My Love-Hate Relationship with the Google Pixel Fold

Folding phones have been around for a few years, but they remain a niche in the mobile market. One of the main reasons is the price, with many foldables costing at least $1,800. While Samsung has the most experience in this field, Google joined the fray last year with its first foldable, the Pixel Fold.

For a first attempt, the Google Pixel Fold was impressive. However, not long after, OnePlus launched its own foldable, the OnePlus Open, which quickly gained popularity.

I decided to revisit the Pixel Fold a year after its release, having used and preferred the OnePlus Open. So, how does the Pixel Fold fare now? It’s complicated.

What I Still Like About the Google Pixel Fold When the Pixel Fold was first revealed, I was excited. I’ve always liked Google’s Pixel devices for their stock Android experience and excellent cameras. Although my enthusiasm for the Pixel Fold has waned, there are still aspects I appreciate.

The cover display is one of my favorite features. Google opted for a 5.8-inch cover display, which I find very usable. It reminds me of the iPhone XS display, which is also 5.8 inches, and is perfect for my smaller hands, allowing for easy one-handed navigation.

The Pixel Fold’s cover display feels like a regular phone and is easy to type on, unlike the tall and narrow Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has a cramped keyboard that often leads to typos.

While I admire the OnePlus Open’s hinge for its ease of opening flat, it’s a bit loose, making clamshell mode (like a mini laptop) challenging. The Pixel Fold, however, has a firm hinge that holds its position well, offering more versatility despite requiring more force to open completely.

One of Android’s downsides is that not all apps are optimized for large screens, whether foldables or tablets. This issue is more prevalent on Android than on iOS, in my experience.

Google optimized its first-party apps for the Pixel Fold’s larger screen. Initially, the Pixel Fold’s horizontal/landscape orientation caused third-party apps to display black bars or take up partial screen space. Thankfully, Google addressed this with a new experimental “Aspect Ratio” setting in the Apps section of the Settings app. While I wish there was a blanket setting to enable full screen for all apps, this is a significant improvement.

What I Don’t Like About the Google Pixel Fold Upon revisiting the Pixel Fold, I noticed several drawbacks.

Despite liking the size, I dislike the Pixel Fold’s weight — 283 grams. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 weighs 253 grams, and the OnePlus Open and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are just 239 grams. While the 5.8-inch cover display is great for one-handed use, the device’s weight makes prolonged use uncomfortable.

Taking product photos of other phones with the Pixel Fold is challenging due to its weight, especially when trying to reach the shutter button with one hand. I hope Google addresses this in the next-generation Pixel Fold.

After using the OnePlus Open with its anti-reflective inner display, I found the Pixel Fold’s display quite reflective. Combined with its maximum 1,450 nits peak brightness, it’s hard to see outdoors. The chunky bezels on the inner display, a result of the hinge design, are also unsightly and need improvement.

The crease on the inner display is another issue. While companies try to minimize it, the Pixel Fold’s crease is quite prominent in both look and feel. Motorola’s latest Razr phones, like the Razr Plus 2024, have virtually nonexistent creases, so why can’t Google achieve the same?

The Pixel Fold Did Not Age Well

When the Pixel Fold launched, it was ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open. At that time, it was the only foldable without a gap when closed. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and OnePlus Open are now gapless and offer other advantages over the Pixel Fold.

Given the superior options available now and the likelihood of a new Pixel Fold announcement in August, it’s hard to recommend the original Pixel Fold. It’s still a decent foldable, but it no longer stands out in the competitive market.

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