Google unveiled its first-ever Foldable phone Pixel Fold in Google I/O 2023 on May 10. Samsung is releasing its 5th generation of the folding device after last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 . Google being the latecomer in the fold device competition, is yet to see if it can have a strong presence in the market.
It carries the thinnest body in the industry among folding devices, which is a huge plus since folding devices generally are quite bulky to carry in hand. But a folding device from Google itself doesn’t come cheap. With a huge $1,799 price, Pixel Fold carries the following specifications.
SPECIFICATION
| Cover display | 5.8 inches OLED (2092 x 1080) |
| Main display | 7.6 inches OLED (2208 x 1840) |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz for both |
| CPU | Tensor G2 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB |
| Rear cameras | 48MP (f/1.7), 10.8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10.8MP telephoto (5x optical zoom) |
| Front Camera | 9.5MP (f/2.2) |
| Inner camera | 8MP (f/2.0) |
| Video | 4K video up to 60 fps |
| Battery size | 4,821 mAh |
| Wired charging | 30W |
| Wireless charging | Yes |
| Size open | 6.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches |
| Size closed | 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches |
| Weight | 283 Gram |
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain |
| Starting Price | $1,799 |
DESIGN
Similar to other folding phones Pixel Fold also features a book-like design, which while unfolded reveals a 7.6-inch display. It is a bit shorter and wider in comparison with Samsung’s folding fold. It’s about personal preference, but the design here looks promising.
According to Google, the Pixel Fold is the slimmest foldable device available, with dimensions of 6.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches when unfolded (158.7 x 139.7 x 5.8 mm) and 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches when closed.
Google claims that the Pixel Fold features the most robust hinge on the market, ensuring durability. The hinge, with its 180-degree fluid friction design, enhances resistance against dust and enables the device to endure up to 200,000 folds. Moreover, the Pixel Fold has an IPX8 rating, making it capable of withstanding spills or rain. Pixel Fold’s hinge also facilitates a tabletop mode, enabling a hands-free experience for activities such as watching videos, taking photos, or engaging in quick video calls.
There are only two color models: Porcelain and Obsidian.
DISPLAY
Pixel Fold houses a 5.8-inch OLED front display which is wide and the uses of apps are quite easier than galaxy fold’s narrow display. The aspect ratio of the display is 17:4:9 and the OLED display supports 120 HZ refresh rate and 1,550 nits of peak brightness.
Talking about the full display, it is a massive 7.6-inch display that turns into a tablet. It has a resolution of 2208*1840, goes up to 120 HZ refresh rate, and supports 1,450 nits of peak brightness.
The outer display is protected with Gorilla Glass Victus and the inner folding display panel uses ultra-thin glass with the protection of a plastic layer.
PROCESSOR/MEMORY/SOFTWARE
Google Pixel Fold is powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chip, which also is powering Pixel 7 series phones. Since it is using a top-end processor the performance is expected to be top-notch but may fall quite behind the snapdragon 8 Gen 2 which is expected to power the Samsungs next Galaxy Fold 5. Also, the Tensor chip is backed by 12 GB RAM and 256 GB, and 512 GB (variants) of storage.
Pixel Fold runs Android 13 out of the box and since it is a Google device surely will get the latest upcoming Android 14 pretty soon. Also, there are foldable optimizations in terms of UI for a better user experience of folding phones and multitasking.
According to Google, they have optimized over 50 of their apps specifically for large screens, prioritizing the user experience on foldable devices. Additionally, Google is collaborating with various third-party developers, such as TikTok, Spotify, and Disney Plus, to enhance their applications for foldable devices.
CAMERAS
Google Pixels are known for its cameras, Pixel fold promises the same quality as the Pixel 7 Pro. The main rear camera is 48 Megapixels while there are 10.8 MP ultrawide and a 10.8 MP telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom and 20x digital zoom.
Also, it is equipped with a 9.5MP front camera designed for capturing selfies. It also features an 8MP inner camera that can be used for selfies and video calls when the device is unfolded. With the Rear Camera Selfie feature, you can take advantage of the foldable design by using the front display as a viewfinder while the back of the device is facing you. This feature allows you to capture high-resolution 48MP selfies.
Similar to the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel Fold user can take advantage of features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur google photos.
BATTERY CHARGING
Pixel Fold houses a 4,727 mAh battery which is comparatively slightly bigger than that of Galaxy Fold. But battery performance also highly depends on optimization so, it is yet to see how long it can power a 7.6-inch huge display. It is expected to give a whole day battery life on medium usage.
Pixel Fold supports 30 Watt wired charging and slower 7.5-watt wireless charging. It doesn’t support reverse wireless charging as that of Galaxy Fold.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The pre-orders of Pixel Fold started right from the day of Google I/O (release date) starting at $1,799. It is getting shipped at the end of June in the U.S., Germany, and Japan.
Release in India is expected for September and the speculated Price is ₹1,46,990. While the release in Nepal is not expected.