Where Android foldables are making massive jumps in form factor, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold seemingly sits stagnant. That’s where small changes make a massive difference, even if that means it isn’t cutting edge anymore.
Hardware & Display
It’s all in the hinge
Google is relatively new to the foldable space. Where Samsung busted down the door and started offering folding Android options early, the Pixel-maker took the time to flesh out a design that could be considered reliable. The original Pixel Fold wasn’t exactly a looker, but it was a great example of what a foldable Pixel would look like.
In total, there have really only been two public Pixel Fold designs. The first one, which bore more resemblance to a passport – the most loseable little book – than anything else. The second generation came at a time when Google felt it necessary to redesign everything. The Pixel 9 series altered the phone’s course and brought a very fresh look to Google’s Android phones: sleek, tight corners and a camera island that adds a wonderful touch of depth to the back of the phones, even on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
That’s the model I’ve been using on a regular basis for a year now. The combination of Google’s Android experience and a favorable form factor kept me hooked well past so many other Android releases in the year.
So what did Google do differently with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold? Almost nothing.
The new Pixel 10 Pro Fold is technically just a hair thicker, but for a reason I’ll let slide – more on that later.
The sameness is cut into by one simple dimension alteration. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is slightly narrower due to a change in what type of hinge Google uses for the new foldable. The hinge allows for an IP68 rating, which is a massive improvement on its own, but it also allows the phone to shrink outside of screen size.
It might not seem like it, but that alteration in width has made such a significant difference in how the Fold feels over the previous version. The hinge change combined with thinner overall display bezels really just makes the Fold finally feel like a traditional phone when it’s folded, with the dead space on the left side just deleted, replaced with usable real estate. It also leaves the hinge itself less distracting, both in a visual and physical sense. The lack of that “spine” no longer throws off the phone’s balance, and it also improves the one-handed experience.
After getting so used to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the difference felt between it and the new version is as palpable as the weight of the phone itself.
The change in color options feels like a breath of fresh air, too. The Moonstone variant glows in the daylight, and the sandblasted grey frame feels and looks wonderful. That greyish color continues on the back of the phone, with a frosted look/texture. While I haven’t used it long-term, the Jade color looks much the same with a little more pop.
As for the hinge’s performance, it feels a little tighter than the Pixel Fold 9 Pro and a lot smoother, while also having a heartier ‘snap’ to that final bit of travel. There’s no indication that it’ll fade over time, but it’s worth noting that my Pixel Fold 9 Pro is noticeably less lively when opening and closing. Whether that characteristic finds its way to the new version is entirely unknown. A new hinge has the potential to fix that.
Like every other foldable manufacturer, Google hasn’t cracked the code for a crease-free internal display. The screen has a familiar dip where the screen folds in half, but it’s no less irritating than any other iteration, nor meaningfully worse than any other major foldable on the market today.
Brighter²
There are no quality changes in the new foldable, and we didn’t expect any massive jumps. A quality jump would have been nice to see, but the outer and inner displays stick to a 1080 x 2364 and 2076 x 2152 resolution, respectively. Even with that deceptively mediocre pixel count (408ppi), the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s Super Actua displays are incredibly bright and detailed. Never did I actively think I needed more detail out of my display’s screen.
In fact, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s displays are even brighter than its predecessor. The LPTO OLED screens offer a 3,000-nit and 2,000-nit peak brightness for the inner and outer display, respectively. That’s slightly better than what Google’s foldables were capable of last year, and it’s a welcome change that’s much more obvious in direct daylight.
I think part of what makes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold so enjoyable to use is the competent cover display. The 6.4-inch form factor has an aspect ratio that doesn’t require you to exert much effort while using the entire phone with one hand. It’s comfortable, albeit a little heavy.
Just once, though, I’d love to see an optical fingerprint sensor in the display rather than on the power button. I get why that’s incredibly difficult – you’d either need to have two, or just not have a fingerprint sensor at all on the inner display – but that doesn’t mean I want it any less.
