The details of Google's foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold

 

Google may be developing a foldable device. Although Google hasn't provided any specific information on what it has in mind for the new form factor that may coexist with the Pixel 7, we have a suspicion that it has something in mind. A few significant details have emerged, but there are few of them and some of them are contradictory. It becomes more and more obvious that the Pixel Fold, if that's what it will be named, is still in the far future. But do not fret. We're here to sort through the noise and provide you with all the information we know about the Pixel foldable.

The foldable Google device has been in development for a while. In 2019, the business told CNET for the first time that it was testing with the form factor, but Google decided against releasing its own gadget at the moment. In 2020, a Google-made foldable device with the codename "passport" was discovered in an internal Android document. Since then, rumours have been circulating, especially since the introduction of Android 12L and the announcement of a new "Jumbojack" codename.

Google Pixel Fold: Name, Appearance, and Feel

While we frequently refer to the gadget as "Pixel Fold" for consistency's sake, the term has not yet been officially adopted. According to a 9to5Google story, Google may seek to rename its foldable Pixel Notepad in order to set itself apart from Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold branding. Given the proximity to Samsung's other renowned (but no longer produced) series, the Galaxy Note, it would be ironic enough. For what it's worth, the name "Logbook" was also under consideration. Until there is a formal denial or confirmation, we will refer to it as Pixel Fold since it is the easiest to say out of these.

For what it's worth, numerous reports concur that the Pixel device will mimic Samsung's design with the Galaxy Z Fold series, with a big outside screen that resembles a smartphone and an inside display that resembles a tablet. It's unclear if this description applies to both the "Jumbojack" and "passport" code names that are circulating, or even if those are two separate devices that will be made available concurrently. The codes might represent two distinct prototypes or generations of prototypes, for all we know.

What about renderings? Animations and renders are two different things. It has taken months, but now we have a glimpse of what the Google Pixel Fold will look like when it hits shop shelves. Unofficial renders by Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser showed a design that Pixel 7 Ultra owners would recognise in November 2022.

To be honest, there isn't much of a surprise in the main lesson here. This is how you would picture a Pixel Fold to seem, especially in a world without the Pixel 7. with a sleek camera bar, a glass rear panel, and a front display hole punch camera in the centre. The absence of an edge-to-edge camera bar is really the only noticeable difference between these shots of the Pixel Fold and those of the Pixel 7 Ultra. Instead, this variant resembles a sizable camera hump and runs along the back of the phone without joining the corners.

You have the sizable screen you would anticipate from a foldable when you open it up. However, those who have used the Galaxy Z Fold 4 may be dissatisfied because these bezels are substantially bigger than those found on Samsung's folding phones. One advantage of this design is that it eliminates the need for a hole punch camera or for under-display cameras, which result in permanent screen distortion. However, maintaining bezels gives the Pixel Fold a much more vintage appearance, making it look much less futuristic. At this point, we expect more from our folding phones, and Samsung is on track to release its fifth-generation foldable in less than a year.

Finally, rather having an optical sensor placed into the front screen, it's probable that a side-mounted fingerprint sensor will be integrated into the power button. The problem with relying on a sensor built into a single display in a foldable device is obvious: what if the device is already open? Even while many Pixel enthusiasts regret having a rear-mounted sensor, this shift might be a step in the right direction.