Google Pixel 9 Pro Vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Starting at

Refurbished price:£395.25

Versus £917.17 new

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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Starting at

Refurbished price:£538.00

Versus £1,739.49 new

See options

Ratings

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, both released in 2024, represent distinct approaches to the modern smartphone experience. While the Pixel 9 Pro offers a traditional, high-end slab design, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold introduces a versatile folding form factor, transforming from a compact device into a larger tablet-like screen. Both devices operate on the Android platform, featuring Google's latest software innovations and a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence capabilities.

Scores

Durability

When considering the longevity of these devices, both the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are designed for extended use, benefiting from Google's commitment to long-term software support.

  • Software Updates: Both models are expected to receive seven years of OS and security updates, extending their functional lifespan until at least August 2031. This commitment ensures users will have access to the latest Android features and security patches for a significant period.
  • Build and Materials: The Pixel 9 Pro features a durable design with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting its display. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while offering the flexibility of a folding screen, incorporates Ultra Thin Glass for its inner display and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its outer screen, alongside a redesigned hinge for enhanced resilience.
  • Practical Lifespan: With extensive software support and robust build quality, both devices are built to remain relevant and secure for many years, making them suitable for users seeking a long-term smartphone solution.

Year of Release

2024

2024

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

Yes

Performance

Both the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are equipped with advanced internal components designed to deliver a responsive and efficient user experience.

  • Processing Power: Each device features Google's latest generation processor, enabling smooth navigation, rapid app loading, and efficient handling of demanding applications and multitasking. This processing power also underpins advanced on-device artificial intelligence features.
  • Memory and Storage: Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold come with 16GB of RAM, facilitating seamless transitions between multiple open applications and supporting intensive tasks. Storage options for the Pixel 9 Pro range from 128GB to 1TB, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers 256GB or 512GB, providing ample space for apps, media, and documents.
  • Battery Performance: The Pixel 9 Pro houses a 4700 mAh battery, generally providing a full day of use with moderate settings. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, with a 4650 mAh battery, has demonstrated impressive endurance in real-world testing, often lasting over 16 hours on a single charge and easily through a full day of heavy use. Both support fast wired charging, with the Pixel 9 Pro at 27W and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at 21W, and wireless charging.

Memory (GB)

16 GB

16 GB

Screen quality

The display experience is a primary differentiator between these two Pixel devices, catering to different user preferences for screen real estate and form factor.

  • Display Technology and Size: The Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED display, offering a traditional smartphone viewing experience. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold provides a dual-screen setup: a 6.3-inch Actua OLED outer display and an expansive 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED inner folding display.
  • Resolution and Clarity: The Pixel 9 Pro's display offers a sharp 2856 x 1280 pixel resolution, resulting in clear and detailed visuals. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's outer display has a 1080 x 2424 pixel resolution, while its inner display boasts 2152 x 2076 pixels, providing a crisp viewing area when unfolded.
  • Brightness and Smoothness: Both devices feature high brightness levels for excellent visibility in various lighting conditions. The Pixel 9 Pro can reach a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's outer display achieves up to 1800 nits HDR and 2700 nits peak, with its inner display reaching up to 1600 nits HDR and 2700 nits peak. Both models incorporate variable refresh rates up to 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsive interactions.

Resolution

1280 x 2856

2076 x 2152

Audiovisual

Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are equipped with advanced camera systems, leveraging Google's computational photography for high-quality imaging, though with some hardware distinctions.

  • Rear Camera Systems: The Pixel 9 Pro features a triple rear camera setup including a 50MP wide-angle main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide camera with macro capabilities, and a 48MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom and up to 30x Super Res Zoom for photos. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also has a triple rear camera array, comprising a 48MP wide-angle main sensor, a 10.5MP ultrawide lens with autofocus and macro capabilities, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 20x Super Res Zoom.
  • Front-Facing Cameras: The Pixel 9 Pro is equipped with a 42MP front-facing camera, designed for detailed selfies and video calls. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes 10MP front-facing cameras on both its outer and inner displays, providing options for video conferencing and self-portraits regardless of the device's folded state.
  • Video Capabilities and Audio: Both devices are capable of high-quality video recording, with features like Video Boost for enhanced footage and the potential for 8K video recording. Microphone quality for calls and recording, along with speaker output for media consumption, is expected to be robust across both models, benefiting from Google's audio processing.

Front camera

42 megapixels

10 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core specifications, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both smartphones support modern connectivity standards, including 5G for fast mobile data, advanced Wi-Fi standards, and Bluetooth for accessory connections. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also features satellite connectivity support for emergency services in areas without cellular coverage. Both devices utilize USB-C for charging and data transfer.
  • Biometric Security: The Pixel 9 Pro incorporates an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers Face Unlock on both its outer and inner displays, providing convenient and secure access in either form factor.
  • Design and Handling: The Pixel 9 Pro maintains a traditional smartphone form factor, offering a comfortable grip for single-handed use. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while thicker when folded, presents a sleek, redesigned profile with flatter edges and narrower bezels compared to its predecessor, aiming for a more conventional foldable feel when closed. Its unfolded state provides a large, immersive screen for productivity and media.

Weight

199 g

257 g

Screen size (in)

6.3

8.0

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold cater to different user needs, each excelling in its respective design philosophy. User feedback for the Pixel 9 Pro often highlights its powerful camera system, extended software support, and vibrant display as key strengths. Some users appreciate its compact yet feature-rich design, making it a strong contender for those who prefer a traditional smartphone form factor with top-tier performance.

For the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, common praise centers on its innovative folding display, which offers a large canvas for multitasking and media consumption, alongside its impressive battery life. Users value the versatility of having both a standard smartphone experience and a tablet-like interface in one device. Criticisms, if any, often revolve around the inherent trade-offs of foldable technology, such as thickness when folded or the perceived durability of the folding screen, though Google has made strides in these areas with the redesigned hinge and thinner profile.

Users prioritizing a compact, high-performance smartphone with an exceptional camera and long-term software commitment may prefer the Pixel 9 Pro. Its traditional design offers a familiar and robust experience. Conversely, users who value screen real estate for productivity, immersive media, or unique multitasking capabilities will find the Pixel 9 Pro Fold well-suited to their needs, offering the flexibility of a larger display when required. Both devices represent quality-assured options, and considering a refurbished model can be an eco-friendly alternative for acquiring these advanced technologies.

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