The key facts
- The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is 19 g lighter and thinner than its predecessor, with display brightness up from 3,000 to 3,600 nits
- The camera received a new 48-Mp main sensor and 30x Super Res Zoom instead of 20x
- The price is $1,899 — just $100 cheaper than the iPhone Duo and on par with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Evolution instead of a change of course
Google has released the Pixel 11 Pro Fold foldable smartphone, which, according to TechCrunch reviewer Ivan Mehta, is practically a repeat of last year's model. The publication notes that the review comes amid market attention to the 'passport' format — the iPhone Duo and wide foldable devices from Chinese manufacturers — yet Google kept the previous design. The main changes: a lighter body, a brighter screen, improved wireless charging and an updated camera sensor, plus a new olive color.
What changed in numbers
When unfolded, the new device is 5 mm thick versus 5.2 mm for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and 10.1 mm versus 10.8 mm when folded. The most noticeable difference is in weight: the device is 19 g lighter, although when buying a new device or switching from another foldable this is barely perceptible. Google claims a threefold increase in durability, added a glass-ceramic coating on the front and a composite back panel with fiberglass. The peak brightness of the outer display rose from 3,000 to 3,600 nits, which improves readability in bright light. At the same time, the crease on the screen remains noticeable — unlike the solutions from Oppo and Honor — and the sturdy hinge does not allow unfolding the phone with one hand.
Camera and software
The main sensor remains 48-megapixel but now lets in more light; Super Res zoom has been increased from 20x to 30x. The telephoto and ultra-wide modules are practically unchanged compared to last year. The author believes the cameras are good but fall short of the Pixel 11 Pro lineup, and calls keeping the 'Pro' branding for the foldable model a 'disservice'. In software, new features have appeared: Looks for changing the tone of photos and Magic Capture, which picks the best frames from video. Multitasking allows only two apps to be opened side by side, and the adaptation of third-party apps to the wide screen remains an unsolved problem: Gmail supports split view, Slack does not.
Price and competition
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold costs $1,899 — just $100 cheaper than the iPhone Duo and the same price as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8; the more elongated Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099 in the US. TechCrunch concludes that the device will appeal primarily to committed Pixel fans, while in Europe it will have to face new foldables from Xiaomi and Honor.
