I spent a week with the Google Pixel Fold — here are the things I love and hate about it

If there’s one factor that I’ve been trying ahead to since diving into the world of foldable telephones is one operating Google’s model of Android. A foldable telephone with the entire software program prowess and options that we love, together with getting day-one updates when new variations of Android are launched.Google answered these prayers earlier this 12 months, bringing the Pixel Fold to the plenty. Our different foldable evangelist, Nick Sutrich, already wrote his ideas within the evaluation, however I’ve spent a little bit over every week with the Pixel Fold and needed to share mine.Admittedly, I used to be a little bit involved about Google’s foldable for quite a lot of causes, however the principle one is my ongoing saga with getting my Galaxy Z Fold 4 mounted. The Pixel Fold is Google’s first foldable system, and I haven’t got a lot belief within the completely different “warranty” and “insurance” applications, however I simply could not cease myself from taking the Fold for a spin.Pixel software program is best than I anticipated(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)I’ve owned the Galaxy Fold 2, Fold 3, and Fold 4, and Samsung has undoubtedly nailed the software program expertise. This is one thing that I used to be fearful about as a result of Samsung telephones merely have extra options in comparison with Pixel telephones. But Samsung has additionally been on this house for for much longer, giving the corporate loads of time to work by way of ache factors that Pixel Fold homeowners are “dealing with.”However, I might be mendacity if I informed you that I have not slowly fallen in love with Google’s implementation of “multitasking” and the big-screen format. For one, I like the best way that the taskbar (dock) seems when slowly swiping up from the underside. (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)It lets me swap to a different app within the dock or entry my app drawer with out leaving the app that I’m at present utilizing. Plus, I can simply drag and drop one other app into split-screen mode, which is available in actually helpful when I’m in the midst of a dialog and have to look one thing up or have to learn an e-mail.It took a short while to get used to how Google handles the house screens, however after a few days, it clicked. The display screen that you just use when the telephone is closed merely “shifts” to the left aspect once you unfold it. Things are a bit odd once you attempt to use a widget that spans either side of the inner display screen, however Google tries to account for this, transferring the widget to the “main” display screen when closed.I’m barely opening the telephone(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)One of the largest surprises of utilizing the Pixel Fold for over every week is that I exploit it a lot in a different way than how I used my Galaxy Z Fold 4, and all of it comes right down to the outer display screen. There have been many feedback and complaints over time about how Samsung’s implementation of the Cover Screen is just too small or too tall. Google managed to unravel all of these complaints by providing a distinct kind issue.Instead of opening the telephone to take pleasure in a greater model of an app or to affix in a dialog, I’m doing just about all the things with the Pixel Fold closed. It’s truthfully been a shock realizing that I’m not opening it the entire time, and perhaps that is the purpose. On a current journey, I barely opened the telephone except I used to be trying one thing up or once I needed to tug up a dwell stream of the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, MD, whereas at dinner.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)That being mentioned, I nonetheless completely love the tablet-like expertise I get every time I do unfold the Fold. You actually do get one of the best of each worlds, as you will have among the best small Android telephones when closed and among the best Android tablets when open.Google’s cameras are nonetheless unmatched(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The iPhone could be higher for videography, and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra presents fairly a bit extra flexibility. But there’s simply one thing about utilizing cameras on a Pixel telephone that retains bringing me again. And with the Pixel Fold, it will get even higher since you may simply open the telephone to take selfies with the principle cameras or take nightography images while not having a tripod.I’m additionally a giant fan of Google’s picture processing, in comparison with Apple or Samsung. Pictures simply look extra “true to life” to my eyes, and there aren’t many occasions once I thought {that a} picture would look higher if I spent a while modifying it.On my aforementioned journey, I did not make a straight digital camera comparability between the Fold and my iPhone 14 Pro Max. And even whereas carrying each telephones, I nonetheless reached for the Pixel Fold first, which is not one thing that I’m accustomed to doing.Image 1 of 10Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Google Pixel Fold digital camera samples (adm) (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)We want a greater battery and charging resolution(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Besides the entire debate about sturdiness and whether or not Google’s first foldable telephone will stand the check of time, one other topic has been dividing Pixel Fold customers. Whenever I exploit something apart from an iPhone, I do know that, as a rule, battery life goes to suck. This is doubly true for somebody like me who simply has to put in a brand new beta every time it is out there.So as my Pixel Fold is now armed with the newest (and final) Android 14 beta construct, I wasn’t anticipating to be impressed. I figured all the things would simply be okay, and I’d simply have to nurse the telephone right here and there. But here is the bizarre factor, there would not appear to be a rhyme or cause for why battery life fluctuates a lot.(Image credit score: Android Central)One day I will be glued to the telephone, taking footage, responding to messages, or doom-scrolling Twitter X, and I’ll have the ability to make it to mattress with round 5%. Whereas different days, I’ll get a immediate asking if I need to activate Battery Saver mode, and it is solely 6 p.m.It’s 2023, the telephone prices $1,800, and it nonetheless takes eons to get my telephone charged sufficient to final by way of the remainder of the day.I’ve come to grips with the truth that this is not going to vary, but it surely’s downright pitiful and disappointing. At this level, I simply need Google to go down the Samsung route, growing the charging speeds to 45W and calling it a day. Maybe issues will change as soon as the ultimate steady model of Android 14 is launched, but it surely will not improve charging speeds.The display screen simply would not get vivid sufficient(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)For as a lot as I like the Pixel Fold, I’m equally pissed off by the display screen brightness when utilizing the telephone. It’s effective when I’m inside or if it is cloudy outdoors, however as quickly because the solar decides to peek out from behind the clouds, it is a fully completely different story.Making issues worse, I can truly inform when the display screen decides to dim itself, even when all the things was “working” earlier than. It’s virtually like Google’s sensors aren’t calibrated appropriately or one thing. But no matter is occurring, I want it weren’t. Of course, this primarily simply applies to every time I’m utilizing the interior display screen, but it surely’s nonetheless maddening once I want to shut the telephone simply to maintain studying one thing. I preserve reminding myself it is a “first-gen” product from Google, however except one thing adjustments in a future QPR replace, it is in all probability going to proceed to drive me loopy. Should you purchase the Pixel Fold?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)To wrap all the things up, I believe my largest takeaway from my time with the Pixel Fold is that Google has the potential to carve out a distinct segment inside a distinct segment. While the foldable telephone market continues to develop, it is received a protracted solution to go earlier than it may well rival the “slab” telephones. Google’s resolution to go along with a Moleskine-like design, versus a sweet bar slab is usually extra comfy. It’s troublesome to essentially clarify, but when the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a Tesla, the Pixel Fold is a Honda Accord. Both serve the identical goal, but it surely’s only a matter of the way you get to the vacation spot.