Google was pretty late to the foldable party, and its first foldable phone was launched four generations after Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone. Despite being the lead Android developer, Google was also late optimizing Android for foldable devices. It has now been revealed that Google took Samsung's help to optimize Android for foldable phones.
Google tested Android 12L on Galaxy Z Fold 2 before releasing the operating system
Before Android 12L was launched, there were reports about a foldable phone that Google was testing to optimize Android for the new form factor. That device was codenamed ‘Jumbojack,' and references to that device were found directly inside Android 12.1 (later named Android 12L). Someone has put that device on sale, and it seems to be a modified version of the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Android expert Mishaal Rahman posted some pictures of that device on X. While the phone's complete design hasn't been revealed in these images, Galaxy fans can deduce that it is the Galaxy Z Fold 2 after looking at the camera cutout on the display and its placement, the aspect ratio of the screen, and some other design cues.
The foldable smartphone appears to be running the stock version of Android 12L. You can notice the app launch, the Settings app's layout, and the design of the quick setting toggles. Google seems to have fine-tuned the first version of Android made for foldable phones and tablets on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, as it didn't have its hardware by then. Samsung then improved upon Android 12L when it based One UI on top of it.
Samsung did a lot of legwork to bring Android to foldable smartphones. For at least a few years, Samsung was the only smartphone maker shipping foldable Android smartphones globally, and its control of the foldable smartphone market is second to none. Sure, other brands have launched foldable smartphones with impressive hardware, but Samsung was the first to ship foldable phones globally, and it took a lot of courage for the company to do that.
What can we expect from future Samsung foldable phones?
While Samsung's foldable smartphones still have a visible crease, their software and integration are still miles ahead of foldable phones from competing brands. With the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 later this year, Samsung will reportedly improve the screen crease situation and adopt a wider screen for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
