Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Pixel Fold: What’s New
Aug. 14, 2024ThePixel 9 seriesis now official, and thePixel 9 Pro Foldhas to be its biggest show-stoppers. The foldable features all the latest bells and whistles found in other 9 series devices. But given this is Google’s second attempt at a foldable, it begs the question. How big of an improvement the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold is over the last year’s model? Let’s find out in this Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Pixel Fold comparison.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Pixel Fold: Specs at Glance
The biggest shift we are seeing between the two devices has to be in terms of design. The original Pixel Fold went for a wider passport-style look. However, this time, Google has gone with ataller aspect ratiowhich gives the device, a more typical smartphone-like presence in hand. Plus, it matches the design language of the other 9 series devices from the front. The rest of the look remains the same, with themetal stem and framecovering the phone.
When unfolded, the generation gap between them is pretty evident. I’ll reserve talking about the screen for the next section. But you can see that the newer model hasslimmer bezelsand the selfie camera has also shifted to the display instead of the bezel. This makes the inner display look exactly like the OnePlus Open.
The 9 Pro Fold also features a new hinge. It helps the phone gocompletely flat, which the older Fold couldn’t do, plus the crease is also less visible. Going over the rest of the device, you’ll notice the power and the volume controls on the right. The power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor. On the bottom, there’s the USB-C 3.2 port, the speaker grill, and the SIM card tray. While the top houses the mic and the second speaker.
At the back, we get to see thenew camera module. Even though I prefer the look of Pixel Fold’s camera bar that stretches across the back of the phone, this one looks clean and sophisticated. And if you are a Power Ranger Zeo fan, you might have noticed the resemblance to Yellow Ranger’s helmet. But it isprone to wobblewhen you put it flat on a table.
Oh, and before I forget, both devices have anIPX8 ratingso you’ve got nothing to worry about water, but just be careful around dust. Overall, there is no doubt that while Pixel 9 Pro still has a lot of catching up to do with other foldables, it is a big improvement over last year’s Pixel Fold.
I have already mentioned that the new device comes with a taller aspect ratio. This allows it to have a bigger6.3-inchdisplay, compared to 5.8 inches on the Pixel Fold. Other than the size, the rest of the feature list remains identical with a120Hzrefresh rate, 1080p resolution, and HDR support. Also, worth noting is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s cover display is protected by the latestGorilla Glass Victus 2, while the Pixel Fold came with Victus 1.
The inner display has also gone larger from 7.6 inches in last year’s model to8.0 inchesthis time around. This increase in size is coupled with a new 1:1 aspect ratio with higher resolution, coming in at 2076 x 2152 (374 PPI). Even with better resolution, the OG Pixel Fold takes the lead in pixel density with 378 PPI with its 1840 x 2208 resolution display.
Both inner displays feature a refresh rate of 120Hz, HDR 10+, and 10-bit colors. However, neither has the same level of protection as the cover screens. So you’ll likely see scratch marks all over the screen during your usage, which was something the Pixel Fold was easily prone to.
Talking about internals, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with Google’s latestTensor G4chipset. It’s based on Samsung’s 4-nanometer architecture. This is a huge jump compared to Pixel Fold’s tensor G2, which is two generations behind and uses the older 5 nm architecture.
From the table, you can see that the newer G4 features morepowerful clocked cores. So it should be able to handle more demanding tasks with ease. The Tensor G2 still holds up pretty well, but when it comes to multitasking, it does show its age and takes a breather from time to time.
None of the two chipsets won’t win any awards for performance or playing games without any hiccups. However, the Tensor G4 should be able to provide a more consistent and smoother experience overall.
On the software side, both devices run on Google’s Pixel UI. But the 9 Pro Fold comes withAndroid 14out of the box. Given both are running the same flavor of Android, there is not a major difference between them on the UI side of things.
Except for two key factors. The first is that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will receive7 years of OS updates. This means it should go up to Android 21. In comparison, the Pixel Fold only gets 5 years. Since it came out with Android 13, it will go up to Android 18 at max.
And the Pixel 9 Pro Fold also comes with Google’son-device AIcapabilities with Gemini Nano. Every AI feature the company has in its sleeve is in full display on the latest fold. The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, will not receive most of these AI features given its older chipset. This also gives the 9 Pro a big advantage over the regular Fold in the software department.
For some reason, Google opted for the same48 MPprimary camera on the new Fold as its older model. Now by no means it is a bad lens. It has an aperture of f/1.7, an 82-degree field of view, and a 1/2″ sensor with 0.8 μm pixel size along with OIS. We have seen its capabilities and ability to perform in any lighting situation. But that’s also partly thanks to Google’s computational photography, which does most of the heavy lifting.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also retains the10.8 MP 5x telephotocamera. But there’s a new10.5 MP ultra-widelens, compared to the 10.8 MP sensor in the last generation.
For selfies, there’s a new 10 MP shooter on the cover and inner display of the 9 Pro Fold. This should offer better results than Pixel Fold’s 8.5 MP inner display camera. Both the phones can do 4K videos at 30 and 60 FPS without issues. Though, the Tensor G2 does start to get warm after 5–10 mins of recording. There’s also 1080 p recording at 30/60/120 and 240 FPS for super slo-mo captures.
The Google Pixel Fold came with a 4,821 mAh battery capacity, which gave about 5–6 hours of screen-on time. These are decent numbers, given the foldable form factor usually compromises the battery life. For some odd reason, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes with a lower capacity4,650 mAhbattery. Coupled with the more efficient 4-nm chip, it should get a comparable screen-on-time as the Pixel Fold.
Like the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, the fold gets a bump in charging speed as it can quickly charge at 45 watts. So if your battery gets to 0, you shouldn’t have to wait long to use the phone again. The wireless charging speed is also increased to 23 watts from 7.5 watts.
If you have gone through the whole comparison, it should be pretty clear to you that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not going to win any awards for the best foldable phone. Especially given that we have so many better options, from Samsung and other Chinese OEMs. But it sure is a big upgrade over the original Google Pixel Fold.
The bigger display, the thinner bezels inside, and the newer processor does make a difference in key areas. This is where I felt that the Pixel Fold was lacking and felt a bit outdated at the time. But the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not a major upgrade that we were all hyped about when the leaks and the designs of the phone started popping up. Still, it is a great device in my opinion, and if you are in the U.S. and don’t want to go with Samsung, this is the next best bet.
As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.
