Google Pixel Fold

The Pixel Fold delivers with a thin and durable design, a wide front display, smart software and great cameras

- MARK SPOONAUER

It's about flippin' time. At last, another mainstream foldable phone is here to compete with Samsung's Galaxy Fold handsets. And this is no me-too device: the Pixel Fold makes its own mark with a wide front display that's easy to use, the thinnest design we've seen on a foldable, and top-grade cameras.

One thing Google hasn't managed to achieve is undercutting Samsung on price. The just-announced Samsung Galaxy Z Folds can be bought from the Samsung Store with 256GB for £1,749. And Google lists the 256GB Pixel Fold at... £1,749. Samsung's offering is a whole £20 cheaper if you choose the 512GB version - £1,849 versus £1,869. However, Google is offering more generous trade-in deals to sweeten the pill, and we're already seeing aggressive operator deals that bundle in a year of 5G service for little more than the cost of the bare phone.

Winning design

The Pixel Fold is available in two colours: porcelain and obsidian. I prefer the porcelain model as it "pops" more, but the black model has a sleek executive vibe.

The design feels impressively mature for a first attempt. It all starts with a front 5.8in display, which works better than the narrower cover panel on the Galaxy Z Fold4 (see issue 337, p74). The wider aspect ratio makes it easier to use apps and type on the front panel: this is not a preview display, but a true second display.

There's also no gap for debris to get in when the phone is closed, and Google claims its fluid-friction hinge is the most durable available on a foldable. Time will tell on that, but I can say right now that it's super smooth in operation.