Alright, so I finally got my hands on the dbrand stuff for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It feels like I’ve been waiting ages for this phone, or at least decent protection for it, you know?
Getting Started
First thing, ordering from dbrand. Their site is slick, maybe too slick sometimes. Found the Pixel 9 Pro Fold section – yeah, they had it listed pretty quick, typical dbrand. Spent a good while deciding on the finish. Went back and forth between the classic Matte Black and that newer Teardown look. Ended up grabbing the Matte Black for the main body and maybe something grippier for the edges, can’t remember exactly, the checkout was a blur.
The process itself was simple enough. Click, click, add to cart, pay. Shipping cost always stings a bit, but hey, it’s dbrand, you kinda expect it. Then came the waiting game. You get that confirmation email, and then you just… wait. Checked the tracking like a hawk every day.
The Arrival and Prep
Package finally showed up. Their packaging is minimal, kinda cool, always appreciate that. Pulled out the skin pieces. They always look a bit intimidating laid out flat like that. You get the main back piece, maybe side strips, camera cutout, the works. And that little microfiber cloth they throw in, essential.
Before slapping anything on, gotta do the prep work. This is key.
- Clean the phone meticulously. Used the included cloth, then went over it again with an alcohol wipe I had lying around. Dust is the enemy here.
- Made sure my hands were clean too. Greasy fingerprints under the skin? No thanks.
- Laid out all the skin pieces, double-checked I knew which piece went where. The foldable part, especially around the hinge, looked like it might be tricky.
Applying the Skin
Okay, deep breath time. Started with the biggest piece, usually the back panel. Lining it up perfectly is nerve-wracking. You peel off the backing paper carefully. Dbrand uses that 3M adhesive, which is pretty forgiving, lets you lift and realign a bit if you mess up early.
Got the main back piece lined up with the camera cutout and the edges. Smooth it down from the center outwards. This pushes out any air bubbles. Patience is key here. Rushing leads to disaster, trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way on previous phones.
The hinge area and the edges were next. This is where the hair dryer comes in handy. You need to heat the vinyl slightly to make it more pliable, helps it conform to the curves and tricky bits. Didn’t blast it, just gentle heat. Wrapped the edges carefully. There was one corner that just didn’t want to sit right initially. Had to lift it, apply a bit more heat, and really press it down firmly. Held it for a good few seconds.
Applied the smaller pieces around the camera bar and any side strips. These require a steady hand. The camera cutout needed extra attention to make sure it was perfectly centered.
The Final Result
Once everything was on, I gave the whole thing a final wipe-down and another quick pass with the hair dryer on the edges, just to be sure. Stood back and looked at it.
Honestly, it feels great. Adds basically zero bulk, which is nice on a foldable that’s already a bit chunky. The matte black texture gives it a much better grip than the slippery glass. The cutouts were precise, everything lined up just right after that little fuss with the corner. It just feels… protected, but still sleek.
It’s always a bit of a process, applying these skins, takes maybe 20-30 minutes if you’re careful. But doing it yourself, getting it just right, there’s a certain satisfaction in it. Looks sharp, feels good. Job done.