The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the best folding Pixel yet — but it doesn't beat Samsung's best

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Two-minute review In our fast-moving and AI-juiced world of technology, the Google Pixel Fold 11 Pro Fold poses this question: is mere refinement good enough? After all, at a glance, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is indistinguishable from the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — at least until you take a closer look.

This new flexible-display phone is a cleaner and more elegant-looking device than its predecessor.

It has tighter curves, thinner black bezels, and a smaller, refashioned camera bump.

The 6.5-inch cover screen is larger, while still fitting within the same-size chassis.

Even the hinge is trimmer, appearing more flush with the overall body, which also happens to be considerably lighter than the last model.

The hinge mechanics have been reengineered for smoother operation, and the main display is flatter and less noticeably creased.

The refinements continue under the hood, with a more powerful Google Tensor 6 CPU with a refreshing 2nm process.

There's also the unusual addition of a HiLight LED module on the back that, when the phone is face down, can tell you about incoming calls, or give a visual complement to your hands-free Gemini interactions. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) None of these elements, though, add up to a sea change for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and, while the latest Gemini AI enhancements give it some exciting and powerful new features, you might be hard-pressed to justify an upgrade from the last-generation 10 Pro Fold.

The leap from, say, the OG foldable Pixel, which had a shape more closely resembling the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 , or even 2024's Pixel 9 Pro Fold , will be more significant.

This is still, though, a foldable that operates in the shadow of both the exciting new Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the quite powerful and larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra , which I also just reviewed.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold lacks the CPU power and camera performance of the Ultra, and the thinness and lightness of both the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, and so falls short of being a head-turning alternative.

I still like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold for its large and bright screen, generally strong performance (despite lower benchmark scores compared to Samsung's new foldables), and overall strong photography, even if its cameras don't quite match up to the Z Fold 8 Ultra's.

When compared to the similarly priced Galaxy Z Fold 8, however, it's the clear camera winner (adding a nice 5x optical zoom camera).

It also handily beats virtually all other foldables on dust resistance, achieving an IP68 water and dust protection rating, while Samsung's folds can only promise IP48 for water.