The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is here with a brighter display and advanced AI features. However, one of the biggest changes Google implemented could be pretty easy for the average user to miss.
In a recent blog post, Google detailed how and why it had decided to change the design of the hinge for the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. When designing the Pixel Fold and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google elected to use gears in the hinge. However, the new device goes in a different direction that allows it to exceed the resistance of the recent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
In the blog, Sangsoo Park, an industrial designer for Pixel, stated, “The biggest change is that this is what we call a gearless hinge — which literally means it doesn’t have any gears.”
Part of the reason for this change had to do with the increased reliability of a gearless hinge, because gears “can be damaged and dust can get stuck between them over time, degrading the basic opening and closing experience that is critical on a foldable.”
What did Google use instead of Gears?
Typically, foldable phone hinges featured four gears that connected via “teeth” that interconnect. In the case of a foldable phone hinge, this allows the display to open seamlessly, with both sides opening a closing in sync. However, removing the gears means finding a new way to achieve this symmetry.
For the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google utilized mechanical components called CAMs, which can convert rotational motion to linear motion. Yongho Lim, who worked on the architecture of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, described it like this: “With the CAMs connected across the hinge, when either half of the device is opened, the other would be forced to follow!”
On top of being more durable, this change in the hinge size allowed for many of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's other design changes. For example, it meant that Google could reduce the size of the bezels, allowing the main display to increase to 8 inches, while the external screen increased to 6.4 inches. The thinner hinge also allowed the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to be thinner, plus giving enough room for Google to add a larger battery.
Removing the gears also had the added benefit of allowing the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold to be the first foldable device to offer an IP68 water and dust resistance. Usually, foldable phone hinges feature a lot of moving parts and small spaces that can trap dust. These small spaces and the complexity of Samsung's hinge are part of the reason why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 only features water resistance.
What else does the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offer
Of course, a phone is more than just a hinge, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold certainly has some interesting features and additions. For instance, the phone comes with an abundance of AI features, including AI Best Take and Magic Cue, not to mention the full suite of Google Gemini features.
All of the AI is supported by the Tensor G5 chip, which, while not as powerful as Qualcomm’s or Apple’s offerings, is specced towards AI performance. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold also comes with a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x Zoom.
The big question for many looking to grab a new foldable phone will be how it compares to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. While there is a lot to love about both phones, I would say that this change in hinge design should be a major factor.
Let us know which one you prefer and what other changes you would like to see in a future Pixel phone.
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