Google Confirms Pixel 9 Pro Fold Coming To India On 14 August

Google has confirmed that it will be launching its new Pixel smartphone line-up in India. This year, Google is expected to have the broadest set of phones as part of the Pixel line-up - with its global launch event slated for 13 August, the Mountain View-based tech giant has confirmed that it will be launching its latest Pixel 9 series of phones in India on 14 August, which will include the Pixel 9 Pro Fold that was largely not expected to be part of the Indian launch. Last year, Google launched the Pixel Fold, but the phone never launched in India. In its teaser image, Google says, "Oh hi, AI", which is a direct tell-tale sign that it will come with a multitude of AI features leveraging Google's Gemini LLM.

Google's teaser on X reveals a large square camera island with twin oval-shaped camera pills on the back. There is also an LED flash on the back. The cover screen seems slightly narrower than the passport-shaped Pixel Fold, according to the images. The cover screen also features a punch-hole style front-facing camera module. This comes after the camera specs of the entire Pixel 9 line-up were leaked. As per the leak, the main camera module of the Pixel 9 Fold Pro features a Sony IMX787 48-megapixel main camera sensor, which is the same as the Pixel Fold. The ultra-wide camera sensor features a Samsung 3LU 10.5-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilisation, which is a big update from the Pixel Fold, and a Samsung 3J1 telephoto lens which also has a 10.5-megapixel resolution and an optically stabilised lens.

Other than this, the entire Pixel 9 line-up, which will feature the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, could be powered by the Google Tensor G4 system-on-chip. It will feature a more traditional layout with an octa-core architecture featuring one prime core clocked at 3.1GHz, three mid-cores clocked at 2.6GHz and four efficiency cores clocked at 1.95GHz. It is said to be made by Samsung and will likely leverage a lot of its Exynos IP featuring its 4nm Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging method. Considering this chip will be based on the latest Exynos chipsets which were positively featured in the Galaxy S24 models, coupled with Google's own security stack, ISP and Tensor AI processor, it could be something that for the first time can compete head-on with what Qualcomm, MediaTek and Apple have been doing. These phones are expected to be launched in 128GB to 1TB variants in foreign markets but in India, Google has generally brought only the lower memory variants. However, considering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a productivity-focused device, Google will be behooved to bring more logical storage SKUs to India.

In terms of colours, Obsidian, which was present on the Pixel 8a models along with Hazel, Porcelain and Pink, could also be in the offing. Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the successor to last year's Pixel Fold, will likely be priced at approximately Rs 1,71,000 and Rs 1,82,600 for the 256GB and 512GB variants, respectively which will make it slightly more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It will reportedly only be available in Obsidian and Porcelain finishes. Since it will likely be a non-Make in India phone, its pricing in India after conversion and taxes could be higher though Google could opt to be more aggressive and decide to price these phones more competitively as Vivo’s X Fold 3 caps out at Rs 1,59,999 for the 512GB model. 

At the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Rick Osterloh, Google's head of Pixel and Android, revealed a bunch of updates for Gemini which include new AI capabilities that have enhanced Samsung's Galaxy AI stack, which is currently exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldables which launch across the world on 24 July. Is Google going a step beyond these features? Common sense would dictate yes, but all will be revealed on 14 August. It should also be noted that while Google has clearly stated that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is coming and the Pixel 9 Pro is also hinted at, the rest of the two phones aren't confirmed. But one thing is for sure, with Google's make in India commitment, it seems like it is doubling down on India and is being brave by bringing its most expensive phone to the market where Samsung is already established as the pre-imminent player in the foldable space.