Smartphones have been refined incrementally over the years. We kept polishing the rectangle. Each year, the glass slab got faster, the camera sharper, and the screen brighter until progress plateaued.
Then, the phones learned to change shape. Foldable phones mark a true shift in pocket computing, and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold shows why.
Unfold the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the phone becomes a workspace, a viewfinder, and a shared screen. Fold it, and the familiar rectangle is back.
The difference is the tight coordination between hardware, AI, and software, making each form feel purposeful.
Here are ten clever Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold tricks you won’t find on a regular phone.
10
Work in two full apps without compromise
Although split-screen is possible on a regular phone, it is often a compromise. Two apps fight for space.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold resolves this. Its expansive 8-inch inner display provides enough real estate to run two Android apps as if you were working on a small tablet.
With one app open, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the taskbar. From there, touch, hold, and drag a second app icon to either the left or right side of the screen. The two apps will snap into a perfect split view.
You can also resize the windows by dragging the divider in the middle.
Imagine you’re planning a trip. On the left half of the screen, you have Google Maps open, exploring the streets of Rome. On the right, you’re reading a travel blog in Chrome. You find a recommendation for a restaurant.
Instead of copying the address, switching apps, and pasting it, you press and hold it in Chrome and drag it directly into Maps.
A slab phone can’t replicate this seamless workflow.
9
Keep your workflows within reach with App Pairs and the taskbar
The Fold’s multitasking hinges on a persistent, PC-like taskbar at the bottom of the inner display.
App Pairs take it further. An App Pair saves two apps as a shortcut that opens them in a preset split screen with one tap.
It’s one of those features worth setting up right away, since it gives you instant access to your favorite and recent apps without needing to return to the home screen.
It’s a reusable workflow rather than a shortcut. When two apps are running in split screen, swipe up slowly to open the overview menu.
Below the app windows, you’ll see an option to save the app pairing. Tap it, and the paired icon will be added to your home screen. Then, drag this icon onto your taskbar for permanent, one-tap access.
For example, your work pair could launch Slack and Google Docs, letting you collaborate on a document while chatting with your team.
8
Use the Fold as its own tripod for steady shots
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold combines Google’s famous computational photography with a flexible form factor to create a camera system that’s more capable and collaborative than a slab phone.
Its hinge, posture modes, and dual screens remove common shooting limits. Why carry a phone tripod when your phone is one? Fold it to about 90° and place it on a flat surface.
The camera app adapts. The live view moves to the top half, and the controls move to the bottom for easy reach.
- In low light, set the phone on a ledge to capture a long exposure without camera shake.
- For group selfies, set the camera down, use the timer, or say, “Hey Google, take a picture.”
- For night skies, capture astrophotography time-lapses without additional equipment.
7
Take selfies with the same quality as the main photos
The selfie camera on a regular phone is always a compromise. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold solves this by letting you use the main camera for selfies.
You get sharper detail, accurate color, and better quality than a typical front-facing lens. Unfold the phone, open the Camera app, and tap the Rear Camera Selfie icon.
The cover screen becomes your live viewfinder. Compare a standard selfie with a portrait taken using this method. The difference is night and day.
6
Rear display turns portrait sessions into a collaborative experience
This feature changes the dynamic of taking a picture of someone, turning it from a one-way instruction into a shared experience.
When photographing a subject, you can activate the cover screen to show a live preview of what you see in the viewfinder.
In the Camera app, tap Dual screen Preview to mirror the viewfinder on the cover display in real time. Instead of the usual “How do I look?” and “Is my hair okay?”, they can see themselves and adjust their pose.
This leads to better photos and fewer retakes because subjects are part of the process.
5
Catch blinks and blurs instantly before moving on with Instant View
Instant View is yet another practical advantage of the Fold’s large inner screen. It turns the camera into a shoot-and-review workspace.
Your last photo appears on the left while the live viewfinder stays active on the right. You can review and reshoot without switching to the gallery.
In a busy situation, you can spot blinks or blur and retake immediately without leaving the camera.
4
Turn your Fold into a mini theater on demand
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is an entertainment chameleon. It physically adapts to the context of how you want to watch, play, or read, making it an exceptional media-consuming device.
It effectively consolidates a phone, small tablet, e-reader, portable game console, and stand into one device.
Forget precariously propping your phone against a coffee cup. Fold the phone slightly into an A-frame, and it stands on its own for hands-free viewing.
This is a lifesaver for travel. Tent Mode gives you a perfect viewing angle for a movie without any extra accessories on an airplane tray table. In the kitchen, it holds your tutorial upright and keeps the screen away from spills.
3
Turn the Fold into your handheld gaming console
You can use the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as a legitimate handheld gaming console. The phone provides an experience similar to a Nintendo 3DS.
Google has partnered with developers to optimize titles specifically for the foldable screen. Games like Asphalt Unite use tabletop mode to place the action on the top screen and dedicated touch controls on the bottom.
2
Use the Fold as your dedicated e-reader
When you unfold the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and open a book, the experience feels natural.
The inner display’s aspect ratio resembles a paperback book or a comic page. Open your reading app, and it will fill the larger screen.
For more control, turn on Reading mode in Settings to adjust contrast and fonts or have the text read aloud.
1
Show translations on both screens in real time with conversation mode
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold can facilitate face-to-face conversations between two people who don’t speak the same language.
Open the Google Translate app, unfold your phone, and tap Conversation mode. Then, select the Dual Screen icon.
As you speak, your words are transcribed on your inner screen, while the live translation appears simultaneously on the outer screen for your conversation partner.
The two-way view keeps the dialogue fluid compared with a single screen.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold makes slab phones feel outdated
Foldables matter when the hardware, hinge, and software pull in the same direction. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold does that with real payoffs you feel every day.
If you own one, lock in a few habits today. Save your workflow App Pairs to the taskbar. Switch on Rear Camera Selfie for better mobile photos and use the dual screen more often when shooting.
After a while, going back to a slab will feel impossible.
