Google's foldable has hardly changed in the last two years. With the smaller battery, it also feels like a downgrade, and the large screen offers few advantages.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold looks almost identical to its predecessor – and its predecessor's predecessor. Google has, however, put a lot of effort into the new hinge. Otherwise, the only notable changes are a new camera and a more efficient chip. The foldable could still stand to be a bit lighter and have more hardware power.
Here are the specifications for comparison:
Design and display: same same but different
My test device, which I borrowed from Google, has a simple, black design, matte with a glossy hinge. A visual change: Google has thinned out the camera bar slightly and extended the black coloring across it.
The design and format remain, only the camera looks different on the new Pixel 11 Pro Fold (right) compared to its predecessors, here the 9 Pro Fold.
Externally, there are no other differences compared to the predecessor, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and even the model from two years ago, except for a trivial millimeter in thickness. Unfolded, it measures 15.5 × 15 × 0.5 centimeters. Closed, at 15.5 × 7.6 × 1 centimeters, it is almost a regular phone with a squashed display. At least it has become a bit lighter: it now weighs 240 grams instead of just under 260.
In return, Google has given the foldable its new Pro feature: the «HiLight». An LED in the upper camera bar that indicates when someone is calling you or you are talking to Gemini. Nothing more is possible with it so far. Even though Google promises that, for example, text messages will also be displayed via the LED in the future, the feature still seems meager.
When I chat with Gemini, the LED activates a blue-violet light.
Google has revised the foldable's hinge. According to the manufacturer, high-strength steel used in aviation serves as the material. This is intended to withstand extreme stress and make the foldable three times more resistant than the previous model. However, something like this only becomes apparent during long-term use – and I am not allowed to keep the device that long.
The new hinge is said to be three times more robust.
What I have noticed so far: The hinge is thinner than its predecessor and the foldable is a bit stiffer to open, which I find pleasant. This pays off when I want to place the device at a 90-degree angle so that it doesn't snap shut unintentionally.
For the displays, Google uses the OLED panels of the predecessor. That fits well; they are stylish, clear, and high-contrast. The resolution of the 6.5-inch outer display is 2342 × 1080 pixels, while the inside is 8 inches with a resolution of 2152 × 2076 pixels. The outer display has become a tad larger thanks to a slightly narrower bezel. Both displays provide a frame rate of 1-120 Hertz; previously, the outer display provided 60-120 Hertz. Inside and out, they have become brighter. The peak value is now 3600 nits instead of 3000 nits. That is sufficient even in bright sunshine. However, the crease is extremely dominant, even compared to the competition. I can sometimes see that the display is slightly wavy even when looking at it head-on.
Hardware: better chip, smaller battery
Google has given its foldable the latest chip from its own house: the Tensor G6. In my benchmark with «Geekbench 6», this shows hardly any better results than its predecessor, the Tensor G5. It doesn't reach Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5, but it is easily enough for everyday tasks: switching quickly between apps, gaming, and multitasking. Switching between the outer and inner display also works smoothly.
The added value of the new chip is evident in the battery test. Although Google has installed a slightly smaller battery, 4800 mAh instead of 5000 mAh in the predecessor, the battery life ends up being similar. Google specifies a runtime of 24 hours – just like the predecessor. Back then, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold lasted 15 hours for me. These 15 hours are also about right for the current 11 Pro Fold.
I can then charge the foldable via fast charging with up to 30 watts, or wirelessly with up to 25 watts thanks to Qi2.2. As a rule, the battery is fully charged in 1.5 hours on the cable. That is fine.
What is practical about the Qi technology is that Google has installed a magnet for it. This allows me to use wireless power banks with a magnetic function or attach other magnetic accessories to the foldable without needing an extra magnetic case for it.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has 16 gigabytes of RAM. The generous memory benefits all the AI features. In addition, the foldable is up to date with 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.
Cameras: The new sensor sheds light on the dark
Google has given the wide-angle camera a slightly larger sensor than the previous model. The remaining cameras remain the same – for the third year in a row, as Google has also installed the same cameras in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That is why I am comparing my photos with it.
