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DisplayWe put the Google Pixel Fold through our rigorous DXOMARK Battery test suite to measure its performance in autonomy, charging and efficiency. In these test results, we will break down how it fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases.
Overview
Key specifications:
- Battery capacity: 4821 mAh
- 21W charger (not included)
- 7.6-inch, 1840 x 2208, 120 Hz, OLED display
- Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
- Tested ROM / RAM combination: 256 GB + 12 GB
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Google Pixel Fold
Key performances
These key points are derived from the lab measurements during testing and do not figure into the overall score. The lab measurements, however, are used for the overall score.
146th
40th
Pros
- Good autonomy when using GPS navigation
- Low residual power drained by the wired charger
Cons
- Weak autonomy when testing individual usages
- Very high consumption during the night and when idle with screen off
- Poor autonomy recovered after a quick 5-minute charge
- High discharge currents overall
- Poor wireless charge efficiency
The Google Pixel Fold’s autonomy, charging, and efficiency performances in our battery test protocol resulted in a global score that was at the low end of our database.
Moderate use of the Google Pixel Fold provided slightly less than 2 days of autonomy, which is below average but near the autonomy of other foldable devices we have tested. However, testing individual usages drained the battery quickly, especially when streaming music and calling, except when using the GPS navigation on the go. Moreover, the device drained a lot of power when idling with the screen off, losing more than 4% per night, a time when the device is supposedly doing nothing.
The charging times were slower than average whether wired or wireless. Wired charging took 1 hour and 50 minutes to fill the battery, and wireless charging took 2 hours and 56 minutes to reach a full charge. The autonomy recovered after a quick 5-minute boost was poor, averaging only 2 hours and 46 minutes.
The device’s overall wired charge efficiency as well as the adapter’s efficiency were slightly below average. Yet, the wired charger showed a very low residual power drain, whether the fully charged device was still plugged in or not. However, the wireless charge efficiency was poor, and the residual consumption of the wireless stand was high when the device was fully charged and still on the stand. In addition, the discharge currents for all usages were higher than average, meaning that the device is not well optimized.
Compared with other devices from the Ultra-Premium segment ($800+), the Google Pixel Fold ranked near the bottom of our database. Its autonomy was decent, but slightly below average for this segment, and its efficiency and charging scores were very poor compared with other devices from this segment. When looking just at foldable devices, the Google Pixel Fold’s performance was comparable to other foldables, especially in autonomy, but when it came to efficiency, the Pixel Fold was far below the others.
Test Summary
About DXOMARK Battery tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone battery reviews, DXOMARK engineers perform a variety of objective tests over a week-long period both indoors and outdoors. (See our introductory and how we test articles for more details about our smartphone Battery protocol.)
The following section gathers key elements of our exhaustive tests and analyses performed in DXOMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations under the form of reports are available upon request. Do not hesitate to contact us.
| Battery | Charger | Wireless | Display | Processor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel Fold | 4821mAh | 21W (not included) |
8W | OLED 1840 x 2208 |
Google Tensor G2 |
| Honor Magic Vs | 5000mAh | 66W (included) |
- | OLED 1984 x 2272 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ gen1 |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | 4400mAh | 25W (not included) |
15W | AMOLED 1812 x 2176 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
Autonomy
Google Pixel Fold
188
Autonomy score is composed of three performance sub-scores: Home / Office, On the go, and Calibrated use cases. Each sub-score comprises the results of a comprehensive range of tests for measuring autonomy in all kinds of real-life scenarios.
Battery Life (moderate)
120th
Battery Life (moderate)
27th
Home/Office
Google Pixel Fold
213
A robot housed in a Faraday cage performs a set of touch-based user actions during what we call our “typical usage scenario” (TUS) — making calls, video streaming, etc. — 4 hours of active use over the course of a 16-hour period, plus 8 hours of “sleep.” The robot repeats this set of actions every day until the device runs out of power.
On the go
Google Pixel Fold
195
Using a smartphone on the go takes a toll on autonomy because of extra “hidden” demands, such as the continuous signaling associated with cellphone network selection, for example. DXOMARK Battery experts take the phone outdoors and perform a precisely defined set of activities while following the same three-hour travel itinerary (walking, taking the bus, the subway…) for each device
Calibrated
Google Pixel Fold
198
For this series of tests, the smartphone returns to the Faraday cage and our robots repeatedly perform actions linked to one specific use case (such as gaming, video streaming, etc.) at a time. Starting from an 80% charge, all devices are tested until they have expended at least 5% of their battery power.
Charging
Google Pixel Fold
218
Charging is fully part of the overall battery experience. In some situations where autonomy is at a minimum, knowing how fast you can charge becomes a concern. The DXOMARK Battery charging score is composed of two sub-scores, (1) Full charge and (2) Quick boost.
Full charge
Google Pixel Fold
224
Full charge tests assess the reliability of the battery power gauge; measure how long and how much power the battery takes to charge from zero to 80% capacity, from 80 to 100% as shown by the UI, and until an actual full charge.
Charging Time 0-80%
118th
Charging Time 0-80%
36th
Quick boost
Google Pixel Fold
212
With the phone at different charge levels (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%), Quick boost tests measure the amount of charge the battery receives after being plugged in for 5 minutes. The chart here compares the average autonomy gain from a quick 5-minute charge.
Efficiency
Google Pixel Fold
154
The DXOMARK power efficiency score consists of two sub-scores, Charge up and Discharge rate, both of which combine data obtained during robot-based typical usage scenario, calibrated tests and charging evaluation, taking into consideration the device’s battery capacity. DXOMARK calculate the annual power consumption of the product, shown on below graph, which is representative of the overall efficiency during a charge and when in use.
Charge up
Google Pixel Fold
205
The charge up sub-score is a combination of four factors: the overall efficiency of a full charge, related to how much energy you need to fill up the battery compared to the energy that the battery can provide; the efficiency of the travel adapter when it comes to transferring power from an outlet to your phone; the residual consumption when your phone is fully charged and still plugged into the charger; and the residual consumption of the charger itself, when the smartphone is disconnected from it. The chart here below shows the overall efficiency of a full charge in %.
Discharge
Google Pixel Fold
194
The discharge subscore rates the speed of a battery’s discharge during a test, which is independent of the battery’s capacity. It is the ratio of a battery’s capacity divided by its autonomy. A small-capacity battery could have the same autonomy as a large-capacity battery, indicating that the device is well-optimized, with a low discharge rate.
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