Google Pixel Fold: Camera, Display, Storage, and More
The Google Pixel Fold, Google’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market, has been met with mixed reviews. While the device offers excellent hardware and builds quality, it seems to be held back by limitations in its software.
The Pixel Fold features a 7.6-inch screen with a resolution of 2208 by 1840 pixels, powered by Google’s Tensor G2 CPU. The device runs on Android 13 and has a battery life of around 8 hours as tested. The camera setup includes a 48MP rear camera and 10.8MP, 10.8MP, and 9.5MP front-facing cameras. The Pixel Fold is available in two colors, Obsidian or Porcelain (black or white), and features a thin design when unfolded, which Google claims makes it the thinnest foldable phone on the market.
The Pixel Fold seems to fall short when it comes to software. While Google has optimized some of its own apps for the foldable screen, many third-party apps do not take full advantage of the larger display. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Messenger, and even Google-owned Fitbit, for instance, display as a phone-sized app with black bars on either side.
When it comes to multitasking, Google only officially supports two apps in split-screen mode, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4, which allows up to four apps at once in custom window sizes. This limitation might affect productivity for some users, although others may find the big screen handy for certain tasks like running Google Maps next to Chrome.
The large inner screen of the Pixel Fold seems to be best suited for entertainment. The device provides a great experience for gaming and watching videos. In particular, video content in the YouTube app moves seamlessly to the top portion of the screen when the phone is in an L shape, making it comfortable for watching videos while multitasking.
The Pixel Fold is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM, and includes a healthy 256GB of base storage. Google also promises five years of security updates for the Pixel Fold, which suggests a good long-term outlook in terms of software.
The device’s battery stamina seems to be inconsistent and could be improved. Some users reported high battery drain in standby, which could be a software bug. As such, it might be prudent to keep a charger handy if planning to use the Pixel Fold for a long day.
The Pixel Fold offers a versatile camera system, which includes a 48-megapixel main camera with OIS, a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto with OIS. The device also features a 9.5-megapixel cover screen selfie camera and an 8-megapixel inner screen selfie camera.
