Google was rumoured to be working on a foldable phone expected to be released by the end of the year, but it looks like we’re not getting a Pixel Fold anytime soon.
According to the Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), Google is not bringing the Pixel Fold this year or even in the first half of 2022. This is most likely because Google wants to wait until they are ready to compete against the current foldables on the market, namely the Samsung’s Z Fold devices. Ross Young from the DSCC reported, “They likely figured that competing against Samsung in the U.S. and Europe in a small niche market facing higher costs than their primary competitor, would stack the odds against this project.”
The Pixel Fold, codenamed “Passport”, was expected to look like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 with a similar 120Hz screen. The phone was also rumoured to have the same 12.2MP image sensor used in the Pixel 3, which would make it much less competitive in the foldable market. The other sensors include a 12MP ultra-wide camera and two 8MP sensors for the inner and outer selfie cameras.
The DSCC also talked about Google’s plans to fully release Android 12L, an operating system (OS) built for large screens like tablets and foldables. The Pixel Fold’s delay might give Google more time to iron out the OS to make it as smooth as possible.
Apart from the “Passport” prototype, Google was also testing out another foldable under the name of “Jumbojack”. This might be in reference to Jack in the Box’s flagship burger ‘Jumbo Jack’, meaning it might have a form factor similar to the Z Flip 3.
Even though the Pixel Fold isn’t coming this year, some code in the Google Camera app pointed to the device releasing in 2022, so we just have to wait until next year to see if Google releases a foldable.
[ SOURCE, VIA, 2, IMAGE SOURCE ]
