The Pixel 10 Pro Fold may not be all that different from Google’s previous foldable phone, but it makes significant improvements in areas like battery life and durability, while maintaining perhaps the most important aspect: price. The 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 (£1,749, AU$2,699) and will be available from October 9. You can book it now.
Google unveiled its latest foldable device alongside the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup at the Made by Google event in New York on Wednesday. The rest of the lineup includes the entry-level Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, with an August 28 release date. Like the 10 Pro Fold, the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2A will be available on October 9.
Structure and durability of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is its IP68 rating. This means that the phone is completely protected against dust and can be submerged in water up to one and a half meters deep for 30 minutes, the same level of particle and liquid resistance as most other high-end phones.
Collapsible items usually provide little or no protection against gritty substances. The latest Pixel Fold didn’t even have a rating for this, just for liquid protection. Samsung only managed to achieve the IP48 protection class for its Galaxy Z Fold 7, which means that the phone can withstand solid particles larger than 1 millimeter, but not dust. This makes the Google result even more impressive and welcoming. Hopefully, you can take your foldable device to the beach without worrying about sand getting in and ruining your expensive new device.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is roughly the same size as last year’s Fold, but with a slightly larger 6.4-inch clamshell display. The internal screen is still 8 inches. The phone weighs one gram more than the 9 Pro Fold at 258 grams. The gearless hinge should be more durable, Google claims. Just like the 9 Pro Fold, the front and back of the phone are Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The lid and internal displays have a slightly higher maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, and a split-screen mode makes it easy to multitask and quickly resize apps with a tap. You can drag and drop media and files, like an image from Google Photos or a link from Chrome, into Messages, essentially turning your Fold into a mini computer.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold and AI cameras
The camera specifications correspond to last year’s Fold. There’s a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 10.5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera, as well as 10-megapixel selfie cameras inside and on the top display. But the Pixel 10 Pro Fold relies heavily on new AI features to improve its image.
One of these new AI features, Camera Coach, uses Gemini to make suggestions for better shots. You may be asked to shoot your subject from a lower angle, work in the background, or even switch to portrait mode. I was able to test this feature at Google’s Mountain View, California campus before the Pixel 10 launch and was impressed with the suggestions it offered to really emphasize themes and architecture, and I’d already consider myself a good mobile photographer.
Another feature, Auto Best Take, builds on the feature Google introduced with the Pixel 8, but instead of manually choosing which expressions to compose for a perfect group photo, AI now automatically presents a picture where everyone looks good. I’m perhaps most excited about the AI update. When I tested this feature, I was impressed with how well it created the winning plan. And Add Me, which uses augmented reality and artificial intelligence to seemingly involve the photographer in the picture, now works for even larger groups.
All this is made possible by the new Tensor G5 chip. According to Google, it provides a smoother user experience and improves the quality of photos and videos.
This also enables other AI features on the device, such as Magic Cue, which can retrieve relevant information based on your activities. For example, if you call your airline, Magic Cue can display your flight details as soon as you call or automatically display your Airbnb address when a friend asks.
Pixel 10 Pro foldable battery and charging
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also Qi2 certified if you prefer wireless charging. Magnets built into the phone make it easy to attach wireless chargers, stands and other accessories as part of a system Google calls Pixelsnap, similar to the iPhone’s MagSafe port.
A look at practice
10 Pro Fold apparently meets all of these criteria. A $1,799 price isn’t pocket change, but at least Google hasn’t jacked up the price like Samsung did with its book-style foldable device. The 10 Pro Fold also has a larger battery capacity than last year’s Fold and Z Fold 7. Google’s new phone has a whopping 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage. And while the camera specs are the same as last year’s Pixel Fold, a host of new AI features help improve images.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes with seven years of operating system and security updates to protect your money, which is the highest rating in software security these days (Samsung also guarantees seven years of updates for its phones).
