What’s the story?
The Pixel Fold is Google’s first ever foldable phone, comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. It was announced at Google I/O 2023 and can be pre-ordered now ahead of its June launch. It costs $1,799 / £1,749 (no Australian release planned).
What do I need to know about it?
It has a large 7.6-inch curved screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and a 5.8-inch external display for one-handed operation when closed. Inside is a Tensor G2 processor (same as the new Pixel 7a) and 12GB of RAM, which should keep things smooth and fast.
On the back is a triple camera system, with a wide-angle lens, a 5x zoom lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens – standard equipment on today’s best phones. The promise of up to 72 hours of battery life in Extreme Battery Saver Mode is nice – but expect more than 24 hours normally, says Google.
Most importantly, the version of Android it runs on is designed for foldable devices, with smart options like split-screen apps and table mode so you can lay it on a table like a laptop.
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What do we think?
In our first hands-on Pixel Fold review, we said “it looks like the experience could be higher than what Samsung currently offers with the Galaxy Z Fold 4.”
But what really stood out was the design: it’s much smaller and more pocketable than Samsung’s foldable phone, but also more usable. “It’s like they’re not in the same class,” said U.S. editor-in-chief Lance Ulanoff.
But we still have concerns about the thick frame inside, the bend in the middle of the screen and the fact that it is not completely flat when unfolded. Check back for our full review soon.