enough to make up for the camera hardware’s limitations, but they’re certainly useful for casual photographers.
Video: Capable, But Not a Standout
When it comes to video, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can record 4K footage at 24, 30, or 60fps using any of its rear cameras. This is consistent with other Pixel devices, and the results are solid, though not game-changing. In good lighting conditions, videos come out sharp and clean, but low-light videos suffer from grain and noise.
Google’s software stabilization does a decent job of smoothing out handheld footage, but there’s nothing here that significantly sets the Pixel 9 Pro Fold apart from its competitors in terms of video capabilities.
Software: AI-Powered Innovation
If there’s one area where the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shines, it’s in its software. Google’s AI advancements are fully integrated into the device, with features like Magic Editor, Reimagine, and Pixel Studio at the forefront.
Magic Editor allows you to manipulate photos in ways that feel almost magical. Whether you’re removing an unwanted person from a shot or replacing an overcast sky with a bright blue one, the results are often impressive. However, it’s still in its early stages, and there are moments when it falls short of expectations.
The Reimagine feature, for instance, allows you to alter existing photos with AI-driven enhancements, but it occasionally struggles with complex prompts. As more users push the limits of these AI tools, it’s clear that improvements will be necessary for future iterations.
For multitaskers, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers split-screen functionality, allowing you to use two apps side by side. While this works smoothly, the limitation of only running two apps at a time feels restrictive, especially when other foldables on the market can handle three. Google’s native Android experience is always a plus, but here, it feels like the software is outpacing the hardware, especially in the camera department.
Image Quality: A Mixed Bag
While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can deliver some good photos, it’s important to manage expectations. The main camera does a decent job in well-lit environments, producing detailed and colorful images. But the lack of RAW support and subpar performance in low-light conditions hold it back.
Google’s computational photography does work its magic to salvage images in many scenarios, but it’s clear that this isn’t the best Pixel phone for photographers. Other foldables, like the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro and the OnePlus Open, simply outperform the Pixel 9 Pro Fold when it comes to pure image quality.
Table 1: Key Camera Features of Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro
| Feature | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Google Pixel 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP wide, f/1.7 | 50MP wide, f/1.9 |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.5MP, 5x optical zoom | 48MP, 5x optical zoom |
| Ultra-Wide Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 |
| RAW Image Support | No | Yes |
| Magic Editor and Magic Eraser | Yes | Yes |
| Low-Light Performance | Moderate | Excellent |
| Flex Mode Camera Interface | Lacking | N/A |
Table 2: Foldable Comparison – Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Competitors
| Feature | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 | OnePlus Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Display Size | 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED | 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 7.8-inch OLED |
| Chipset | Tensor G4 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Battery Capacity | 4,700mAh | 4,400mAh | 4,800mAh |
| Main Camera | 48MP wide | 50MP wide | 48MP wide |
| Flex Mode Features | Limited | Advanced | Advanced |
| Price | $1,800 USD | $1,799 USD | $1,699 USD |
Conclusion: A Foldable for AI Enthusiasts, Not Photographers
Read more
Redmi 14 5G: The Ultimate Budget Smartphone with a Powerful 108MP Camera and 5G at ₹10,599
Top 5 Best Smartphones for $400-$500 in 2025
Samsung A36 5G: A Mid-Range Marvel with 300MP Camera and 6000mAh Battery
OnePlus 13 Pro 5G: A Game-Changer with 7000mAh Battery and 300MP AI Camera
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a solid entry into the foldable market,