Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold arrives with a thinner, lighter case that's 'nearly impossible to crack'

This is the fourth foldable released by the US search company

Google has unwrapped Pixel 11 Pro Fold, its next-generation foldable, with a thinner and lighter design, faster charging speeds, and a clever new notification light called HiLight. Preorders start today ahead of the release date on August 20 alongside the other new hardware from Google — Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL.

It promises to be a blockbuster year for foldables. The newly-launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a new screen size optimised for bingeing your favourite boxsets on the move, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra squeezes more processing power and a taller display for productivity on the move. Motorola has launched a version of its Razr flip phone that opens like a paperback to compete with the best from Google and Samsung. According to the latest whispers, we're weeks away from incoming Apple CEO John Ternus showcasing the first iPhone with a folding screen — offering an iPad-like experience that fits into your pocket — during its annual September event.

Google debuted its first foldable Pixel back in June 2023, making this new arrival its fourth major revision of the formula. If you're familiar with earlier iterations, this isn't a dramatic shake-up to the hardware.

Google prefers the square-ish passport-style foldable, which ensures the internal screen is closer to the aspect ratio of Hollywood movies, cinematic television shows, and widescreen YouTube videos. It means you won't see enormous black bars at the top and bottom of content when viewing on the 8-inch Super Actua Flex display.

It's a different approach to earlier Samsung Galaxy Z Fold devices, which were designed to specifically mimic the experience of having two smartphone screens side-by-side — making it easier to multitask and drag-and-drop pictures, videos, and files between messaging apps, email drafts, spreadsheets, and more.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold ships with thinner bezels — the borders around its high-resolution screens — than its predecessor. In fact, the entire handset has been on a diet, with a 10% lighter chassis than Pixel 10 Pro Fold from last year, tipping the scales at 239g, which is slightly heavier than Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra at 201g and 215g, respectively.

It's also 1mm thinner, which Google says should make it more comfortable to hold in your hand and in your pocket.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold was the first foldable ever with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This industry-standard certification means it'll withstand immersion in one metre of fresh water for around half an hour.

If you're prone to accidents, you'll be pleased to know that Pixel 11 Pro Fold arrives with the same protections, meaning it'll shrug off a rainstorm or even an unexpected dip in the pool.

Engineers at Google have created a new glass-fibre composite that covers the rear case of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold that's "nearly impossible to crack". That's a bold claim, especially when Google charges around £151 to replace a cracked rear panel on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. And it's not the only durability boost on this new model.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold packs a new gearless hinge designed to better protect the inner display and a new 6.5-inch Super Actua outer screen with ultra-strong ceramic cover glass.

Google says it's 3x more durable than last year, making it the most durable Pixel Fold yet. That new gearless hinge has a larger bend radius which, when coupled with the thicker glass layer on the inner display, means the crease should be less noticeable to the eye (or fingertips) too.

Whether you're relying on the exterior screen to quickly fire off a text message, skip the next song, or navigate via Google Maps, or you've taken the time to unfurl the expansive 8-inch interior screen to multitask with multiple apps open side-by-side or immerse yourself in a blockbuster film or must-binge boxset, both screens are 20% brighter than last year at 3,600 nits, Google says.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold introduces the HiLight to its trademark camera bar — the visor-like strip on the back of the device to house multiple camera lenses — for the first time. According to Google, these LED lights are designed to add new functionality to the standard flash to offer timely, glanceable information.

It sounds similar to the approach taken by British startup Nothing, which has secured multiple Red Dot awards for its designs that incorporate flashing lights to alert you've got a notification from a specific person or app.

Use HiLight offers a colour-coded glow to flag incoming calls from your favourite contacts, or when you’re talking to Gemini hands-free. This means you'll be able to keep the Pixel 11 Pro Fold facedown on the table, and still be aware when a specific person is calling or if the hands-free functionality of Google Gemini is working as expected.

Over time, the Californian company has promised more capabilities for HiLight — like message notifications from your favourite contacts. HiLight isn't specific to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but will be coming to the entire lineup.

Powering the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the Tensor G6, a custom-designed system-on-a-chip from the team at Google, which is combined with the Titan M3 security coprocessor. Out of the box, Pixel 11 Pro Fold will be running the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android 17.

The new Pixel 11 Pro Fold comes in the same Obsidian colourway as its predecessors (a charcoal-like grey) and a brand-new Olive for a pop of colour. Both models are available with either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of built-in storage to keep your photographs, videos, apps, and games.

Prices start from £1,799, rising to £2,149 for the 1TB model, which isn't available in Olive. Google is offering up to £850 off when you trade-in an existing device, as well as a 36-month finance plan, which breaks down the cost to £49.97 per month, in a bid to make its pricey new foldable more affordable.