Pixel 10 Pro Fold Review: Google Picks Durability and Battery Over Sleekness

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold prioritizes durability, battery life, and practical features, making it a functional foldable despite its familiar design and thicker build.

• Pixel 10 Pro Fold prioritizes durability with an IP68 rating, a key advancement for foldables.

• Larger 5,000 mAh battery provides over a day of use, leveraging the phone's thicker design.

• AI-powered features like 'Super Res Zoom' and 'Magi-Q' enhance camera performance and user experience.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold maintains its $1799 price and a design similar to its predecessor, but offers key upgrades in durability, battery, and AI-enhanced features. It is thicker than competing foldables but feels proportional, focusing on user needs like a longer-lasting battery and an impressive IP68 rating. The phone offers a practical experience with its enhanced cameras and intelligent software integrations, positioning it as a capable, everyday foldable device.

Design and Durability

• 00:00:08 The Pixel 10 Pro Fold retains the $1799 price and a design similar to the 9 Pro Fold, featuring a slightly larger 6.4-inch cover screen and an 8-inch internal display. Despite being slightly thicker at 5.2 millimeters when open and weighing more than some rivals, its build feels proportional and not obtrusively bulky, encased in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. A new gearless hinge ensures smooth operation without a gap, and the inclusion of an IP68 rating is a significant durability upgrade, providing strong protection against dust and water, which is rare for foldables.

Displays and Multitasking

• 00:01:58 Both the 6.4-inch cover screen and the 8-inch internal display on the 10 Pro Fold boast a 120 hertz refresh rate and up to 3000 nits peak brightness, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight. While bezels are still prominent, they are not distracting, and the large internal display is ideal for video or split-screen multitasking. A convenient 'drag and drop' feature allows seamless file transfer between two simultaneously open apps, enhancing its utility as a mini-computer, though it is limited to two apps unlike some competitors; the display crease is visible but not noticeable during use.

Camera System and AI Enhancements

• 00:03:01 The Pixel 10 Pro Fold utilizes the same 48 MP wide, 10.5 MP ultrawide, and 10.8 MP telephoto camera specs as the previous model, along with 10 MP selfie cameras. Software and AI upgrades significantly enhance photo quality, notably 'Super Res Zoom' which uses AI to sharpen digitally zoomed images up to 20X. Additional AI features include 'ADME' for creating group photos with augmented reality, dual-screen preview for better photo framing, rear camera selfies for higher resolution, and 'Camera Coach' for real-time photography tips, making the camera system versatile and user-friendly.

Battery and Software

• 00:06:51 The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a significantly upgraded 5,000 mAh battery, a notable improvement over last year's model, providing over 30 hours of regular use—a benefit of its slightly thicker design allowing more room for the larger cell. It charges from 0% to 51% in 30 minutes and is Qi2 certified, supporting Google's Pixel Snap and other MagSafe accessories. The phone ships with Android 16 and includes seven years of software and security updates, offering extended value for its $1799 price tag.