The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a great addition to the growing foldable market, offering impressive durability, AI integration, and a smooth multitasking experience.
After spending a few weeks with the device, I’m generally impressed with what Google has achieved here. While it does a lot of things well, it also leaves a few areas open for improvement, particularly when it comes to design and camera performance. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold stand out.
Design: Sturdy, Familiar, and Comfortable
Google has maintained the iconic design that has made the Pixel foldables so popular, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feels like a refined version of its predecessor. The gearless hinge is one of the highlights, offering a sturdy folding mechanism that feels incredibly smooth and resistant to wear and tear. This gear-free design is especially beneficial for durability, allowing the phone to handle dust much better than earlier foldables. It’s also IP68 water and dust resistant, a first for Google’s foldables.
While the design remains largely unchanged, the slightly smaller outer display (6.3 inches) and larger inner screen (8 inches) provide a familiar yet enjoyable experience. The matte finish gives the phone a premium feel and is fingerprint resistant, although the larger surface area still makes it prone to collecting some smudges. The phone’s heavier weight (258g) is noticeable but manageable, giving it a solid, premium feel that makes it stand out as a high-end device.
Display: A Beautiful Screen for Multitasking and Media
When it comes to multitasking and media consumption, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold really shines. The inner 8-inch OLED display is fantastic for productivity, allowing you to run two apps side-by-side with ease. While the screen crease is still noticeable, it’s less of a distraction than you might expect, and the dynamic refresh rate (up to 120Hz) makes navigation smooth and fluid.
That said, the screen brightness could be a little higher. On bright sunny days, the outer screen maxes out at 1,180 nits and the inner at 950 nits, which might make the display feel a little dim under harsh sunlight. Still, the color accuracy and contrast are excellent, making it a joy to use for streaming content or browsing the web.
Performance: Smooth, Responsive, and Efficient
Powered by the Google Tensor G5 chip, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers smooth performance with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Whether you’re multitasking, watching videos, or running your favorite apps, the phone feels quick and responsive. Although it might not push the envelope in terms of gaming performance, it handles most tasks with ease, and I didn’t experience any lag or overheating during typical usage.
For those who value battery life, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold performs well, with around 38-40 hours of use on lighter days and 28 hours with more 5G use. The 5,015mAh battery may not break any records, but it gets the job done, and the 30W wired charging ensures the device powers up quickly—50% in 30 minutes.
AI Features: Magic Cue and Smart Assistant Capabilities
One of the standout features of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is its cutting-edge AI. The Magic Cue feature is a clever addition, offering timely and context-aware information based on your activities. For example, if a friend asks about your flight time, the phone will pull the details from your calendar and offer them in your text messages. It’s a small touch that really enhances productivity.
Another impressive AI feature is Auto Best Take, which automatically selects the best photo from a series of images, making it easier to capture perfect group shots. These features, along with Gemini and real-time translation during calls, add value to the user experience, making the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feel like an intelligent assistant that’s always at your side.
Cameras: High-Quality Results with Room for Improvement
The camera setup on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is solid, though not groundbreaking. It retains the 48MP main sensor, 10.5MP ultrawide, and 5x telephoto zoom, which is great for most situations. Photos taken in good light are crisp, vibrant, and offer great detail. However, the low-light performance is not quite as strong as I’d hoped, with some blurring and graininess creeping in, especially in ultrawide and telephoto shots.
Despite this, the rear camera selfie mode—which lets you use the main cameras for selfies—produces excellent photos with more detail than traditional front-facing cameras. For a phone with such a high price tag, it would have been nice to see more improvements in camera quality, especially considering the advancements of other devices.
Check out some images taken on the 10 Pro Fold:
Verdict: A Strong Foldable with Minor Areas for Growth
With a price starting at S$2399, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a solid, well-rounded foldable phone. Its AI features, durability, and multitasking capabilities make it a compelling option for those who need a device that can handle work and play without breaking a sweat. However, the lack of major design changes and camera upgrades leave some room for improvement.
If you’re looking for a premium foldable device with Google’s exceptional software, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is definitely worth considering. However, if you’re seeking the best camera performance and sleeker design, it might be worth waiting to see how future iterations improve. For now, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold provides an excellent balance of functionality and durability, making it a top contender in the foldable market.
