Google’s foldable strategy is broken, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold proves it

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Google launched the Pixel 11 series last week, and as someone with a soft spot for foldables, there was one phone I immediately wanted to learn more about: the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. I’ve spent a fair amount of time with foldables lately, especially after using Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra .

So, I was genuinely curious to see how Google would respond. Would the new Pixel Fold finally feel like a good alternative? Would Google fix some of the things that held back last year’s model? More importantly, would it give me a reason to pick it over Samsung’s polished foldables?

The more I looked at what Google has actually changed from last year, the more underwhelmed I became. This doesn’t feel like the big leap I was hoping for. In fact, after comparing it with what Samsung is doing, and considering where foldables are heading in general, I’ve started wondering whether Google should make one at all. That sounds harsh, I know, but I have a few strong reasons for saying it.

The 11 Pro Fold is now 19 grams lighter than its predecessor. And with a book-style foldable, that matters to me more than it would on a slab phone. These are already big devices you’re carrying around all day, constantly folding and unfolding. So, any weight the company can take off is something I’ll happily accept.

Google’s efforts to make the Fold easier to carry extend to its thickness, too. Unfolded, the 11 Pro Fold measures 5mm, making it 0.2mm thinner than last year’s model. Fold it shut, and you’re looking at 10.1mm, a more noticeable 0.7mm reduction. That’s definitely solid progress (for Google).

But this is where my excitement starts to fade — Samsung has already shown me how comfortable a foldable can be when it’s thinner. And once you get used to that slimmer feeling in your hand and pocket, going back to something chunkier is difficult.

To be honest, being slightly thicker wouldn’t bother me if Google gave me something worthwhile in return . Give me a gigantic battery, much faster charging, or significantly better performance, and I’d happily live with those extra millimeters.