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Google overhauled the Pixel Fold 2 utterly, beginning with the identify. The Pixel Fold successor is called Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google included it within the Pixel 9 sequence unveiled earlier this week. In fact, the identify is hardly the largest change right here. The Pixel 9 Professional Fold is way thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Additionally, it incorporates a large foldable display with small symmetrical bezels.
The specs almost match the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL, so the Pixel 9 Professional Fold will probably be simply as succesful as its non-folding siblings. Nevertheless, Google made an enormous compromise to get this kind issue proper. I feel it’s a teaser of the compromise Apple must make with the rumored iPhone 17 Slim subsequent 12 months. It’s additionally the form of compromise that explains why the iPhone 17 Slim received’t be pretty much as good a flagship because the iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max.
Earlier than the Pixel 9 occasion, I mentioned the iPhone 17 Slim might be the perfect iPhone. I’d love a thinner iPhone, even when which means shedding a number of the Professional options from the higher-end fashions. I didn’t clarify on the time what kind of options I’d be keen to surrender. However I can solely consider two differentiators that actually matter.
One may very well be the chip, as Apple may go for a non-Professional model of the A19 System-on-Chips (SoC) subsequent 12 months. Then once more, Apple wants an environment friendly next-gen chip to make a slim iPhone 17 design occur. That’s the way it delivered a thinner-than-ever iPad Pro this 12 months. The M4 was a key issue.
The digital camera is the opposite massive {hardware} element that separates the non-Professional iPhones from the Professional. The iPhone 17 Slim can’t probably pack the identical digital camera module because the iPhone 17 Professional Max. We haven’t reached the purpose the place rear cameras can help skinny kind components. Wanting on the M4 iPad Professional, we see proof of that. Apple ditched one of many cameras discovered on the earlier mannequin to provide us the skinny profile.
The place does the Pixel 9 Professional Fold slot in all of this? Try the digital camera comparison above between the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, 9 Professional XL, and 9 Professional. Google used completely different digital camera {hardware} on the foldable in comparison with the non-foldable fashions.
Whereas Google’s algorithms will certainly compensate for the shortage of megapixels, it’s clear that Google couldn’t match the Pixel 9 Professional rear cameras on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
It’s not simply hypothesis. Throughout a briefing earlier than Tuesday’s occasion, Google confirmed that the skinny Pixel 9 Professional Fold design dictated the digital camera selections.
Google selected a skinny rear digital camera system as a result of it needed the Pixel 9 Professional Fold to be skinny and pocketable. The foldable cellphone wanted to have a skinny profile even when folded. Contemplating the Pixel 9 Professional Fold measures 10.5mm when folded and the Pixel 9 Execs are 8.5mm thick, it seems to be like Google achieved its design objective.
The compromise makes the Pixel 9 Professional Fold a less-than-good flagship than the opposite Pixel 9 Professional variants, although all of them have the phrase “Professional” within the identify. As you possibly can see above, the rear digital camera system can’t match the capabilities of the opposite Professional telephones.
Since I discussed SoC selections for the iPhone 17 Slim, I’ll remind you that each one three Pixel 9 Professional fashions pack the identical Tensor G4 chip. The Pixel 9 Professional Fold will provide the identical efficiency as the opposite Execs. It’s simply the digital camera {hardware} that’s inferior.
Again to the iPhone 17 Slim, the handset can’t be a real flagship if its digital camera can’t match the iPhone 17 Professional Max, even when the 2 units pack equivalent chips. The biggest iPhone in Apple’s lineup normally packs one of the best digital camera {hardware}. I’d don’t have any drawback with such a compromise, and I say that as somebody contemplating the iPhone 16 Plus as my subsequent iPhone buy.
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