(Pocket-lint) - There continues to be discussions about the possibility of a folding Pixel from Google.
With folding phones seen as the next big thing, it's no surprise that brands are interested in where the technology can take us, with a race to crack this rapidly maturing section of the market.
Here's everything you need to know about the folding Pixel.
What will it be called?
While many have been referring to it as the Google Pixel Fold, a report suggested that the device is likely to be called the Pixel Notebook.
We've also seen a number of codenames put forward including Passport, Pipit, Felix and Logbook.
At this stage, these are just rum ours and we'll only know for sure once Google decides to announce.
Folding Pixel release date
In December 2020, Ross Young of DSCC - who has a pretty good reputation reporting in forthcoming display moves - suggested we'd see something from Google in the second half of 2021. Further back, in August 2020, 9to5Google reported on an internal document leak aligning a device codenamed Passport, which was highlighted as a foldable, with a Q4 2021 launch.
In June 2021, it was then claimed production for the display was due to begin in October and would be supplied fully assembled for Google to launch a phone by the end of the year. Google announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on 19 October but the event didn't include a folding Pixel.
Ross Young then suggested that Google didn't launch the folding device because of market pressures.
In February 2022, Young then claimed the foldable Pixel was back on track with display production due to start in Q3 of 2022 for a launch in Q4 of 2022, and more specifically October. This suggests the folding Pixel might launch alongside the Pixel 7, though in May 2022, The Elec claimed the device has been postponed again.
Now, the analyst claims Q1 2023, but others are pointing to May 2023. With other leaks showing Android 13 support, as well as benchmarking scores, an imminent release is looking more likely than ever.
Design
- Possibly 158.7mm x 139.7mm x 5.7mm
- Patent reveals book-like foldable/inward folding screen
- Renders based on leaked photos give us a good idea of the design
There haven't been many firm leaks of the phone's design, but a patent filed in 2021 (and published in 2022) reveals that Google is looking at building an inward folding model like the Galaxy Z Fold series from Samsung.
It seems very likely that - if Google does launch a folding phone - this is the form it takes. Certainly, software changes in Android provide greater support for folding phones and larger displays, so something that folds out to be pretty large would seem logical.
Seasoned leaker Jon Prosser has allegedly seen photos of the unreleased device and had renders made to protect his source. These renders support the Galaxy Fold-style form factor, and show a camera bump not too dissimilar from the Pixel .