Google made a few changes to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and the result is a foldable that’s lighter, faster, and has a better main camera than last year’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold. However, with other brands rolling out foldables with sleeker designs, bigger batteries, and high-res camera systems — the Find N6 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are thinner, last longer, and take better photos — Google needs to do better with its 2027 launches.
This year’s release is tame by industry standards, and while details are light on the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, there are a few things we can easily guess, and I’d like to see a few features on next year’s foldable. I’ll update this post regularly as and when new leaks emerge, but for now, this is what I’d like to see with the Pixel 12 Pro Fold.
Google Pixel 12 Pro Fold: Pricing and availability
Google increased pricing across the board this year, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold debuted at $1,899. It’s a given that the Pixel 12 Pro Fold will launch at the same price — should things with the memory shortages continue as it is.
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There are indications that suggest an even greater shortage next year thanks to memory makers selling out their inventory already, and if that’s the case, 2027 could prove to be a difficult upgrade cycle, with brands having to raise prices. Regardless, I’m tracking memory trends, and will be monitoring how this evolves over the next 12 months.
As for when Google may launch the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, it should be around the same time next year. It’s clear that an August launch window is a good time to release phones, and I have no reason to believe Google is switching things up in this regard next year.
Google Pixel 12 Pro Fold: What I want to see
I like the design of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and I want Google to continue using the same aesthetic — Pixels have a distinct visual styling, and it doesn’t make sense to deviate from that. Also, I like the rounded design better than other foldables, and it makes using the Pixel 11 Pro Fold a little easier.
That said, Google needs to deliver a thinner and lighter design next year. While the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is lighter, it is still 239g, and that’s at least 20g heavier than most other foldables. I get that Google is touting IP68 dust and water resistance as a unique differentiator — most other foldables only do IP48 — but that advantage is nullified if the phone is too heavy to use comfortably. With the Pixel 12 Pro Fold, I want Google to make a foldable that’s under 220g.
Then there’s the battery situation. The main reason Google was able to bring down the weight this year is because of the smaller 4,800mAh battery. This means the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has the unwelcome distinction of being the only foldable with a battery under 5,000mAh. While Google touts efficiency gains with the Tensor G6 as a way to deliver the same battery life as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, that just isn’t enough in 2026, and the Pixel 12 Pro Fold needs to do better.
Lastly, there’s the cameras. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold gets a new main camera, but the auxiliary lenses are unchanged, and Google has to deliver better cameras next year. Other brands have made better strides in this area, and Google needs to measure up. What’s annoying is that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold misses out on some of the new camera features that the Pixel 12 Pro has — including 120x zoom — and Google needs to address these shortcomings next year.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold doesn’t look too different to last year’s model, but it has a few notable upgrades, and it is a great showcase for all the software features Google has been building over the last 12 months.