Tag: Multitasking

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

    Google brought the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to India in August 2024 at Rs 1,72,999 for 16 GB plus 256 GB, the first Pixel foldable sold in the country. It abandoned the short, wide shape of the original Pixel Fold for a taller design whose 6.3-inch cover screen feels like a normal phone, and an 8-inch inner display that is the largest on any foldable of its year.

    The inner LTPO OLED and the cover screen both run at up to 120Hz with high brightness. The phone is thin when open and uses Tensor G4 with 16 GB of RAM, enough for multitasking and Gemini features. Software support for split screen and the taskbar is good, though the Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers more refined multitasking tools and Snapdragon performance.

    Cameras are a step below the slab Pixel 9 Pro: a 48 MP main, a 10.5 MP ultrawide and a 10.8 MP 5x telephoto, still producing reliable Pixel results. The 4650 mAh battery lasts a day, though charging is slow at 21W. Against the Z Fold 6 it offers a more usable cover screen and better camera processing, but loses on performance and the IP rating, which is only IPX8.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 172,999 (base variant)
    India launchAugust 2024
    SegmentFoldable
    Display8-inch, Foldable LTPO OLED, 6.3-inch OLED cover display, 120Hz, 2076 x 2152
    ProcessorGoogle Tensor G4
    RAM16 GB
    Storage256 GB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras48 MP main + 10.5 MP ultrawide + 10.8 MP 5x telephoto
    Front camera10 MP
    Battery4650 mAh
    Charging21W wired, wireless
    Software at launchAndroid 14
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIPX8
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight257 g
    ColoursObsidian, Porcelain

    What we like

    • Large 8-inch inner display
    • Normal-width cover screen
    • Thin and well-built
    • Seven years of updates

    What could be better

    • Extremely expensive
    • Weaker cameras than the Pixel 9 Pro
    • Slow charging and only IPX8

    Who should buy it

    Productivity-focused buyers who want a large-screen foldable with Google software and a phone-like cover display.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (August 2024). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.

  • OnePlus Open

    OnePlus entered the foldable market in October 2023 with the Open, priced at Rs 1,39,999 for 16 GB and 512 GB. Co-developed with Oppo, it was praised for its light weight, almost invisible crease and a cover screen with a normal phone aspect ratio, which made it far more usable when closed than Samsung's narrow Galaxy Z Fold5.

    The inner 7.82-inch 2K LTPO AMOLED and the 6.31-inch cover display both refresh at 120 Hz and are very bright. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is fast and efficient, and OxygenOS includes Open Canvas, a clever multitasking system for running several apps at once. The triple camera system pairs a 48 MP main, a 48 MP ultrawide and a 64 MP 3x telephoto, and it is one of the best on any foldable. The 4,805 mAh battery charges at 67 W.

    Its main rival was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, which offered IPX8 water resistance, wireless charging and S Pen support. The Open countered with a better camera, a more practical cover screen and faster charging at a lower price. Its IPX4 rating and lack of wireless charging were the main compromises.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 139,999 (base variant)
    India launchOctober 2023
    SegmentFoldable
    Display7.82-inch, LTPO AMOLED (6.31-inch cover display), 120Hz, 2268 x 2440
    ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 2
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras48 MP main + 48 MP ultrawide + 64 MP 3x telephoto
    Front camera32 MP (cover) + 20 MP (inner)
    Battery4805 mAh
    Charging67W wired
    Software at launchAndroid 13, OxygenOS 13.2
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIPX4
    Headphone jackNo
    ColoursEmerald Dusk, Voyager Black

    What we like

    • Light for a book-style foldable
    • Practical, normal-width cover screen
    • Excellent triple camera
    • Open Canvas multitasking

    What could be better

    • Only IPX4 splash resistance
    • No wireless charging
    • Very expensive

    Who should buy it

    Professionals who want a large screen for multitasking in a foldable that still works well as a normal phone.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (October 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

    Samsung's fifth-generation book-style foldable reached India in July 2023 at Rs 1,54,999 for 12 GB/256 GB. Its headline change was the new Flex hinge, which lets the phone close flat with no wedge-shaped gap, making it slimmer when folded and less prone to collecting grit. It launched against the first wave of serious foldable competition in India.

    Open, you get a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner screen with a less visible crease than before; closed, a narrow 6.2-inch cover display. The narrow outer screen remained the main complaint, especially next to wider rivals like the Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy provides smooth multitasking, and Samsung's taskbar and three-app split view are the most mature foldable software of the time.

    Cameras are a 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP 3x telephoto, solid but behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra. A 4400 mAh battery and 25W charging feel conservative for the price. IPX8 water resistance, S Pen Fold Edition support and a polished app experience are its strengths, while the OnePlus Open, arriving months later, beat it on cameras and charging speed.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 154,999 (base variant)
    India launchJuly 2023
    SegmentFoldable
    Display7.6-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, foldable (6.2-inch cover screen), 120Hz, 1812 x 2176
    ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
    RAM12 GB
    Storage256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras50 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 10 MP 3x telephoto
    Front camera10 MP cover + 4 MP under-display
    Battery4400 mAh
    Charging25W wired, wireless
    Software at launchAndroid 13, One UI 5.1.1
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIPX8
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight253 g
    ColoursIcy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream

    What we like

    • Closes flat with the new hinge
    • Excellent multitasking software
    • IPX8 water resistance
    • S Pen support

    What could be better

    • Narrow cover screen
    • Cameras trail similarly priced flagships
    • Slow 25W charging
    • Very expensive

    Who should buy it

    Professionals who want a pocketable tablet for documents, email and split-screen work.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (July 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

    The Galaxy Z Fold6 launched in India in July 2024 at Rs 1,64,999 for 12 GB/256 GB. Samsung refined rather than reinvented, making it lighter at 239 g, slightly squarer with sharper corners, and a little wider on the outside with a 6.3-inch cover display. Galaxy AI features like Note Assist, interpreter mode and Sketch to Image were heavily promoted.

    The 7.6-inch inner panel is brighter and its crease is a bit less pronounced than on the Fold5. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy with a larger vapour chamber improves sustained performance for gaming and multitasking. Samsung also raised protection to IP48, which adds some resistance against larger dust particles, though fine sand remains a concern.

    Cameras are unchanged from the Fold5: 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP 3x telephoto. The 4400 mAh battery and 25W charging also carry over, an area where the OnePlus Open and Vivo X Fold3 Pro were clearly ahead with bigger cells and faster charging. Where the Fold6 wins is software polish, accessory support and the update promise of seven years.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 164,999 (base variant)
    India launchJuly 2024
    SegmentFoldable
    Display7.6-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, foldable (6.3-inch cover screen), 120Hz, 1856 x 2160
    ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
    RAM12 GB
    Storage256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras50 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 10 MP 3x telephoto
    Front camera10 MP cover + 4 MP under-display
    Battery4400 mAh
    Charging25W wired, wireless
    Software at launchAndroid 14, One UI 6.1.1
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIP48
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight239 g
    ColoursSilver Shadow, Pink, Navy

    What we like

    • Lighter and more refined than the Fold5
    • Mature multitasking software
    • Seven years of updates
    • Better sustained performance

    What could be better

    • Same cameras and battery as before
    • Slow 25W charging
    • Cover screen still narrower than rivals

    Who should buy it

    Existing Samsung users who want the most polished foldable software and accessory ecosystem.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (July 2024). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.