Google Pixel Fold Preview: different form factor than Galaxy Fold, same $1,800 price
Google Pixel Fold Intro
After literally years of rumors and hopes, Google is finally joining the folding phone market with its very own foldable phone. This is the Google Pixel Fold, it’s first folding phone and unlike the rest of the Pixel lineup, this is one premium and expensive device that does not shy away from competing with the very best, both in terms of features and price.
That is the biggest question about the Pixel Fold, and Google starts differentiating from the Samsung foldable from the very start. The Pixel Fold opens like a book, just like the Galaxy Fold, but it has different dimensions. It’s not as tall, it has a wider and arguably more comfortable outer screen, Google has engineered a more durable hinge and it has also added a bunch of really cool software features that make great use of this phone’s ability to stand on its own.
What’s new about the Google Pixel Fold
- Google’s first foldable phone
- Google has some cool new software features
- Extremely sturdy hinge
- Larger battery than Galaxy Fold 4
- Thinner than Galaxy
- Triple rear camera including 5X zoom
- Pricey
Table of Contents:
Google Pixel Fold Specs
Tensor G2 chip inside, but what else?
Pixel Fold in tabletop mode
Here is an overview of the Pixel Fold specs against major rivals:
Specs | Google Pixel Fold |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 |
Oppo Find N2 |
---|---|---|---|
Size and Weight | Folded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm Unfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mm 283g (10oz) |
Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 15.8 mm Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mm 263g (9.3oz) |
Folded: 132.2 x 72.6 x 14.6 mm Unfolded: 132.2 x 140.5 x 7.4 mm 237g (8.36oz) |
Displays | Main: 7.6″ OLED 10.8:9 ratio 120Hz Cover: |
Main: 7.6″ OLED 9:10.8 ratio 120Hz Cover: |
Main: 7.1″ OLED 9.63:9 ratio 120Hz Cover: |
Processor | Google Tensor G2 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
RAM, Storage and Price | 12/256GB for $1,800 12/512GB for $1,920 |
12/256GB for $1,800 12/512GB for $1,920 12/1TB for $2,160 |
12/256GB |
Software | Android 13 | Android 13 w/ One UI 5.1 | Android 13 w/ ColorOS 13 |
Cameras | 48MP Wide camera, f/1.7 10.8MP Ultra, f/2.2 10.8MP 5X Zoom, f/3.05 9.5MP Outer front cam |
50MP Wide, 23mm f/1.8 12MP Ultra, 12mm f/2.2 10MP 3X Zoom, f/2.4 10MP outer front cam |
50MP Wide, 24mm f/1.8 48MP Ultra, 14mm f/2.2 32MP 2X Zoom, f/2.0 32MP front cam |
Battery Size | 4,821 mAh | 4,400 mAh | 4,520 mAh |
Charging Speeds | 30W wired + wireless |
25W wired 15W wireless |
67W wired no wireless charging |
The particular specs highlights that we noticed about the Pixel Fold is that it’s slimmer than the Galaxy, while it has a nearly 10% larger battery capacity too. No laws of physics were broken, though, as it does weigh more.
Pixel Fold Design & Colors
Unfolding to a large 7.6″ screen, the Pixel Fold will be big and heavy
Pixel Fold has IPX8 water protection rating
Design-wise, the Pixel Fold is actually slimmer than the Galaxy Fold, and it’s also less tall, so it fits easier in a pocket. At the same time, the Google foldable weighs quite a bit at 10 ounces (283 grams). That’s a lot to carry in a pocket!
Also, one look at the Pixel Fold and you know it belongs in the Pixel family with that typical camera bar on the back of the phone.
The big concern about foldables is always the durability, and we are glad that Google touts the hinge on the Pixel Fold as being extremely durable, better than that of the Galaxy Fold 4. Of course, time will be the best judge, but so far, that’s reassuring.
The Google foldable comes in a choice of two colors: Porcelain and Obsidian, or essentially a white and a black version.
Pixel Fold Display
A 7.6″ tablet-sized main screen
The Pixel Fold outer screen is wider and this gives you valuable space for typing, which is a common complaint for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 form factor.
Flip it open, and you are treated to a large 7.6-inch main screen. Interestingly, there is this huge bezel for the main display, which steals some of the design thunder. We have not seen anything quite as big on other foldables. We don’t know if that’s intentional, it is not a great look, but it might help with accidental touches when you pick up the phone.
Is there a “crease”? The answer is yes, as so far that seems one thing that just comes with the folding function.
For biometrics, Google uses a fingerprint scanner built into the power key on the side of the phone, just like Samsung does with its Fold series.
