Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review

Let’s get this out of the way: the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is chunky. In the wake of the svelte Samsung Fold 7, its asymmetrical body and heft can feel a touch old-school. That said, Google has trimmed the external bezels slightly, squeezing an extra millimetre of screen real estate and making the asymmetry less of an eyesore. I’ll admit, I still prefer the book-style fold even over the now improved Fold 7. The headline feature is the new gearless hinge, which finally brings a proper IP68 rating to a Pixel foldable. This isn’t just a spec-sheet win but it expands the phone’s usability beyond indoor use and gives some peace of mind against accidental spills. The crease is still visible, tangible and slightly more pronounced than Samsung’s, but you’ll quickly stop noticing it while using it in day-to-day use. Opening and closing operation of the hinge is a class act which is perfectly weighted and shuts with a satisfying thud. It feels engineered rather than gimmicky. That said, longevity is always a question with foldables. Our year-old Pixel 9 Pro Fold has started creaking, a reminder that adhesives, polymers, and gears are mortal, regardless of brand.

The internal 8-inch screen is natural, vivid, and easy on the eyes. With peak brightness of 3000 nits, sunlight readability is effortless, even under mid-day Mumbai sun. The external 6.4-inch display is functional for quick tasks, but it’s the main canvas that impresses. Google’s display tuning is refreshingly natural, steering away from Samsung’s sometimes oversaturated vibe.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold runs on the Tensor G5, built on a 3nm process. It’s not a benchmark-champion like the iPhone 17’s A19 Pro or the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Fold 7, but for daily AI-driven tasks and multitasking, it’s more than capable. Downloading, editing, and rendering are slower than its rivals, but only noticeable in side-by-side stress tests or if you’re editing a reel at gunpoint. The device handles apps, media, and moderate gaming fine, though extended AAA sessions will see warmth and throttling.

Memory management is solid with 16GB RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, allowing split-screen multitasking without obvious lag. But every foldable software ecosystem still has some wrinkles. In the Pixel’s case, Instagram Reels aren’t fully optimised for the fold, and the lack of multiple floating windows limits productivity compared to Samsung’s Edge panels. Switching games from the outer to the inner display often means restarting sessions causing a minor but noticeable disruption in the flow.

Battery life is strong, thanks to a 5,015mAh battery. Real-world use stretches past a full day, and Google’s Pixelsnap ecosystem of magnetic Qi-2-compatible accessories adds convenience, with compatibility for Apple’s MagSafe docks and wallets. A neat touch if you’re flirting with wireless charging.

Google sticks to what it knows: computational photography. The main 48MP sensor is solid, but the other 10MP lenses are less impressive. Photos often impress at first glance, yet zoom in and you notice noise, over-smoothing, or interpolation artefacts. Low-light shots are a mixed bag, with parts of the image sharp and others almost “painted” on. Where the Pixel 10 Pro Fold shines is in its fold-specific software magic.

Features like Dual Screen Preview, Made You Look, and Tabletop Handsfree Shots turn the fold into a genuinely new photographic tool. Dual Screen Preview is especially clever: the left half of the unfolded display shows a live preview of what you’ve just shot, keeping the right half free for composing the next shot. It’s intuitive, playful, and distinctly Google.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a solid foldable, yet it straddles a fine line between accomplished and slightly underwhelming. Its durable design, refined displays, and smart AI features make it enjoyable to use. But in 2025, as flagship foldables go, it lacks the wow factor. Competitors are slimmer, faster, and often match Google’s AI “smarts” in hardware. For Pixel fans, this is still a triumph, but as a flagship foldable, it doesn’t quite force you off other options.