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Oppo Find N5 Specs
Google Pixel 10 Pro FoldGoogle Pixel 9 Pro FoldSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Oppo Find N5 Case 6.4-inch OLED screen size, technology, resolution and refresh rate; 2364 x 1080 pixels; Refresh rate 60-120 Hz 6.3-inch OLED; 2424 x 1080 pixels; 6.5-inch 60-120 Hz AMOLED variable refresh rate, 2520 x 1080p, 6.62-inch 1-120 Hz OLED refresh rate; 2616 x 1140 pixels; Variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. Internal screen size, technology, resolution, refresh rate. 8-inch OLED; 2152 x 2076 pixels; Refresh rate 1-120 Hz (LTPO) 8-inch OLED; 2152 x 2076 pixels, 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate (LTPO) 8-inch AMOLED, 2184 x 1968p, 1-120 Hz refresh rate 8.12-inch OLED; 2480 x 2248 pixels; Variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. Pixel density. Coverage: 408 dpi; Internal: 373 dpi Coverage: 422 dpi; Internal: 373 dpi Coverage: 422 dpi; Internal: 368 dpi Coverage: 431 dpi; Internal: 412 dpi Dimensions (inches) Open: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches; Closed: 6.1 x 3 x 0.4 inches Open: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches; Closed: 6.1 x 3 x 0.4 inches Open: 5.63 x 6.24 x 0.17 inches; Closed: 2.87 x 6.24 x 0.35 inches Open: 6.3 x 5.77 x 0.16 inches; Closed: 6.3 x 2.93 x 0.35 inches. Dimensions (mm) Open: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2 mm; Closed: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8 mm Open: 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm; Closed: 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5 mm Open: 143.2 x 158.4 x 4.2 mm; Closed: 72.8 x 158.4 x 8.9 mm Open: 160.87 x 146.58 x 4.21 mm; Closed: 160.87 x 74.42 x 8.93 mm Weight (grams, ounces) 258 g (9.1 oz) 257 g (9.1 oz) 215 g (7.58 oz) 229 g (8.08 oz) Mobile Software Android 16 Android 14 15 megapixels, Android 14 15 megapixels 10.5 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 10.8 megapixels (5x telephoto), 48 megapixels (wide angle lens), 10.5 megapixels (ultra wide angle lens), 10.8 megapixels (5x tele), 200 megapixels (wide angle lens), 12 megapixels (ultra wide angle lens), 12 megapixels (0 megapixel ultra photo), (ultra wide angle lens). (main lens), 8 megapixel (ultra wide angle) lens), 50 megapixel (periscope telephoto) 10 megapixel camera with internal display (internal display); 10 megapixels (top screen) 10 megapixels (inner screen); 10 megapixels (top screen) 10 megapixels (inner screen); 10 megapixels (external screen) 8 megapixels (internal screen); 8 megapixel (cover screen)4K video recording4K8K4KGoogle Tensor G5 processorGoogle Tensor G4Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxySnapdragon 8 EliteRAM/Memory 16GB+256GB, 512GB, 1TB16GB+256GB, 512GB62, 512GB1+ 16GB + 1TB 16GB + 512GB Expandable storage None None None None Max. nit brightness, Victus 2 glass cover and back, Satellite SOS, Ultra Wideband chip, Qi2 certified, Free Google VPN. 7 years of Pixel Drop OS, security and updates IPX8 rating, Satellite SOS, Wi-Fi 7, Ultra Wideband chip, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back glass, cover screen brightness 2700 nits, internal screen brightness 2700 nits, 21W fast charging (charger not included), Qi, Mad Me, Free certified, Google Face You, Google Watch, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Shot, video enhancement. 7 years of operating system, security and updates Pixel Drop One UI 8, 25W wired charging speed, Qi wireless charging, 2600 nits peak brightness, Galaxy AI, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, IP48 waterproof IPX9 rating, 80W wired fast charging, 50W wireless screen, 50W wireless charging screen on film screen, Anti-and screen. Nano crystal display brightness 2450 nits, internal display brightness 2100 nits, LTP OLED display US prices start at $1799 (256GB) $1799 (256GB) $2000 (256GB) $1870 (512GB)