Here’s a very clear real-world look at Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold

There have been leaks aplenty in recent weeks showing every angle of Google’s Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL. But so far, the company’s second-generation foldable phone has managed to keep better cover ahead of next month’s product event. So much for that! As reported by Android Authority, new regulatory photos from Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) have fully revealed the Pixel Fold 2 Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The images confirm that Google is moving away from the short and squat passport-style design that helped the original Pixel Fold stand out from Samsung’s tall, narrow Galaxy Fold. Now, we’re getting something closer to the OnePlus Open. The outer display still looks very usable in terms of how much screen real estate you’ve got to work with, but it’s definitely taller than before.

Around back, these photos also confirm that the 9 Pro Fold will ditch the camera bar, which has become one of Google’s signature hardware elements. This time, it’ll be… well, I’m not quite sure what you’d call this style of camera housing. It looks big enough to prevent the phone from having an annoying wobble when laid down on a table at least. As for the inner display, again, the screen ratio is noticeably taller and narrower compared to the original Fold, and it looks as though Google has managed to shave down the bezels some.

The tradeoff there is that the inner camera is now a cutout on the upper-left part of the display, whereas, last time, it was part of the bezel, giving you an uninterrupted display. I think I prefer the latter approach, but it is what it is. Another thing that has me a little wary is the battery. Apparently Google is going with a slightly smaller capacity (4,560mAh) this time, and the first Pixel Fold (4,727mAh) wasn’t exactly what I’d call a longevity champ. Maybe the company’s latest Tensor processor will help make up for that with some efficiency gains.

I’ve used the Pixel Fold as my daily driver for a good chunk of the last year. There’s just something about it that continues to feel special. Sure, it quickly got lapped in screen brightness by the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the speakers sound pretty bad, and many app developers never really bothered optimizing their software for the device. Here’s hoping the second try can correct a few of those downsides for a better overall package — even if it’s still likely to cost upward of $2,000.