Late last week, we got a sneak peek at the upcoming Pixel 10 series’ dimensions. While all phones in the line-up are getting heavier than their predecessors in the Pixel 9 series, it’s the Pixel 10 Pro Fold that jumped out to me, mostly because it’s eschewing the entire foldable industry’s trend right now.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is slightly narrower than the 9 Pro Fold (while also sporting smaller bezels and a larger outer display), but it’s a little thicker when unfolded, even thicker when folded, and 1 gram heavier. When every other foldable is boasting thinner and lighter designs, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold already seems left out as a vestige of foldables’ past. But I have a bit of hope that it’s not all doom and gloom for Pixel foldable fans.
Are you Ok with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold getting thicker to fit a larger battery? 415 votes Yes, I'll take more battery any day any way. 64 % No, I want my foldable to be slim and usable with one hand. 9 % Why not both? Silicon-Carbon batteries are thin AND have more capacity! 23 % I'm indifferent. 4 %
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold bucked the trend; the 10 Pro Fold is lagging behind
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Oh, what a difference a year makes! In August of 2024, when Google announced the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it had a big advantage over other foldables (read: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6) in the US and most Western countries. Google’s foldable had considerably slimmed down from the chunky and stubby first-gen Pixel Fold, opting for the more practical narrow+tall display ratio, and going for a very pocketable and hand-friendly 10.5mm thickness when folded. That made the Pixel 9 Pro Fold more lovable and pushed the phone into “easy to recommend” territory. My brother-in-law bought one solely because it was easier to hold and use than the 2024 Galaxy Z Fold 6.
And he’s not alone. After talking to many regular users about foldables over the last few years, I came to the following conclusion: thickness, width, and durability are the biggest drawbacks to usability and adoption. Everyone who saw the original Pixel Fold with me marveled at the tech but instantly claimed, “I could never use that daily.” Why? “Too wide and too thick to hold,” and “afraid I’d break it.”
Thinness is not a perk for foldables; it's a necessity. If a foldable isn't thin enough to be easily used single-handed in everyday life, it won't win any hearts.
Putting aside the durability question for a bit, the consensus around size was that a book-style foldable should be as usable as a regular Android smartphone when folded, because no one wanted to bother opening the display each time they had to read or reply to a message. They needed a phone they could walk and text on single-handed; they didn’t want to carry a tablet every second of their lives. The closer a foldable got to a regular phone’s dimensions, the better it was. The big, unfolded display would be an extra perk when they’d have a moment to sit down and enjoy it.
I wholeheartedly agree with those thoughts. And that’s why I enjoyed the Pixel 9 Pro Fold much more than the Pixel Fold. The single-handedness made it a more viable smartphone, as well as being an excellent foldable.
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