India saw the release of Google’s first foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Review the features and cost here.

Google has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the launch of its much-anticipated Pixel 9 Pro Fold in India. As Google’s first foldable device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold represents a significant step forward for the company, aiming to combine the best features of the Pixel lineup with the innovative form factor of a foldable phone. This article will explore the key features, pricing, and the overall impact of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in the competitive Indian smartphone market.

Design and Build Quality: A New Era for Pixel

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold marks a bold departure from Google’s traditional smartphone designs. Embracing the foldable form factor, Google has crafted a device that seamlessly blends functionality with aesthetics. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a dual-screen setup: a large 7.6-inch inner display that unfolds to create a tablet-like experience, and a 6.2-inch outer display that functions as a standard smartphone screen when the device is folded.

Google has prioritized build quality, using premium materials such as Gorilla Glass Victus on both displays and an aerospace-grade aluminum frame. The device feels sturdy in hand, with a smooth hinge mechanism that allows for easy folding and unfolding. The hinge itself has been rigorously tested for durability, ensuring that it can withstand years of use without compromising the device’s integrity.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also designed with portability in mind. Despite its large inner display, the device remains relatively slim and compact when folded, making it easy to carry in a pocket or bag. The overall design is sleek and modern, with minimal bezels and a clean, understated aesthetic that is typical of Google’s Pixel series.

Display: Dual Screens, Dual Purpose

One of the standout features of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is its dual-screen setup. The inner display is a 7.6-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling. This display is perfect for multitasking, watching videos, or playing games, providing an immersive experience that rivals that of tablets.

When folded, the outer display serves as a regular smartphone screen. At 6.2 inches, it’s large enough for all your daily tasks, from texting and browsing to using apps and taking photos. This display also features a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring a consistent experience whether the device is folded or unfolded.

Google has optimized its software to take full advantage of the foldable design. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold runs on Android 14, with a custom UI that allows for seamless switching between the inner and outer displays. Apps can be resized and repositioned to make the most of the available screen real estate, and features like split-screen multitasking and drag-and-drop functionality are fully supported.

Performance: Powerhouse Under the Hood

Under the hood, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by Google’s own Tensor G3 chipset, which is designed to deliver top-tier performance while maintaining efficiency. The Tensor G3 is paired with 12GB of RAM, ensuring that the device can handle multiple apps and tasks simultaneously without any lag.

This powerhouse combination makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold one of the most capable foldable devices on the market. Whether you’re editing photos, streaming high-definition content, or playing graphics-intensive games, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold delivers smooth and responsive performance.

Storage options for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold include 256GB, 512GB, and a top-tier 1TB model. While there is no option for expandable storage via microSD, the generous internal storage options should suffice for most users, especially those who frequently capture high-resolution photos and videos.

Camera System: Google’s Imaging Excellence

Google’s Pixel series is renowned for its camera capabilities, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is no exception. The device features a triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. This versatile camera system allows users to capture stunning photos in a variety of scenarios, from wide landscapes to detailed close-ups.

The primary sensor benefits from Google’s advanced computational photography algorithms, delivering sharp, vibrant images even in challenging lighting conditions. Night Sight, Google’s acclaimed low-light photography mode, is better than ever on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, producing clear, noise-free photos in near-darkness.

The ultra-wide-angle lens offers a 120-degree field of view, perfect for capturing expansive scenes or large group photos. Meanwhile, the telephoto lens brings distant subjects closer without sacrificing detail, making it ideal for portrait photography or zooming in on faraway objects.

The front-facing camera is equally impressive, with a 12MP sensor housed in a punch-hole cutout on the outer display. This camera supports Google’s advanced portrait mode, ensuring that selfies look professional with natural background blur.

Video recording capabilities are also top-notch, with support for 4K video at 60fps on both the rear and front cameras. Google’s software enhancements, such as Super Res Zoom and HDR+ processing, further elevate the video quality, making the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a versatile tool for content creators.

Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power

Powering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a 5,000mAh battery, designed to provide all-day usage even with the demands of a dual-screen setup. Google has optimized the device’s power consumption to ensure that users can go through a full day of work, entertainment, and communication without needing to recharge.

When it’s time to recharge, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold supports 30W fast charging, capable of bringing the battery from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes. Wireless charging is also supported, along with reverse wireless charging, allowing the device to charge other gadgets like earbuds or smartwatches on the go.

Google has integrated AI-driven battery management features into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which learn your usage patterns and optimize power consumption accordingly. This means that over time, the device will intelligently manage background processes and adjust performance settings to maximize battery life.

Software and Features: A Google Experience

As with all Pixel devices, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a pure Android experience, free from bloatware and unnecessary apps. Running on Android 14, the device benefits from Google’s latest software innovations, including enhanced privacy controls, new customization options, and improved performance.

One of the highlights of the software experience on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is its integration with Google’s ecosystem of services. Features like Google Assistant, Google Photos, and Google Lens are deeply embedded into the user experience, providing seamless access to information and smart tools. The device also comes with five years of guaranteed software updates, ensuring that users will continue to receive the latest features and security patches.

Price and Availability: A Premium Offering

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is positioned as a premium device in the Indian market, reflecting its cutting-edge technology and innovative design. The pricing for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at ₹1,49,999 for the 256GB variant, ₹1,69,999 for the 512GB variant, and ₹1,89,999 for the 1TB variant.

Given its premium price, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is aimed at tech enthusiasts and professionals who are looking for a versatile device that combines the best of both smartphones and tablets. Google is offering the device in three color options: Obsidian Black, Snow White, and a limited-edition Matte Blue.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available for purchase through Google’s online store, as well as major e-commerce platforms and select retail outlets across India. Google is also offering a range of accessories for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, including protective cases, a stylus, and a foldable stand, allowing users to personalize their device and enhance their experience.

Conclusion: A Game-Changer in the Foldable Market

With the launch of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google has made a strong entry into the foldable smartphone market in India. The device’s combination of innovative design, powerful performance, and Google’s software expertise sets it apart in a competitive landscape.

While the premium price tag may limit its appeal to a niche audience, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a compelling proposition for those seeking the latest in smartphone technology. As foldable devices continue to gain popularity, Google’s entry into this space with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold could mark the beginning of a new era for the Pixel series, one that embraces the future of mobile computing.