Google's new Pixel foldable adds durability and brightness but faces a crowded market

Google's latest foldable phone, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, keeps the same basic design as last year's model and focuses on incremental upgrades, according to a review published by TechCrunch. The reviewer describes the device as a solid phone arriving at a time when rivals, including Apple with its compact iPhone Duo and several China-based manufacturers, are moving toward wider foldable formats.

What has changed

The main changes are physical. The new model is 19 grams lighter than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and slightly slimmer, measuring 5mm unfolded and 10.1mm folded, compared with 5.2mm and 10.8mm before. Google says durability has tripled, helped by a glass-ceramic front cover and a glass-fiber composite back. The stiff hinge means the phone cannot be opened with one hand, which the review notes is intentional.

• Peak display brightness rises to 3,600 nits from 3,000, improving outdoor use.
• Wireless charging has been improved and a new olive color is offered.
• The 48-megapixel main camera sensor has been updated, and zoom now reaches 30x Super Res Zoom, up from 20x.

Where it falls short

The review points to a clearly visible screen crease, at a time when other makers have reduced it considerably. The ultrawide and telephoto cameras are largely unchanged, and the overall camera system still trails Google's non-folding Pro phones, leading the reviewer to question the "Pro" label. On the software side, only two apps can run side by side, and some popular apps still do not adapt well to the larger screen, although floating app bubbles and voice-driven writing tools earned praise.

Price and competition

The phone costs $1,899, the same as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and close to the price of the iPhone Duo. In the U.S., the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099, and further foldables from Xiaomi and Honor are expected in Europe. The review concludes that the device is best suited to existing Pixel fans rather than first-time foldable buyers.

For readers following computers and mobile technology, the review highlights how foldable phones are diversifying in shape and how app support remains a deciding factor. Comparing durability, screen quality, software compatibility and price across brands is likely to matter more as the category becomes more crowded.