Google Teases Pixel Fold Smartphone, Looks to Unveil Its Functionality at Annual Developer Conference

Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has announced its upcoming first-ever foldable cell phone called the Pixel Fold. Besides a brief teaser video, little is known about the new mobile device, which could retail between $1,700 and $1,800. However, at the upcoming Google I/O conference, Google plans to reveal additional Pixel Fold details, including its specifications and value proposition. The annual developer conference takes place on Wednesday, May 10th.

What We Know So Far about the Google Pixel Fold

Images released suggest that the Google Pixel Fold opens up like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold devices, while the camera bar looks like those on other Pixel devices. However, a notable design deviation is that the Pixel Fold’s rear camera does not project out as prominently as its lookalikes.

Previous reports said the Pixel Fold would be a 5.8-inch phone capable of folding out into a 7.6-inch tablet. In addition, Google’s first foldable smartphone appears set to be the tech giant’s highest price-point product in its smartphone series. The Pixel Fold could ship to end users as early as June and will likely compete with Samsung’s high-end phones.

The Pixel Fold’s documents describe it as having the “most durable hinge on a foldable” phone. In addition, the device will likely be water-resistant and house a bigger battery that lasts 24 hours in regular use. However, users should be able to eke out a staggering 72 hours from the Pixel Fold using its Extreme Battery Saver option.

The Google Pixel Fold reportedly weighs 10oz, which makes it slightly heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Users will also get the trade-in option. Performance-wise, the Fold will optimize its Tensor G2 chip to rival the cutting-edge features offered by the $1,800 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. However, reports suggest that the Pixel Fold may be a challenging sell. Reasons include Google releasing an even more advanced Pixel 8 this fall and a healthy selection of other foldable phones consumers can choose from.

Foldable Phone Market Appeal

Also, despite the uniqueness of foldable phones, the existing market that finds this design style appealing has waned considerably from the late ’90s and early ’00s. An ABI Research revealed that foldable and flexible displays constituted just 0.7% of the smartphone market in 2021. However, ABI Research also suggested that the current parameters likely sway toward Google’s favor, with analyst Michael Inouye saying:

“Google has been working on bringing better user experiences to foldable devices from a software perspective, so when coupled with improvements on the hardware side, the market conditions are at a stage now where it makes sense for a Pixel Fold.”

Google has long channeled resources toward developing foldable phones amid the releases of other brands. But the company likely waited to launch its own version after the technology became more advanced.

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Tolu is a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast based in Lagos. He likes to demystify crypto stories to the bare basics so that anyone anywhere can understand without too much background knowledge.
When he’s not neck-deep in crypto stories, Tolu enjoys music, loves to sing and is an avid movie lover.