Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: In a class of its own

It started all slow but now in 2026 there are plenty of foldable phones in the market. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is one of them, but due to its superb software and relatively reasonable price, it does stand out.As I used the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold in the last couple of weeks, again and again, I had one thought — the foldable phones have come a long way. Maybe that is why 2026 may turn out to be the year foldable phones finally go mainstream, and not just because a certain company that rhymes with a fruit is finally launching one tonight. Instead, it would be because the foldable phones have finally become extremely good. At least the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is one such phone.Now, as the technology has improved we have also seen more companies bringing foldable phones in the last couple of years. It has become a crowded space. Yet, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold stands out in this crowd, thanks to its software and design. Largely thanks to its software. It is still not a no-compromise phone, unlike the Pixel 11 Pro XL, which India Today Tech reviewed just a few days ago, but as far as foldable phones go it is very very good.Compared to last year’s Pixel Fold, the new one has an improved design that is evident from its slimness and slightly lower weight. But more than that, in use it just feels a more complete and cohesive phone. This is the same impression I get when I compare it to other foldable phones in the market, at least for now because tonight a new entrant is supposed to arrive. The fact that relative to something like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra the Pixel is priced around Rs 35,000 less also makes it a better deal.So, is the Pixel 11 Pro Fold the phone to buy this year if you are looking at a foldable phone? Largely yes, but caveats apply. Improved design, brilliant screensThe overall design ethos of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold are unchanged. It is a rectangular phone that turns square when its 8-inch inner screen is unfolded in book style. A design we have seen often. But there are improvements all around. The camera module is slightly thinner. The clamshell form — when the phone is in folded form — is now around 10mm in thickness, almost 1mm less than its predecessor. When unfolded, the phone is around 5mm thick, again slimmer than how the older device was. These numbers, stated in the specs sheet, may not look significant. But in use they are. When you hold the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, it is clearly evident that this has a more balanced dimensions and better feel in hands, whether you are using it in folded form or unfolded.The device also weighs slightly less at around 239 grams, which for a large foldable phone is more than reasonable. Another noticeable change is the size of the outer display. It now measures 6.5 inches diagonally. This makes the Pixel 11 Pro Fold an almost regular-sized phone even when it is being used in folded form. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has nice inner and outer displays. Overall, just the way I said in the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro XL reviews, Google has gone with a tried and tested approach on the design part. There are almost no visually-significant changes in the new phone. The frame is made of smooth — but not shiny — aluminium, which looks and feels ultra premium, particularly in the Olive colour variant. Side note: only this colour variant is available in India, and not Obsidian. This is not as bad as it sounds because when paired with the slightly golden aluminium frame, this variant looks almost luxury. The hinge, meanwhile, is glossy and that adds a nice contrast to the frame.The glass back cover has the same silky finish that I also found on the Pixel 11 Pro, and loved. The entire phone is extremely well-made, and unlike most other foldable phones even comes with IP68 rating. That alone, in my opinion, gives it an edge over its more fragile competitors.In terms of the design the only part that I think could have been better is the way the phone unfolds. I believe that companies must find a way to create grooves on the frame that users can dig into to unfold the phone. The hinge on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is quite strong and it takes a bit of force to unfold it. The 11 Pro Fold is an IP 68 certified foldable phone. Unlike the regular Pixels, which have a fingerprint sensor under their display, the 11 Pro Fold has it in the power button. It is touch sensitive and works fairly well. You also get the face ID, though it is quirky in low light, but overall the unlock mechanism is good enough. Though not as good as what we get with an in-display fingerprint sensor, or through Apple’s Face ID on the iPhone Pro.Screens are a major part of the foldable phones. Dual-screen experience is one reason why people buy a foldable phone, and I am glad to see that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold offers two excellent screens. Both the outer display, and the full 8-inch inner display are vibrant and brilliantly contrasty. They show superb colours and the screens have enough brightness to handle direct sunlight. The Phone gets a slightly larger 6.5-inch outer display. The crease on the inner display is still there, but it is barely noticeable with eyes unless you are seeing a completely black or white screen. Even to fingers, as you navigate on the phone, the crease is barely perceptible. The problem of crease in a foldable phone has still not been fully solved, but I believe in terms of practical use it has largely become a non-issue for all except the perfectionists.On the other hand, the flexibility that the two displays provide is more than welcome. For most of the basic stuff, the outer display is more than good enough. For watching videos, reading and doing something where you will benefit from more acres, the inner screen gets into the play. Although, the size of the phone — an 8-inch screen can be big — when unfolded does necessitate that you use it with a different grip compared to how you use a tall-boy phone. It takes a while to adjust.The foldable experienceGiven the nature of the phone, as dictated by the two screens of different size and dimensions, software becomes extremely important. While I believe that the software and the user interface for foldable phones remain a work in progress, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is as good as it gets at the moment.Powered by Android 17, in the Pixel 11 Pro Fold