Rumors of a Google Pixel Fold have been swirling for a number of years now, however the telephone could lastly be about to see the sunshine of day. If we see this telephone quickly, it might be one of many coolest telephones we see this yr.
For the time being, just a few firms are gung-ho for foldable telephones, and Samsung is dominating the market with handsets just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Oppo not too long ago entered the fray with probably the greatest foldable telephones, the Oppo Discover N2 Flip, however each manufacturers may quickly have some severe competitors.
Leaks recommend Google’s first foldable shall be known as the Pixel Fold or the Pixel Notepad, however neither identify is about in stone, so for now we’re principally referring to the gadget because the Google Pixel Fold.
We now have heard some particulars about its doable design, display screen, digital camera and different specs, all of which you’ll discover under. We’ve additionally included data on a doable launch date, which most rumors recommend might be in early to mid-2023, in addition to leaks in regards to the worth.
As quickly as we hear the rest in regards to the Google Pixel Fold, we’ll add it to this text, so be certain to test again often if you wish to keep updated.
Lower to the chase
- What’s it? Google’s first foldable telephone
- When is it out? Presumably Could/June 2023
- How a lot will it price? Presumably $1,799 (round £1,520 / AU$2,660)
Google Pixel Fold rumored launch date and worth
As all the time, there have been a number of claims about when the Pixel Fold will launch – lots of which disagree with one another.
Early leaks steered that the Pixel Fold would land in late 2022, however in fact that did not occur.
A newer leak although (from a distinct supply) steered {that a} late 2022 launch was apparently deliberate, however that it was pushed again to 2023, whereas one other launch date rumor acknowledged it might land in Q1 (that means between January and March) of 2023. Once more, that is not going to occur, clearly.
As a substitute, we appear to be taking a look at launch in Q2. One latest rumor pointed to Could 2023, whereas one other one steered the Pixel Fold will arrive in June – so we’d nonetheless be ready a short time.
It definitely seems like it will likely be coming, although, as a result of in late February 2023 a telephone that is perhaps the Pixel Fold was listed by the FCC (Federal Communications Fee), and that often occurs fairly near launch. What’s extra, the time period “isPixel2022Foldable” has been noticed in Google code, suggesting that the telephone is touchdown quickly.
As for what it may cost, one leak suggests a worth of round $1,400 (roughly £1,040 / AU$1,960). That may make it lots cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, however nonetheless costly.
The truth is although its worth is perhaps equivalent to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, with yet another latest leak placing it at $1,799 (round £1,520 / AU$2,660).
Design and show
The principle details about the Google Pixel Fold comes from a giant leak, which included unofficial renders, a few of which you’ll be able to see under. Whereas unofficial, these are apparently based mostly on pictures and data equipped by a dependable supply.
As you possibly can see, the design right here seems lots just like the Pixel 7 line when it is folded shut, however with an general type issue that is just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold line.
The Pixel Fold is seemingly clad in steel and glass, and is alleged to come back in white and black shades solely. It is also apparently very heavy – extra so the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – and you’ll see there are giant bezels above and under the primary display screen.
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There’s additionally now been a hands-on with a dummy unit of the Pixel Fold, of the sort utilized by accent makers.
Photos from this may be seen under, and it revealed issues like giant bezels (which might be current to maintain the worth down), a 5.7mm thickness on the thinnest level, an 8.7mm thickness together with the digital camera block, a much less slim type issue than Samsung’s telephones, and a probable much less seen crease too.
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We have even now seen pictures of what is supposedly the Google Pixel Fold, noticed on a practice by Reddit user onetaketeo (opens in new tab). You possibly can see one among these under, nevertheless it would not reveal a lot.
The truth is, the design is so obscured that we will not make sure that is the Pixel Fold, although there is a seen hinge, so it is clearly a foldable telephone of some variety.
There’s additionally a report which claims that Google has ordered foldable OLED panels of round 7.6 inches from Samsung Show – a declare that we have now heard a number of instances.
A newer report – from @OnLeaks in collaboration with HowToiSolve (opens in new tab) – factors to a 7.69-inch foldable display screen and a 5.79-inch cowl show.
