Google has confirmed the existence of its first foldable phone, the Google Pixel Fold, after months of rumors and leaks. The company released a video on Twitter and YouTube that offered an early look at the device’s vertical hinge that opens up to reveal a tablet-like display. The exterior has a smaller touchscreen, and the rear has a camera array. While pricing and specifications have yet to be confirmed, rumors suggest that the Pixel Fold will start at $1,700 and be available as soon as next month. The external screen reportedly measures 5.8 inches, while the internal display is 7.6 inches, and it will run on Google’s Tensor G2 chipset, which is also used in Pixel 7 devices.
The foldable market is relatively small, with Samsung dominating the category, followed by other companies like Motorola/Lenovo, Oppo, and Huawei. In 2021, foldable and flexible displays made up about 0.7% of the smartphone market, and this was expected to increase to just shy of 2% in 2022, according to ABI Research. Despite this, there is still great interest in foldable phones, and the resurgence of 90s-style flip phones among celebrities and influencers on platforms like TikTok has added to this trend.
Google’s annual developer conference, I/O, is set to begin on May 10th, where the company is expected to reveal more details about the Pixel Fold and other upcoming products, such as the Pixel 7a budget phone, the latest Android operating system, and advancements to its AI-powered Bard chatbot. As the Pixel Fold’s release date draws near, it remains to be seen whether Google has learned from Samsung’s early foldable missteps and ensured the device’s hinge is durable enough to withstand the test of time.
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