Google updates Pixel 9 Pro Fold with long-awaited pixel fold camera split-view upgrade

Google is finally updating its foldable lineup with a feature that brings real usability gains for the pixel fold camera on the big inner display.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold adopts split screen camera review

Google is rolling out to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a camera interface that first debuted on the newer Pixel 10 Pro Fold. In the updated Camera app, users can now dedicate half of the large inner screen to viewing recently captured images while keeping the other half as an active viewfinder.

Moreover, this split layout makes better use of the foldable form factor. When the phone is propped halfway open on a flat surface, you can rely on the rear cameras for selfies, watch the live preview on one side, and immediately review your latest shots on the other side without switching apps.

Feature parity with newer Google foldables

The option to review photos alongside the live preview has been available on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold since its launch and has remained exclusive to that model until now. However, Google is finally closing the gap by extending it to its previous-generation foldable, aligning the experience more closely across its premium lineup.

Many competing foldables such as the Galaxy Z Fold series, Vivo X Fold range, and the OnePlus Open have long offered similar dual-panel camera views. That said, Google’s slower rollout meant Pixel owners had to wait longer to gain comparable functionality, especially when using the inner screen for creative shooting angles or rear camera selfies.

How the new camera layout works on Pixel 9 Pro Fold

A reader has tipped that the new interface is now live on their Pixel 9 Pro Fold, confirming that the rollout has begun. Once enabled, the feature shows recently taken photos on one half of the inner screen and allows you to scroll through them when multiple images are available, effectively turning the device into a mini review station.

At the same time, the camera viewfinder now displays in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios by default instead of stretching awkwardly across the entire inner display. This provides a more natural framing experience and keeps the preview closer to what you will actually capture, which is particularly useful for more serious mobile photography.

To activate the split view, you tap the small preview thumbnail located beneath the shutter button in the Camera app. Moreover, at the bottom of the photo strip there is an option to view all your images, which sends you directly into the Google Photos app for deeper editing and sharing tools.

Availability and open questions for the original Pixel Fold

The primary_keyword style split interface is designed around the newer foldable hardware. However, the update could not be verified on the original Pixel Fold, which features a different body design and inner screen proportions compared to the two more recent Pixel Fold models.

For now, it appears that this more advanced camera preview experience is limited to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. That said, if Google continues refining its foldable software, additional updates could still arrive later, further enhancing camera usability on the larger inner displays across the Pixel Fold family.

So, bringing this split camera preview mode from the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold finally gives owners a more modern photography workflow, better mirrors rival foldables, and makes the inner screen far more practical for shooting and reviewing images.