Most individuals don’t must pay the premium for a foldable smartphone. However when you’ve received some money to burn and have been trying to make the leap, the Google Pixel Fold is one among our favorites, and a current deal has dropped it all the way down to $1,399. That is nonetheless removed from “reasonably priced,” but it surely ties the most important low cost we’ve seen for the unlocked 256GB mannequin, taking $400 off Google’s checklist value. The provide is on the market at a number of retailers, together with Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Google’s online store. When you want extra space for storing, Google has the 512GB model for $1,519, one other $400 low cost. The corporate says this deal will run via February 24.
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Whereas not low-cost, this deal matches the low we noticed throughout Black Friday for the unlocked model of Google’s foldable telephone.
The Pixel Fold is the runner-up choose in our information to one of the best foldable telephones, and Engadget Senior Author Sam Rutherford gave it a score of 85 in his evaluation final June. Much like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, our high choose, it is a “book-style” foldable, one which works like a conventional 5.8-inch smartphone when folded in half however provides a bigger 7.6-inch show when unfurled. Subsequent to Samsung’s telephone (and the OnePlus Open), although, the Pixel’s shows are shorter and wider, which typically makes the gadget simpler to make use of like a conventional telephone. Your fingers have extra room to breathe whereas texting when the telephone is folded, whereas apps and movies will look extra pure on the duvet show. Samsung’s screens are brighter and extra vibrant total, however the 120Hz OLED panels listed here are nonetheless removed from poor. You possibly can see a crease in the midst of the inner show, nevertheless.
Past that, we have discovered the Pixel Fold’s cameras and picture processing to ship extra correct and dynamic photographs than both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or the OnePlus Open, particularly in low-light circumstances. It is thinner than Samsung’s telephone as properly, although it is barely thicker than the Open. Like different Pixel telephones, the Fold runs on a comparatively clear and streamlined model of Android. An honest variety of Google’s personal apps are tweaked to higher match the bigger display, and you may run two telephone apps side-by-side. Google says it will present OS updates via June 2026, with two further years of safety updates. That mentioned, the Z Fold 5’s UI has extra highly effective instruments for multitasking. And as with most Android tablets, it will not take too lengthy to seek out apps that are not optimized for giant shows.
There are different caveats. The Pixel Fold is under no circumstances gradual, however its Tensor G2 chip is now a bit dated, so the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Open present higher uncooked efficiency. Battery life is worse by just a few hours, too, plus it has bigger bezels across the show. Then there’s the elephant within the room: All foldable telephones carry the next sturdiness threat. The Fold has extra methods to break regardless of costing greater than the best “normal” phones, so you will must be significantly cautious with it. It is also value noting that Google is likely working on a Pixel Fold 2, although that is not anticipated anytime quickly. All that mentioned, the present Fold has lots to love when you lifeless set on a foldable telephone at present, and this deal makes it a minimum of a bit extra accessible.
Comply with @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the most recent tech offers and shopping for recommendation.
Trending Merchandise
