An impressive 2024 foldable in 2025

The foldable market has reached a crucial inflection point. The initial novelty has worn off, replaced by a fierce battle over what a foldable should be. Is it a delicate piece of tech, impossibly thin and light? Or is it a robust, practical tool designed for the rigors of daily life? With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google has emphatically chosen the latter.

- Abhishek Baxi

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold ₹1,72,999/- (store.google.​com)

Instead of chasing the thinnest hinge or the loudest specs list, Google has refocused on reliability, daily usability, and the Pixel platform's best asset — software that makes the hardware sing. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold presents a compelling, if polarizing, vision for the future of foldables. It champions industry-first durability, class-leading battery life, and a uniquely intelligent software experience, all while making significant compromises in design elegance, camera hardware, and raw processing power.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold keeps the design of the previous generation — you'd really struggle to tell the two apart. The satin matte finish and sturdily machined frame give the phone a reassuring heft and grip. That also means that at 258 grams and 10.8mm thickness when folded, it is a substantial device that makes its presence known in a pocket or hand. Compare that to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 or vivo X Fold5 that offer a startlingly slim chassis with significantly less weight (over 40 grams!). The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is chunky, to say the least. Google's new gearless hinge is the headline change: it opens smoothly, reduces wobble and lets the phone achieve full ingress protection — an industry milestone for a foldable — which means genuine IP68 water and dust resistance. The ‘6’ in that rating signifies complete protection against fine particles like sand and dust, a vulnerability that has remained a major source of anxiety for foldable owners.

The focus on durability is also felt in everyday handling. The weight distribution and rounded edges make it comfortable to hold folded or open. Google has traded svelteness for robustness.