Google’s Pixel lineup is now a mainstay in the Android smartphone market, and the Google Pixel Fold is one of the most anticipated releases for 2023. What exactly is the Pixel Fold? It’s Google’s long-rumored foldable Pixel phone, and the tech world has talked about it since the first folding phones hit the market.
Here are all the rumors and details you need to know about the Pixel Fold, including its potential specs, design, price, and more.
Google Pixel Fold Design
Our first real look at the Pixel Fold came on November 14, when FrontPageTech published a slew of renders of the phone’s final design. At first glance, it appears to be the same device as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 — with a cover display on the outside and a larger, tablet-like display when folded open. However, there are a few key design differences to be aware of.
For starters, the Pixel Fold’s outer screen appears to be significantly wider than the very narrow one on the Fold 4 and appears to be much more similar to the aspect ratio of a “normal” phone. When the Pixel Fold is opened, a much larger screen with a horizontal landscape orientation appears on the inside. It’s a very different setup than the Z Fold 4 and, in terms of form factor, should be very close to the Oppo Find N.
There are a few other noteworthy design elements to mention. According to FrontPageTech’s source, the Pixel Fold is “really fucking heavy,” implying that the phone is made of glass and metal for a premium feel.
What other options do we have? There are speaker grilles on the top and bottom frames, a camera bar on the back similar to the Pixel 7 Pro, two color options (chalk and obsidian), and a power button that reportedly doubles as an in-screen fingerprint sensor.
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Specs
When it comes to the Pixel Fold’s specifications, things get a little murkier. The phone will most likely be powered by one of Google’s Tensor chips, most likely the Tensor G2 chipset found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. A January Geekbench test suggested the Pixel Fold could have 12GB of RAM, and we can safely assume (at least) 128GB of storage.
According to display analyst Ross Young, the Pixel Fold will have a 5.8-inch cover screen and “a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung 6.19-inch Fold 4,” which is clearly visible in FrontPageTech’s renders. In terms of the internal screen, Ross revealed in November that the Pixel Fold will have a 7.57-inch display. The inner screen is also expected to be an OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
The battery capacity of the Pixel Fold is one of the few unknowns. Pixels’ battery life has never been a strong suit, and few foldable are known for their endurance. It’s certainly possible that Google will find a way to build the Pixel Fold with excellent battery life, but the odds aren’t in its favor.
Pixel Fold Camera
While Pixels aren’t known for their long battery life, they are known for their excellent cameras, and the Google Pixel Fold should be no exception. According to FrontPageTech’s source, the Pixel Fold will have a “Pixel flagship camera” system, which is supported by other leaks.
Kuba Wojciechowski, an Android researcher, discovered code in an Android 13 beta that suggests the Pixel Fold will have a 64MP Sony IMX787 sensor for the primary camera on the back, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The zoom capabilities will most likely be a step down from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 48MP telephoto camera, but that is to be expected given the foldable design.
FrontPageTech reports that, in addition to the three cameras on the back, the Google Pixel Fold will have two additional 9.5MP cameras — one in the hole-punch cutout on the outer screen and another in the top bezel above the inner display.
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Software
The Pixel Fold will almost certainly ship with Android 13 out of the box, with the same Google customizations as other Pixels. This includes Material You theme support, the standard set of Tensor-powered AI tricks (such as Magic Eraser), and at least three years of future updates.
We can also expect some foldable-specific software tweaks due to the larger size of the Pixel Fold’s inner screen. With Android 12L and Android 13, Google added numerous tablet/foldable optimizations, such as improved multitasking, an app dock at the bottom of the screen, and redesigned apps that take advantage of the extra screen real estate.
Google Pixel Fold Price and Availability
Foldable phones have never been known for their low prices, and the Pixel Fold should be no exception. According to FrontPageTech, the Google Pixel Fold will cost $1,799 — the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
It’s comforting to know that the Pixel Fold will not be more expensive than Samsung’s handset, but it doesn’t appear to have the same competitive pricing as its Pixel 7 and 7 Pro siblings.
What about the publication date? The Pixel Fold was expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2022, but that appears to have changed. The phone is now scheduled to hit store shelves in May 2023. Assuming the May timeline is correct, we can expect Google to unveil the Pixel Fold at its annual I/O conference that same month.
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