Qi2
In a lot of ways, Google may have diverted from creating a device that rivals cutting-edge foldables in favor of developing a device that makes use of Qi2 magnets. No other foldable has Qi2 magnets equipped other than the Pixel 10 series. If that means the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can’t be under 10mm, then that leaves users with a choice: access to magnetic accessories and better wireless charging, or thinner foldables.
I tend to sing Qi2’s praises, especially in the Pixel 10 lineup. That comes down to my fondness for magnetic accessories and the unified standard that they’re built on. MagSafe accessories and Qi2 accessories operate on the same basic requirements – a magnetic array in a specific diameter. With that, most, if not all, MagSafe accessories work with Qi2 magnets. By stuffing a cluster of aligned magnets in the back of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and company, Google is ensuring that existing and new certified wallets, chargers, grips, and more are usable with its phones.
From that perspective, I’ll happily take Qi2 over a thinner foldable. As scary as it might be, the ability to use a caseless foldable with my magnetic car mounts is something I’ve been waiting years for. The same goes for my wallet, and chargers that I don’t need to find a case for.
The standard adoption also forces a lot of case manufacturers to decide whether they want to take on that standard, too. If they don’t, the user is giving up a feature that’s standard to the phone, and nobody really wants to do that. It’d be like if a screen protector made a fingerprint sensor stop working.
Qi2 also comes with the benefit of faster charging. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is rated for 15W. It’s undoubtedly a jump up from the foldable before it, but it’s still hard to justify wireless over wired for a quick top-off. It isn’t fast, and it still takes over an hour to get the battery up to where I need it.
For overnight charging, however, I just slap my Fold 10 Pro on the Pixelsnap Charger Stand without a care. It’s convenient, and it works without a case, finally.
Qi2 also solves the problem of wireless charging on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Because the charging coil in last year’s foldable was so low, it meant that some chargers simply didn’t work. With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, that’s just no longer a problem.
Software & AI
Android 16 feels right on this phone
Google’s latest public-facing Android build isn’t unique to the Pixel 10 lineup, but it starts the foldable version off on the right foot.
Android 16 looks and feels great on the Pixel 10 series of slab-style devices, and we’ve covered that in deep detail. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold holds a different light to the software. The homescreen operates well between both closed and open states, but having that extra app slot in the taskbar when the phone is open means more options for getting things done. The experience is no different when the Fold 10 Pro is closed, but using it open means the Quick Settings menu is larger and notifications get half of the screen.
Notifications on the lock screen are a different story, and Android 16 now defaults users to a more compact view. That can be changed, but I found myself getting used to it quickly and preferring it over a messy lock screen. That goes for both displays, but I don’t often leave my Pixel 10 Pro Fold open when not in use. It’s probably better for the screen if I did.
Android 16 feels fluid on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. From unlocking to moving across apps, everything feels easy and without complication. That’s something that can’t entirely be said for Samsung’s One UI or even Apple’s latest iOS iterations.
Like every Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold gets the Tensor G5 chipset. This model comes from a different foundry and supposedly addresses the overheating issues many users find a pain point.
I’m happy to say that’s seemingly true. My Pixel 10 Pro Fold only ever got hot during the initial setup and onslaught of app updates. Given a day to recover, the phone feels normal in every other instance I used it. I haven’t put a case on it once, so I’m confident I didn’t miss a flare-up or two while using it.
As for software performance, I didn’t face any issues. As fluid as Android 16 sets the phone up to be, the hardware within was willing to keep up. I can’t say I experienced any weird bugs or lag during my review period, which feels weird to say.
Multitasking almost everything at once
Multitasking is one of the reasons the new foldable feels fluid. There aren’t many changes to how the Fold series operates in Android 16, but a major addition is the new 90/10 split. A window can be opened up in just a sliver of screen. Unlike a normal split, the app that takes up 10% of the screen isn’t formatted for the small space. Instead, it’s simply there for easy access. Tapping it will slide both apps over, giving the other app the larger 90% space.
