Ever since Samsung released the first Galaxy Fold, there have been rumors and speculation about a Google-made foldable phone. What would it look like? How much would it cost? Is a foldable Pixel something Google is even interested in?
Following months of tiny leaks and reports, we now have our biggest piece of Google Pixel Fold news to date. On November 14, FrontPageTech published numerous renders showcasing the Pixel Fold’s design. And, in short, it looks pretty damn incredible.
FrontPageTech
We’ll start with the outside of the phone. The front of the Pixel Fold is home to a large outer display that’s noticeably wider than the narrow cover screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Pixel Fold’s outer screen also has a 9.5MP front-facing camera in a hole-punch cutout with pretty slim bezels all around. Around the back is a triple-camera system with a housing that looks just like that of the Google Pixel 7 Pro. Camera specs aren’t confirmed here, but it’ll presumably have the same setup as the Pixel 7 Pro — including a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 48MP telephoto camera.
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Open up the Pixel Fold, and we’re treated to a large tablet-like display that appears to be in a landscape orientation. There are fairly big bezels on the top and bottom of the inner screen, with the top bezel discretely hiding another 9.5MP camera for selfies and video calls. Other design details include a USB-C charging port, speaker grills on the top and bottom frame, and a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button.
FrontPageTech showcases the Pixel Fold in two colors — chalk and obsidian — both of which the Pixel Fold should be available in at launch. Speaking of the Pixel Fold’s launch, FrontPageTech suggests the release date will be May 2023 (likely during next year’s Google I/O event).
GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD - EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK! Wild design, specs, price, and more!
There’s another interesting detail in this leak, and that’s the price. FrontPageTech reports that the Google Pixel Fold will retail for $1,799. That’s a lot of money and significantly more expensive than the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro — but compared to other foldables, it’s right on par. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 also starts at the same $1,799, as did the Fold 3 before it. Google won’t be doing anything revolutionary at that price, but it should also keep the Pixel Fold nice and competitive with its biggest rival.
So, what’s the big takeaway from all of this? Assuming these renders are accurate, the Pixel Fold looks really, really good. It’s essentially a Google-ified version of the Oppo Find N, and that’s nary a bad thing at all. If Google can deliver a foldable smartphone with top-notch cameras, as well as its usual Pixel smarts thanks to a Tensor chip, and support the whole thing with big-screen-optimized software with Android 13, we could be in for a major treat.
The Pixel 9 Pro may be the belle of the ball with more than a few jazzy tricks, but that hasn't stopped the Google Pixel 9 from winning itself some praise -- and for good reasons. The in-hand feel is plain fantastic, the looks are fresh, it performs reliably, and it takes photos that put far more expensive phones to shame.
It’s the Pixel camera, after all. It’s easy to be swayed, especially after seeing the results. But if you’ve been eyeing the Pixel 9 for its photography chops, storage space should be your primary consideration before you pick one, and rightfully so. As a result, you might be wondering if the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold have SD card slots to expand your available storage. Here's where you'll find your answers.
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Google's Pixel devices have supported Battery Share for a while, allowing you to wirelessly charge other devices and accessories using a supported phone. Previously, you could perform this task while also charging your phone while it was plugged in. However, with the release of the Google Pixel 9 series, you can no longer do so.
As Android Police has discovered, a new Google support page explains that Battery Share automatically turns off whenever your Pixel 9 is plugged into a wired charger. This means you can no longer charge your phone and accessories simultaneously. Though Google hasn’t confirmed why, this change has probably been made to reduce heat and increase the lifespan of the phone’s battery.
Forget the Pixel 9 Pro. Here’s why I’m keeping my Pixel 7 Pro
Another year, another Pixel. Well, in this case, four new Pixels -- without including the Google Pixel 9a, which may arrive later this year. The Made by Google August event for 2024 introduced a mighty four new phones to the Pixel brand, the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
All four have the usual upgrades you'd expect from a new model of any smartphone, but there's a much more unwelcome surprise lurking beneath the shiny spec sheets: another price increase. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL cost $100 more than the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro -- which were already $100 more expensive than the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Yes, that means Google has increased its prices for two years running.
