Pixel 11 Pro Fold is stuck as the fourth-best foldable, and that’s a good thing for you
Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the third evolution of a design that put the company back on the map for foldables. While it faces an uphill battle, the device delivers typical year-over-year improvements and a new camera island, but it's no major overhaul.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a solid foldable device that's not as bad as it sounds on paper. It has its own set of advantages, including software, Qi2, and bold durability claims, but it's destined to be fourth-best in the US market.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a new type of phone that can fold up like a book. It's not the best one out there, but it's still a good option because of its software and other features. The foldable market is getting better and better, with more and more options available.
Analysis
Pixel 11 Pro Fold: A Solid but Not Exceptional Foldable Device
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the third evolution of a design that put Google back on the map for foldables. While it faces an uphill battle, the device delivers typical year-over-year improvements and a new camera island, but it's no major overhaul. The design is mostly unchanged outside of a new camera island, yet there's a lot hiding in that design. Google has trimmed down the thickness to 10.1mm when folded, which is good enough in my opinion. As a direct comparison, that's the same thickness Motorola quotes on Razr Fold, so that's a good place to start the side-by-sides.
Motorola Razr Fold Review: Shockingly great, but is it too late?
Motorola's design looks and feels thinner than Google's, but it's splitting hairs in terms of how it feels in the hand. Pixel 11 Pro Fold is also marginally lighter than the Razr and, again, it feels nice. I think I like the overall fit and finish – not to mention Motorola's massive battery and solid camera hardware – on the Razr Fold more, but Google's software and bold durability claims have me excited to give this a shot.
The more important comparison is to Samsung's foldables. I didn't have a Fold 8 or Ultra on hand during my initial Pixel 11 Pro Fold hands-on time, but the Galaxy Z Fold 7 fits into that slot nicely. And the Pixel doesn't feel archaic anymore, despite being objectively behind. Whereas putting Samsung's foldable next to Google's this time last year was bordering on laughable, that ~1mm change on Google's part really does make a big difference. It's not as thin, obviously, but these no longer feel like two totally separate generations of foldable hardware.
The Foldable Market: A Mess No More
Objectively, in the US, I think the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is destined to be fourth-best. It simply doesn't match the competition in a lot of key areas, but it's not nearly as bad as it sounds on paper. I think there are still ample reasons to opt for Google's device – software, Qi2, and those bold durability claims chief among them. But what really excites me as a foldable fan is that we're at a place like this now. Go back literally two years and the foldable market is a mess in the US, and suddenly we've got four legitimately good options. Good timing, I guess, with Apple incoming.
Conclusion
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a solid but not exceptional foldable device. While it faces an uphill battle, it has its own strengths, including software, Qi2, and bold durability claims. The foldable market has never shined brighter than it has today, with four good options available. While the Pixel 11 Pro Fold may be fourth-best in the US market, it's still a significant development in the world of foldables.
Key points
- The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the third evolution of a design that put Google back on the map for foldables.
- The device delivers typical year-over-year improvements and a new camera island, but it's no major overhaul.
- The design is mostly unchanged outside of a new camera island, yet there's a lot hiding in that design.
- Google has trimmed down the thickness to 10.1mm when folded, which is good enough in my opinion.
- The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is destined to be fourth-best in the US market, but it still has its own strengths.
If the Pixel 11 Pro Fold plays out positively, it could lead to more innovation in the foldable market, with even better devices being released in the future. This could also lead to more competition among manufacturers, which could drive prices down and make foldables more accessible to consumers.
If the Pixel 11 Pro Fold fails to gain traction, it could lead to a decline in interest in foldables, which could ultimately harm the market. This could also lead to a decrease in investment in foldable technology, which could slow down innovation in the field.
