Release date, specs, rumors, price, all we know so far

Update, May 11, 2023 (8:10 AM ET): We have updated the Google Pixel Fold hub with an official video showcasing the foldable as well as screengrabs.

Original article: Much of the innovation in the smartphone arena over the last few years has come in the form of foldables. Samsung has led the way, but the likes of HUAWEI, OPPO, HONOR, and Motorola have all launched devices with folding screens (with varying degrees of success). Google is about to join the industry with the Google Pixel Fold this year.

With the introduction of Android 12L, Google aims to ensure its mobile OS is optimized for this new generation of devices with larger displays and more flexible layouts. It also paves the way for the company’s first foray into the foldable market. Let’s take a closer look at everything we know so far about the Google Pixel Fold.

That said, the Pixel Fold launch is now a sure bet. Google has already confirmed its existence and it will launch in just a few days. It’s taken years, but the Pixel Fold is imminent!

When is the Google Pixel Fold release date?

On May 4, 2023, Google confirmed the Pixel Fold will launch on May 10 during the 2023 iteration of Google I/O. It will launch alongside the Pixel 7a. Google could also launch the Pixel Tablet at this same event, so it will be a lot of new hardware all at once!

Up above, you’ll see the first official imagery of the Pixel Fold. That is sourced directly from Google, and gives you a good idea of what to expect. Check out a video below of the foldable opening and closing:

If that’s not enough Google accidentally posted an unlisted Pixel Fold video ad on May 10, giving us plenty of info to work with — check it out below.

The clip shows the Pixel Fold used in a Flex Mode-like orientation for Meet video calls (complete with Meet controls on the bottom half of the folding screen), hands-free selfies, and more. The phone even allows you to take a selfie with the rear cameras, using the smartphone screen as a viewfinder.

Previously, we were treated to renders from the ever-reliable OnLeaks (via HowToiSolve) as well as Evan Blass. We now know that these renders line up with the real design quite well. While the phone shares a few things in common with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, such as the centered G logo and horizontal camera bar, there are also some departures from Google’s most recent design language. The rounded rectangle shape of the camera module and larger bezels around the internal screen stand out as less modern-looking features (reminiscent of the Surface Duo 2, perhaps). That said, it’s still an attractive device, with a pleasing curve to the metal frame and an inconspicuous hinge.

Modest display tech

The most up-to-date information suggests Google isn’t going all out when it comes to the Pixel Fold’s screens. We’re expecting a 5.8-inch (2,092 x 1,080) FHD+ OLED flexible panel on the inside made from ultra-thin glass. According to 91Mobiles, brightness will average 800 nits, maxing out at 1,200 nits. The top and bottom of this display will apparently feature fairly sizable bezels, with a selfie camera residing above the screen rather than under it or within a cutout. Google is reportedly not going to use the most advanced foldable screen tech, as seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, although both panels are said to be made by Samsung Display. Cost-saving is the likely reason for holding back here, so we hope that’s reflected in the price.

Jon Prosser dropped a substantial leak, which also gave us details about the phone’s outer display. It appears that the inner screen is an OLED that sits at 7.6 inches. This display should provide a resolution of 2,208 x 1,840. Both the inner and outer displays are said to support a 120Hz refresh rate.

The size of the bezels on the folding screen was confirmed by Google in their own images on May 4 and a video posted on May 10. The images and video also suggest that the folding screen will indeed be stubbier than the Galaxy Fold line.

Clever hinge design

There is some better news regarding the inner display. Dave 2D, who posted a video to YouTube showing off a Pixel Fold dummy model, thinks the crease is likely to be gentler than that of a Galaxy Fold. These noticeable wrinkles are often quite off-putting, so minimizing this would be a popular move.

Everything we’ve heard and seen up to this point would lead us to believe the Pixel Fold will be closer in form to OPPO’s Find N than Samsung’s long, narrow offering.

Thanks to that waterdrop hinge, we’re also expecting Google’s foldable to be completely flush when shut — this would be another plus point compared to the annoying gap you’ll find on a Samsung. Stereo speakers on the top left and bottom right of the inner display could add justification to the larger bezels and make the Pixel Fold perfect for media consumption on the go.