The regular wide-angle camera does a good job as usual. The photos have a natural touch and are not over-sharpened. Just as it should be. With a cloudy sky, I notice a bit more grain, but the photo is still nice.
With an overcast sky, the sharpness decreases slightly, but the subject still comes out well.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold plays out the advantage of the larger sensor in dark rooms. With my wall lamp, a golden bouquet, the details come out better than with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Overall, the photo is also brighter.
The five-fold optical zoom also does a good job. I like the two-fold zoom much less; the numbers and hands of the photographed clock almost disappear completely there.
The two-fold zoom is disappointing, as fine details simply disappear.
The optical five-fold zoom, on the other hand, is convincing.
New is a 30-fold zoom instead of a 20-fold digital zoom. Additionally, a digital image stabilizer helps when taking photos. I can activate this manually from 20-fold zoom onwards. However, I see no difference in the result, whether with or without stabilization.
Here is the 30-fold zoom. Surprisingly good.
The wide-angle camera also hides a macro function. I cannot get too close to the object, but the details come out well:
I like the automatic macro mode.
Outstanding on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold compared to a regular phone is the «Instant View» feature. This allows me to compare photos I have already taken on the left half of the screen while continuing to shoot. Although this has existed since the last generation, I find the function practical.
On the left a photo I just took, and on the right what I currently see in the lens.
Software for multitasking and AI – less for the big screen
Google delivers the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with Android 17 and its own user interface. In addition, there are at least seven years of software and security updates. Furthermore, many apps are adapted to the large screen, such as Mail and Calendar.
The calendar is nicely laid out on the large inner display.
I perform the multitasking known from the predecessor flexibly via a split-screen function. I can slide the position of the border between the two apps back and forth as I like. The apps then have to load briefly each time. However, it is easier to use than, for example, with Samsung, where I need several steps until I have two apps open side by side.
On the left a text or a comic, on the right Insta. Everything is possible.
My highlight, also already present in the predecessor, is «Drag & Drop». If I want to transfer a motif or a file from one app to another, I drag the desired file from one app directly into the target app. This is how I send a picture via WhatsApp or attach a file to an email.
Google promises a practical feature with the new, automatic live translation for media such as YouTube videos. To do this, I must first download the respective source and target language to the smartphone once via the settings.
The live translation is activated, but so far it hasn't worked for me.
I play «Rick and Morty» on YouTube, once in English, once in Russian. Afterwards, a pop-up question should automatically appear asking if it should be translated into German. On my test device, this hasn't worked with either language so far. Possibly an update from Google is still needed there.
Reading and gaming on the big screen: think again!
With such a large screen, it would be a wonderful thing to read comics and books. However, the Google Books app does not use the upper edge because of the camera cutout (notch). So, when reading, I hardly have a larger image on the inner display compared to the outer display. This cannot be adjusted in the settings either, even though I select «use full display».
Mangas on the large inner screen would be cool, but unfortunately, they are not displayed much larger than on the outside due to the cropping.
When gaming, I benefit from the large screen, but the hardware lags behind. While I can easily play graphically demanding games like «Genshin Impact» on competitor Samsung, I have to throttle the graphics to the lowest level – and still get a buggy, pink view.
This has never happened to me before: a pink screen while gaming.
Since it worked on the predecessors even at the lowest graphics level, I assume that something is still wrong with the software, which is a pity. Casual games, at least, cause no problems.
In a nutshell
Google's foldable brings little that is new
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a robust, stylish foldable. However, it is merely a gentle refresh of its predecessor and is still very bulky. Even the Pixel 10 Pro Fold brought few innovations. It is not worth upgrading from a previous model for just a marginally faster chip and a slightly better main camera. The fact that I am also restricted when gaming and reading manga clouds the overall picture – meaning I cannot take advantage of the large screen. If you are generally looking for a smartphone with a folding form factor, I would rather suggest the competition with lighter devices and better specifications. For example, the currently thinnest foldable, the Honor Magic V6, which has better cameras, or the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which has since become very thin and handy.
Pro
stylish design
well-revised main camera
long update intervals
robust hinge
Contra
The battery has become smaller
Smartphone bulky
expensive purchase
Software not sufficiently optimized for the large screen
Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away.
