The New Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Slightly Thicker, but Boasts Improved Durability
With the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the standard for foldable smartphones is thinner than ever before. That’s why it’s a little odd that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks so similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold . But while this year’s model seems like a fairly incremental upgrade at first glance, dig deeper and you’ll notice that most of the phone’s specs have been redesigned.
Some things remained the same.
I’ll start with what hasn’t changed, because there really isn’t much that’s changed. Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is that it’s the same size and weight as its predecessor. That means it’s 6.1 inches (15.7 cm) tall, 3 inches (7.8 cm) wide, and 0.4 inches (1.2 cm) thick when folded and 0.2 inches (5.7 cm) thick when unfolded. While that’s not particularly heavy, especially considering it weighs just 0.57 pounds (2.2 kg), it’s still significantly bulkier than the model from Samsung, which set a new standard when it launched late last month. If you’re looking for the thinnest foldable phone, this isn’t it.
The RAM is the same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, at 16GB. Also, while Google told me the 48MP main camera on the back of the phone is “new,” the specs appear to be the same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold: a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens. I’ve reached out to Google for more information about this discrepancy and will update this post once I hear back.
That’s it for the specs that haven’t seen any improvements. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is almost entirely new, both inside and out. Here’s what to look out for.
New chip and more storage options
Like the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro , the Pixel 10 Pro Fold upgrades to Google’s first all-in-house chip, the Tensor G5. Google’s proprietary chips specialize in power efficiency and AI, but have historically lacked performance in other areas. With the G5, Google has a chance to fix that, and while I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, the company says the new chip is 60% more efficient at AI and 34% faster overall.
That kind of power boost can make loading heavy apps like games a lot more rewarding, so it’s good that there’s now a 1TB storage option in addition to the previously available 256GB and 512GB options.
Larger, brighter and more durable screens
Perhaps the most significant upgrades this time around are to the foldable smartphone’s most important screens. While the phone’s main, internal screen appears to be the same at first glance, there are improvements both inside and out.
Let’s start with the raw numbers: The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s outer display, the one you’ll use when folded, is now slightly larger at 6.4 inches, up from 6.3 inches on the previous model. The aspect ratio is still 20:9, meaning it won’t match the wider 21:9 field of view of non-foldable phones, but thinner bezels are always welcome. It’s also brighter, at up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, up from 2,700 nits on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, though the refresh rate is still capped at 120Hz.
The inner screen, or the main screen you’ll use when you open the phone, is largely unchanged: It’s still 8 inches diagonally and has a 120Hz refresh rate. Based on the numbers alone, the only noticeable difference is that peak brightness is now 3,000 nits, up from 2,700 nits on last year’s model.
The numbers don’t tell the whole story, though. Folding screens can be very fickle, and Google says it’s redesigned the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s internal screen to be more durable, using “ultra-thin glass and two layers of impact-resistant film.” That doesn’t mean anything to me, but what does matter is Google’s promise that the phone will be able to withstand more than 10 years of folding, which is a huge improvement over the problems the first Pixel Fold had . Google even managed to get the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, something Samsung couldn’t do with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Dust can cause serious damage to foldable phone screens if it gets stuck between them when they’re closed, so the promised resistance to it should go a long way toward peace of mind.
Extended battery life
Like the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Google is promising to increase the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s battery life from the promised 24 hours to around 30. Claims like these vary depending on how you use the phone, so stay tuned for more definitive testing once I’ve spent more time with the device. For now, I can say that the battery capacity is at least larger — a typical 5,015 mAh versus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 4,650 mAh. Fast charging is also promised to top up the battery by 50% in around 30 minutes using a 30W wireless charger, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro Fold required a 45W charger.
Pixelsnap
Perhaps my favorite new feature on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is Pixelsnap, Google’s version of MagSafe. Also featured on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Pixelsnap uses Qi2 charging and allows compatible chargers to magnetically attach to your device, delivering up to 25W of wireless charging without the need for sticky magnetic rings.
Google says it’s working with a number of partners to make Pixelsnap-compatible accessories, but so far it’s making three of its own. These include the Pixelsnap Charger, a small plate that folds out easily; the Pixelsnap Charger with Stand (the same thing, but with a vertical stand that you can slide the plate into); and the Pixelsnap Ring Stand. What’s unique about the stand is that it doesn’t charge the phone, it just holds it upright or horizontally.
All Pixel cases this year are also compatible with Pixelsnap.
Software improvements
While most of Google’s software improvements this year focus on the artificial intelligence that runs across all of the company’s phones in general, there are also a few tweaks that make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold a little more usable.
For example, split-screen mode now lets you adjust the app size, as well as drag and drop files or photos between open apps.
Compatible apps, mostly games like Asphalt Legends and Disney Speedstorm , also continue to offer dual-screen modes, which show gameplay on one half of the screen and a race track map on the other. Google says it’s working with other developers to expand the number of apps that support the feature.
But perhaps the most useful feature is Instant View, which lets you preview photos immediately after taking them. The feature works when the phone is unfolded, with the regular camera app interface displayed on one half of the screen and a preview on the other.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold Pricing and Availability
The good news: The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn’t cost more than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, starting at $1,799 in both available colors, including space gray (moonstone) and lime green (jade). Pre-orders are open now, but unlike the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, the Pro Fold won’t ship until October 9.
Overall, the 10 Pro Fold promises to be an impressive upgrade over the 9 Pro Fold, unless you’re looking for the thinnest foldable phone on the market. It certainly boasts more durability than most of its competitors , so stay tuned for my full review to find out how it stacks up, as well as how the new Tensor G5 chip performs in benchmarks.