Introduction
Google’s third-generation folding phone, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, introduces enhanced durability as the first foldable device with full water and dust resistance. It also features advanced AI capabilities and a versatile camera system.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold improves on last year’s model by eliminating gears in the hinge along its spine, enabling it to resist dust intrusion—a common issue that has affected foldable phones but not traditional slab phones.
Despite these improvements, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold remains a premium device priced at £1,749 (€1,899/$1,799/A$2,699), significantly higher than the £1,199 Pixel 8 Pro and comparable to other high-end foldables.
Design and Display
Externally, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold shows minimal visible changes compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The external display is slightly larger due to thinner bezels, and both the internal and external screens offer increased brightness.
When closed, the Fold maintains a convenient shape for phone tasks, and when opened, its excellent internal screen comfortably supports two full-size apps side by side.
However, the device is noticeably heavy and bulky compared to competitors, weighing 258g and being significantly thicker than standard phones and the latest rivals.
Performance
The Fold is powered by the Google Tensor G5 chip, consistent with the rest of the Pixel 10 series, paired with 16GB of RAM and a minimum of 256GB storage. It delivers rapid performance suitable for most tasks.
While the Pixel 10 Pro Fold handles high-end gaming well, users seeking the highest frame rates may prefer devices equipped with Qualcomm’s top Snapdragon processors.
Battery Life
Battery longevity varies depending on screen usage. On lighter days with approximately five hours of active screen time split evenly between the internal and external displays, primarily on Wi-Fi, the Fold lasted about 38 to 40 hours between charges.
Under heavier usage on 5G with more internal screen activity, battery life decreased to approximately 28 hours, concluding the day with 25% remaining. Although adequate, this performance trails behind leading competitors and large-screen slab phones like the Pixel 8 Pro.
Specifications
- Outside screen: 6.4in FHD+ 120Hz OLED (408ppi)
- Inside screen: 8in 120Hz OLED (373ppi)
- Camera: 48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto; two 10MP selfie cameras
- Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, USB-C, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, UWB, Thread, GNSS
- Water resistance: IP68 (1.5 metres for 30 minutes)
- Dimensions folded: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8mm
- Dimensions unfolded: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2mm
Android 16, Magic Cue, and Gemini AI
The Fold operates on Android 16, consistent with the Pixel 10 series, featuring a vibrant interface and extensive AI tools integrated throughout the system.
Key features include the Gemini chatbot, which can perceive visual and audio inputs, interact with apps, and provide practical assistance. Additionally, a new real-time translation system replicates callers’ voices during phone conversations.
Magic Cue is a prominent feature that runs in the background, analyzing data from various Google apps to offer timely, context-aware information. For example, when a friend inquires about a flight, Magic Cue suggests flight details from the calendar for easy sharing, or displays order information from Gmail during business calls.
The Fold also includes enhancements to optimize the large internal screen, such as a taskbar facilitating split-screen app management and the ability to resize apps beyond screen edges for flexible multitasking.
Included with the device is a one-year subscription to Google AI Pro, valued at £19 per month, providing access to advanced Gemini AI models and 2TB of cloud storage for photos, files, and email. The phone will continue to receive software updates.
Sustainability
The battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after more than 1,000 full charge cycles. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is repairable by Google, authorized third-party shops, or through self-repair options.
The device contains 29% recycled materials by weight, including aluminum, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, plastic, rare-earth elements, tin, and tungsten. Google provides a detailed breakdown of these materials in its sustainability report and offers free recycling services.
Camera System
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a camera setup similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 8 Pro, comprising a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 10.5MP ultrawide lens, and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens, which offers superior zoom capabilities compared to other foldables. It also includes two 10MP selfie cameras.
The main camera captures quality images in various lighting conditions, though it may exhibit slight blur and grain in low light. Google’s night mode remains highly effective in very dark environments. The ultrawide camera performs reliably, while the 5x optical zoom telephoto lens can reduce distance to subjects but may lose detail in poor lighting.
While the Fold’s camera system produces satisfactory photos and videos for most users, it does not match the Pixel 8 Pro’s capabilities, which may be expected at this price point.
The Fold offers unique shooting modes utilizing both screens or the device’s ability to be partially folded and propped at angles. It also supports selfies using the main camera.
The "Made You Look" feature animates the external screen to attract a child’s attention with a smile, facilitating photo capture. However, this uses a selfie camera rather than the primary camera, making it more of a novelty than a tool for high-quality photos.
Pricing and Comparison
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is priced from €1,899. For comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro costs less, while other foldables such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Oppo Find N2 Flip are similarly priced or more expensive.
Conclusion
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold represents a modest update to an already strong predecessor, with its most significant advancement being its dust resistance, setting a new standard for foldable durability and narrowing the gap with traditional smartphones.
Despite this, the internal screen remains softer than hardened glass to accommodate folding, requiring careful handling to avoid permanent marks from sharp objects like fingernails.
Qi2 magnetic accessory and charging support are as effective on the Fold as on the Pixel 8 Pro. The device offers fast performance, reasonable battery life, excellent software, and leading AI features. Its cameras are strong for a foldable, though they do not surpass the best conventional smartphones.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold balances the functionality of a phone when closed with the versatility of a tablet when open, but it is heavier and thicker than thinner, lighter competitors.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Combines phone and tablet functionality, dust and water resistant, Qi2 magnetic accessory and charging, excellent tablet screen, strong performance, good cameras with 5x zoom, extensive AI including Magic Cue, one year of Google AI Pro, seven years of software updates.
- Cons: Very expensive, more fragile and costly to repair than regular phones, bulky and heavy, cameras do not match Pixel 10 Pro, battery life could be improved, fewer power-user features than some rivals.
