Google got a lot of benefits with the Pixel Fold, namely its spacious cover screen and high-quality rear camera system. But Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 has just been launched, and its sleeker design and lighter construction make me look forward to more for Google’s next foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The search giant will unveil the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at an event on August 13, during which we expect to learn more about Google’s smartphone plans. Most importantly, I hope Google will do something that foldable phone manufacturers haven’t done yet: invent compelling new software features specifically for foldable phones.
I probably sound like a broken record. But as the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 shows, phone makers still haven’t made much progress in taking advantage of software for multiple screens. While the ability to open the device to take a photo or view apps in split-screen mode is helpful, I’d like to see more creative ways to utilize the foldable phone’s two screens.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expected to arrive at a time when the foldable phone market continues to grow, although it will still represent a small portion of the overall phone market. International Data Corporation said in a report provided to CNET that foldable phone shipments will increase by 33% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024.
Google’s next foldable product may feature a new processor and some design tweaks, the latter of which Google has confirmed via images posted on its website. But this is where the Pixel 9 Pro Fold needs to keep up with Samsung and address my biggest criticism of the first-generation Pixel Fold.
read more:Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Fold 5: Testing Samsung’s new ultra-wide camera sensor
More innovative software features
The Pixel Fold (and other foldable phones) could use more creative software features.
If you’re going to pay top dollar for a foldable phone, you’re going to want an experience that’s noticeably different from your regular candy bar phone. For some, the benefit of having both a tablet-sized internal screen and a phone-sized screen might check that box. But now that foldable phones have been widely available for about five years, I’d like to see more from the likes of Google on the software side.
While book-style foldables have the chance to become a new type of device entirely, we still think of them as larger smartphones. I recently wrote that Samsung should implement something similar to Apple’s standby mode for the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cover screen, and I think Google should do the same.
In fact, it’s in a better position to do so. Not only is the front screen of the Pixel Fold wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but Google can also learn from the experience of the Pixel tablet to create a smart display interface for the cover screen.
I hope Google’s next foldable phone takes a page from the Pixel tablet (pictured) for its cover screen.
Gemini still has room to grow on devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Given that Google is emphasizing the Gemini’s multimodal capabilities—the ability to handle a variety of inputs such as voice, images, text, and more—I was curious to see if it could be used in interesting ways with Google’s foldable device.
Unlike traditional phones, devices like the Pixel Fold don’t require a separate stand or tripod to support them. This makes it easier to operate the camera and screen simultaneously without having to hold the device. I wonder what this means for Gemini going forward as Google digs deeper into its multimodal nature.
Regardless, it’s great to see a Gemini version customized specifically for the Pixel Fold’s dual screens. Google is already thinking about this; the Gemini overlay that appears when you summon the virtual assistant will soon work in multi-view mode on the Z Fold 6. It seems likely that Google will incorporate the same functionality into its own foldable device.
We’ll likely hear a lot about the Gemini during Google’s August 13 event, as the Gemini placeholder product pages for the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold suggest.
Thinner and lighter design
Compared to newer foldable phones, the Pixel Fold feels heavy.
Now that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is on the market, it’s time for Google to step up its design game. The Pixel Fold weighs 283 grams, which is significantly heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at 239 grams, and is also a bit thicker than the Z Fold 6 when open (5.8 mm vs. 5.6 mm). Honor and Xiaomi are further ahead in this regard; the Honor Magic V3 weighs 226 grams, while the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 weighs only 4.59mm when unfolded.
Size and weight may not be the most important factors for a phone, but making the Pixel 9 Pro Fold more compact will go a long way toward making it feel less cumbersome and more natural. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s lighter design was the first thing I noticed when I picked it up, and I hope Google’s next foldable device leaves a similar impression. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Pixel Fold feels bulky.
Design is more important for foldable phones than for regular phones. The thinner and lighter these devices are, the less they will feel like two phones sandwiched together. Additionally, their unconventional appearance has attracted attention, which makes their aesthetics even more important. According to Google’s images, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will indeed get a makeover compared to its predecessor. However, it’s unclear whether the phone will be thinner or lighter.
Improved inner screen
Google’s next foldable phone may feature narrower bezels and less noticeable creases compared to the Pixel Fold (pictured).
The Pixel Fold’s internal screen may need an upgrade, especially if Google wants to keep up with Samsung. As I wrote in my review , the Pixel Fold display has noticeably thick bezels, which can make a tablet-sized screen feel less immersive. The crease is also noticeable on the Pixel Fold, especially next to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open.
I doubt the crease will ever truly disappear on foldable phones, not just those made by Google. But the more discreet it is, the more it feels like a cross between a phone and a tablet.
Images on Google’s website hint that the company has made some changes to the screen bezels. Renders posted by serial tech leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer on the blog 91Mobiles claim to show off the design of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, suggesting that Google will indeed shrink the bezels around the internal display. But we’ll know more once Google launches the phone.
Years of software updates
Google has extended its software update schedule with the Pixel 8 series. We hope the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does the same.
The Pixel Fold won’t get a new version of Android until 2026, about three years after launch. It will also receive security updates for five years from launch.
However, Google raised the bar last year and guaranteed Android updates for the Pixel 8 series for seven years, so I hope it continues this trend with the next generation of foldable phones. A device as expensive as the Pixel Fold should get updates for more than three years. (Its flexible display and body should last a long time, too.)
lower price
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 (pictured) is $100 more expensive than last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 5.
There’s no sugar-coating it; foldable phones are expensive. This is especially true for book-style foldable devices like the Pixel Fold. Perhaps it’s unrealistic to think that Google can make all of the above improvements while also lowering the price of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Still, the Pixel Fold’s $1,800 price tag is still significantly higher than the average selling price of a North American smartphone in the first quarter of 2023 (which was $790, according to Canalys).
Meanwhile, Samsung just increased the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 by $100 over the Z Fold 5. s Choice.
We’ll learn more about Google’s next foldable phone on August 13th.
Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 6 is square and looks good
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