Two days of battery life, excellent multitasking — the Pixel 10 Pro Fold nails what matters most

Testing the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold was tough. The slim and sleek Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 spoiled me, and it was difficult to go back to a bulky foldable.

However, it wasn’t long before I understood what Google’s goal was with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — to produce the first practical book-style folding phone.

Its price tag is anything but sensible, and making a responsible smartphone choice doesn’t excite people to flock to Google’s website to order one.

Still, if you’re serious about foldables, and productivity tops your list for buying one, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is your choice — even in the face of more attractive (and thinner) alternatives.

Google nailed battery life on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Get more stuff done

I love the appeal of a larger inner display, but unless buying a foldable makes you more productive, it’s difficult to justify spending $1,800.

Thankfully, I’m enjoying what the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has to offer. I’ve been waiting for battery life on foldables to improve, and Google’s hit a home run with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

I can easily get through two days with mixed use, and I can use the phone unfolded for most of my day without needing to top it off.

The 5,015mAh battery cell in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold makes a difference. What’s the point of a huge internal display if I can’t use it to the fullest?

The 6.4-inch cover screen is comfortable enough for most tasks, but I’ll spend the extra money on a foldable to take advantage of the versatility.

Social media looks fantastic on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but it really shines when you open up multitasking.

I often keep Gmail and Slack open together for work, and it’s a fantastic feeling not being limited to the cover screen over battery concerns. I open the internal display and get to work; precisely what I want from my foldable.

Material 3 Expressive isn’t the only improvement

Google makes good on app pairs

I mentioned multitasking because it’s a significant reason why you’d pick up a Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Yes, I love watching content on a larger display, but that hardly makes a $1,800 investment worthwhile.

Google’s multitasking on foldables used to be dismal. The original Pixel Fold lacked an intuitive way to add app pairs for over a year, and I never understood how Google could whiff on a fundamental part of the foldable experience.

The company has made up for it, and multitasking on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a breeze.

I can long-press any app to start a split-screen experience. I simply choose the other app I want in the pair, and I’m done.

If I want to save that pair, I pull up my open apps, and a simple drop-down menu on the pair allows me to save it.

Google’s 90:10 multitasking split works well, and it’s easy to slide an app almost out of view if needed.

It’s not quite as Open Canvas-like as on the OnePlus Open, but it’s significantly better than what we’re used to with multitasking on a Google foldable.

Material 3 Expressive is also an excellent experience on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and I’ll admit to using Gemini way more than I used to.

Still, I wouldn’t rely on AI to make decisions for me or completely trust the information it gives me for consequential things in my life.

However, it has improved at simpler tasks, and it feels like a natural part of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Don’t underestimate durability

An IP68 rating matters for a foldable

It’s not flashy, but you should pay attention to the IP68 rating on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Everyone’s heard the foldable horror stories, and when I’m out testing a foldable with friends, it’s usually one of the first three questions I get asked.

Invariably, someone will think it’s cool but hold back due to durability concerns, especially given the massive price premium over regular smartphones.

I don’t want to worry about where I bring my $1,800 smartphone. While I still wouldn’t build sand castles with my Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it’s comforting to know a little dust or rain isn’t going to fry my phone.

Improved durability will help get foldables into the hands of more buyers, and Google took a big step with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Despite Samsung’s improvements with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I still think the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has the best camera system on foldables.

I wish Google would increase the saturation slightly to make the photos more point-and-shoot, social media-friendly.

However, for crisp details and versatility, you can’t beat the results — especially in low-light photography.

It’s a complicated phone to love

You have to really want a folding phone to pick up a Pixel 10 Pro Fold. It lacks the raw horsepower of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, so it’s not the ideal foldable choice for gamers or those who frequently edit videos on their phone.

Still, for business owners or buyers who use foldables to increase productivity, its improved battery life and durability should be enough to sway you — just don’t blame me when your phone still can’t survive being dropped in the ocean.