Quick Links
Google has finally revealed its highly anticipated Pixel Fold at the I/O 2023 conference after years of speculation. The first-ever foldable from Google features a familiar passport-like form factor and is set to go against the likes of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and OPPO Find N2. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Pixel Fold's specs, design, features, and pricing in detail.
In addition to the Pixel Fold, Google also unveiled the successor to its highly-popular Pixel 6a, the Pixel 7a as well as showcased its first-ever Android tablet, Pixel Tablet, in full. The company also introduced Android 14, the newest version of Android, as well as new features and updates to Wear OS and Chrome OS.
Price, availability, & colors
The Google Pixel Fold starts at $1,799 in the US. It will be available starting next month, i.e., June 2023, in two color options: Obsidian and Porcelain. Customers who pre-order the Google Pixel Fold will also receive a free Pixel Watch as well as free YouTube Premium and Google One subscriptions. We will update this page as and when more information is available regarding the Pixel Fold's availability.
Technical Specifications
Google Pixel Fold
The Pixel Fold is Google's first foldable smartphone offering some of the finest hardware and software on the market. The device features a 5.8-inch cover display and a big 7.6-inch foldable display. It is powered by the Tensor G2 chipset and is backed by a 4,821 mAh battery.
- Brand
- SoC
- Google Tensor G2, Titan M2 co-processor
- Display
- Cover: 5.8-inch, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, 1,550 nits peak brightness; Internal: 7.6-inch, 2208 x 1840-pixel resolution, OLED, 120Hz, 1,450 nits peak brightness
- RAM
- 12GB RAM (LPDDR5)
- Storage
- 256GB, 512GB (UFS 3.1)
- Battery
- 4,821 mAh
- Ports
- USB-C
- Operating System
- Android 13, Foldable optimizations
- Front camera
- Cover Display: 9.5MP, f/2.2, fixed focus; Inner display: 8MP, f/2.0, fixed focus
- Connectivity
- 5G (mmWave and sub-6GHz), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
- Dimensions
- Folded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm; Unfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mm
- Colors
- Obsidian, Porcelain
- Weight
- 283 grams
- IP Rating
- IPX8
- Security
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock, PIN, Pattern, Password
- Material
- Gorilla Glass Victus front and back, Ultra Thin Glass with protective plastic layer, polished aluminum frame, multi-alloy steel hinge
Pocketnow's Google Pixel Fold hands-on
Design & build
Taking a look at the Pixel Fold's design, the device features a form factor that is similar to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the HONOR Magic Vs, as expected. It has a large phone-sized display on the outside and a large foldable display on the inside, transforming the device into a tablet. Google says the Pixel Fold is the company's "ultra-premium smartphone" built to deliver the Pixel phone experience on the outside and a big immersive display for multitasking on the inside.
Going around the device, you will notice that the Pixel Fold has the typical modern Pixel smartphone look. There's a camera visor on the back that runs horizontally across the back of the foldable, though it doesn't curve over the edges. It also features a premium-metal glass build like the Pixel 7 Pro, and the hinge is made out of stainless steel, which Google claims is the "most durable of any foldable phone."
In terms of durability, the Pixel Fold is constructed from some of the toughest materials available in the industry, making it a robust foldable smartphone. The device features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for both the cover display and back protection, while the inner screen is shielded by Ultra Thin Glass with an additional protective plastic layer. Moreover, the device has an IPX8 water resistance rating, making it the only foldable phone on the market with this durability rating.
And Google has managed to pack this premium-tough build in a slim package — the Pixel Fold is the thinnest foldable phone on the market. However, this does not translate to a light device. Weighing in at approximately 283 grams, the Pixel Fold is heavier than all of its competitors, including the Find N2, Z Fold 4, and Magic Vs.
Display
Moving onto the displays of the Pixel Fold, the device features a 5.8-inch OLED cover screen with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate support, and a peak brightness of 1,550 nits. Although the cover display is notably wider than the other foldables on the market, it gives the device a resemblance to a traditional smartphone. The cover screen also features rounded corners and a centrally positioned hole-punch cutout to accommodate the selfie camera.
Upon unfolding the Pixel Fold, you will be greeted with a huge 7.6-inch tablet-like display. This foldable OLED display features 2208x1840-pixel resolution, 120Hz refresh rate support, and a peak brightness of 1,450 nits. However, the inner display of the Pixel Fold features noticeable top and bottom bezels due to the front camera sitting within the top frame of the phone. It remains to be seen how these bezels may impact the foldable experience.
Features & performance
Powering the Pixel Fold is Google's Tensor G2 chipset, the same processor found in the entire Pixel 7 lineup. Coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the Pixel Fold will breeze through any task you throw at it. In addition to the Tensor G2, the Pixel Fold also features the Titan M2 security co-processor and a Private Compute Core for on-device AI features.
As expected, the Pixel Fold comes with several features that enhance the software experience, making it a 'true' Google smartphone. This foldable smartphone comes with the same features as the other high-end Pixel smartphone, such as the Magic Eraser tool, Night Sight photography, Clear Calling, Live Translate, and much more, out of the box. It also comes with face unlock, spatial audio, and Google One VPN built-in.
Additionally, Google has optimized the Pixel Fold's software and hardware for a seamless foldable experience. Apps open up side-by-side on the large inner display, and you can even drag and drop content from one app to another. The hinge allows the foldable to be unfolded at an angle, so you can convert your Pixel into a tabletop multimedia device to watch videos, movies, and TV shows. Additionally, the device has a Rear Camera Selfie mode that enables users to capture photos of themselves using the front display and the 48MP rear camera.
Camera
Google Pixel smartphones are highly regarded for their cameras, and the Pixel Fold is no exception. The device packs a 48MP primary camera with OIS and f/1.7 aperture. In addition to this, it features a 10.8MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and 121-degree FoV and a 10.8MP telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom and 20x Super Res Zoom. This setup is fairly similar to the Pixel 7 Pro, though it uses a higher megapixel sensor for telephoto lens, but we expect a similar performance nonetheless.
The Google Pixel Fold features two selfie cameras — one on the cover display and one above the inner foldable display. The sensor that sits in the punch-hole cutout on the cover display is a 9.5MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, while the one on the inner side is an 8MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. As for video recording capabilities, the device supports up to 4K 60fps recording on the rear camera and 4K 30fps recording on the front camera.
Battery
The Google Pixel Fold packs a 4,821 mAh battery, which is considerably bigger than the battery found on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the OPPO Find N2. Google says the Pixel Fold should offer "beyond 24-hour" battery life and up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver. The foldable support 30W fast wired charging, which is the same as the Pixel 7 Pro. Additionally, the Pixel Fold offers the convenience of wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging. Unfortunately, Google still doesn't include a USB-C charger in the box.
Google Pixel Fold
The Pixel Fold is Google's first foldable smartphone offering some of the finest hardware and software on the market. The device features a 5.8-inch cover display and a big 7.6-inch foldable display. It is powered by the Tensor G2 chipset and is backed by a 4,821 mAh battery.