Design and Build

The Google Pixel Fold, Google’s first foldable, is built with a 100% recycled aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus cover glass, polished a stainless steel hinge, Unfolded, the size is 5.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches (139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mm) while it is folded, it’s 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches (139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm) in dimensions, and it weighs 10 ounces (283g), which is heavier than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (263g). The available colors are Porcelain and Obsidian, where it is one of the thinnest foldables during the launch but with thick bezels on the inner display. It is IPX8 rated for water resistance, but the complaints are about the hinge and the inner screen plastic layer which are not durable.

• 100% recycled aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus, stainless steel hinge
• IPX8 rating (water resistance, no dust protection)
• Under-display fingerprint sensor, no face unlock
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM

Pixel Fold Display

The Pixel Fold features a 5.8-inch OLED cover display (1080 x 2092, 408 PPI, 120Hz) and a 7.6-inch OLED inner display (2208 x 1840, 380 PPI, 120Hz). Both are HDR10+-enabled, with the cover display peaking at 1172 nits and the inner screen at 900 nits, so it is not as bright as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (2700 nits). The inner display has ultra-thin glass with a plastic layer which is susceptible to scratches, and unfortunately it shows rather obvious bezels. The screen on the cover is really useful, as it is wider than Z Fold 4 from Samsung which was not the case before.

• Cover: 5.8-inch OLED, 1080 x 2092, 408 PPI, 120Hz
• Inner: 7.6-inch OLED, 2208 x 1840, 380 PPI, 120Hz
• HDR10+ support
• 1172 nits (cover), 900 nits (inner)
• Gorilla Glass Victus (cover), ultra-thin glass (inner)

Performance and Software

The Pixel Fold is the driving force behind the Google Tensor G2 chip (5nm) equipped with an 8-core CPU, Mali-G710 MP7 GPU, and Titan M2 security chip. The device has 12GB LPDDR5 RAM options with 256GB ($1799) or 512GB ($1919) storage configurations, and no option of adding extra space. The operating system is Android 13 with the possibility of being upgraded to Android 15, and the news is that for another 5 years we will be getting OS and security updates till the end of June 2028. The inclusion of a taskbar and split-screen mode makes it a good multi-tasking experience, but when it comes to gaming, it fails to provide the same GPU performance found in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On the other hand, several users point out different bugs plaguing the system.

• Google Tensor G2 chip with 8-core CPU, Mali-G710 MP7 GPU, Titan M2
• 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
• Storage: 256GB, 512GB
• Android 13 (5 years of updates)
• Optimized for multitasking, foldable apps

The Tensor G2 handles multitasking and AI features like Magic Eraser well, but its gaming performance and thermal management disappoint. Critics praise the foldable software but note the high price and durability concerns.

Camera System

The Pixel Fold features a triple rear camera: 48MP main (f/1.7, 25mm, OIS), 10.8MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 121° FOV), and 10.8MP telephoto (f/3.05, 5x zoom). It has a 9.5MP cover camera (f/2.2) and an 8MP inner camera (f/2.0). Google’s computational photography delivers vibrant images, but the sensors are smaller than the Pixel 7 Pro’s, impacting low-light performance. Video is limited to 4K 60fps.

• Rear: 48MP Main (f/1.7, OIS), 10.8MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2), 10.8MP Telephoto (f/3.05, 5x)
• Cover: 9.5MP (f/2.2)
• Inner: 8MP (f/2.0)
• Video: 4K 60 fps
• Modes: Night Sight, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel Fold’s 4821mAh battery lasts about 10 hours of video playback or 8–10 hours in real-world use, weaker than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 12 hours. It supports 21W wired charging (50% in 35 minutes) and 7.5W wireless charging (Qi). No charger is included. Battery life is a weak point for a foldable, and charging speeds are slower than competitors like the Z Fold 4’s 25W.

• 4821mAh battery
• Up to 10 hours video playback, ~8–10 hours real-world
• 21W wired charging (50% in 35 min)
• 7.5W wireless charging (Qi)
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel Fold supports 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5.2. It includes UWB for precise location tracking, nano-SIM, and eSIM, but lacks satellite connectivity. GPS supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS. Some users report inconsistent 5G reception, a known issue with Exynos-based modems.

• 5G modem (sub-6GHz, mmWave)
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• UWB chip
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM
• No satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS

Pricing and Availability

Launched at $1799 for 256GB and $1919 for 512GB, the Pixel Fold began pre-orders on May 10, 2023, with sales starting June 28, 2023, via Google Store, carriers (AT&T, Verizon), and retailers like Amazon. Its high price drew criticism, especially given durability and battery life concerns. Discounts often bring it to $1200–$1400, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold ($1799) offers better value.