Google is currently working on a foldable phone codenamed Passport, but it’s expected to be named the Pixel Fold. Samsung will manufacture its folding display.
The first foldable device to make waves was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2, Huawei Mate Xs, Moto Razr 5G. All of them show great promise for the future.
Rumours suggest that Google may be planning to enter this market with a Google Pixel Foldable. This exciting new device is the subject of much speculation and news.
When will the Google Pixel Fold become available?
As Google has not yet confirmed the launch of a foldable device, there is no information to be found. However, 9to5Google reported in 2020 that it had seen internal documents leaked by Google suggesting that a foldable device will be released in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Ross Young, an industry insider, predicted the foldable would launch in the second quarter of 2021. Jon Prosser, the most reliable leaker, has also commented on Twitter. He confirmed that the Pixel Fold is real and claimed it will launch “late next year / early next.”
The Elec makes a more precise prediction. It reports that Samsung will start production on the OLED panel for Google’s phone in October and that the phone will then be unveiled in Q4 2021, i.e. October-December. The prediction for Q4 was echoed in the words of David Naranjo (a senior director at Display Supply Chain Consultants).
The codename for this new phone is “Passport”, and it will be launched in October. This would match the flagship launch window we’ve seen in the past with Pixel 4, Pixel 5, and pixel 5 over the past few years. It could also join the Pixel 6 at launch.
The Pixel Fold was not present at the Google I/O developer conference in May 2021. However, it was seen in the first public beta Android12 as discovered by 9to5Google. Its codename was GPQ72, which is believed to be related to the Japanese version.
This is not conclusive proof that a Pixel Fold will ever be launched. This list also included a model number for “Needlefish”, a Pixel codename that was believed to be linked to a 5G Pixel 4 Model. However, this model number never came to fruition. The Passport model number doesn’t prove anything, but it does suggest that Google is working on a foldable smartphone.
What Will a Google Pixel Foldable Cost?
We don’t know the truth. We don’t have any past data and pricing for this device is still a mystery. It won’t come cheap, however. While the Pixel range offers excellent value for money, the prices of all the available foldable devices have exceeded PS1000/$1000. Here are some prices for the foldable devices that have been launched in the US and UK:
Motorola Razr Flip 5G – PS1399
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G – PS1399
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – PS1799
Huawei Mate Xs – PS2299
This is why you may want to make use of your old piggy bank to prepare for any Google device that launches in 2021.
What features will the Google Pixel Foldable include?
The main feature of the Pixel is set to be the introduction of a folding screen. It remains to be determined if that is the side-by-side approach used by the Samsung Galaxy Z fold 2 and Huaweimate X2, or the vertical orientation used in the Samsung Galaxy Z flip and Motorolarazr 5G. Google could also opt for the two-panel design Microsoft introduced with its Surface Duo or a scrollable display like the LG Rollable.
It will be critical to get the display right. We’ve seen first hand how difficult it can be to prevent creasing where the panel folds or panels from just failing completely, like with the original Samsung Galaxy Z-Fold.
An early leak suggests that Google will follow the Samsung Fold series’ path – so closely that it is going to buy a Samsung Screen. The Elec reports, “Samsung is selling folding displays to Google” – along with Xiaomi.
Oppo – for 2021 devices. Google reportedly bought a foldable 7.6in OLED, the same size as the Fold 2 and Fold 3.
In a follow-up report, The Elec confirms this prediction and states that the display will be made of ultra-thin glass. This is the same tech Samsung used in its foldables after the first Z Fold. It’s not surprising that UTG will also be present since Samsung supplies the display.
Google has a few options for what the specifications of its foldable device could look like. All models from Samsung and Huawei have been loaded to the brim of cutting-edge processors and other components. This probably contributed to the high prices. Motorola launched the (2019) Razr with a Snapdragon 710 mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 710. This was much to the dismay of some, so they upgraded it to Snapdragon 765G to make the Razr 5G.
Google may offer the Pixel foldable to maintain the same mid-tier pricing as the Pixel range. It will likely still be a costly device, but we are talking about mid-range pricing for foldables and not standard handsets.
Another possibility is that Google may follow Samsung’s plan for an under-display cam in its foldable. This patent uses a moving mirror underneath the display that can point at either a lens or a second display. The light from the camera is reflected through the lens when it is needed. Light is also reflected back from the auxiliary display when it is not in use.
It is not clear that the September 2020 patent was filed for the foldable. Based on leaked renders, early renderings of the Pixel 6 Series show pinhole selfie cameras. This tech could be intended for the 2022 Pixel 7 series, however, there is at least some hope that it will be available for a flagship foldable.
We don’t have any concrete data yet on the Pixel foldable’s future, but we will be updating this article as more information becomes available.
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