Highlights
- The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is significantly thinner than its predecessor.
- The new durable hinge and a “phone first” design approach is based on user feedback.
- The device also features a redesigned camera bar.
It appears Google really wants you to know how much work and thought has gone into redesigning the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The second-generation foldable is something Google genuinely seems to be proud of and the company is not shying away from sharing their pride with you.
The company shared a blog post on Google Blog yesterday detailing every thought and engineering that made Pixel 9 Pro Fold possible.
One of the major highlights of the newly launched foldable is how thinner it is.
The 9 Pro Fold is 1.5 millimetres thinner when closed and 0.7 millimetres when open compared to the first-generation Pixel Fold.
Video (Credit – Google Blog)
“We knew when we made the second one, it had to be thinner,” says Pixel product manager George Hwang.
What worked as a starting point for the current design tweaks and enhancement is insights into how people interacted with the original Pixel Fold.
Most first-generation users, while enjoying the new form factor and tablet-like experience, also want to use their foldable like a regular smartphone.
They want to be able to use their foldable phone close as much as open.
Explaining this, Google’s Director of Industrial Design Claude Zellweger said, “We saw that people were often using it closed.[….] That’s what led us to say, ‘Hey, we need to make this a phone first in terms of design. Our mantra became ‘phone first.’”
Video (Credit – Google Blog)
The “multi-alloy steel, high-strength aluminium alloy-covered ” hinge also played a role in making the device thinner.
Compared to last year, the new hinge is more durable.
Meanwhile, Google has repeatedly asked us to pay attention to the “snap” closing sound:
shhh close ur eyes and imagine the sound 🔊 pic.twitter.com/4rcD7GUOYu
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) August 29, 2024
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera bar design also differs from the rest of the series.
The camera bar doesn’t span the entire width.
Instead, its design is closer to that of the Pixel Fold.
Video (Credit – Google Blog)
Google explains that the “double-stacked” camera bar was used to accommodate a larger battery and thinner design while maintaining Pro camera features with “customized optical modules.”
Other custom elements include a thinner haptics driver, a smaller USB-C port, and an upgraded “vapour chamber and graphite thermal spreader” for improved thermal management.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Specs
GENERAL
Sim Type | Dual Sim, GSM+GSM |
Dual Sim | Yes |
Sim Size | Nano+eSim |
Device Type | Smartphone |
Release Date | September 19, 2024 (Expected) |
DESIGN
Dimensions | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
DISPLAY
Type | Color OLED Screen (16M Colors) |
Touch | Yes |
Size | 6.67 inches, 1440 x 3120 pixels, 144 Hz |
Aspect Ratio | 20.5:9 |
PPI | ~ 512 PPI |
Screen to Body Ratio | ~ 88.8% |
Glass Type | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus |
Features | HDR10+, Always-on Display |
Notch | Yes, Punch Hole |
MEMORY
RAM | 12 GB |
Storage | 256 GB |
Storage Type | UFS 4.0 |
Card Slot | No |
CONNECTIVITY
GPRS | Yes |
EDGE | Yes |
3G | Yes |
4G | Yes |
5G | Yes |
VoLTE | Yes, Dual Stand-By |
Vo5G | Yes |
Wifi | Yes, with wifi-hotspot |
Bluetooth | Yes, v5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
USB | Yes, USB-C v3.1 |
USB Features | USB Tethering, USB on-the-go, USB Charging |
EXTRA
GPS | Yes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, In Display |
Face Unlock | Yes |
Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Magnetometer, Ambient light sensor |
3.5mm Headphone Jack | No |
NFC | Yes |
Water Resistance | Yes, 1.5 m upto 30 min |
IP Rating | IP68 |
Dust Resistant | Yes |
Extra Features | Dual Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Noise Suppression |
CAMERA
Rear Camera | 50 MP (Wide Angle) 50 MP (Telephoto) 50 MP (Ultra Wide) with autofocus |
Features | Magic Eraser19, Motion Mode, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Panorama, Manual white balancing, Locked Folder, Night Sight, Top Shot, Portrait Mode, Portrait Light, Super Res Zoom, Motion autofocus, Frequent Faces, Dual exposure controls, Live HDR+ |
Video Recording | 4K, 1080p |
Flash | Yes, Dual LED |
Front Camera | Punch Hole 50 MP f/2.2 |
Front Video Recording | 4K, 1080p |
TECHNICAL
OS | Android v14 |
Chipset | Google Tensor G4 |
CPU | Octa Core Processor |
Java | No |
Browser | Yes |
MULTIMEDIA
Yes | |
Music | Yes |
Video | Yes |
FM Radio | No |
Document Reader | Yes |
BATTERY
Type | Non-Removable Battery |
Size | 5000 mAh, Li-Po Battery |
Fast Charging | Yes, 100W Fast Charging |
Wireless Charging | Yes, 65W |
Reverse Charging | Yes |
FAQs
Q1: What are the key features of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?
Answer. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a 6.3-inch external OLED display and an 8-inch internal OLED display.
It is powered by the Tensor G4 processor, has 16GB of RAM, and offers storage options of 256 GB and 512 GB.
The device features a triple rear camera setup with 48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP telephoto lenses, along with a 10MP front camera.
Q2. How does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s design differ from its predecessor?
Answer. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is significantly thinner than the original Pixel Fold, with a folded thickness reduced by 1.5mm and an open thickness reduced by 0.7mm.
The design follows a “phone first” philosophy, making it more user-friendly when closed.
It also features a new, more durable hinge and a redesigned camera bar.
Q3. What is the price of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?
Answer. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 (over INR 1,50,000 approximately) for the 256GB model.
The 512GB model is priced higher, reflecting its increased storage capacity.
Q4. What is new in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera system?
Answer. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features an improved ultrawide camera with a dedicated macro mode and better low-light performance.
The camera bar design has been adjusted to accommodate a larger battery while maintaining Pro camera features with customized optical modules.
Q5. What new features does the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offer?
Answer. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes several new features such as enhanced AI capabilities with Pixel Studio and Add Me, a super thin design, and a brighter main display.
It also supports multitasking with Split Screen and offers an elevated entertainment experience.
Also Read: Google Pixel 9 Pro Potentially Revealed in Detailed 5K Renders Months Ahead of Official Launch
Also Read: Possible Google Pixel 9 or Fold 2 Appears on UL Demko Certification