Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review

The new Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the most “Pixel” foldable yet. What that means is you get a familiar, but tough design, durable hinge, great screens, and sensible battery life. Topping that is the pure Android experience we have come to expect from Pixels, along with the suite of smart AI features. But can it stake its claim among the Samsungs and Oppos of the foldable world? Having used the phone for quite some time now, here’s our Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold design and displays

At first glance, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feels familiar and doesn’t scream for attention. Not a lot has changed from last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold, with Google retaining the clean and minimal design language. Also retained is the book-style screen ratio, which we prefer over Samsung’s Fold 7. One thing the Pixel Fold is certainly not trying to do is to win any slimness competition. It is chunky and feels heavy, especially when compared with the physics-defying Galaxy Fold 7.

That said, the IP68 rating makes this foldable durable, which makes the thickness a worthy trade-off.  In the long run, not having to worry about dust and splashes of water is a big win.

Adding to the durability is the reinforced hinge, which not only opens flat, but also feels reassuringly sturdy. The crease, while noticeable at first, is not as distracting in day-to-day use. In essence, the Fold feels like it can actually survive being a daily driver, and not be a museum piece.

The outer 6.4-inch display is generously wide, making it usable on its own. In other words, you won’t have to unfold the phone every time you get a message or an email from your boss. But when you do, the inner 8-inch OLED panel feels like stepping into a small tablet.

The screen is bright, crisp, and buttery smooth courtesy of the 120Hz refresh rate. So, whether you’re editing photos, watching a web series, or juggling two apps side by side, the experience feels natural and seamless.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold performance

Under the hood is Google’s in-house Tensor G5 chipset, built on a 3nm process. Just as we mentioned in our Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review, the Tensor G5 chipset isn’t going to win any benchmarking contests. But in day-to-day usage, there’s enough power to tap into for entertainment and productivity apps, OTT, and even a bit of gaming.

Having said that, when pushed, the phone does tend to get hot. As noticed in our Overheat Challenge, the phone hit temperatures that can only be described as peak Delhi summers.

The less than optimum thermals though don’t have a big impact on the phone’s battery life. If anything, the 5,015mAh battery is actually among the highlights. During our testing, the phone’s battery was easily able to go past a day before we had to hunt for a charger.

An interesting touch is the support for Qi2 wireless charging. What’s even more interesting is that Google not only has its own Pixelsnap ecosystem of wireless accessories, but the new Pixel phones are also compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories.  

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold cameras

Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the onboard cameras, which make use of computational photography. The 48MP main camera does a great job of shooting photos with plenty of details and sharpness in ideal lighting conditions.

But when switching to the other 10MP wide-angle and zoom lenses, the quality falls below Google’s Pixel 10 Pro lineup. When zoomed onto a subject, you’ll notice that the overall photos look a tad softer. In low light, the photos have noise and also look a bit unnatural.

ALSO READ: Google Pixel 10 review

In good lighting conditions, the cameras are quite capable and are aided by Google’s software smarts. These include Best Take, Add Me, Dual Screen Preview, and Made You Look, to name a few.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold software and AI experience

Where the Pixel 10 Pro Fold really sings is software. Pure Android OS, timely updates, exclusive AI features and usability tweaks make the Fold more than a mere big screen device. The multitasking layout adapts beautifully to the large screen, and Google’s promise of long-term software support means it’ll stay relevant for years.

Software additions like the Instant View in camera, Gemini Live, Magic Cue and more make the Fold standout among other foldables. As we mentioned in our Pixel 10 reviews, Magic Cue feels, well, magical—in theory at least. But being restricted to the Google apps and no support for WhatsApp, makes this less than useful. Period.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold feels like Google finally hit its stride in the foldable game. It’s not chasing trends, but rather is a foldable that feels complete, and useful. This is a phone that offers great displays to consume content, long battery life, and pure Android experience with long software support cycle.

This is however not a phone for photography purists or those who seek the best-looking and sleekest foldable phone available in the market today. For that, you would be better served opting for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

For all the above reasons, we rate the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold 4/5. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more such in-depth reviews and everything tech.