Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
There are some strange omissions on this device compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. The exterior screen (the one you’ll use the most), does not feature LTPO technology, which allows the display to dynamically ratchet from 1 to 120 Hz. This is a more battery-efficient process, but instead, the Fold will only go from 60 to 120 Hz. This is nitpicky, but again, you’re spending $1,800 only to find this flagship feature is not available. (It is available on the inner screen.)
On other Pixel phones, you can top up other devices—like your earbuds’ charging case—wirelessly with a feature called Battery Share. I have never felt the need to use this feature, but it’s not available on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Also, some camera features don’t exist, like Cinematic Blur, which adds a portrait mode effect to your videos. Oh, and don’t forget this device is rated IPX8, so it’s fine to submerge it in a pool, but be careful with dust (avoid the beach!).
The most annoying flub is wireless charging. It’s supported on this device, but it doesn’t work with Google’s very own Pixel Stand Gen 2 wireless charger because the coils do not align. (Google says the Pixel Stand is discontinued but … it’s still selling the charger on its storefront.) Curiously enough, I tried to see if wireless charging worked on a few other charging stands I had lying around and the answer was no. Well, sort of. It works on some if you put the phone in landscape orientation, but not if you place it in portrait on a stand. You’ll be better off using a charging pad that sits flat.
Overall, the camera system is similar but not identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, and while the results are generally great, I have noticed images from the ultrawide and telephoto cameras are noticeably not as sharp in low-light conditions compared to the cheaper sibling. I also don’t like the fact that the selfie camera on this phone doesn’t feature autofocus. It’s nice that you can take selfies with the superior rear cameras, but sometimes you don’t want to unfold the whole thing, and then your photo isn’t as sharp as what you get with the Pixel 9 Pro.
It’s these types of little things that add up to make the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feel a bit … weird. It does its job well if a mini tablet is what you want—I prefer using it over the Galaxy Z Fold 6—but Google needs to work on its feature parity so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out on the latest and greatest when you have the company’s most expensive piece of hardware in your hands.