Google Announces the Pixel Fold (theverge.com) 32
The rumors are true: next week, Google will introduce its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold, during the Google I/O 2023 event. From a report: Google hasn't revealed any specs for the device, but a brief teaser video shows off a full-size outer display on a phone that opens up similarly to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold devices. The camera bar on the back is similar to other Pixel devices but doesn't stick out as prominently, reflecting what we've seen in leaked marketing materials and even a hands-on video.
CNBC reported in April that the Pixel Fold would be a 5.8-inch phone that folds out into a 7.6-inch tablet, with a Google Tensor G2 processor, weigh 10oz, and have "the most durable hinge on a foldable," along with a price that's over $1,700. Samsung's latest foldable, the Z Fold 4, launched with a price of $1,799. We had expected to see it last year, but the Fold didn't make the cut for I/O in 2022. Rumors about its launch -- and how it fits in with Google's XL plans for Android apps that work across screens of various sizes -- haven't slowed down in the year since.
CNBC reported in April that the Pixel Fold would be a 5.8-inch phone that folds out into a 7.6-inch tablet, with a Google Tensor G2 processor, weigh 10oz, and have "the most durable hinge on a foldable," along with a price that's over $1,700. Samsung's latest foldable, the Z Fold 4, launched with a price of $1,799. We had expected to see it last year, but the Fold didn't make the cut for I/O in 2022. Rumors about its launch -- and how it fits in with Google's XL plans for Android apps that work across screens of various sizes -- haven't slowed down in the year since.
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The biggest problem with this device is not that nobody wants it, it's that nobody can afford it. It's absurdly expensive.
This is true. But furthermore, since the price is so high, the rest of the phone often has compromises in a futile attempt to rein in costs. For example, the Samsung Flip phones were more expensive and yet had worse cameras than the cheaper non-foldable top-of-the-line Samsung phones.
That's the real problem with the foldable phones. They are more expensive, and they offer foldability and a few extra features along with compromises on traditional features. Along with cost, the challenge is that the new f
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I don't want to carry a tablet.
This gives you a large screen in a small form factor. That's the difference that you're dismissing out of hand as if it were a minor thing, for some reason. No matter how thin and light a tablet is, you have to take a bag with you, because you can't put it in your pocket.
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Fire the CEO (Score:1)
A near misunderstanding (Score:5, Funny)
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Given Google's history I almost thought they were canceling their Pixel line.
That announcement is coming next.
"The most durable hinge on a foldable" (Score:4, Informative)
"the most durable hinge on a foldable" isn't a very high bar. The competition is what, like 2 other phones? Doesn't take much to be the best in that area.
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I am very interested in this overall concept... but I don't know if it'll ever hit my non-negotiable basic requirements:
1) The hinge needs to last through many thousands of folds / four or five years (minimum) without displaying *any* signs of wear. When the device is open, you shouldn't be able to determine where the folding occurs by any means other than with a ruler.
2) The device's cost needs to drop by more than half.
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"the most durable hinge on a foldable" isn't a very high bar. The competition is what, like 2 other phones? Doesn't take much to be the best in that area.
There's probably like a dozen different phones by this point.
Without an impartial test of course there's no way to tell how much it is better, if at all. So useless marketing bs.
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The early ones had trouble with ingress. I think Samsung is on top of it now, but some of the others like the Xiaomi and Honor's are even better. They are very robust and fold completely flat.
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Doesn't take much to be the best in that area.
That's like saying the only other person with legs is Usain Bolt so there's not much competition and it doesn't take much to be the best.
The "competition" in this case is a company which has gone through 3 generations of foldable designs and poured many years worth of R&D into their product already. Thinking that it "doesn't take much to be the best" against that is an incredible and possibly self-destructive display of hubris.
holy molly! (Score:2)
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Cue up the crying about how expensive iPhones are.
Finally! (Score:2)
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That's all I want, actually. I would love to have a flip phone that could download/play my podcasts, send/receive e-mail, do simple web browsing and have my authenticator apps. NFC/tap-to-pay would be a nice-to-have as well.
I am looking forward to a small phone that opens to a regular sized smartphone display size. I want something small enough to fit in a front pocket. I am so tired of these huge chunks of heavy glass.
I realize that I am in the minority. Most people seem to value screen size over everythin
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I'd probably go for a flip phone *if* the ease-of-use and quality of the apps you mention (email, podcasts, messaging, simple web browser) matched what's available in smartphones nowadays.
Oh, I'd also add GPS mapping to the group of required apps - and I'm not sure how much I really care about the web browser.
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Nokia 2720 comes close. Beware though, it's more of a "dumb phone that can do some smart things" which means it's a bit underpowered. For example, the web browser works, but I'm sure there are plenty of bloated sites it would fall over with (Slashdot seems to work though!) There's an email client and a media player... I don't do podcasts but I assume it can handle those. Removable battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card and it will work as a 4G hotspot (or a USB modem which means that it will charge while it
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You can have your 1 x 1 inch screen. Most of us want more screen real estate than that, and we want a phone to more than just...a phone.
Foldable screens ... (Score:2)
....break ... sooner or later ... so you have a (£$)1000 device that is broken ...
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It's precious that you think they're only going to charge $1k for one of these. Reports have it closer to $2k than $1k...
Literally nobody wants this (Score:1)
Just because there's a new technology doesn't mean we want to buy it. Stop giving us garbage.
And stop giving us fucking glass phones!
And if you're going to sell a glass fucking phone, don't make us pay extra for the screen and body protector you know we have to buy anyway! For fuck's sake!
Twice the screen for twice the price! (Score:2)
Twice the screen for twice the price, and half the lifetime!
Sounds like a great deal for Google, and a spectacularly shitty one for any of their customers.
Better solution (Score:2)
Just buy a $1700 jacket with an iPad pocket.
I'll will love this (Score:2)
This is gonna be a great phone until Google cancels it.