The Google Pixel Fold: In the past two years, the market for foldable smartphones has begun to flourish, and manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola, as well as Chinese companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, have released upgraded foldable hardware to increase the already stiff rivalry.
The Google Pixel Fold has been confirmed and will be unveiled in the coming days, marking Google’s formal entry into the competition.
Here, we’ve compiled all we know and have heard regarding Google’s first foldable device.
Displays and Design
The foldable screen is the most obvious new feature for the Pixel. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Huawei Mate X2 will take this book-style approach instead of the vertical clamshell design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Motorola Razr.
According to display expert Ross Young, the Pixel Fold “will have a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung 6.19-inch Fold 4”, which is shown in the renderings provided by FrontPageTech from May 2022.
The Pixel Fold will feature a 5.8-inch OLED cover panel. The inside screen is rumored to measure 7.6 inches in size and uses OLED technology. The outside screen will be 2092 x 1080 in resolution, while the inner screen will be 2208 x 1840.
However, it won’t be any old OLED screen. The Elec claims that the Pixel Fold may have been one of the earliest devices to adopt Samsung Display’s M13 screen for its display.
If the Pixel Fold’s screen is an improvement above the M12 technology seen in the Galaxy Z Fold 4, then the Pixel Fold might have a superior display. In addition, it’s expected that both the outer and inner displays will feature 120Hz refresh rates.
The Pixel Fold’s battery life is a key characteristic that has us optimistic. Reports suggest the Pixel Fold may be leading the way for increasing battery life among foldable, which has never been a strength of Pixels or many foldable.
The article does not provide a precise figure, but it does state that the Pixel Fold will have a larger battery than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Oppo Find N2. The article states that the battery capacity will be “closer to, but still well below, 5,000 mAh.”
While the lack of a firm estimate is annoying, the possibility that the Pixel Fold may be the first foldable to have respectable battery life is thrilling.
When folded, the Pixel Fold will have dimensions of 5.5 by 3.1 by 0.5 inches, as leaked by Blass. The folded dimensions are 5.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches. The whole mass is calculated to be 283 grams. In addition to USB-C 3.2 gen 2, the Pixel Fold will be water-resistant to the IPX8 standard.
Camera
While Pixels may not have a stellar reputation for battery life, its cameras have been associated with the brand. The Google Pixel Fold should be no exception. The source quoted by FrontPageTech as saying the Pixel Fold will include a “Pixel flagship camera” setup has since been corroborated by various leaks.
Another thing is the existence of another, higher-end tablet. It is referred to as “T6Pro” or “tangorpro”, while the known tablet is “T6” or “tangor”. It seems to be in its early development stages, and the code doesn’t currently indicate any changes over the regular model. pic.twitter.com/2Fz7ob9LF7
— Kuba Wojciechowski :3 (@Za_Raczke) September 8, 2022
Kuba Wojciechowski, an Android developer, discovered code in the operating system’s 13th beta that hints the Pixel Fold will contain a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 sensor for its main camera, in addition to a 10-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera.
A further leak from Jon Prosser, however, suggests that the camera setup will include a 48MP primary camera, 10.8MP ultrawide camera, and 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
FrontPageTech claims that in addition to the three rear cameras, the Google Pixel Fold will contain two front-facing cameras: a 9.5-megapixel camera in the outer screen’s hole-punch cutout, and an 8-megapixel camera in the top bezel above the inner display.
We don’t know how thick the camera bar will be just yet, but it won’t span the entire front of the phone as on prior Pixels. As an alternative, it features a lengthy camera bar in the style of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22, which resembles a floating island.
More information on the cameras on the Google Pixel Fold has been leaked, this time by Evan Blass. The front-facing camera will have an f/2.2 aperture and an 84-degree field of vision, and it will feature 9.5 megapixels. The internal camera will have 8 megapixels, an aperture of f/2.0, and a field of vision of 84 degrees.
Release Date
When will it be available for purchase? The Pixel Fold was expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2022, however, the introduction was delayed. More and more reports point to May 10 as the anticipated date for the official unveiling of Google’s foldable at the company’s annual I/O developer conference.
Prosser recently revealed on Twitter that preorders for the foldable will go live on the Google Store on May 10, with partner preorders following on May 30. Although its official release date of May 10 has been announced, the leaker believes that it won’t truly be available until June 27.
There is typically a lag time between when a new gadget is announced and when it really goes on sale. However, it appears that the wait time for the Pixel Fold will be quite lengthy. It’s unknown why the Fold’s release would be delayed for so long, however, it may be related to ongoing manufacturing problems.
Price
The Pixel Fold should follow the trend of other foldable phones and be somewhat expensive. The Google Pixel Fold’s pricing has fluctuated from the first rumor of 1,700 euros ($1,800), but it may end up being less. Yogesh Bear, a Twitter leaker, says the Pixel Fold’s price might range from $1,300 to $1,500.
If this is indeed the case, it would be less expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 by about $500, making it a more enticing option for consumers looking to purchase a foldable smartphone.
A leaker by the name of Jon Prosser revealed in April, however, that the Pixel Fold will really cost $1,800.
So… how much will it end up costing? There can be no absolute confidence about it. Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones have a reputation for having low costs, so there’s nothing stopping the tech giant from entering the foldable market with the same strategy.
While traditional smartphones have evolved throughout the years, foldable represent a new species. Being Google’s first folding phone, the asking price is likely to be on the upper end.
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