I found myself using the 90/10 split more often than any other ratio. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold can still do a 50/50 or 60/40, but not all apps have the capability to format correctly for larger displays. Keeping both apps in a large format while making it easy to switch between them is a big help. I often prefer it over swiping across the gesture navigation bar.
As mentioned, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold also makes use of a taskbar when the phone is unfolded. Where the folded-state taskbar showcases only 5 apps, 6 apps are shown when the phone is open. That additional app can be set to a specific shortcut or left as a suggestion slot. I leave two suggestion slots so I can get to recently used apps quicker.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is still missing some key multitasking features for the powerhouse users. I’m not identifying as one, but I can see where they’re coming from. Samsung makes use of a floating window when needed, but Google has opted for a simple UI with a max of 2 apps for the time being. A floating window is reportedly being worked on for a later version of Android 16, but the Fold 10 Pro that’s launching now doesn’t get a third window.
There’s certainly room to improve on a device that bases its entire foundation on the existence of a second, larger screen. It seems that Google is more concerned with developing a simple UI that users can easily jump into using, rather than something that presents option after option and stonewalls people from using their device. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold definitely falls into this category, but there has to be a middle ground that offers more customization.
AI not just for the sake of it… mostly
Ideally, that bigger internal screen gets a lot of use from those who want to create or just “do.” Google tries to provide those tools in the form of AI with the Gemini app, Pixel Screenshots, and more. Those aren’t inherently new to this device, but they get a new Tensor G5 SoC to back them up.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is launching at a time when the Gemini app finally has a successful image generation model in Nano Banana. In my case, I get a lot of use out of it for redecorating or getting ideas for my home. I’d imagine that’s going to be a big portion of requests, while others will use it to edit photos outside of the Google Photos app – also now hopelessly gripped by AI. Pixel Studio also makes a return for a more dedicated image generation experience.
It has the same power as other devices in the Pixel 10 series, so there’s no expectation of varied performance compared to those devices. The baked-in Gemini shortcut is quick to respond with answers that feel accurate, though they should never be taken as infallible. It’s easy enough to hold the power button for instant access to Google Home controls and answers, and it’s a much better experience than any remnants of Google Assistant.
The same goes for Magic Cue, which I’ve seen appear a couple of times during my time with the phone, though the commonly heard sentiment among Pixel 10 users is that Magic Cue hides in the shadows until you need it. The tool uses AI to surface relevant information based on context from your apps. In the phone app, details might appear from an email or notification you got to make them available at a quick glance.
It actually works quite well. One quick call from Home Depot was made quicker when Magic Cue presented my recent order details in the Phone app. Instead of digging through Home Depot’s app – which might be the worst app ever created – I could simply glean information from the app I was already in.
In Google Messages, I see it appear once in a while with relevant information above the keyboard. The feature itself proves incredibly useful when it comes out to play, but again, that doesn’t feel like it happens often enough. If it were available in more apps or even in Gboard across Android, it might be a more apparent part of the phone. In its current state, it feels like an appetizer. Not an underbaked one, just not enough.
I’d rather that be the case than an overwhelming reliance on AI for the sake of being AI. There exists some evidence of that with Google, though. For instance, Google Photos’ new app makes the user prioritize conversational AI over the nuts and bolts of editing. I’d much rather mess with sliders and adjustments and get it wrong than frantically type into the keyboard what I’m looking for in an image.
That’s just a small piece of the overarching AI implementation, though. For the most part, I think they got it right.
Camera
Well performing with a particular set of skills
There’s been a theme with Google cameras for some time. The sensors we see on Pixel devices don’t exactly get top marks, but they perform well due to the underlying post-processing done after the shutter is tapped.
I’m not sure what happened, but something changed.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s camera setup is very good, and there’s no doubt in my mind about that. The pictures I took are full of detail and feel natural in most instances. But something about the way each image has been handled in the background has changed. I’ve noticed it alongside others, and it looks like the backend has adjusted in a way that leaves photos slightly lacking. Colors are sometimes off, and shadows are overblown in a way that clears the entire image of depth.
