Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Sturdy rectengale in a wide wide world

It’s strange to write this review when the world is focused on the passport-sized iPhone Duo, and China-based companies are busy releasing wide foldables with a similar design. Google, however, stuck to its guns this year and produced a Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which is pretty much similar to last year’s foldable.

The changes involve a lighter design, a brighter display, better wireless charging, and an updated camera sensor. The new olive color looks subtle but gorgeous, so that’s a bonus. However, with all the options out there, the device might not attract people who might be looking to buy their first foldable — unless they’re serious Pixel fans.

Nonetheless, I have enjoyed using the device because the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s cameras are competent enough, even if they aren’t a match for the Pixel 11 Pro’s setup, and the screen is nice to use despite the very visible crease.

Design

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is 5mm thick when unfolded (vs 5.2mm of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold) and 10.1mm thick when folded (vs 10.8 mm of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold). This one is for the spec sheet because you might not feel as much difference. Despite this, the phone is not as thin as a device like the Honor V6 Magic.

The difference you might notice — if you hold both this year’s and last year’s foldables — is that the new device is 19 grams lighter. But if you are buying a new device or switching from another foldable, it’s barely noticeable.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold was already a sturdy device. With this year’s version, the company claims to have increased durability by three times. Plus, there is a new glass-ceramic cover and a glass-fiber composite back cover to take up any impact. My Pixel 10 fell a few times from the table and from my pocket, but there wasn’t any visible dent or scratch. Well done, Google.

One drawback of a strong hinge is that you can’t unfold the 11 Pro Fold with one hand, and that’s by design.

The outer display is ever so slightly bigger, but the more observable change is the 3,600-nit display that is an upgrade from last year’s 3,000-nit peak display. This means that you can use the phone in bright conditions better.

Google’s foldable still has a very visible crease in an age where phone makers like Oppo and Honor have managed to reduce the visibility significantly. The crease is more pronounced in bright light, given there is no reflective display on the device.

On the back, there is the new HiLight indicator, which still lights up only for calls from your favourite contacts, and when you are talking with Gemini hands-free. There isn’t much to talk about this feature beyond that.

Software and AI

Reading and watching videos on a foldable is still fun, though a wide foldable might show an edge on videos. The multitasking is good, but you can only open two apps side by side. Some apps that are tuned for foldable are great to use. For instance, Gmail, being a Google app, lets you see your inbox on one side and a particular email on the other. This can help you get through emails faster. However, Slack doesn’t have this split view, and it’s frustrating because we have been through many cycles of Android foldables with apps still not suited for the expanded screen.

Given how quick Apple developer system moves, Android might feel it’s lagging in foldable experiences after the iPhone Duo is out. The camps are divided as to how apps look on Duo’s unfolded phone, but developers are rapidly updating their apps to fit the unfolded screen.

The bubbles, which let you access apps in floating windows and minimize them in a taskbar, are a good idea. That way, you can temporarily look at information in an app without having to make it a full-sized window.

Gemini updates this year were muted. The company built on its idea of Magic Cue to give timely suggestions in different apps. As I mentioned in my Pixel 11 Pro XL review, Rambler was my favorite feature to use in the new Pixel lineups. I could easily reply to emails and texts, and take notes, without involving texting on a wide keyboard.

Camera

Foldables have mostly had inferior cameras to their candybar counterparts for years now. While this year is no different, Google continuing to use the “Pro” moniker for its foldable feels like a disservice. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold cameras are good, but they aren’t Pixel 11 Pro XL good.

There are a few positives with the new version. There is an updated main sensor, still a 48-megapixel one, that lets more light in for photos with better detail. Google has also updated its models to support 30x Super Res Zoom, up from 20x Super Res Zoom.

Even if Google wouldn’t include the same ultrawide and telephoto sensors as the slab Pro devices, I wish they would use the same main sensor on the Fold as the rectangle phone. The telephoto and ultrawide sensors are similar to last year’s device, so there is barely any improvement in images taken from them.

In terms of software features, there is Looks, which can change the tone of an image with different presets, and Magic Capture, which can pick the best frames from a video — useful for when you have pets or kids.

Price

At $1,899, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is for someone who likes Pixels and wants a foldable, given it’s barely $100 less than the new iPhone Duo and the same price as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which are both wide-format phones. In the U.S., the taller Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.

In Europe, companies like Xiaomi and Honor are going to release their foldables, too. So Google’s foldable is going to face a lot of competition.