Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Sharp Screens, Uneven Design
Wired's review of Google's new Pixel 11 Pro Fold praises its bright OLED displays while criticizing its asymmetrical design and a camera that falls short of other 'Pro' models.
A Wired review examines Google's latest foldable smartphone, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which comes in only two color options: Obsidian, described as more of a dark matte gray than true black, and Olive Green, which has a shinier gold-toned frame.
The reviewer criticizes the phone's asymmetrical design. When closed, the device has a curved corner cutout, and when opened, its two halves have noticeably different thicknesses. The crease in the middle of the main display is also described as among the most noticeable of any current foldable. The fingerprint sensor is built into the power button, meaning users must pick up the phone to unlock it rather than tapping the screen directly. Face unlock works well in good lighting but fails in dark rooms.
Displays and performance
The Fold features two OLED displays — an 8-inch main screen and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Both reach peak brightness of up to 3,600 nits, remaining readable in direct sunlight, and support a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
The device runs on Google's new Tensor G6 processor, paired with 16 GB of RAM and a choice of 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB of storage. Coming from a Pixel 10 Pro XL, the transition was largely smooth, though the phone froze a few times, including once in Gmail's split-screen view and once after launching an app on the outer display and then unfolding the inner screen.
A new HiLight feature
The phone introduces HiLight, a set of colored LEDs in the camera flash module that light up in different colors depending on who is calling, or cycle through colors during conversations with the Gemini assistant. The reviewer calls it a neat but minor addition.
The review notes that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's camera does not match the higher-end capabilities found in other Pro-series Pixels, instead resembling the standard Pixel 11 in this regard. This is attributed to the physical constraints foldable phones face, since they require two separate front-facing cameras — one for use when open and one for when closed.
