Pixel Fold: what the rumors say about a Google foldable phone

Google could be the next big tech company to throw its hat into the collapsible ring. Rumors have been swirling for some time that a flexible Pixel phone could be on the way, especially given the company’s focus on hardware in recent years. Although the name of a potential Google foldable phone is far from confirmed – it could be called the Pixel Fold or possibly the Pixel Notepad – the rumor mill seems to have settled on a launch schedule. According to reliable display analyst Ross Yong, it will launch as early as spring 2023. He also told CNET that “some panels have already shipped.”

So far, the company has been silent on the possibility of a foldable phone. But that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from swirling around and Pixel fans from getting hopeful. Keep in mind that Google has confirmed that it has been prototype folding technology in 2019. Before that, he filed a patent application for a foldable device.

Remember, Google isn’t the only company to join the foldable phone bandwagon. It appears to be an open secret that Apple is gearing up to do the same, though it may not appear until 2025. (Read CNET’s coverage of a potential Flip the iPhone.) Samsung meanwhile, seems to be moving forward with its foldable phones. The South Korean company has launched its fourth generation of foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy ZFlip 4to her Event unpacked in August.

Pixel Fold design: More Oppo Find N than Galaxy Z Fold 4

Animations found in Android 12L, Google’s software designed specifically for large-screen devices such as tablets and foldable phones, have offered clues to the possible appearance of the Pixel Fold. Building on that, Google’s foldable phone will take the form of a book-style foldable with two screens. Google’s foldable is rumored to resemble Samsung’s taller, slimmer design. Galaxy Z Fold 3, which has an approximate aspect ratio of 22.5:18. But according to 9to5Google and other outlets, the open Pixel Fold is more likely to resemble the square shape of Oppo’s foldable phone, the Find N. When closed, it’s believed to have an aspect ratio closer to 18:9. If true, that would mean that, like the Find N, the Pixel Fold might be more natural to use as a regular phone when closed.

Pixel Fold design: only 2 colors

Image-based renders of a Google Pixel Fold were published online in November by Front Page Tech. Renders of the phone show two colors, an obsidian (black) and chalk (white) model.

Pixel Fold camera: Camera module may be smaller than Pixel 6

There haven’t been many rumors about the Pixel Fold’s camera, but there is room for speculation, courtesy of 9to5Google. The website reports that the Pixel Fold will have two 8-megapixel front-facing lenses, one presumably on the cover and one for the interior, as well as a 12-megapixel rear camera. The main sensor should be a step down from the Pixel 6 series, as it’s reportedly relying on Sony’s IMX363 sensor used in the Pixel 3 in 2018, as opposed to Sony’s top-end GN1 sensor. Samsung, from the 50-megapixel main camera in the Pixel 6 series. If I had to guess, the logic behind this potential decision comes down to the size of the GN1 sensor, which is one of the largest camera sensors on the market. This means that it will be difficult for a foldable phone to carry around without increasing the overall weight of an already heavy foldable device. Another one rumor points to the Pixel Fold which has a 50-megapixel main camera along with two 12-megapixel and one 8-megapixel cameras.

Read more: Google Pixel 6A: The best Android phone under $500

Pixel Fold price: $1,400 to $1,800

It’s unclear for sure how much a phone will cost until launch day – if at all. But according to a report from 9to5Google citing an unnamed source, the Pixel Fold will be priced under $1,800 (£1,320 or AU$2,500). Another report spotted by BGR in March seems to support this notion, putting the price as low as $1,399, which is lower than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 at $1,800. These rumors seem logical as they seem to align with Google’s strategy of undermining its competitors. in terms of price.

Read more: Google Pixel 7 vs. Apple iPhone 14 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22: The $200 difference

Pixel Fold Processor: Tensor

Given that Google has gone to the complex and expensive trouble of developing its own system-on-chip technology, it’s almost certain that the Pixel Fold will run on the Tensor chipset, which debuted on the Pixel 6 series.

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