New Report Lends Credence to Rumors of Foldable Google Pixel Phone Launching This Year

[LFC2020]

Are you implying that technology can't evolve where they can't make future foldables as thin as current non-foldables? You can't fit an iPad in your pocket but you can with foldables.

The technology can't evolve until apple shows them how it's done, android and tablets are a joke, there is a reason apple is untouchable in the tablet market.

the fold z 2 is a half baked product with a plastic screen, ugly crease and terrible software, apple will be leading the foldable market by a long way once they release their foldable phone, the rest will be playing catch up for a long long time to come. 🍎👑

 

[Coconut Bean]

Knowing Google the hareware will be trash and they will drop it completely 2 years in.

Yepp! They should call it the Pixel Flop.

It will most likely act as a "technology demonstration" of improved foldable integration in software.

I think the hardware from Samsung etc will be solid, but the software... Not so much... That's where Apple might make wonders.

 

[CarpalMac]

Absolutely no chance, I would actually bet money on that.

As a veteran Pixel device owner (all except the 5), if there is one thing I have learned, Google push zero boundaries with their hardware. Quite the opposite.

 

[BanditoB]

For those questioning the point of pen on a phone now you have pen on phone that unfolds into tablet. I think this is where the Galaxy Note is heading to differentiate from Galaxy S21 Ultra now with pen support.

The problem with this is that a foldable screen is plastic, so the pen is much more likely to scratch the screen and could also leave dents if you press too hard. I think that we are still a ways off before these become very practical for everyday use. That‘s my two cents for today.

 

[snipr125]

The technology can't evolve until apple shows them how it's done, android and tablets are a joke, there is a reason apple is untouchable in the tablet market.

the fold z 2 is a half baked product with a plastic screen, ugly crease and terrible software, apple will be leading the foldable market by a long way once they release their foldable phone, the rest will be playing catch up for a long long time to come. 🍎👑

Scouser2020, Samsung’s Z flip 2 is nice though you have to admit. If you slapped an Apple logo on it and added IOS it would sell in the millions.

 

[trip1ex]

don't trust these things yet. I assume too many pitfalls with the tech. reliability and durability for example.

 

[rp2011]

Another in the long line of gimmicks that no one buys

 

[LFC2020]

Scouser2020, Samsung’s Z flip 2 is nice though you have to admit. If you slapped an Apple logo on it and added IOS it would sell in the millions.

Most likely, but apple wouldn’t release it unless it’s a finished product, can’t see apple doing a plastic screen that can get damaged easily and a ugly ass crease running down/across the displays.

 

[Zorori]

If foldable phones aren't the biggest solution in search of a problem I've ever seen, I don't know what is.

My problem with them has been they are targeting the wrong market. Foldables seems to go from phablet => tablet, which seems pointless. I'd rather have a small phone that turns into a phablet.

 

[840quadra]

As long as they don’t go lower midrange again, I am game to give it a try. My 3 is getting old, and will drop off support for Free google photo uploads, and Android support soon enough.

Been a solid piece of hardware and my favorite Android device so far.

 

[BigMac?]

Let’s see, still not compl sold on this type of smartphone

 

[Santiago]

I wonder if this would help protect the screen if the phone is dropped. I mean, if the thing is closed up tight and it hits the ground, it might be better protected, no?

Except the screen is on the outside of the phone when folded, not the inside, because otherwise it's useless as a phone because you'd need to unfold it every single time you wanted to do anything with it, no matter how quick and trivial.

Technologically, I'm still far from convinced that a single flexible screen is going to be the way forward, compared to two separate hard glass panels that have screen all the way up to the edge and seamlessly dock into a single continuous surface when unfolded.

 

[kerr]

If foldable phones aren't the biggest solution in search of a problem I've ever seen, I don't know what is.

Fitting bigger and bigger phones in our pockets is not a problem? Yeah, ok.

 

[Abazigal]

Fitting bigger and bigger phones in our pockets is not a problem? Yeah, ok.

The solution to larger screens may well come in the form of AR glasses, not folding phones.

The desire for bigger displays may not necessarily have to come in the form of bigger phones.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[lowendlinux]

I like the bigger screen in most modern phones but I'm pretty done with carrying them this would fix that.

 

[mi7chy]

The problem with this is that a foldable screen is plastic, so the pen is much more likely to scratch the screen and could also leave dents if you press too hard. I think that we are still a ways off before these become very practical for everyday use. That‘s my two cents for today.

You could also stab through paper with pen if you wanted to but that's not the point of writing. It's a trade off between softer flexible screen or something like iPad Pro that's soft with distortion from pen pressure and also brittle and shatter prone.

 

[ninethirty]

An iPad Mini (with no bezel) in your pocket. Plus a clamshell version that minimizes the footprint in your pocket. How people don't understand the appeal of folding smartphones is beyond me.

Yeah, that's cool and all except oh wait, it isn't. I have not one single time ever looked at my phone and thought "man, if I only had twice the space for phone things." Literally not once ever. I do not want a thicker phone that I have to open up in order to see things. What a dumb idea.

 

[ninethirty]

Fitting bigger and bigger phones in our pockets is not a problem? Yeah, ok.

Here's a solution. Don't buy giant phones to put in your pocket. They make reasonable sized phones that do phone things perfectly well. Next thing you're going to be asking for is a phone that unfolds into a full desktop computer, keyboard and desk to use it on. Good god.

 

[blairh]

Yeah, that's cool and all except oh wait, it isn't. I have not one single time ever looked at my phone and thought "man, if I only had twice the space for phone things." Literally not once ever. I do not want a thicker phone that I have to open up in order to see things. What a dumb idea.

Well that’s you. Millions of others do. And you wouldn’t have to open it to see something. It will have an outer screen too.

 

[DanTSX]

What a delusional fanboy you are. Samsung's second gen is already doing it right. But hey, you keep paying like the good sheep you are. Totally disregarding that Apple's stuff would be even worth less if Samsung wouldn't be the screen supplier. Grow up.

🧸. Holy moly. Someone give this guy a hug.

 

[ninethirty]

Well that’s you. Millions of others do. And you wouldn’t have to open it to see something. It will have an outer screen too.

Solution in search of a problem.

 

[blairh]

Solution in search of a problem.

No it's not. It's an obvious amazing thing to have in your pocket. A mini tablet.

 

[ninethirty]

No it's not. It's an obvious amazing thing to have in your pocket. A mini tablet.

I can count on zero hands how many times I thought "Man, if only I had a thick, mini tablet that was in my pocket."

 

[ninethirty]

The solution to larger screens may well come in the form of AR glasses, not folding phones.

The desire for bigger displays may not necessarily have to come in the form of bigger phones.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

This guy gets it. And I don't even think it has to be AR, just that clumsily trying to make the biggest phone possible might not be the way forward.

 

[blairh]

I can count on zero hands how many times I thought "Man, if only I had a thick, mini tablet that was in my pocket."

That’s you. That’s not everyone. Just because you don’t see the appeal doesn’t mean countless others won’t as well.