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I want to love the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but one silly change is stopping me

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Why This Matters

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold introduces notable design improvements, but its asymmetrical thickness raises concerns about user experience and device comfort. This change highlights the ongoing trade-offs in foldable technology, balancing slimness with practicality. For consumers and the industry, it underscores the importance of design consistency and usability in foldable devices.

Key Takeaways

Joe Maring / Android Authority

Before the Pixel 11 Pro Fold became official, I shared a wishlist of changes I wanted Google to make for its next foldable. To my surprise, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold offers many of the upgrades I needed to take Google foldables seriously again. It’s thinner and lighter, has slimmer bezels and better screens, and supports faster 25W Qi2 wireless charging. However, Google also made an unexpected change to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold that I can’t overlook.

To make the Pixel 11 Pro Fold about 1mm thinner than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, compromises had to be made. The one you probably noticed is the smaller 4,806mAh battery capacity, but that isn’t the one I care about.

The thickness of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is asymmetrical. In other words, one half of the foldable is thinner than the other. It’s a design choice you can see and feel. I noticed it immediately after unfolding the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in my hands-on session, and I can’t stop noticing it.

Do you care about the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold's asymmetrical thickness? 14 votes Yes, I can't unsee it 14 % No, it's barely noticeable 86 %

One side of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is not like the other

Joe Maring / Android Authority

Google’s official specs list the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s thickness as 10.1mm when folded and 5mm when unfolded, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. One side is slightly thicker than the other. We’re talking about fractions of a millimeter here, although the difference is clear. The Pixel Fold, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold all had completely flat backs when unfolded, excluding the camera bump. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the first to feature two halves with differing thicknesses, and it’s not a change I’m thrilled about.

You can see the difference for yourself in the close-up shot of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold hinge below. The left side of the foldable is thicker than the right side. Interestingly, the side of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with the cover display is thicker. You might initially think that the inclusion of Qi2 magnets is the reason for the uneven thickness, but the half of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with Pixelsnap is actually thinner. It’s not related to the cameras either, since the rear lenses and HiLight are on the thinner side of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Brady Snyder / Android Authority

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