The Pixel Fold is finally here – after months of speculation, leaks and rumors, Google’s first official foray into the world of flexible Android displays has finally manifested in full physical form, offering users an alternative in a market populated by entries from Samsung, Vivo, Honor, and more. The device was unveiled at Google I/O, and the company wasted no time in boasting about the features of its newest addition to the Pixel device line – let’s check it out!
Inner and Outer Screens
As far as looks go, the Pixel Fold shares a lot of common design traits with its competitors, albeit with different proportions. Outside, there’s an OLED screen with a wide 17.4:9 aspect ratio, measuring 5.8-inches with a 2092×1080 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This outer display packs Gorilla Glass Victus, and can go real bright with up to 1550 nits of peak brightness.
The main highlight of this device is the inner display though – there’s a 7.6-inch OLED panel that opens up when unfolded, with a 2208 x 1840 resolution, a 6:5 aspect ratio, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate. While the bezels are admittedly large, it is still a first-generation device, although this visual design choice might prove to be divisive for some consumers.
Design and Internals
The Pixel Fold’s external design comes with a matte finish on the rear panel, which contrasts nicely with the polished steel hinge. Google says that the hinge has been carefully designed to accomodate different angles, all the while being sturdy. The Fold comes with IPX8 certification, so light drops and splashes shouldn’t spell the end for the device.
Like the Pixel 7a, the Fold comes with the Tensor G2 chipset, alongside 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, with Google’s Titan M2 chip inside for added security. This whole setup is powered by a 4,821 mAh battery with support for fast-charging and wireless charging. The Pixel Fold will come with Android 13, with up to five years of software support.
Camera Specs
As with other Pixel phones, another big highlight of the Pixel Fold are the cameras onboard. There are two selfie cameras – the outer camera features a 9.5MP resolution, while the inner front camera comes with an 8MP sensor. Similar to its non-folding brethren, the Fold comes with a metallic camera bar – here you’ll find a 48MP main sensor, a 10.8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10.8MP telephoto camera.
Google says that the Pixel Fold will come with several Pixel camera features, including Real tone, Astrophotography, Portrait mode, and editing tools such as Magic eraser and Photo unblur, to name a couple. Additionally, the device’s flexible design allows for better versatility when shooting photos – for example, a user can access the external display for image previews, allowing them to take a selfie using the full capability of the main cameras on the rear panel.
The Pixel Fold will come in two different colours including Porcelain and Obsidian, and interested users can pre-order the device for today starting from £1749, which ships starting next month.
