Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: The choice is easy

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is here, and it's a highly-anticipated foldable for 2025. The market for large foldable phones is booming now that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 put a strong foot forward, plus all the innovations ongoing overseas. The question now is, how does the Pixel 10 Pro Fold stack up against the existing Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold was a solid phone, and it still is, but it also lacked some key features that made it a bit too expensive to consider. The lukewarm processor performance, underwhelming cameras, and the fact that it only has an IPX8 rating are a few drawbacks to choosing the older model. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold addresses all these shortcomings, and a few more.

Here's everything you need to know if you're considering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — or are thinking about an upgrade.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Design and display

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The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't change much in terms of design, and to some, Google might not have done enough. The design highlights are a slimmer hinge assembly, smaller cover screen bezel, and improved durability. The outer display on the 10 Pro Fold is slightly larger at 6.4 inches, but the phone retains its overall footprint. As such, the aspect ratio will feel pretty similar to that of a traditional Pixel phone.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold weighs a hefty 257 grams and is 10.5mm thick when folded. The design and ergonomics were very good, but there's no escaping that weight. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a new hinge design, although this hasn't resulted in a weight reduction. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is actually heavier and thicker than its predecessor, weighing 258 grams and measuring 10.8mm thick.

This could be a dealbreaker for foldable fans looking at the thin-and-light Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 with envy, wondering why Google's foldables are still heavyweights.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ outer OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,700 nits of peak brightness. This brightness level is higher on the new Pixel 10 Pro Fold, maxing out at 3,000 nits. The folding display mostly stays the same as the one on the 9 Pro Fold, which is an 8-inch LTPO OLED with the same brightness level as the outer screen.

The major design upgrade here is actually something you can't see — the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's durability. It's now certified for IP68 protection against dust and water ingress. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's IPX8 rating makes clear that it has zero dust protection, meaning particles can enter in the hinge, potentially causing damage. Not only is IP68 a big change, it's also an industry-first for a foldable sold in North America.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Hardware and specs

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 for the 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can configure it to have up to 1TB in storage, which of course will push the price point beyond $2,000. This is the first time we've seen a 1TB configuration available, as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was only configurable up to 512GB.

The big change is the shift to the new Tensor G5 SoC. The chip is using a smaller 3nm process node and is made by TSMC rather than Samsung. We're hoping this should finally put to rest the overheating and poor raw performance that have been plaguing Pixels for years, but we'll need to test the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for ourselves before we can be sure. For now, we know that Google is making big claims about Tensor G5 improvements.

It's claimed to have a CPU that's 34% faster on average compared to the Tensor G4 chip in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Specifically for AI tasks, the tensor processing unit (TPU) is up to 60% more powerful. Overall, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will perform better than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold on a consistent basis thanks to these hardware changes.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold gets big boost in battery capacity, up to 5,015mAh, making it the largest battery yet in a Pixel foldable. The budget Pixel 9a still beats it by a small margin though, thanks to its 5,100mAh battery. The phone also comes with inbuilt magnets for Qi2 charging and connection with new "Pixelsnap" accessories. It'll improve wireless charging speeds to 15W across the board with any Qi2-certified charger.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650mAh battery, and it delivered above-average battery life for a folding phone in our tensing. With the power-efficiency enhancements to Tensor G5 and a larger battery, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold could easily have the best battery life of any Pixel yet.

The cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold were disappointing since they were mostly the same sensors lifted from the Pixel Fold, with the only tweaks being software-related. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold continues this trend, as you get the same 48MP main camera, 10.8MP telephoto camera, and 10.5MP ultrawide camera as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The 5x optical zoom level is still competitive in 2025, but the resolution and sensor hardware could be improved.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Software

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold ships with Android 16, just like the rest of the 10 series. Along with this, the 10 Pro Fold will also get seven years of software updates, which include OS upgrades and security patches. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold launched with Android 14 and will be getting the same number of years of updates, but the 10 Pro Fold should outlast the 9 Pro Fold by two Android versions.

There are also exclusive AI features offered with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, like Magic Cue and Camera Coach. Magic Cue tries to lend a helping hand before you even need to ask, surfacing bits of information needed to complete your task. For example, it might show you travel details and confirmation numbers when you're on the phone with your airline. Meanwhile, Camera Coach will give you situational tips to help you get the perfect shot.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold debuted new features like Add Me and Video Boost, which will come to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold too, along with the new exclusives.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Which one should you buy?

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold picks up right where the 9 Pro Fold left off, automatically making it the one to pick over the 9 Pro Fold. Since Google managed to keep the pricing the same, the 10 Pro Fold is even more attractive than last year's model, and potentially even more than the very expensive Galaxy Z Fold 7.

While the upgrades might not look like much, they're impactful. They directly address shortcomings we've identified with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The newer version is more powerful and more durable, with more battery life and faster magnetic Qi2 charging.

I don't see any reason to get the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in 2025 now that the new model is out. If you already own one and are not happy with the cameras or need better dust protection, you should think about trading it in for the newer model if you're getting a good deal.