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Leaked Google Documents Suggest Foldable Pixel Phone in the Works

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Google plans to release a foldable Pixel phone in the fourth quarter of next year, according to leaked internal documents (via 9to5Google). Codenamed "Passport," the device is explicitly referred to as "foldable," and appears alongside a list of past and future Pixel devices.

Pixel-Fold.jpg
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Google confirmed last year that it is developing technology that could be used in foldable devices, although the company played down the prospect of actually launching a foldable any time soon, saying it didn't see "a clear use case yet." Today's leak suggests one is indeed in the works for a possible 2021 release.

Samsung was first to launch a consumer foldable device, but the Galaxy Fold suffered from major issues that impacted the durability and performance of the device. The tablet-sized device was unveiled in early 2019, but its launch was delayed until September while Samsung fixed the problems. Samsung has since launched the Galaxy Z Flip, a smartphone-sized device that folds in half and can be tucked into a pocket, but it has durability issues, too.

The launch of Huawei's first foldable, the Mate X, was also delayed last year before arriving in September. The Chinese smartphone maker said it was being more "cautious" that it had a quality device, after witnessing Samsung's troubles.

It is unclear if Apple will ever release a folding mobile device, but there is one rumor that it's working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels that are connected by a hinge rather than a single display like the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Whether or not such a device materializes, Apple has certainly explored the idea of foldable devices for years, as various patents show. Recently the company has been investigating ways to circumvent the issue of foldable displays creasing and cracking at the fold over time – a problem that has plagued many of the consumer foldable devices that have made it to market so far.

Article Link: Leaked Google Documents Suggest Foldable Pixel Phone in the Works
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/08/06/foldable-pixel-phone-leaked-google-docs/
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Reactions: Vanilla35
Why are they pushing so hard for this gimmick? I've never once felt like I wanted to fold my phone.

We've gotten to the point where phones have almost no moving parts and are thus super-reliable as a result, and now we want to go back to having hinges and clasps and bending, whyyy?

Just give me my solid, reliable slab of OLED, speakers and cameras.
 
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Reactions: Eitherone, magicman32, MMSZN and 22 others
Bless their hearts, they’ve got all they can do to get simple slab phones out without issues. I say this as someone very fond of my two Pixel phones.
 
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Reactions: tbayrgs
They'd have to make it durable and light for it to be worth the premium. Some phones are already bricks tugging on one side of slacks so doubling up will cause accidental flashing of coworkers.
 
The tech is cool, but don’t see a practical use for something that size that mostly travels w/ you. Perhaps these foldable phones will eventually go the same route as curved monitors.
 
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Reactions: throAU and nickgovier
AustinIllini said:
Android is leaning into this hard. I wonder if it actually catches on.

I'm not sure I want Pixel's substandard hardware execution in an unproven technology like a foldable.
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It's the android concept. Just try to throw it against the wall and if it sticks then good but if not oh well no big loss. A great example is Google Soli. It slid down that wall like it was greased with cooking spray 😂
 
tribeaumes said:
Nobody wants this. Why are they pushing foldable phones so badly? Even my android fanatic peers don’t care for one. Not with that ridiculous price tag.
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There are many things that no one wanted until suddenly they did. It's still early days, when this tech matures a little I can see it taking a comfortable spot among people who want a bigger screen but don't want an iPad or other secondary device.
 
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zorinlynx said:
Why are they pushing so hard for this gimmick? I've never once felt like I wanted to fold my phone.

We've gotten to the point where phones have almost no moving parts and are thus super-reliable as a result, and now we want to go back to having hinges and clasps and bending, whyyy?

Just give me my solid, reliable slab of OLED, speakers and cameras.
Click to expand...

At least as far as folding is concerned, there is something quite satisfying about folding shut a phone. Might sound odd to those who were not old enough to own clam shell phones, but yeah.

In regards to functionality, I 100% agree with you. We've pretty much reached peak form factor in terms of durability. The only thing that could surpass it at this point is some form of holo-device or roll-able, printed phone, and we're a long way away from that.
 
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