Additionally they declare the size are 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (rising to eight.3mm together with the rear digital camera bump) when unfolded, and included renders that look lots like these above, one among which you’ll be able to see under.
One other leak means that the show can have a decision of 2208 x 1840 pixels, and that it’ll provide as much as 1,200 nits of brightness and a refresh fee that goes as much as 120Hz as nicely. The identical supply factors to general dimensions of 123 x 148mm.
That mentioned, an animation present in Android 12L Beta 2 reveals a foldable telephone with a design extra just like the Oppo Discover N – so brief and broad quite than tall and slim just like the Z Fold 4.
You possibly can see this animation above, and whereas it is doable that that is only a generic animation, there’s additionally an opportunity that it reveals the Pixel Fold.
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Elsewhere, we have heard that the Pixel Fold’s cowl show (its outer, non-foldable display screen) is perhaps 5.8 inches.
Past these leaks, we’ve additionally seen a Google patent which reveals a display screen that opens out to a pill measurement, however then can moreover be stretched just a little additional, just like the rollable telephone ideas we’ve seen. This nonetheless seems formidable for Google’s first foldable telephone, so we’re not satisfied it would have this design.
Patently Mobile (opens in new tab) has additionally noticed two extra Google Pixel foldable telephone patents, one among which reveals a reasonably standard clamshell design, whereas the opposite has two hinges, permitting it to type a Z-shape because it unfolds, and go from smartphone measurement to full pill measurement.
So, Google appears to be experimenting with a variety of totally different foldable designs, nevertheless it’s seemingly that the corporate has gone with a Galaxy Z Fold-like design, detailed above.
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Specs and options
A benchmark suggests the Pixel Fold can have the identical Tensor G2 chipset because the Pixel 7 Professional, unsurprisingly, together with 12GB of RAM.
That mentioned, the older unique Tensor chipset has additionally been noticed on a benchmark for the Pixel Fold, which moreover mentions 12GB of RAM and Android 12, and we have elsewhere heard the Tensor chipset rumored too. These are older leaks although, so we might suppose it is seemingly that Google has upgraded it to the G2 by now.
On condition that this chipset appears designed to benefit from the cameras on the Pixel 7 vary, that might moreover imply the identical cameras shall be used too, however we’re by no means sure of that. If it does have these cameras, then you possibly can anticipate both a dual-lens or triple-lens setup, with essential, ultra-wide and probably additionally telephoto (5x optical zoom) snappers.
Nevertheless, one other leak has pointed to totally different snappers, with the 12.2MP essential digital camera from the Pixel 5, paired with the 12MP ultra-wide from the Pixel 6, and two 8MP selfie cameras (one on every display screen). That is one thing we have now heard a number of instances.
In accordance with one supply, we’re taking a look at a 64MP+12.2MP+10MP rear digital camera – so not the entire leaks and rumors are agreeing in the meanwhile in relation to the digital camera on the again of the Google Pixel Fold. As for the selfie cameras, they’re each apparently 9.5MP, whereas leaked renders (above) present a triple-lens rear digital camera.
There’s additionally an opportunity that the telephone can have under-display cameras, as a Google patent for the tech has been discovered. That mentioned, leaked pictures do not recommend this.
As for its battery capability, a latest report suggests the Google Pixel Fold will pack a bigger battery than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, that means we are able to anticipate an influence supply of no less than 4,500mAh. No precise particulars in regards to the telephone’s battery measurement have been shared to date, however we’re listening to that the determine will “nonetheless [be] nicely under” 5,000mAh.
Past that, although, we don’t know something in regards to the specs of the Google Pixel foldable telephone, however we are able to speculate just a little. For one factor, it would most likely run Android 13, however will definitely run regardless of the newest Android model is on the time of its launch.
Going by the usual Pixel vary, it would most likely even have respectable cameras, however maybe fewer lenses than rival telephones. We’d additionally anticipate the corporate’s foldable will help 5G.
Lastly, a small tweak to the Google Digital camera software program suggests that there’s certainly a Pixel Fold on the way in which, and that Google is readying its personal software program for it.