What's it really like to use a folding phone? Life with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

"Then I opened the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Yes, its name is too long. Yes, it costs $700 more than my iPhone. Yes, it's still heavier than I want it to be. And yet, I hate to admit it . . . the Fold justifies every analyst who has cried that Apple's hesitance to adopt flexible screen technologies is starting to make it look dated."

"An estimated 17 million folding smartphones sold last year, representing a scant 1.5% of the smartphone market, but about every analyst expects that figure to balloon in the next few years. I believe that trajectory could prove out, but I still see the market going either way-it will come down to if the technology can keep iterating toward a sweet spot that turns the tech into delectable design."

"After all, we've rolled up scrolls and folded maps and letters for centuries. It's just a natural way to convert a large 2D object into a more portable one. But they've definitely felt a bit futile, given that their thickness and weight offset any value of space savings. (Do you really want to unfold a brick into a thinner brick?)"

An iPhone 17 Pro delivered satisfying tactile design with a soft orange aluminum frame. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, despite a long name, $700 higher price, and extra weight, demonstrates folding-screen advantages that make Apple’s delay on flexible displays seem increasingly conspicuous. Approximately 17 million folding smartphones sold last year, about 1.5% of the market, and analysts expect growth if the technology improves. Folding formats echo historical uses of folded objects for portability, but current thickness and weight undermine benefits. The core engineering challenge remains that screens are not designed to fold, requiring substantial ingenuity and iteration.

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