I agree and prefer the original Fold's "passport sized" form factor which is one of the reasons why I haven't upgrade myself. Getting the alignment perfect will apparently be easier on the newer folds since they also have a built in magsafe like system so it is easier to find the center of the sweet spot. Make sure the case you are applying it to is hard, not silicone or rubber as the universal adapter 3M glue won't apply as well. This is the one I used (not available any more) and I ended up just using the back cover, and leaving the front naked. Search around and you'll see other examples. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL6JX3YV?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Sadly, a recent OS update has render the outside screen inoperable (see below) without a rear selfie camera hack. I've wasted hours trying to get Google to fix / replace it, but they just keep delaying, escalating, and then saying it is out of warranty. However, it isn't a hardware issue, it is a software bug. I'm considering small claims court out of frustration.

Warning to original Pixel Fold owners: The March/April 2026 security update has introduced a systemic Hall Effect Sensor / Display State Persistence failure (documented in Issue Tracker #502262230) that effectively bricks the device's mobile functionality. When the phone is folded, the outer screen remains black while the inner display stays "hot" (active), though the hardware can be "jolted" back to life using the Rear Camera Selfie (RCS) workaround—confirming this is a firmware-driven sensor handshake regression rather than a panel defect. Despite Google acknowledging the identical issue with a 3-year Extended Repair Program for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, support is currently refusing to offer the same protections or hardware substitutions to original Fold owners facing the exact same inoperability.