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Google I/O: $1,800 Google Pixel Fold, AI Updates and More
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This is a great point, but it has to be tempered with the fact that not everyone wants a mini tablet. If anything I keep hearing that the iPad mini is the least sold iPad (although I don't have facts to back that up), so I don't know if that necessarily registers as something consumers feel they get in a foldable. Personally that's exactly how I look at the price, it keeps me from buying an iPad mini so the price is somewhat reasonable, but I still think $1.2k is the sweet point for foldables to become ubiquitous, just a bit over a non foldable flagship.
I can't wait to see comparisons of Google's device versus my Fold 4. I really think Google got the dimensions right and it makes me wonder how in the heck Samsung ever came to the decision to make the outer screen so tall and narrow. My only concerns are the old Tensor cpu which was already outdated when released and the huge bezels, which both make me more excited for the Google Fold 2. The Fold 4's pictures are fairly crappy and disappointing versus even my IP pro 13 max so I'm excited for Google's AI and image processing which gets such rave reviews.
Right, and that is why I mentioned that foldables are not for everyone. I think it will be a long time before foldables get down to the $1200 range but I agree, the price must come down for widespread adoption. To be honest, all that would have to happen for foldables to become mainstream would be for Apple to launch one. That and lowering the price like we've discussed. I am excited to try the Pixel Fold out as I believe I will prefer the dimensions over my Z Fold 4. One thing that concerns me is that it might be too wide, being that it is nearly the same width as my iPhone 12 Pro Max was. The saving grace here though is that it's not nearly as tall. I did not like the way my 12 Pro Max fit in my pockets. It took up way too much space and I don't wear skinny or tight jeans. The only other concern I have for the Pixel Fold is the weight because I take my phone with me to the gym every morning and I have no problems carrying around my Z Fold 4 in my gym shorts, even during cardio. If the weight isn't too bad, I think I can get over the width of the Pixel Fold since I spent years packing a Pro Max phone around. We shall see. The wait until late June for the Pixel Fold is going to be brutal!
It's funny because so many on here eschew the Fold 4 because they feel it's less comfy in the pocket, but I FULLY agree that my IP 13 pro max was way more uncomfortable in my pocket due to its width. Adding a bit of thickness to that width like the Google Fold does may make it too uncomfortable. Still, I'm the guy who used to walk around with an iPad mini stuffed into his back pocket or scrubs pocket, so I think I'll be ok for the Google Fold. But yeah, either Fold is a tremendous improvement over having to lug around an iPad mini. I carry my Fold 4 around even in the gym as well, sprinting, MMA bag training, weight lifting, etc I don't feel the weight at all. It's just amazing that I can have a mini tablet AND a phone in the same package.
That is a very pricey phone. I can only imagine what a foldable iPhone would cost.
Yeah, I agree. Anyone who uses a large smart phone and a mini tablet will love a foldable, period. I know two other people who have the Fold 4 (one I pretty much sold them on it) and they love them and will never go back to a traditional slab phone. Now the Flip on the other hand, I don't understand the draw at least from my perspective. My backup phone was a Flip 4 for about 3 months and then I trade it in on a Pixel 7. The Flip 4 was the most annoying phone I've ever used. Why would I want to constantly flip a phone open to do anything on it? I usually ended up setting it down opened, and at that point I might as well have a slab phone. I realize the Flip might be better for people who use purses and whatnot but it definitely didn't make any sense for my use case.
Holy crap side by side the difference is huge! I'd really like to know what Samsung engineers were smoking when they decided their aspect ratio.
Yes, Apple is behind a silly form factor riddled with practicality issues.
And the Fold 3 was even narrower.
I actually don't mind the Fold 4's cover screen aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of my wife's iPhone 13 Mini looks comically wide and short to me, now that I'm used to the Fold 4. If I need a larger screen then I open up the Fold 4. That said, I'm all open to the Pixel Fold and will definitely check it out in-store when it's available. I wonder what the Fold 5 will bring.
Like someone else mentioned, it's great that we will have different form factors to choose from to best serve individual needs. The Fold 4 is still awesome, it's fairly rare that I use the cover screen anyway, but I'm still curious how the Pixel Fold will feel in the hand and if it will change my pattern.
The Fold 5 is heavily rumored to bring about pretty much nothing. New teardrop hinge which reduces the crease some and lets it fully close when folded, moving the flash light to the side, newer Snapdragon proc, and that's just about it. Rumors at least say they are keeping the same camera and otherwise dimensions are the same other than being slightly thinner on the hinge side when folded now that it's folding all the way. I buy a new Fold every year, but I'm kind of on the fence this year.
Hmm, doesn't give me much reason to upgrade to Fold 5 then. At least slimmer design on the Fold 5 reduces another hurdle towards greater consumer adoption.
Why would it violate if it can be opt-in and Apple doesn't sell to third-party? And they can also randomize the users.
5 years total for security update. Can clarify what you mean by lower priority? Security updates are released concurrently for the different supported phones.$1800. 3 years of OS updates + 2 years of lower prioritised security updates after that.This support period starts in June 2023 which means you'll get Android 14 (August 2023), Android 15 (August 2024), Android 16 (August 25) and that's your lot in terms of OS upgrades. Android 17 will release after June 2026.
Older devices receiving security only fixes get them slower than those on the latest supported channel. It's obviousy a different release branch since they have to patch updates into older versions of Android. It's lower priority than the latest and greatest stuff.
I think what sucks more though is only getting major os upgrades until June 2026. You get 6-7 years with Apple.
It truly is great that Apple supports their devices so long, but how much does that really matter for phones? Very few people hold onto their iPhone longer than 3 years, let alone 6 years. By the third year you're likely dealing with reduced battery life and considering an upgrade.
Families like to pass them down. Others resell them to buy a new device. If that device is no longer getting new versions of software, it devalues it significantly.
