After months of rumors and leaks and official announcements, Google has finally launched its first foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold. The device was unveiled at the company’s annual Google I/O developer conference on May 10, 2023.
The Pixel Fold features a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.8-inch external display with the world’s most durable hinge in a foldable (according to them). It is powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chip and has a flagship triple camera setup on the rear. The device also has a 4,800mAh battery and supports 30W fast charging.
Pixel Fold display specs
The Google Pixel Fold’s internal display is a 7.6-inch OLED panel with 6:5 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2208 x 1840 pixels at 380 PPI and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display features Ultra Thin Glass with a protective plastic layer. The internal display of the Pixel Fold has a maximum brightness of up to 1000 nits (HDR) and up to 1450 nits (peak brightness).
The Pixel Fold’s external display is a 5.8-inch OLED panel with a 17.4:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2092 x 1080 pixels at 408 PPI and a 60Hz refresh rate. The display is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus cover glass.
Here it is in action:
Pixel Fold camera specs
The Google Pixel Fold has a total of 5 cameras. The Pixel Fold has a triple-lens rear camera system that consists of a 48 MP Quad PD with OIS + CLAF primary camera, a 10.8 MP ultrawide camera, and a 10.8 MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The Pixel Fold has a 9.5 MP punch-hole front camera on the external display and a similar 8 MP punch-hole camera on the inner display.
Pixel Fold battery and charging specs
The Pixel Fold has a 4,800mAh battery and supports 30W fast charging. The device also supports 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging.
Pixel Fold software features optimized for foldables
The Pixel Fold comes with a number of software features that are optimized for foldable devices. Some of these features include:
- App Continuity: This feature allows you to seamlessly switch between the internal and external displays. For example, if you are watching a video on the external display, you can unfold the device and continue watching the video on the inner display with expanded display real estate.
- Flex Mode: This feature allows you to use the device in a variety of different ways. For example, you can fold the device in half and use it as a stand to watch videos or type messages. You can use the tripod mode to try your hands on astrophotography.
- Split Screen: This feature allows you to run two apps side-by-side on the internal display. The foldable optimized Android automatically manages multiple split-screen configurations seamlessly for an enjoyable user experience.
Google also mentioned that they’ve optimized over 50 of their own apps to support Pixel Fold and are working with leading developers for third-party apps.
Shipping and pre-order offers
The Pixel Fold is available for pre-order starting today at $1799 USD. The device is estimated to start shipping by June 27, 2023. It is available in two colors: Porcelain and Obsidian. The Pixel Fold comes in 256GB and 512GB storage variants with 12GB of RAM. You will get a free Pixel Watch with your Pixel Fold pre-order.
As per the early hands-on videos, and live demos shown at the Google I/O, the Pixel Fold is a powerful and versatile foldable smartphone that offers a great balance of features and price. It is sure to become a fierce competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and Microsoft Surface Duo 2. Did we mention it is also one of the thinnest foldable smartphones out there? Well, now you know.
