Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Google’s foldable took a wrong turn

Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold has arrived in what could become the breakthrough year for foldable smartphones, yet the review says the device looks as though it has taken a wrong turn. A few welcome updates cannot conceal its fundamental weaknesses.

The timing makes the verdict particularly harsh. Samsung is introducing new form factors, and Apple is expected within days to launch its first foldable smartphone. In that company, Google’s device appears out of step rather than forward-looking.

The article suggests that 2026 may enter smartphone history as the year foldables finally break through. Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is reportedly selling so well that the company may have to use components originally reserved for next year.

Against that backdrop, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s shortcomings carry greater weight. The review does not dismiss every change, but argues that the improvements cannot overcome a design that already feels dated as the market’s biggest manufacturers push foldable phones into a new phase.