Google has been the subject of rumors in the past as more sources say that the company is preparing to launch its first-ever foldable smartphone. It seems that this is true following the announcement about the launch of Pixel Fold on May 10 at Google I/O 2023.
Google Unveils Pixel Fold For the First Time
While the search engine firm has already confirmed that its foldable phone is coming this year, Google remains tight-lipped about its specs.
However, The Verge reports that you can actually see some similarities between the Pixel Fold with other Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models.
From the looks of it, its outer display appears to be taken out of Samsung's book. Another noticeable feature is the rear camera which was previously seen in leaked reports and clips.
Prior to its launch, CNBC first reported that Google's foldable measures 5.8 inches. It will then fold into a 7.6-inch tablet.
The news publication added that its price will exceed $1,700. For reference, Samsung's Z Fold 4 costs $1,799. It will also boast a Tensor G2 chip which Google itself makes.
As per Wired, Google will reveal more details about Pixel Fold during the upcoming Google I/O keynote address. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 10, in Mountain View, California.
Foldable Market Remains 'Relatively Small'
When flip phones first trended in the 90s, some people thought that they wouldn't be replaceable. Even before the era of smartphones cae, foldable handsets seem to be dominant at any angle.
With many celebrities promoting the use of foldable units, it's still surprising to see that its market does not fare well compared to advanced smartphones.
According to CNN, Samsung is the leading manufacturer of foldable phones at the moment. The South Korean giant was followed by Motorola, Oppo, and Huawei.
In 2021, foldable displays only accounted for 0.7% of the smartphone market. The following year, it declined further to 2%, according to ABI Research.
It is said that the high prices of foldable phones led to lower adoption by consumers.
Assuming that Google wants to be a pioneer in the foldable business, it's expected that it will release other models in the years to come.
The market might be quite noticeable for now, but these phones have special places in the hearts of the collectors who miss vibing with their 90s-styled phones decades ago.
For now, all we can do is wait for the annual developer conference in the next few days to see if Pixel Fold's specs are good enough for the hype that has been built up for the past months. If it's interesting, many users might immediately jump into it in less than a month.
