Google Pixel Fold will be the company’s first effort at a foldable phone. It’s now just waiting for the phone to arrive and seeing if it can make our list of the best folding phones.
Google has just revealed the Pixel Fold, and based on what we’ve heard so far, this foldable will compete with the forthcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 with a shorter shape that makes it simpler to stow in a pocket and more comfortable to carry. We may also anticipate powerful cameras, a larger battery, and a Tensor chip developed by Google. When you add it all up, the Pixel Fold might be a more exciting release than the iPhone 15.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Google Pixel Fold and the search giant’s foldable ambitions, which include an introduction in May.
Google Pixel Fold: Design
According to the latest speculations, the Google Pixel Fold would resemble a thicker Google Pixel 7 Pro on the outside before folding out like a Galaxy Z Fold 4 to show its more prominent internal display. The Pixel Fold might feature a shorter but broader exterior display, unlike the latter phone, giving it a design similar to the Oppo Find N.
Our best look at the Google Pixel Fold comes from some official-looking images of the device that surfaced shortly before the reported May 10 release date. The fact that they were uploaded by Evan Blass, who has a very good track record with phone leaks, lends credibility to them.
The Pixel Fold, as shown in the top image, incorporates the camera bar that Pixels have had since the Pixel 6, however, it does not extend the length of the phone. That cover display also appears to take up the majority of the outer covering, which contradicts some of the earlier reports.
A separate leak shows the Pixel Fold’s front in tablet mode. Six icons run down the bottom dock, and three widgets are visible on the screen. Unfortunately, the bezels are a little thick.
A rumored video of a Pixel Fold prototype has also surfaced. There’s not much to take away from the video other than that the inside bezels appear to be on the thick side and it looks to require some force to open up into tablet form. The curved edges look to be consistent with prior representations.
According to the most conclusive leaked Google Pixel Fold specs, the gadget will have a 7.69-inch inner display and a 5.79-inch outside display and will measure 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (6.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches) when unfurled, or 8.3mm deep (0.3 inches) if the camera bar is included. When folded, the gadget will allegedly weigh 10 ounces and measure 139.7 x 78.74 x 12.7mm (5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches). It will allegedly be available in silver or black, however, the 512GB variant will reportedly only be available in black.
Pixel Fold also incorporates a fingerprint scanner in the power button and Face Unlock. A fragment of code from the Android 14 Developer Preview 2 also implies that Face Unlock will be available on the Pixel Fold, but only on the external camera.
Developer Kuba Wojciechowski has disclosed critical display characteristics of the Google Pixel Fold, revealing that the inside panel’s resolution is estimated to be 2208 x 1840. This is also quite similar to the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, which features a 7.6-inch inner display.
The internal display will also purportedly feature a refresh rate of 120Hz, however, the leaker is unsure about this. In terms of brightness, the display achieved a peak brightness of 1200 nits and an average brightness of 800 nits.
According to one report, the Pixel Fold may offer a new approach to prevent a notch in the display, implying that the camera may be situated on the phone’s bezel. When the phone is opened up, the Pixel Fold may not have a camera at all. This rumor appears to be true. Google’s most recent patents depict an in-bezel camera rather than a notch or pinhole. This suggests that the Google Pixel Fold may forego the under–display camera to have as minimal bezel as possible.
Google Pixel Fold: Specs
What about the specifications? Here’s what we know thus far. The Pixel Fold very definitely uses the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It will be available in two storage sizes: 256GB and 512GB, with 12GB of RAM in each.
Z Fold 4 and Google foldable will have similar sized foldable displays, but the Google cover display will be quite a bit smaller at 5.8". This should mean it will have a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung 6.19" Fold 4. Hear more at our conference next week.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 2, 2022
Display expert Ross Young predicted in May 2022 that the Pixel Fold will have a 5.8-inch OLED cover screen and “will have a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung 6.19-inch Fold 4” — something that FrontPageTech’s models plainly show. The inside display is believed to feature a 7.6-inch OLED panel. The outside display will have a resolution of 2092 x 1080, while the inside panel will have a resolution of 2208 x 1840.
But it won’t be any old OLED panel. According to The Elec, the Pixel Fold’s display might be one of the first devices to feature Samsung Display’s M13 screen. This would be a more advanced screen than the M12 technology used on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, perhaps providing the Pixel Fold with a higher overall display quality. Furthermore, both the cover and inner screens will most likely have refresh rates of 120Hz.