Google is using the software that has been made smart by Gemini. A lot of AI functionality runs locally thanks to the significantly faster TPU unit in the new Tensor G6 chipset. This local AI is powered by Google’s own Gemini Nano model. What the phone cannot do locally, it accomplishes with the help of Google servers and bigger Gemini models. The 11 Pro Fold could have done with the improved camera system that we earlier saw in the Pixel 11 Pro XL. Irrespective of how it does it, there are some cool AI features in the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which I believe are also somewhat more useful on the bigger screen. For example, AI powered photo editor seems more useful on the bigger screen of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Similarly, features like Rambler, which is new AI-powered dictation mode in the Google Keyboard, is handier on the bigger screen. And similar is the case for the new teleprompter feature in the phone because unlike on the regular phones, on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold you can actually use the main cameras with their larger image sensors and better hardware for your selfie videos.These are just a couple of AI features I mention. The phone is full of AI features that people will find useful — or not. I believe it all depends on your specific use cases, but the fact that there are features available is good to see.The day-to-day performance of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is extremely good. The thin design does mean a bit more heating but it is never alarming. The Tensor G6 is a fast enough chip, although in benchmarks it is nowhere close to the best from Qualcomm or MediaTek. But that is something you are only going to notice in games, because in regular use I found the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to be a fast phone, also thanks to its smooth 1-120Hz screens. Yes, both screens support variable refresh rates.The phone in its performance is also helped by its storage and RAM. Unlike last year when Google limited the phone to 256GB storage in India, this time the company has launched the device with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Actually, given the component prices, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold price in India looks more than reasonable because users are also getting double the storage compared to the Fold last year.Google’s software in the phone is clean. But it is full of Google apps. I believe most people will find them useful, or rather already use most of them. In addition, Google has tweaked the software to add a few Fold-specific features, such as the ability to snap apps together when you are using the large screen. Like I said, the UI is still a work in progress, but the Fold does offer some advantage in multitasking and large-screen work and use over the regular phones.Similarly, a lot of apps, from Gmail to Photo, have a nifty two-panel user interface on the bigger screen. This interface is not available on regular phones, and hence is one more area where the foldable Pixel has an advantage over its more petite and smaller siblings.Having said that, there are some disadvantages as well. The slim design of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold means its battery is still at around 4800 mAh. For a large screen device, it is barely enough for a full-day of use, particularly if you use the phone a lot in its unfolded form. Just to give a figure to our readers, I ran a battery test. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold, with the benchmark running on its big inner display, scored around 5 hours less compared to the Pixel 11 Pro XL.Also the charging in the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is slower, more in line with what Google offers in the Pixel 11. This means charging the phone from 0-100 takes around 70-80 mins with a regular 30W or higher charger.Cameras are Pixel classNow, this is one area where I would have loved to see Google do a little better. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold does click competent photos. Rather it clicks fantastic photos, as you can see in the images samples. The images have lots of dynamic light and brilliant colours. Zoom options like 2X and 5X are extremely capable, particularly in good light, capturing a ton of details.It is nearly impossible for a Pixel phone to be bad at clicking photos. But I have been spoiled by the Pixel 11 Pro XL, which gets an improved camera system that is top tier and then some more. On that count, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a notch below. It is competent but it is also high time that phone companies figure out a way to put their best camera systems in their most expensive phones — which are foldable phones. Sure, it is an engineering challenge given the design limits and complexity that a hinge and thinness add to these phones. But the companies, I believe, must figure out solutions.Having said that, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has a more than good-enough camera system. All its cameras, from the three on the rear, to the two selfie shooters — one each on the display — click pleasing photos and record decent videos. Most notably, Google allows the phone’s rear cameras to be used for selfies. It is somewhat awkward because as a user you are not entirely sure if you should look at the screen on the right, where you can see yourself, or on the main camera module to get the best angle for your photos. But with some practice you can click some superb selfie videos or images using the rear camera system.The official foldable phone from GoogleThe foldable phones, although they have been in the market for several years now, still don’t feel all that natural to all users. At least, I still prefer a regular premium phone over them. But they have their uses, due to the flexibility that their two screens offer, and their novelty.Only you can be certain of whether you want the flexibility of the two screens and the novelty or not. But if you do, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold must be on your shortlist. It has arguably the best software in any foldable phone at the moment. It is also, in my opinion, the best-looking phone among all the foldable phones with its golden accents and regal-looking olive shade. And it has a set of superb screens, plus a competent camera system.But at the same time it is not a perfect, or even a near-perfect phone. It has its virtues, and its vices, just like any other foldable phone in the market. Do keep that in mind if you are eyeing it.- EndsPublished By: Divya BhatiPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 12:41 IST