It’s been quite the journey for Google when it comes to smartphones and as cliché as it sounds, the company’s devices continue to get better with every release, including the latest headline act, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Surely that’s what you’d expect from any leading global tech firm, but when it comes to phones, Google is come a hell of a long way in a short period of time compared to its competitors and frenemies.

From the first Pixel phone to the Nest, Buds, Watch, Tablet and now the Fold, the journey truly is remarkable given how far the quality, practicality and style has come in that time.

You always wonder if Google will continue to out-do itself and that’s exactly what has happened – now not surprisingly – yet again with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold which has been every minute of the wait.

While some other manufacturers have had fold phones in the market for some time, Google waited until it was ready and what the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers is everything you’d want in a fold phone.

First you can expect fantastic styling and design like what’s found on the Pixel 9 Pro XL – which is undoubtedly Google’s best looking and feeling device to date – alongside the company’s biggest ever display on a phone which transforms into thin foldable device.

“Pixel 9 Pro Fold combines the best of Google hardware and software with a sleek and sophisticated design, an advanced camera system, multiple screens to get more done, and our most powerful Tensor G4 processor to fuel the Pixel features you know and love,” said Google Australia and New Zealand Director, Device and Services Business, Rory Charlston.

He’s right because the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sure is impressive when it comes to performance thanks to the Tensor G4 processor.

When you put the Pixel 9 Pro Fold next to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, you’ll find the Fold is barely thicker than the XL, yet inside you’ll find a huge 8-inch display, which is at its best when watching TV on steaming apps.

It feels like you have a mini tablet on your hands yet is foldable and versatile. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a fluid-friction hinge that easily opens fully flat with a satisfying snap so you can enjoy the big, bright Super Actua Flex display, which is almost the clearest I’ve ever seen on a phone before.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also features scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and boasts an IPX8 rating for water resistance of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes of submersion, adding to the peace of mind with such a large device when unfolded.

“Whether you’re at home or on the go, feel like you’re part of the action with the 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display,” Charlston said.

“The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the perfect device for hands-free viewing. Set it on a surface in tabletop mode for an easy, convenient way to watch your favourites.

“Or kick back, relax and play a video game on the large screen. And you can multitask without missing a thing,” he said.

With Split Screen, you can stream on one side and do something else on the other as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold lets you enjoy big-screen entertainment and effortless multitasking from anywhere.

“The innovative foldable form factor of Pixel 9 Pro Fold works in tandem with on-device AI to help you do more while saving time,” Charlston said.

“You can easily Split Screen paired apps to multitask with ease, drag and drop photos, and use Dual Screen with Google Meet, so the people on your call can see your face and what you’re seeing.”

Powered by Google’s new Tensor G4 chip, Pixel 9 Pro Fold delivers improved performance and increased efficiency across a range of experiences for everyday use.

“Your favourite time-saving Google AI features on Pixel are coming to Pixel 9 Pro Fold too, including Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Circle to Search, and Gemini, plus some world-class photography features including Magic Editor, Best Take, Video Boost, Add Me, and Pro Controls,” he said.

What is gained in the brilliant large screen for viewing is certainly not lost when it comes to the performance of the camera too.

As found on the entire Pixel 9 phone range, Pixel 9 Pro Fold harnesses the power of Google hardware and AI capabilities with an ultra-thin advanced triple rear camera system.

“We’ve also taken Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s cameras to the next level with an upgrade to the ultrawide camera — which now supports Macro Focus — and both front cameras, which now support Face Unlock whether folded or unfolded,” Charlston said.

“With a flexible design and an ultra-thin advanced triple rear camera system with AI built in, it’s easy to snap brilliant selfies, take incredible group pics and add custom edits.

“The Pixel 9 Pro Fold camera has incredible wide, ultrawide and telephoto lenses with 5x optical zoom and up to 20x Super Res Zoom. So that you can get super sharp closeups from far away.

“Use Macro Focus to reveal vivid colour and striking contrast in photos and videos of even the smallest subjects. With Pro controls, you can unlock advanced camera settings, including manual focus, for more creative control over your camera.

“The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also has cutting-edge video processing. With Night Sight Video, you can take amazing videos from dusk ’til dawn. After you’ve recorded a video at night or in low light, Google’s advanced AI applies noise reduction to boost video quality. So that you capture rich detail and colour, at night or in low light.

“In addition to existing features like Dual Screen Preview, Tabletop Mode and Rear Camera Selfie, we’re bringing a new camera feature to Pixel 9 Pro Fold that’s perfect for parents: Made You Look.

“It helps get your little one to smile for a photo by displaying an animation on the outer screen to grab their attention while snapping a picture,” he said.

Gaming is also a standout on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the company has partnered with several game developers to offer optimised experiences in games like Asphalt Unite and Disney Speedstorm, which support tabletop mode on the large inner screen.

From the style to the hardware, software and everyday practicality, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a true standout for Google and the best device the company has ever released. Once you have your hands on it, you’ll quickly see why.

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold is now available on the Google store and at leading retailers globally.