One key feature of the Pixel Fold that appears to be promising is its battery capacity. Battery life has never been a strong feature for Pixels, and few foldable are recognized for their durability; nonetheless, reports claim that the Pixel Fold may be leading the way in increasing battery life among foldable.
According to the rumor, the Pixel Fold’s battery capacity would be more than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Oppo Find N2. According to the report, the battery capacity will be “closer to, but still well below, 5,000 mAh.” It’s annoying that there’s no hard number to go on, but it’s also thrilling that the Pixel Fold might be the first gadget to break the trend of foldable with low battery life.
Google Pixel Fold: Camera
While Pixels aren’t known for their long battery life, they are known for their excellent cameras, and the Google Pixel Fold should be no exception. According to FrontPageTech’s source, the Pixel Fold will include a “Pixel flagship camera” system, which is supported by other leaks.
Kuba Wojciechowski, an Android researcher, discovered code in an Android 13 beta that suggests the Pixel Fold will contain a 64MP Sony IMX787 sensor for the primary camera on the rear, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. However, according to a later leak from Jon Prosser, the camera system will include a 48MP main camera, a 10.8MP ultrawide camera, and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
The camera HAL, however, seems to indicate something completely different. “Felix”, F10, includes multiple references to folded and unfolded states, as well as outer and inner cameras. pic.twitter.com/YrwJ482hdz
— kamila 🌸🏳️⚧️ (@Za_Raczke) September 8, 2022
In addition to the three cameras on the rear, the Google Pixel Fold will contain two extra front-facing cameras – one 9.5MP camera in the hole-punch cutout on the outer screen and another 8MP camera in the top bezel above the inner display. We don’t know how thick the camera bar will be, but it’s worth noting that it won’t go from edge to edge like prior Pixel phones. Instead, it’s a lengthy, floating island-style camera bar, similar to the ones found on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22.
The newest Evan Blass leak gives further information regarding the Google Pixel Fold’s cameras. The front-facing camera will feature a 9.5MP dual-pixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and an 84–degree field of vision. The internal camera will have an 8MP resolution, an f/2.0 aperture, and an 84-degree field of vision.
Google Pixel Fold: Software
The Pixel Fold might arrive with Android 13 or Android 14, with the same Google modifications found on previous Pixels, depending on when it is released. This includes Material You theme support, the standard set of Tensor-powered AI tricks (such as Magic Eraser), and at least three years of future upgrades.
We might also expect some foldable-specific software adjustments due to the greater size of the Pixel Fold’s inner screen. With Android 12L and Android 13, Google added numerous tablet/foldable optimizations, such as improved multitasking, an app dock at the bottom of the screen, and redesigned apps that take advantage of the extra screen real estate.
Google appears to be strengthening its attention on huge screens with Android 14.
Google Pixel Fold: Price
Foldable phones have never been known for their low costs, and the Pixel Fold should be no exception. The original speculations said that the Google Pixel Fold will cost 1,700 euros ($1,800), however, this may not be the case. Yogesh Bear, a Twitter leaker, predicts that the Pixel Fold might cost between $1,300 and $1,500. If this cost is correct, it will undercut the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 by roughly $500, making it more enticing to people looking for a foldable.
However, leaker Jon Prosser revealed in April that the Pixel Fold will cost the higher-priced $1,800 that has been rumored for several months.
So, what will the ultimate price be? It’s tough to say for definite. Phones like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are known for their low costs, so what’s to stop Google from applying the same pricing strategy to the foldable market?
At the same time, foldable represent an entirely new type of smartphone. Given that this is Google’s first folding phone, a higher price is to be expected.
Google Pixel Fold: Release date
What about the release date? The Pixel Fold was supposed to be released in the fourth quarter of 2022, however, that deadline was missed. According to reports, we could expect to see the foldable in the spring during Google’s annual I/O conference on May 10, which appears to be increasingly realistic based on recent leaks.
According to a new Twitter leak from Prosser, the foldable will not only be launched on May 10, but Google Store preorders will go live on the same day, with partner preorders following on May 30. While May 10 is close, the leaker also claims that it won’t hit store shelves until June 27, more than a month after its announcement.
Typically, there is some time lag between when a device is announced and when it is available for purchase. The Pixel Fold, on the other hand, appears to be in for a lengthy wait. It’s unknown why it will take so long for the Fold to go online, although it might be due to the ongoing manufacturing challenges and delays.
If you are interested in the incoming smartphone releases, you might also want to check out Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s specs, price, and release date.
