I hope the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's camera exceeds expectations, here's why I explain.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, one of the standout devices from last year, arrived with a revamped design that addressed many of the criticisms directed at its predecessor, the Pixel Fold. This second foldable phone model from Google sits in the high-end range and features impressive performance, a rectangular design, and a classic porcelain white color, thus integrating into the Pixel 9 product family, unlike what Samsung did with its Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.

However, there is one aspect where the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does not match other models in its range: camera quality. Although many foldable phones still have not achieved the photographic capabilities of their non-foldable counterparts, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is no exception. It was expected that the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold would improve in this regard, but recent rumors suggest that only minor changes will be introduced compared to the rest of the lineup.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with a powerful main camera, but its ultrawide and telephoto cameras are of lower resolution, which diminishes their importance relative to the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup. For instance, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 10.5 MP ultrawide sensor, the Pixel 9a, which costs significantly less, boasts a 13 MP ultrawide camera, which should offer superior image quality. This fact becomes even more evident when comparing the price of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is $1,800, to the soon-to-be-released Pixel 9a, priced at $449.

As for the competition, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold managed to match the level of other models upon its launch, the industry has advanced over the past year, highlighting Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, which offers camera improvements and a thinner design. Many of these rival foldables have superior camera quality; for example, the Honor Magic V3 and Oppo Find N5 have also demonstrated that flagship-quality camera setups are possible in a foldable device.

With the latest leaks about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it has been reported that Google plans to make only significant changes to the Pixel 10, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold may retain the current cameras, using the same main sensor as the Pixel 9a, which could exacerbate dissatisfaction regarding the device’s photographic capabilities.

The situation Google faces on this front is not just a hardware issue; it also relates to the way they have positioned their foldable phone. Although the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is part of the Pro series, the expectations for its experience do not reach what one might anticipate from a product bearing this designation. Unlike competitor devices from Oppo and Honor, which incorporate flagship-quality cameras in their foldable models, Google has yet to achieve the same.