There are some minor multitasking improvements—it's easy to put two apps side by side in split-screen, and you can move the slider in between them to resize the apps, even stow one far to the side for easy access. But you still can't use three apps simultaneously (I miss the OnePlus Open's implementation of this.)
If you want a folding phone, I suggest looking at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, which is thinner, lighter, and easier to use. However, if you prefer Google's software experience and camera quality, there's a good chance you'll really enjoy using the Pixel 10 Pro Fold—if you can stomach the price.
Specs External display: 6.4 inch, 60 to 120 Hz, OLED, 3,300 nits peak brightness Internal display: 8 inch, 1 to 120 Hz LTPO, OLED, 3,300 nits peak brightness Processor and RAM: Tensor G5 with 16 GB RAM Storage: 256 (UFS 4), 512 GB (Zoned UFS 4), and 1 TB (Zoned UFS 4) Battery: 5,015 mAh Cameras: 48-MP wide, 10.5-MP ultrawide, 10.8-MP telephoto (5X), 10-MP front selfie camera, 10-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Extras: Pixelsnap Qi2 wireless charging, Video Boost, IP68, Google AI Pro Plan, NFC, VPN, Wi-Fi 7, Ultra-Wideband Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks (physical SIM and eSIM)
Last Year's Pixels
You don't need to buy the latest and greatest! Buying last year's flagship phone is a great way to save some cash. However, make sure you're spending far less than the MSRP—otherwise, you may as well buy one of the latest Pixel 10 phones. The previous Pixel generation from 2024 includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL (9/10, WIRED Recommends), and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (6/10, WIRED Review).
The Tensor G4 chipset in these phones is perfectly capable, the displays still get very bright, and the cameras aren't vastly different. The Pixel 9 lacks the extra 5X optical zoom camera, and none of these devices have Qi2 support, so no magnetic fun. While Google hasn't confirmed what features from the Pixel 10 series will arrive on the Pixel 9 series, there's a good chance many of them will in a future Pixel Drop feature update.
Before the launch of the Pixel 10, the Pixel 9 regularly dipped to $599, the Pixel 9 Pro dropped to $749, the Pixel 9 Pro XL was on sale for $899, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold hit $1,499. I wouldn't buy these devices unless they were at those prices again or lower.
The Best Pixel Cases and Accessories
I've written a broader guide on the Best Pixel 10 Cases and Best Pixel 9 (and 9a) Cases, but here are a few selections for your perusal. We've highlighted cases for the current Pixel lineup, but you can easily find the same versions for prior models if you peruse the case maker's catalog.
These official cases from Google for the Pixel 10 series are Qi2-certified with Pixelsnap magnets baked in, allowing you to attach the phone to magnetic accessories without any loss in strength or wireless charging capabilities (if you use a case without magnets, it will weaken the strength and disrupt the feature). The soft silicone is pleasant to the touch, and you can color-match it with your Pixel 10 phone to highlight the phone's color. I also like Google's official Pixel 9a case ($30), which is similar, but it doesn't have the magnets inside, as it's not a Qi2 phone.
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