Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Pixel Fold: Should You Upgrade? (2024)

Google recently debuted the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a follow-up to its 2023 Pixel Fold. This fresh folding phone opens and closes like a book to reveal a large inner screen for multitasking and consuming content. Despite the similarities in form factor, nearly everything about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is updated compared with the original. Let's break down the specs, features, and everything else to see if upgrading from the Pixel Fold to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is worth it.

Full Specs

Price

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold costs $1,799 for the 16GB/256GB model or $1,919 for the 16GB/512GB model.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The Pixel Fold is no longer available, but Google sold it for the same price as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Getting the new phone for the same price as the old phone is always nice to see. If you have the cash or can get a fair trade on your old Pixel Fold, it's worth considering.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Size

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is still a book-style foldable like its predecessor, but Google has updated the dimensions a bit. Closed, it measures 6.1 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches (HWD), which is taller, narrower, and thinner than the previous model's 5.5 by 3.1 by 0.5 inches. The 9 Pro Fold also drops a significant amount of weight, from 10.0 ounces to 9.1 ounces.

When open, it measures 6.1 by 5.9 by 0.2 inches, compared with the original's dimensions of 5.5 by 6.2 by 0.3 inches. Again, the new phone is taller and narrower. These dimensions are hard to grasp on paper, but in person, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels more natural to hold and use.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Design

The new dimensions mean Google has changed much of the new phone's design. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has an aluminum frame that circles the outer edges of the phone and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the front and rear panels. This is similar to the original. The metal has a polished look, while the glass has a matte finish—again, the same as the old model. Further, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes in Obsidian (black) or Porcelain (white), just like its predecessor. Both phones have an IPX8 rating for protection against water.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

What sets them apart? Primarily the hinge and the camera module. The all-new hinge is made from multi-alloy steel with a high-strength aluminum cover. Critically, it opens to 180 degrees, so the phone lays flat. The original Fold didn't open all the way and created a V-shaped angle in the middle, which detracted from the experience of using it.

Google has completely redesigned the camera bar. Instead of a long rectangle that stretches across the rear panel as it does on the Pixel Fold, the camera module of the 9 Pro Fold is squarish and stacks the cameras on top of each other. It's also more pronounced, jutting from the glass a bit.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Displays

Google fully updated both Pixel 9 Pro Fold screens, which should provide a better experience. The outer display measures 6.3 inches—matching the size and resolution of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro screens exactly. It's an Actua Display with 2,424 by 1,080 pixels and a density of 422 pixels per inch (ppi). Its refresh rate varies from 60Hz to 120Hz, and the screen supports HDR content at 24 bits with a 2-million-to-1 contrast ratio, 1,800 nits of typical brightness, and up to 2,700 nits peak. The Pixel Fold has a squatter 5.8-inch outer screen with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR content.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The Pixel Pro 9 Fold has a large 8-inch inner screen with 2,076 by 2,152 pixels at 373ppi, a 1-to-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ultra-thin glass, a 2-million-to-1 contrast ratio, and 1,600 nits of typical brightness, with up to 2,700 nits peak. The Pixel Fold's inner screen measures 7.6 inches, with 2,208 by 1,840 pixels at 378ppi, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The biggest differentiator here is brightness. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is significantly brighter than the outgoing phone, which makes it much easier to use in various lighting conditions. If you have a hard time seeing the screens of the Pixel Fold, the new device should improve the experience markedly.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Performance

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by the new Google Tensor G4 chip with Titan M2 coprocessor. The G4 is an update to the G3 and includes faster clock speeds, more efficient GPU performance, quick app load times, and higher power efficiency. It's also better at handling on-device machine learning. The Pixel Fold shipped with an even older Tensor G2 chip from 2022. While the G2 was a solid foundation, the G4 has a huge advantage.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

RAM is another consideration. The Pixel Fold has 12GB of RAM, while the 9 Pro Fold boosts that to 16GB. A faster processor with 33% more RAM means multitudes when it comes to everyday performance and AI tasks in particular.

The phones are comparable in terms of storage. Both are available in 256GB and 512GB models. We wonder why Google doesn't offer a 1TB model, which it does for the non-folding Pixel 9 Pro.

The 9 Pro Fold supports sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G and will run on the C-band spectrum and high-frequency spectrum available from US carriers. It upgrades from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7, has dual-antenna Bluetooth 5.3, an Ultra-Wideband chip for location accuracy, NFC for mobile payments, and dual-band GNSS/GPS.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Battery Life

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650mAh battery that Google claims will last for more than 24 hours with regular use and can stretch up to 72 hours using the Extreme Battery Saver Mode. Google made similar claims about the Pixel Fold, which has a larger 4,821mAh battery. Sadly, the Pixel Fold has the shortest battery amongst book-style foldables we've tested at just 8 hours. We truly hope the power efficiency gains of the Tensor G4 lead to longer battery life from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The phone does charge faster. It supports up to 30W of wired charging with Google's new 45W USB-C charger, though Google didn't define expected charging times. The older Pixel Fold tops out at a slightly slower 27W.

Winner: Too early to tell

Cameras

Google hasnt improved the camera hardware too much. Determining which foldable comes out on top will depend on how the Tensor G4 processor behaves and how Google's latest algorithms impact photos and videos.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The 9 Pro Fold has a 48MP main camera at f/1.7, an 82-degree field of view, and laser autofocus, which is exactly the same as the Pixel Fold. The ultra-wide camera changes from an 11MP camera on the older Fold to a 10.5MP camera on the 9 Pro Fold. It carries over the same f/2.2 aperture and 121-degree field of view. The telephoto camera also changes from an 11MP shooter to a 10.8MP shooter and changes the aperture from f/3.05 to f/3.1. It packs 5x optical zoom and up to 20x Super Res Zoom, which is the same as the older phone.

The outer and inner selfie cameras appear to be carried over directly from the original Pixel Fold. They capture 10MP photos, both at f/2.2 and with 87-degree fields of view.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

On the video side, the 9 Pro Fold can capture footage in 4K resolution at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second (fps) with the rear cameras. The big change is software-based, in the form of Video Boost. With this, 4K footage uploaded to the cloud will be upconverted to 8K with HDR for higher-quality end results. The old Fold doesn't get that.

New software features for the 9 Pro Fold include Add Me, which lets you add yourself to a group shot, and Made You Look, to grab the attention of kids when it comes time to take a shot.

Winner: Too early to tell

Software and Gemini

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold ships with Android 14, which is disappointing considering that Android 15 is practically ready to go. The Pixel Fold is already running Android 14. Both will get Android 15 once it is ready. However, the 9 Pro Fold will receive 7 years of OS and security updates, while the Pixel Fold will only get 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The other aspect to consider is Gemini AI. Yes, Gemini runs on the Pixel Fold, but it does so slowly. On the 9 Pro Fold, Gemini is baked into the OS from the start. Moreover, Gemini Live is a powerful addition to the 9 Pro Fold that works a lot like an AI chatbot. If the latest AI is a top priority to you, it's time to upgrade.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro Fold

And The Winner Is...

The Pixel Fold was a solid entry point into the foldable space for Google. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is markedly better in almost every way. If you already own a Pixel Fold, you can still get more life out of it, but it's worth seeing how much money you can get to trade it in. Based on specs alone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is worth it.

That said, we'll be putting the phone to the test, so check back soon for our official review.