Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s screen gets a major overhaul: report

Google’s upcoming foldable phone may disappoint fans of the original Pixel Fold with its new dimensions. From the very first renders that leaked, it was clear that Google was taking a different design approach for its next book-style foldable phone, which is now official as the “Pixel 9 Pro Fold.” With the new name also comes a new design that Google recently made official via a teaser campaign for the launch of its upcoming Pixel 9 series, which is set for August 13. Now, a new leak has hinted at the exact dimensions for the displays of the upcoming foldable phone.

The unique design of the currently available Pixel Fold allows for the main display to open into a perfectly rectangular, tablet-like layout that doesn’t require reorientation (like its competitors) to run apps that support tablet mode (like Keep, Gmail, etc.) in split-screen. While this layout was favorable for users seeking a widescreen orientation for watching videos or running apps, it did make the cover screen unusually wide for one-handed use.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold screen specs (rumors)

While we’ll know the exact reason for this at launch, the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold is said to feature a more square-shaped main display when unfolded. While we’ve seen this in previous leaked renders, Android Authority (via the source within Google) has now reportedly leaked the exact dimensions of the screens of the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Potential Pixel Fold upgraders will be happy to know that it’s not quite a square main display (which presents some letterboxing issues when watching video) like on the OnePlus Open. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s main display is said to have a slightly rectangular aspect ratio and measure 8.0 inches in size with a resolution of 2152 x 2076 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate and a claimed brightness of 1,600 nits. The cover display is said to step down from a shorter and wider (passport) form factor to a taller one with a 6.24-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is said to have a claimed brightness of 1,800 nits. Both displays are said to be capable of showing HDR content.

This puts the upcoming Pixel Fold 9 Pro somewhere between the OnePlus Open and the recently unveiled Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. As it looks more rectangular than the OnePlus Open’s square aspect ratio. It could end up being a smaller Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, given the slightly smaller display dimensions.

This indeed means that the Pixel Fold’s wide cover display is a thing of the past and that users can expect something much higher-end, like the X Fold 3 Pro (albeit with wider corner cutouts). This lines up perfectly with previously leaked images of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by the same source.

Fans of the currently available Pixel Fold may not be as enamored with the new form factor, but we can expect better things from the new model, like an improved hinge, better durability, brighter displays and the apparent AI improvements Google has been hinting at over the past week.

Fans of the Pixel brand in India will also be happy to hear that Google is bringing its 2nd-gen foldable phone to India. That should also spice things up a bit for Samsung’s recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 6 this year, given that there are already two new players (OnePlus and Vivo) in the market.