A report from CNBC claims the Pixel Fold’s hinge will be the “most durable hinge on a foldable.” That will be a difficult feat to accomplish with competitors like the Galaxy Z Fold and the OPPO Find N2 Flip.

Thanks to Google’s own video on May 10, we also know that the hinge is of the free-stop variety. That means it can be opened at a variety of angles, enabling use cases like hands-free selfies and more. This is in line with Samsung’s foldables but it’s still a welcome addition as some foldable phones either fully open or completely close.

Even though some corners may have been cut in certain areas to keep the cost down, it sounds like the Pixel Fold is still going to feel like a premium device. Each half of the phone measures in at 5.7mm, according to the dummy model. This means it would be thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. With the camera bump included in the measurement, the thickness increased to 8.3mm, but at least it’s in a horizontal bar format similar to the Pixel 6 and 7 series. There won’t be any table wobble here. With the handset folded, it’ll likely be 11.4mm thick without the camera bump, and 14mm with it. That’s still not too bad for a phone of this type.

Familiar specs and features

Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Google’s foldable is likely to have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that doubles as a power button (via 9to5Google). This was further supported in Prosser’s leak. The fingerprint sensor would allow you to unlock it the same way whether it’s open or closed. Hopefully, there will also be some form of face unlock too, even if it’s the less useful/secure variety that Google shipped with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

While digging around in the Android 13 QPR1 beta, developer Kuba Wojciechowski uncovered details about the Pixel Fold’s camera array. The code refers to a Sony IMX787 main camera, an IMX386 ultrawide, and a Samsung S5K3J1 sensor for the telephoto and outside selfie camera. There’s also an IMX355 sensor above the inside display. While the 64MP IMX787 is a new flagship sensor from Sony, the other camera hardware is all fairly familiar.

Prosser’s leak revealed that the main camera will be 48MP with a 0.8μm pixel width, ƒ/1.7 aperture, and a sensor size of 0.5 inches. The telephoto lens is 10.8MP with a 1.22μm pixel width, ƒ/3.05 aperture, 5x optical zoom, and 20x Super Res zoom. And the ultrawide is 10.8MP with a 1.25μm pixel width, ƒ/2.2 aperture, and 121.1 degrees field of view. However, it’s the software that makes Pixel photos shine, and we can expect the same computational magic here from Google.

All evidence so far suggests that the Pixel Fold will be equipped with the Tensor G2 SoC, the same chip that powers the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. There should be no concerns about performance, as even though Google’s in-house processors benchmark lower than the latest silicon from Qualcomm and Apple, they’re still plenty fast enough for a premium mobile experience. Joining that chip should be a Titan M2 security chip. We also expect 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM to ensure smooth performance while running more than one app side by side on the big internal display.

There had been speculation that the Pixel Fold may include stylus support, but that looks less certain now.

One of the largest batteries in a foldable

The Pixel Fold may be on the hefty side, according to sources close to the matter. Although there are no specifics, the rumor suggests that the Pixel Fold will not only be wider than its main competitors but also heavier. The weight is believed to be due to the size of the battery. CNBC‘s report claims that the phone could be 283g, which is further supported by Prosser.

Based on the rumor, it’s expected that Google could give the Pixel Fold the largest battery in a foldable to date. The battery won’t be 5,000mAh, but it will allegedly not be that far off. A leak provided by Yogesh Brar claims the battery will be 4,500mAh with a charging speed of 23W. However, Evan Blass claims the battery will be 4,821mAh with 30W charging.  According to Prosser, this battery is said to offer 72 hours’ worth of life.

How much will the Pixel Fold cost?

Different figures have been floated, ranging from $1,400 to $1,800. The report from CNBC we mentioned earlier claims the price will be upward of $1,700. If the specs we’ve already discussed are accurate, we’d hope Google would be aiming for the lower end of that range in order to remain competitive. Unfortunately, Prosser’s report claims the Fold will be on the higher end of the spectrum.

Reportedly, there will be two options: a 256GB model and a 512GB model. The 256GB version is expected to sell for $1,799 and will be available in Chalk and Obsidian. While the 512GB variant may only be available in Obsidian and could end up costing $1,919.

The research and development outlay for Google won’t have been cheap, and it looks like the company won’t be making any sacrifices to keep the cost down. At the very least, Prosser claims that Google will include a Pixel Watch for free to those who preorder.