Google has yet to enter the foldable smartphone market, but that looks set to change. The company is expected to launch its first foldable, simply called the Pixel Fold, at the May 2023 Google I/O event. Here are some things we expect to see from Google's Pixel Fold.
A Large Screen and Durable Hinge
Google has improved on its smartphone designs with the Pixel 6 and 7 series. So, it would be understandable if Google used a similar design for its folding phone. Thanks to renders from Front Page Tech, we can get an idea of what the Pixel Fold will look like.
It will look strikingly similar to the Pixel 7 Pro from the rear, with a glass back and a similar camera bar. Based on the renders, the device will be a wider-style foldable phone when unfolded. CNBC, which was able to view internal Google communications about the device, states that:
"The Pixel Fold, known internally by the codename "Felix," will have "the most durable hinge on a foldable" phone, according to the documents."
Further leaks of the design have been posted by the site HowToiSolve, while the renowned Twitter leaker, Kuba Wojciechowski, has posted a very brief clip of the device in action.
The potential improvements to the hinge may help with some of the concerns that people have when it comes to the durability of folding phones. In terms of the displays, Jon Prosser, from Front Page Tech, released a video that provides the screen sizes, in addition to other details about the device.
The Pixel Fold is said to feature a 7.6-inch folding display, the same screen size that we saw in our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review. For the cover display, it will be 5.8 inches, and both displays will feature a 120Hz refresh rate.
The Tensor G2 Chip
Prosser also details that the Pixel Fold is going to feature the Tensor G2 chip, which we benchmarked in our Pixel 7 Pro review. The Pixel Fold will be the third high-end smartphone to feature the Tensor G2 chip. This aligns with MySmartPrice's article that reports on the Pixel Fold showing up on Geekbench.
The listing shows that there are no differences in the chip's core count or clock speed, which means you can expect similar performance to Google's other flagships. The Pixel Fold will also feature 12GB of RAM and the Titan M2 coprocessor.
A Large Battery
Other foldable smartphones offer decent battery life, but certainly not the best. When it comes to the Pixel Fold, CNBC’s report states that the device will be able to “last for 24 hours, or up to 72 hours in low-power mode”. This is in addition to the information that Prosser provides, claiming that:
"As for battery, they're calling it "beyond 24-hour battery life," and up to 72 hours with an extreme battery saver."
We may see solid battery life for a folding phone in Google's version, but we'll have to see how it plays out since there are other factors that contribute to good battery life in a smartphone besides the size of the battery cell.
A Triple Camera System
The Pixel Fold is reportedly going to feature a total of five cameras. Prosser states that it will include a 48MP main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, a 10.8MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with an f/3.05 aperture.
The telephoto camera will feature a 5x optical zoom and 20x Super Res Zoom. For the selfie cameras, the front camera on the cover display will be 9.5MP, while the inner display camera will be 8MP.
In addition to the hardware, the Pixel Fold will support software camera features similar to the Pixel 7 series, such as Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and more.
Android 13
If the Pixel Fold releases on June 27th, which Prosser mentioned in his video, we can then anticipate that the Pixel Fold will launch with Android 13. This means that you can expect the new media player, additional customization options, and more.
With it being a Pixel, of course, it will get Android 14 shortly after it releases in 2023 since Google’s phones get major Android OS updates quickly.
A Hefty Price
The price of Google’s foldable smartphone will be a major factor in whether consumers will buy it or not. Prosser says that the device will come in at $1,799 for the 256GB option. The Pixel Fold will also come in a 512GB version costing $1,919.
If the pricing ends up being accurate, the Pixel Fold will certainly be Google’s most expensive smartphone in its lineup. So if you want to jump on the folding trend and want Google’s hardware, it's going to cost you.
The Wait Continues For the Pixel Fold
The Pixel Fold has been a long-awaited device for Android enthusiasts. With the recent details and rumors surfacing about the device, the foldable smartphone market may be getting some interesting competition, especially in the US.
The Pixel Fold is expected to launch at Google I/O alongside more new hardware including the much-delayed Pixel Tablet and a new mid-ranger in the Pixel 7a.