Pixel Fold Camera
Triple camera, with a Pixel look
Triple rear camera with 5X optical zoom
The camera bar on the back is clearly what catches the eye the most, and it also bulges out noticeably.
It houses three rear cameras, which are very similar to what we have on the Pixel 7 Pro, so you get the main (wide) shooter, an ultra-wide camera and a 5X zoom periscope style lens.
The Pixel Fold also has a selfie camera on the outer screen, and another one on the main, tablet-sized screen. But if you can, you should actually use the main cameras for even higher quality selfies, as you can simply flip over the phone with its back facing you and the cover display acts as a viewfinder. Cool!
Pixel Fold Performance & Benchmarks
Tensor G2 might hold it back
The Pixel Fold is powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip, and that’s the same chip as in the Pixel 7 series, and also, yes, it is the same chip as in the Pixel 7a.
And that is probably the most controversial decision Google has taken with the Pixel Fold: a super premium phone that costs an arm and a leg, and… it comes with the same chip you use on a $500 phone? That doesn’t quite sound right.
The Tensor G2 is a perfectly decent chip on its own, but make no mistake — it is no match for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is expected to power the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5! So if you care about performance in the long term or running more intense tasks, or gaming, well… the Pixel Fold is just not the fastest around.
As for the rest, the base Pixel Fold model comes with 12GB of the latest LPDDR5 RAM and the base model has 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, or you can step up to 512GB of storage for a slightly higher price.
Pixel Fold Software and Android version
Can Google match Samsung’s multitasking features?
Tabletop mode
Another thing special here is the Google Pixel Fold software.
This is Google’s first foldable and it comes with a number of cool features that make use of the folding form factor:
- Tabletop mode – Just place your Pixel Fold on a table and open it halfway to watch videos. This works great with YouTube, one half of the screen shows the video and the other gives you quick controls (the controls will come with an app update).
- Tabletop mode for photography – You can leave the phone on a table, set a timer and take a picture of you and a group of friends without the need for a tripod. This also works great for astrophotography as you can point the cameras towards the sky and take a photo of the Milky Way!
- Rear Selfie Camera – Use the exterior screen as a viewfinder and take a selfie using the main cameras of the phone for the best selfie quality ever on a Pixel
- Dual Screen interpreter – use both screens to translate a live conversation and the person you talk to will see your translated sentences on the outer screen.
We are also curious to experience the split screen and overall approach to multitasking that are so important for a foldable phone.
How many years of software updates will the Pixel Fold get? Google promises five years of security updates, but we still have no information about how many years of major OS updates it will be getting.
Pixel Fold Battery
Larger battery than Galaxy Fold 4
The chunky weight of the Pixel Fold is certainly a disadvantage, but on the flip side, it enables a nearly 10% larger battery than you have on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The Galaxy Fold 4 comes with a 4,400mAh battery, and the Pixel Fold ups that number to 4,821mAh. That’s a big increase and especially for such a thin phone.
The Pixel Fold officially battery life numbers are the following: 24 hours on average, or up to 72 hours in a low power mode.
Pixel Fold Charging Speeds
Pixel phones have one of the slowest charging speeds in the industry, and the Pixel Fold is definitely not a sudden leap.
Google recommends its 30W charger, but we are not sure if the phone will support the full 30W speed, or if it will actually be limited to 23W charging like the Pixel 7 Pro.
You also have support for wireless charging at yet unspecified speeds.
Pixel Fold Audio Quality and Haptics
Folding phones have a larger size and with that comes an opportunity to use higher quality loudspeakers than traditional slab phones.
We have seen Galaxy Fold phones consistently have better speakers than, say, the Galaxy S series.
We expect a similarly potent loudspeaker system on the Pixel Fold, but so far we have no insight about the exact audio specifications or quality.
Pixel Fold Competitors
Pixel Fold Summary
Finally, some competition for the Galaxy Z Fold!
It’s great to see Google joining the foldable phone space. While many companies out of China come up with impressive foldable phones, the Pixel Fold is the only one that is actually available in the Western world.
We like the wider form factor that makes more sense than the Galaxy, we like how slim the phone is and the durable hinge and water protection.
We are just not sure if that very high $1,800 price is justified considering the slower Tensor G2 chip inside, and those who buy this phone should know that it is one of the heaviest foldable phones around.
But for what it’s worth, the Pixel Fold is exciting! It looks durable and has longer battery life than most foldables. Should you buy it? If you want a foldable phone, yes! But you might want to wait out a couple of weeks to see if there are any major durability issues considering this is a first-gen foldable phone.