Is the new Google Pixel 9 Fold Pro the ultimate do-it-all device?
Google's Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Fold Pro go head to head in our hands-on test of the latest generation of AI-infused smartphones
Should you switch to a folding phone? Google’s annual deluge of new product – the ninth iteration of its Pixel phone series – marks the arrival of a better, more sorted Pixel Fold. At the same time, the standard Pixel line-up has also expanded, with a new Pixel 9 Pro XL taking the top slot.
We’ve road-tested both the regular Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The latter is a definite step on from the original Google Pixel Fold, even if it shares that device’s extremely high price. It’s thinner, lighter, longer-lasting and now comes with Google’s much-vaunted AI assistance, an integral part of this current generation of Pixel phones (and watch and earbuds).
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Pixel 9 Pro: which is right for you?
Despite the epic internal screen, the new Fold is only a smidgen thicker that the Pixel 9 Pro and a few millimetres wider, an impressive feat of miniaturisation. As before, the hinged screen is the weak point; anecdotal evidence regarding the previous generation suggested it was marginally more delicate than a regular smartphone and that any failures were more catastrophic. It is theoretically repairable, nevertheless, with industry leader iFixit offering a comprehensive set of parts and instructions for its predecessor, so expect new guides soon.
The Fold certainly spoils you – once you've used one for a bit, it's hard to go back to a ‘regular’ screen, especially for watching videos and editing photographs. Pair it with a compact Bluetooth keyboard and you have an ultra-compact, albeit pricey laptop. You can even angle the screen to 90 degrees and expand a keyboard across the lower half, creating an even tinier laptop substitute.
A folding smartphone can effectively be used just like a regular device most of the time: the party-trick screen expansion only needs to come out when it's absolutely necessary, not just as an embarrassing flex. Indeed, the vast majority of people won't even notice that you’re using a folding phone, as the design is so well integrated, with its smart and sturdy steel hinge. Unless you're a perennial show-off, they can stay in the dark.
If the added functionality and scale feels completely superfluous, how does the new Google Pixel 9 Pro stack up in comparison? As mentioned, the Pixel range has grown somewhat with the introduction of another size, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which becomes the top tier (non-folding device). With a 6.8in screen, the 9 Pro XL is bigger than the old Pixel 8 Pro (6.7in) – the new Pixel 9 Pro is now shrunk down to a 6.3in screen. This is the same size as the new entry-level Pixel 9, which lacks some of the features and camera functions of the Pro models.
We road-tested the Pixel 9 Pro, and although the size deflation was initially a bit jarring after the relentless but subtle year-on-year growth of smartphones, it’s actually quite refreshing to take a physical downgrade. Nothing else about this phone is a step down, however, apart from the battery size (the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5060mAh battery, equivalent to the old Pixel 8 Pro, whereas the smaller Pixel 9 Pro makes do with a 4700mAh battery). Box-fresh phones have box-fresh batteries, and it’s only six-to-eight months down the line that you start paying attention to battery life.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
The big question is whether the combination of a new chip (Google’s own Tensor G4) and a massively increased reliance on power-hungry AI computing will sap the battery at a faster rate than ever before. Naturally, this depends on how much you wish to rely on the powers of Gemini. Google wants you to go all-in, having spent the past 18 months or so preparing the market for Gemini’s capabilities as a smart digital assistant that replaces a traditional search engine.
‘Our ultimate goal [is to make] AI helpful for everyone,’ the company claims and in the short term the benefits are placed squarely on photography, more of which later. However, Gemini also operates as an overlay on regular apps (with permission), adding a layer of automated suggestions and search functions. All new Pixel Pros also come with 12 months of Gemini Advanced, a subscription-only service that adds more depth and breadth to the responses, together with Gemini Live.
Consider the latter as a search engine you talk to, with excellent voice recognition and the ability to splice together several different strands of information in a coherent, conversational way. Apart from a few superficial chats about the weather, and asking it to do a couple of sums, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what Gemini can do. Google clearly believes the current strain of AI is most valuable in assistant form, rather than as a content generator.
With that in mind, both devices also give you Pixel Studio, Google’s AI-powered image creation app, now with the newest Imagen 3 engine. Google’s generative AI came under fire earlier in the year when it was found to be an enthusiastic creator of various offensive images, thanks to some malicious prompters.
You’re either an enthusiastic fan of generative AI or consider it to be a mortal enemy of creation; in our experience, it’s a novelty experience that swiftly tips into banality. Proponents claim that the tech is improving all the time, but to what end? We asked Pixel Studio to ‘show me an accurate image of a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold smartphone open on a desktop’, and this is what we got (below). The lack of self-awareness is surprising and also a little bit concerning.
The Pixel range is now broader than ever, with a flagship device that might just change the way you use your mobile. It’s still a very intentional experience opening up a folding phone, more akin to getting a laptop out and doing some serious work rather than just noodling about on a handset. If that appeals, then consider the Google Pixel 9 Fold Pro as your new pocketable powerhouse. If straightforward smartphone use is more your thing, then the new Pixel 9 Pro is the best new phone around.
Google Pixel 9 Pro 128 GB, £999, Store.Google.com
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold 256 GB, £1,749, Store.Google.com
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Arlo NoMad hotel makes the American diner officially cool again
The NoMad Diner NYC’s interiors and menu offer an elevated take on an American classic
By Dan Howarth Published
-
Playful new furniture from Aspesi and Vetsak is dressed to impress
The ‘Transformation’ collection includes a chunky, modular Vetsak sofa, pillows and blankets clad in Aspesi outerwear fabrics
By Simon Mills Published
-
The new Beetle? PIX Moving’s Robo-EV is an insectoid concept car for urban travel
Melding generative design, 3D printing and an onboard AI, the Robo-EV crams as much future tech as possible into a tiny four-wheeled footprint
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
A treasure trove of tech history goes online with the unveiling of the Nokia Design Archive
Aalto University launches the Nokia Design Archive, an online repository that charts the pioneering history of Finland’s legendary mobile phone manufacturer
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Alpange’s high-tech piano makes its New York debut. Does it hit the high notes?
We lift the lid on Alpange’s high-tech digital piano, a blend of traditional craft and contemporary modelling technology
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
First look: Leica Cine Play 1 brings premium style and tech to the world of home cinema
Leica compresses its meticulous optic know-how into the ultra-compact Cine Play 1 4K projector
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition taps into the brand's creative followers
The unconventional features of Nothing Phone (2a)’s new limited edition come from a community-driven project to reshape the style and ethos of the smartphone
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Epson’s Mini Laser Projectors with Google TV make light work of home cinema
The Epson EF-22 is an ultra-compact, highly versatile laser projector that can fill a room with sound and images
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Aarke has created the ultimate collection for caffeine lovers, the Aarke Coffee System
The new Aarke Coffee System consists of three elegant components, part of the Swedish company’s ongoing quest to reshape the world of appliances
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Huawei’s new MatePad Pro 12.2-inch tablet is a game-changer for digital artistry
With pro-level creative features, from delicate brushwork to myriad surface choices, the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2-inch makes extraordinary art a possibility and a pleasure
By Simon Mills Published
-
All-new Nothing Ear (open) offers up a different kind of listening experience
If you find traditional earbuds cancel out too much of the outside world, Nothing has got you covered. We get down with the company’s new Ear (open) to experience this transparent new soundscape
By Jonathan Bell Published