The Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks familiar, but once I got my hands on it, the upgrades became clear. With a faster processor, a bigger battery, and smarter AI for everything from language translation to camera zoom, it’s a solid step up. But is it worth the upgrade? Here’s what I found.
At today’s Made by Google event, the tech giant unveiled a slate of new devices, including the Pixel Earbuds 2a, the Pixel Watch 4, and the latest Pixel 10 smartphones—headlined by the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Unlike last year’s major redesign of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google has taken a more iterative approach this time. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold may look almost identical to its predecessor, but it brings a series of meaningful upgrades: a larger battery, a faster Tensor G5 chip, enhanced camera sensors, refined displays, and, notably, deeper integration with Google’s powerful Gemini AI tools.
I had a chance to get my hands on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold ahead of the event. Here’s everything you need to know, including my first impressions of Google’s newest flagship foldable.Design: Mostly the Same
I have to admit, after spending time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, one of the thinnest and lightest book-style folding phones yet, playing with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was a bit of a letdown at first.
The 10 Pro Fold is a sizable chunk of hardware with an “aerospace-grade, high-strength aluminum” frame and a new multi-alloy, gearless steel hinge covered by the same aluminum alloy. The outer display and rear panel are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is one of the toughest available. Google says the phone is more resistant to scratches and breaking than last year’s model.
Perhaps the biggest design upgrade is the IP rating, which jumps from IPX8 to IP68. Google says the 10 Pro Fold is one of the first folding phones to reach IP68, which means it resists most dust and can handle a 30-minute dunk in up to about five feet of water. The Z Fold 7 is IP48, which leaves it exposed to dust particles smaller than 1mm.
When folded, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold measures 6.1 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches (HWD), and when opened, it measures 6.1 by 5.9 by 0.2 inches. The phone weighs 9.1 ounces, which is heavier than most modern flagships, including the Z Fold 7, which weighs 7.6 ounces. That 1.5-ounce difference can really add up when a device spends hours in your pocket during the day.
Google has tweaked both displays a little bit. Slimmer bezels around the outer screen allow it to grow from 6.3 inches to 6.4 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It has 2,364 by 1,080 pixels for a density of 408 pixels per inch and a variable refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz. It supports HDR content and has 24-bit color for up to 16 million hues. HDR content shines with up to 2,000 nits, and Google raised the peak brightness by 11% to 3,000 nits. The inner Super Actua display stays the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at 8 inches and has the same resolution of 2,152 by 2,076 pixels at a density of 373ppi. It has a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz and is slightly brighter with HDR brightness of 1,800 nits and peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Google says new dual layers of anti-impact films protect it better from scratches.
Beyond these minor upgrades, the rest of the design is basically identical to the 9 Fold Pro. The phone has a power button on the right edge that doubles as a fingerprint reader. The volume toggle is below it. I would prefer these buttons to be reversed, but they perform well. The bottom edge holds a couple of microphones, the USB-C port, and the speaker grille. Google moved the SIM tray from the bottom edge to the top edge, where there is another microphone and another speaker grille. The phone also supports eSIM, but there’s no memory card slot or 3.5mm headphone jack.
Last year’s colors were Obsidian (black) and Porcelain (white); this year’s colors are Moonstone (gray) and Jade (light green).
