Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs iPhone SE (2022)

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, released in September 2024, and the iPhone SE 2022, launched in March 2022, represent distinct approaches to smartphone design and functionality. While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a cutting-edge foldable form factor with a large, adaptable display and the Android operating system, the iPhone SE 2022 maintains a traditional, compact design running on iOS. These devices cater to different user preferences, primarily differing in their physical design, display technology, and overall user experience.

When considering the longevity of these devices, both offer substantial software support, though their physical designs present different durability profiles.

• Software Support: The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is notable for its extended software commitment, promising seven years of operating system and security updates, ensuring support until 2031. The iPhone SE 2022, while also receiving long-term support, typically offers 5-7 years of iOS updates, with expectations for support extending at least until 2029.
• Physical Durability: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a more robust design compared to its predecessor, incorporating a stainless steel hinge with an aluminum alloy cover, contributing to a thinner profile when unfolded. The iPhone SE 2022 utilizes durable glass on its front and back, similar to the back glass of the iPhone 13, and boasts an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. However, it does not include the Ceramic Shield found on some higher-end iPhone models, and some drop tests have shown susceptibility to cracking on back-down impacts.
• Practical Lifespan: Users prioritizing the latest software features and a device designed for future advancements may find the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's seven-year update promise appealing. For those who prefer a more traditional, compact form factor with reliable, albeit shorter, software longevity, the iPhone SE 2022 remains a practical choice.

The performance capabilities of these two smartphones are driven by their respective processors, influencing how they handle daily tasks and demanding applications.

• Processing Power: The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is equipped with the Google Tensor G4, a current-generation processor designed to efficiently manage complex tasks, advanced AI features, and demanding applications. The iPhone SE 2022 features the A15 Bionic chip, which, at its release, delivered flagship-level performance, ensuring smooth operation for most applications and multitasking.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: With 16GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is well-suited for extensive multitasking, running numerous applications simultaneously, and handling intensive workloads without noticeable slowdowns. The iPhone SE 2022, with 4GB of RAM, provides a responsive user experience for typical smartphone usage, including app switching and general navigation, though it may show limitations with a very high number of concurrently active applications compared to devices with more RAM.
• Storage Options: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers storage configurations of 256GB and 512GB, providing ample space for applications, media, and documents. The iPhone SE 2022 comes with options for 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage, catering to users with varying storage needs.

The display experience differs significantly between these two devices, primarily due to their form factors and underlying display technologies.

• Display Technology and Size: The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold features two OLED displays: an 8-inch main foldable screen with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels and a 6.3-inch cover display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels. Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast. The iPhone SE 2022 sports a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels, providing clear visuals and accurate color reproduction, though it does not offer the same contrast levels as an OLED panel.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's main display supports a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, contributing to smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, while its cover display operates at up to 120Hz. The iPhone SE 2022 has a typical maximum brightness of 625 nits and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which is suitable for everyday use but less fluid than higher refresh rate displays.
• Viewing Experience: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold's large, foldable screen offers an expansive viewing area ideal for media consumption, multitasking with multiple apps side-by-side, and productivity tasks. The iPhone SE 2022's compact display is well-suited for one-handed use and users who prefer a smaller, more traditional smartphone experience.

Both devices offer capable camera systems, though they cater to different photographic needs and incorporate varying levels of hardware and software sophistication.

• Rear Camera System: The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 48MP wide-angle lens with optical image stabilization, a 10.5MP ultrawide lens with a 127-degree field of view, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom and up to 20x Super Res Zoom. The iPhone SE 2022 is equipped with a single 12MP wide-angle rear camera with optical image stabilization.
• Photography Features: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold leverages its advanced processor for features like Video Boost, and unique functionalities such as "Add Me" and "Made You Look" for creative photography. The iPhone SE 2022 benefits from computational photography enhancements powered by its A15 Bionic chip, including Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Photographic Styles, which improve image quality in various conditions and enable Portrait Mode. However, it lacks a dedicated Night mode for low-light photography.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both phones are capable of recording 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 10MP front-facing camera, while the iPhone SE 2022 features a 7MP front camera, both capable of capturing detailed selfies and supporting video calls.