If you missed out on the first Google Pixel Fold leak from yesterday, you might want to check it out. Google's first foldable phone got unveiled in a handful of leaked official renders, and a few specifications, along with pricing and availability details, have also emerged. Samsung Display will play a part in making the Pixel Fold a reality, but the panels that Google will acquire from the Korean tech giant won't have everything in common with the Galaxy Z Fold 4's displays.
You might think that because Samsung Display is Google's supplier for both the cover and the foldable display, the Pixel Fold will have a lot in common with the Galaxy Z Fold 4. However, yesterday's renders have shown that the Pixel Fold may have a wider/squarer aspect ratio than Samsung's book-like foldable phone. And now, more details regarding their size have emerged. Once again, these details seemingly confirm dissimilarities between the Pixel Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold. (via @DSCCRoss)
Google Pixel Fold will have smaller displays than the Z Fold 4
If these details are accurate, Google's first foldable phone will feature a 7.57-inch foldable display and a 5.78-inch cover screen. In contrast, the panels borrowed by the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from Samsung Display measure 7.6 and 6.2 inches, respectively.
The Pixel Fold may have a squarer form factor, and more importantly, it looks like it has much thicker bezels — at least around the foldable display — than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This might explain why the first leak claims that Google's first foldable device is very heavy. It might not have as large of a cover screen as the Z Fold 4, but it might be larger in volume. Of course, the Pixel Fold's alleged weight may come down to the choice of materials, the hinge, the camera hump, and other design factors.
Whatever the case may be, the Pixel Fold's release should be good news for Samsung Display's bottom line next year. And with the Galaxy Z Fold series possibly getting a real competitor — for a similar premium price — Samsung might have to bring meaningful upgrades to the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5. Either way, Google getting involved with foldable phones should also lead to a better-optimized Android experience for this emerging form factor. 2023 might truly be the year of foldable devices.