Magnets are the most fun new characteristic on Google’s Pixel 10 Professional Fold for me. I used to be giddy with pleasure after I popped this book-like folding cellphone on my MagSafe wi-fi automotive charger—no third-party magnetic case wanted, no annoying clamps. I used to be even capable of open the cellphone up, and whereas it drooped into panorama orientation because of the weight of the second display screen, it nonetheless stayed caught and gave me a a lot bigger view of Google Maps.
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold and Google’s broader Pixel 10 collection are the one flagship Android telephones with native Qi2 wi-fi charging assist, which means they will magnetically recharge similar to MagSafe iPhones, enabling sooner and extra environment friendly charging. It may not sound like an enormous deal, however it’s little issues like this that may make a big effect on day-to-day use.
Sadly, exterior of magnets and its folding trick, this Pixel nonetheless does not really feel fairly as “professional” as its identify suggests, because it’s lacking a number of staples discovered on the precise Pixel 10 Professional and Pixel 10 Professional XL. It is a good smartphone, however while you’re spending $1,799, you wish to get the perfect bang to your buck.
Ten Fold
Samsung vastly slimmed down its Galaxy Z Fold7 this summer season, the Pixel 10 Professional Fold’s important competitors, and I want Google had adopted swimsuit. Telephones are getting slimmer than ever, and whilst you could not look after an ultra-thin candybar handset with not-so-amazing battery life, any millimeter that is shaved off on a folding cellphone could make an enormous distinction in usability.
The Pixel 10 Professional Fold does not really feel just like the chonker it was initially, however subsequent to the Z Fold7, it feels a bit extra cumbersome to make use of. I nonetheless discover it onerous to open typically (I want there was a small lip), and I additionally am not a fan of the asymmetrical design, with seen curved edges on the left close to the hinge; Samsung’s cellphone seems extra elegant.
The {hardware} feels higher than ever although, with a dependable gearless hinge, and a crease I discover straightforward to disregard (when you care, the Galaxy Z Fold7’s crease is barely much less noticeable). This is without doubt one of the few folding telephones with a correct IP68 dust- and water-resistance ranking, even higher than what Samsung presents, so you’ll be able to really feel secure utilizing this cellphone in varied environments like conventional smartphones. I dropped the cellphone after I was getting out of my automotive (onto asphalt), and I solely noticed a number of nicks within the aluminum body. And whereas a lot of that comes right down to luck, these folding telephones simply aren’t as fragile as they as soon as had been. Google says the cellphone is able to 10 years of folding, which helps assuage long-term issues.
