MaverickJester25

"Because the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is, well, a foldable, Google decided to omit the one-handed mode option from the phone entirely. While this makes sense in theory — there's no such thing as using a book-style foldable one-handed when the display is open — it negates the need for that helpful gesture when the device is closed, which is a perfect size for singled-handed operation."

I'm sorry, but this is just a genuinely lazy take. Why is this site so disingenuously dishonest when it comes to Pixel criticism?

"Oh, it's objectively a bad move, but Google had a valid reason within their ADHD organization so we are OK with it" is a terrible journalistic stance to keep taking. This is why Google will remain with 1% market share in the smartphone space.

You could have just been honest and said this was clearly the case of Googlers not using their products outside of product launches, and forgetting the gesture is customisable on Android, even though it isn't on the iPhones they actually use every day.

There's a reason Google chose to ape the absolute worst one-handed mode, because it's the one they're familiar with. They disabled it on the 9 Pro Fold because they did not know that when set to open the notification shade, this is actually usable one handed due to the notification shade being laid across the right half of the inner display in pretty much the same size and proportions as the outer display- something you (conveniently) forgot to mention.

When it hits your device, it’ll be turned on by default, but you can easily switch it off if you’d rather not use it.

This is incorrect.

I have this feature on my Pixel 6 Pro and the default setting is not turned on.

I don't think the rationale used in the article is the correct. Citing Google's questionable data management policies shouldn't be used as a baton to beat them over instances where they are being overly cautious in protecting user data.

The author could have simply pointed at iOS offering an opt-out solution that respects user security and privacy as evidence that Google's approach is incorrect, especially as Google themselves claimed Apple were the ones holding them back from launching the Find My Device network in the first place.

This is literally why unwanted tracker alerts was added to both Android and iOS in early May via a collaboration between Google and Apple.

So no, Google's excuse holds no water, especially because Apple has implemented an opt-out solution that still manages to protect user privacy.