I wasn’t a huge fan of the Google Pixel Fold at launch. It felt like an incomplete phone, and various developmental delays meant it was stuck with a Tensor G2 chipset instead of the newer G3, which was released just a few months later.
Thankfully, Google redeemed itself. The phone has received numerous solid updates over time, and I still consider it one of the best deals available for folding phones, especially if you can score one for under $500.
If you’re happy with your Pixel Fold, I have no problem with that. However, there are significant improvements made with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
If you love the Google folding experience, but you’re a little tired of the limitations on your Pixel Fold, here’s why you’ll want to upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Google went to work on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Solid performance and excellent battery life
I don’t love that Google moved away from the original Pixel Fold design with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but I’ve gotten used to it, and I enjoy the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Google made the cover display a touch larger at 6.4 inches, giving your thumbs a bit more room to type. It’s not as impressive as the wide external screen on the original Pixel Fold, but it gets the job done.
The cover display is also significantly brighter on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, reaching a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits. It’s easier to view outdoors and more pleasant to look at overall.
At 258g, it’s hard to believe there’s a foldable heavier than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but the Pixel Fold was a chonker, tipping the scales at 283g. If you’re tired of carrying around that kind of weight in your pocket, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is noticeably lighter.
Despite recent explosive videos surrounding the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it features a more durable hinge. It feels fantastic to unfold, and I appreciate how even the action is when opening and closing.
Google claims the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is IP68 rated, an improvement over the Pixel Fold. I have confidence that the device will withstand the rigors of daily life.
Don’t pour gravel over the hinge while opening and closing it, and avoid bending the lithium-ion battery in half. I believe your Pixel 10 Pro Fold will last the course.
Material 3 Expressive is available on both phones, but it’s unclear how many new Google Gemini features will trickle down to older hardware.
You may not care, but natural language photo editing is useful, and I appreciate Google’s new approach to AI, which allows it to be helpful in the background.
The primary reason I’d upgrade from the Pixel Fold to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is its improved battery life. The phone’s 5,015mAh battery cell, combined with a more efficient Tensor G5 chipset, yields excellent results.
I easily get two days of mixed use with my Pixel 10 Pro Fold, a significant improvement over the five or six hours of screen-on time I get from the original Pixel Fold.
The Tensor G5, paired with 16GB of RAM, is more capable than the Tensor G2 powering the Pixel Fold.
The Tensor G2 isn’t hopeless in 2025, and it still gets the job done for most daily tasks, but if you want to enjoy smoother multitasking and better thermals, it’s time to upgrade.
I also enjoy the Qi2 compatibility on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold more than I thought. The magnets are addictive, and I love slapping the device on the Pixelsnap charger on my desk.
What I still like about the Google Pixel Fold
Solid software support and preferred form factor
I often highlight the original Google Pixel Fold as one of my favorite value buys. If you’re looking to try out a folding phone, it’s hard to beat the Pixel Fold for around $500.
I’ve grown accustomed to Google’s new form factor for its folding phone, but I prefer the landscape-dominant orientation of the original. I believe it’s better for multitasking, and I wish Google had never abandoned it.
Like many older Pixels, Material 3 Expressive and Android 16 transformed my Pixel Fold experience. I appreciate that Google brought many of the improvements down to older models, and multitasking and app pairs are a breeze.
Software updates on legacy hardware usually hinder the experience, bogging down older chipsets.
However, that’s not the case this year, and Google has done an excellent job of extending support for the Pixel Fold and optimizing its updates to run smoothly.
I always preferred the cameras on the original Pixel Fold to those of any other folding device at the time, and they remain excellent in 2025.
I get outstanding detail from the 5x telephoto lens, and the 48MP primary sensor gets the job done thanks to Google’s computational photography.
Night Sight produces fantastic low-light images, and it’s hard to see a significant upgrade from the Pixel Fold to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for just point-and-shoot photos.
There are plenty of other items, like image processing, where you’ll notice a difference, but the Pixel Fold holds its own.
If you’re tired of poor battery life, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the answer
If you don’t currently own a foldable, I highly recommend checking out a renewed Pixel Fold if you’re on a budget. It’s still a fantastic device, with software support until 2028.
However, if you already own one, and you’re looking for something more, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers noticeable upgrades.
If you can trade in your Pixel Fold for an attractive carrier discount, you’ll like the changes Google made to this year’s phone.
8.5/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G5
- RAM
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16GB
- Storage
-
256 GB / 512 GB/ 1TB with Zoned UFS
- Battery
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5015mAh
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers Gemini AI features and can withstand an impressive 10 years of screen folding. This smartphone is an investment that’ll last for years to come.