Fortunately, this is very likely something that can be changed with a software update aimed at tweaking some correction parameters. The foundation laid by camera quality after post-processing is there, even though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a slightly less capable array than the Pixel 10 Pro series; it’s seemingly just color and light correction that feel off. Our Ben Schoon described it as the “magic is missing,” and there’s no other simple way to put it. That kick of color doesn’t make it past the viewfinder, but I don’t think that’s something that can’t be addressed.
This foldable does bring a telephoto lens, though it’s a humble 10.5MP unit compared to the Pixel 10 Pro’s 48MP periscopic camera. Still, a maxed 20x magnification with Google’s Super Res Zoom offers a good bit of reach. It’s a little rough around the edges, and it pales in comparison to the Pro series of the same lineup, but it’s a nice inclusion that also comes to the Pixel 10 base model.
What the Pixel 10 Pro Fold does that leaves me wanting when I grab a different phone is in its camera UI. Because of the dual screens, the foldable presents the option to use the external display, internal display, or both. The camera app now asks you what mode you prefer when you open it for the first time, so I chose Dual Screen Preview. I figure that if I’m launching the camera while the phone is opened to the internal display, it’s for a reason. That reason is usually to take a portrait with the outer display showing the subject exactly what I’m seeing.
The other option is switching the entire UI to the external display while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is opened up. This is the go-to for taking selfies that look streets ahead of what the selfie camera offers. I don’t use the front-facing cameras on the Pixel Fold series because I just don’t need to.
Instant View is new to the camera UI on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, while the dual-screen options aren’t. Instant View lets users see the images they’ve taken as they look through the viewfinder. Captured pictures will appear on the left side, which also allows you to see them processed in real-time. It’s not something I needed to use all the time, but it’s a nice feature for making adjustments to your photos.
Battery
It’s almost like a real phone
One of the strongest complaints seen with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was battery life. Towards the end of my first year using it, I saw a big decline in what I could expect in one day. I would get to around 30% by 5 p.m. in a lot of cases, and that just isn’t enough.
It turns out that adding a bigger battery gets you more power. Who knew?
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 5,015mAh battery. Compare that to the 4,650mAh battery in the previous model, and you have a big jump, on paper. During the initial review, I saw some significant improvements in daily battery life. Towards the end of a light-to-medium usage day, I was still seeing 30% remaining at around 8 p.m. On a heavy day, that 30% remaining would be hit around 7 p.m. instead. That means I watched YouTube, ran through socials with around 4 hours of screen time.
There’s always room to complain, and it’d be preferable for a highly-priced phone to last more than a full day with heavy usage. Still, I didn’t have to worry about where I could find a charger towards the end of the night. Even if I did, the addition of Qi2 means I could carry a small battery pack if I really needed to.
Again, that tops out at 15W. Wired charging can hit 39W with half the tank full in around 30 minutes. That’s good enough for a top-off, but the full charge still took around an hour.
Conclusion
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has some obvious weaknesses, like every foldable. It isn’t razor-thin or incredibly light, and it doesn’t have the same high-end cameras other “Pro” phones do. Most foldables fall in this category, but I ahven’t come across one that leaves me happy with the software experience. I also haven’t found one that offers the convenience of Qi2 magnets and MagSafe accessories.
The drawbacks are outweighed by performance, usability, and design. It goes without saying that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold still looks phenomenal, even if little has changed year-over-year.
For those looking to upgrade to a Pixel 10 Pro Fold from the previous model, it comes down to battery life and Qi2. For those that are weighing options between Google’s foldables, and really any foldable, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a quality device. Especially considering that the $1,799 price tag is technically still on the low end among flagships foldables as Samsung is now flirting with the $2,000 barrier.
I used the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for an entire year simply because it offered the best software experience for me with the convenience of a large internal display and a good camera. I see no change in habit for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the improvements in battery life and Qi2 functionality certainly don’t hold it back.
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