Is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold the ultimate foldable smartphone? DXOMARK put this ambitious device from Google to the test. Spoiler alert: the results are more nuanced than you might think.
Google is getting into the dance with its Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a device that is getting a lot of buzz. But what is it really worth? DXOMARK experts have put this new smartphone through its paces, and the results are… interesting.
A screen that dazzles the eye
Let’s start with the good side: the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s display is very good. DXOMARK the place in the world top 10, all categories combined. Which is excellent for a foldable.
What impresses most is its brightness. With a peak of 2,585 cd/m2, it is one of the brightest foldable displays ever tested. The screen will remain readable even in the brightest conditions.
But that’s not all. Color fidelity, fluidity to the touch, visual comfort… Google has gone all out. In fact, it’s the first foldable to earn the ” Eye Comfort » the DXOMARK.
The camera: ups and downs
Now let’s move on to the photo partand there, hold on tight, because it’s a bit of a roller coaster.
The good news? The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is considered the best foldable in photography. The exposure is spot on, the colors are faithful, the autofocus is lightning fast.
But beware, not everything is rosy in Pixelland. The dynamic range (the ability to manage very light and very dark areas in the same photo) is a bit behind the previous model. And in portrait mode, details can sometimes be lacking in high-contrast scenes.
The zoom, on the other hand, is more nuanced. On the one hand, the new ultra-wide-angle module allows you to capture wider scenes. Great for landscapes! On the other hand, the telephoto zoom struggles a bit in low light. So for concert photos at the back of the room, it might not be great.
We can see elsewhere the differences with the Pixel 9 Pro, which doesn’t have the same camera setup… the latter is the second best camera phone of 2024 according to DXOMARK. With 158 points, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is just behind the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.
And what about video?
This is where the problem lies a little. Google has chosen to move to 10-bit HDR video. On paper, it’s great: richer colors, better contrast management. But in practice, it introduces a lot of noise, especially in low light.
Stabilization is top notch, autofocus is accurate, but the level of detail takes a hit in difficult scenes.
In conclusion, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold excels in some areas, notably the display and still photography, but shows its limitations in others, particularly in video. Is it the ultimate foldable smartphone? Not quite according to DXOMARK. But it’s certainly a step in the right direction for Google.
For our part, our first impressions are online, while we await our full test which will arrive in the next few days.
To go further
Our Pixel 9 Pro Fold review has begun: it’s obvious that it’s casting a lot of shade on Samsung
Source: www.frandroid.com
