Google has seemingly settled on a design with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, emulating that of last year’s model. The details are where it matters, and even if this phone is thicker on a technicality, it cuts the fat in a lot of areas that make for a massive improvement, like battery and the new Tensor G5.
Across the entire Pixel lineup, Google has made some welcome changes. None of the slab models have made drastic changes in design, and neither has the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. In fact, the pessimists among us would point out that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is technically thicker than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, in a world where OEMs are bending over backwards to develop thinner foldables. More on that later.
It ain’t broke, so don’t fix it.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks fantastic, and the camera bump on the back still steal the show in accent details. That, alongside the new Moonstone and Jade colorways, Google is finally developing a foldable that says “we put serious effort into this.”
The sandblasted rails – complete with a physical SIM tray – and matte Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear panel make for an excellent-looking device, and the dimensions feel a lot better in-hand.
That’s due to one particular size change, and it isn’t the one you’re thinking of.
Yes, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is 0.3mm thicker than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That means it didn’t get thinner year-over-year, which is admittedly a bummer. However, the biggest change Google made is in the width. With a brand-new gearless hinge design that uses stronger materials and construction, Google was able to shave off almost the full side bezel, essentially balancing the device entirely.
The even bezels on both sides do wonders to make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feel like an entirely different device. Where the 0.3mm makes absolutely no discernible difference in depth, the 0.8mm shaved off the entire width feels like a massive change.
On top of that, the new hinge allows Google to increase the water and dust resistance to IP68. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold failed in dust resistance with no rating, but that’s now changed with a gearless build. Google says the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can withstand up to 10 years of folding, with around 50 folds per day, which puts it at around 180,000 cycles. That’s less than Samsung’s current promise for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but it’s pretty close. You shouldn’t have to worry unless you’re folding like a madlad.
Internally, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold boasts Google’s new Tensor G5 SoC paired with 16GB of RAM. That chip makes way for some of the company’s newest AI model features, like Magic Cue. Think of Magic Cue like the next step in on-device learning that’s often envisioned when someone mentions AI. The new tool predicts your needs using cues from device actions. Google gave the example of taking a call from an airline, where Magic Cue would present your flight details without any manual input.
This is a feature we weren’t able to test in full, but it’s something that would separate the Pixel lineup from other Android and iOS devices, if it were to work on a consistently successful basis.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold also brings a change in multitasking, where a 90/10 split is now available, and dragging media and items from one app to another is smooth. That’s allowed with up to three apps, now, which makes a big difference in using the Pixel’s crown jewel display. We expect to see this improvement make its way to previous Fold models in Android 16, though it’s nice to see in action.
Google is using the same 8-inch Super Actua display on the inside, while the outer display gets an 11% increase to 3,000 nits max brightness. Both displays get a brightness boost, in fact, and the bezels are thinner overall. In person, these displays feel similar to what we’re used to, because they’re very close, if not identical.
The back uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 as the primary material. Underneath, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold hides a long-awaited surprise: magnets!
Qi2 is finally here for the Pixel series, and that – fortunately – includes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google could have skipped this one, but that would have been a bad call, considering how big a deal this is for Android in general.
The Qi2 standard means two things: better wireless charging and magnetic fastening for accessories and chargers. With a new standard industry-wide, Google ensures that chargers and accessories play nice with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and no case is essential for that capability.
Google is launching a couple of Pixelsnap accessories that whet the palette, but in reality, most “MagSafe” accessories will work just fine. I used a Peak Design wallet on hand to make sure the alignment worked well, and it fits perfectly. The built-in magnets are plenty strong for wallets, batteries, stands, and more. In a quick test, the magnets used across the Pixel 10 phones were strong enough to hold up to aggressive jangling. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is heavier than the Pixel 10 Pro, but you get the point.
Qi2 magnets are here, and they’re a game changer for Pixel.
That extends into battery life. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is estimated, by Google, to get 30 hours of use. With the way the Pixel 9 Pro Fold eats battery, we expect a little less, but we still expect over a day. Our hands-on experience didn’t allow us to put the cell through its paces, but the 5,015mAh battery means plenty more life than the measly 4,650mAh cell in the 9 Pro Fold.
The addition of Qi2 means upgraded wireless charging to 15W. It isn’t as good as the gold standard of 25W, but it’s a speed win, for sure. The only Pixel 10 device that gets 25W is the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
The large Pro model also beats the Pixel 10 Pro Fold in camera specs, but that means very little considering the same thing occurred last year. Still, the 10 Pro Fold brings a slightly upgraded 48MP main sensor and identical ultrawide and 5x optical zoom lenses as last year. Google’s processing allows for Super Res Zoom up to 20x with that telephoto lens.
The camera UI is drastically different on the new foldable, too. A new Instant View feature lets you see previous photos taken in series when the device is unfolded. That allows you to compare shots as they’re captured. One neat trick is seeing Super Res Zoom’s processing as photos are taken. Processed shots at 20x zoom can be compared in the viewfinder, which shows off what the Tensor G5 is actually capable of.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s camera array hasn’t massively changed, but Google’s UI has evolved around the phone’s strengths, like the addition of Instant View and the fold’s dual-screen modes.
All things considered, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes down to a couple of things for $1,799. At no price increase from last year, the new foldable gets the Tensor G5 chip, a massive battery jump, and the addition of Qi2. For someone like me, that in itself is a reason for an upgrade. The phone itself feels better in the hand with that thinner profile, even if it’s a little bit thicker because of the added magnets.
If the Pixel 10 Pro Fold were to jump in price, I’d feel hesitant to suggest upgrading. Even at the expensive entry point for foldables, I think it’s a worthy step up from the previous version. That’s especially true if you plan on trading the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in. There’s little reason to stick with the prior model.
Also, magnets.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is currently available for pre-order, starting today, August 20. The device likely won’t ship until October 4, unlike the rest of the Pixel 10 series.
More on Google:
- The Pixel 10 is a colorful, Qi2-packed crowd pleaser starting at $799 [Hands-on]
- Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are all about upgrades you can’t see, still starting at $999 [Hands-on]
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